Mountain State Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2018 and based in Morgantown, West Virginia, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies in the Greater Appalachia region, which includes West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Mountain State Capital typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in high-growth companies across various technology and industry sectors, providing essential early-stage risk capital to support their development.

The Hilb Group is a prominent middle market insurance agency based in Richmond, Virginia, and operates as a portfolio company of ABRY Partners. The agency focuses on providing risk management, insurance, and employee benefit consulting services primarily to small and medium-sized businesses across the East Coast of the United States. With a presence in 35 offices located in states including Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, The Hilb Group aims to expand its reach through targeted acquisitions. The company offers a range of general insurance lines and specializes in niches such as cosmetic protection, passenger transportation, restaurants, education, and habitational insurance, helping organizations safeguard their assets and employees.

WesBanco, Inc. is a bank holding company based in Wheeling, West Virginia, that operates through its subsidiary, WesBanco Bank, Inc. The company offers a range of financial services, including retail and corporate banking, personal and corporate trust, brokerage, mortgage banking, and insurance services. WesBanco serves its clients through community banking and trust and investment services, providing various deposit accounts, loans for residential and commercial real estate, consumer installment loans, and home equity lines of credit. Additionally, the company offers investment products such as mutual funds and annuities, as well as securities brokerage services. WesBanco also operates an insurance agency and a full-service broker/dealer. As of the end of 2019, the bank maintained 236 branches and 227 ATMs across multiple states, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Founded in 1870, WesBanco has established a significant presence in the financial services sector.

EQT Corporation is a natural gas production company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a significant focus on the Appalachian region, particularly the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Founded in 1925, the company has established itself as a leader in the industry, employing advanced horizontal drilling technology to minimize environmental impact. As of year-end 2023, EQT's proven reserves reached 27.6 trillion cubic feet equivalent, with net production totaling 5.79 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, predominantly from natural gas, which constituted 94% of the production. Furthermore, EQT is involved in gathering and transmission operations and serves as the general partner and major equity owner of EQT Midstream Partners. The company is dedicated to safe and responsible energy production to meet the growing demand for clean-burning energy while enhancing the communities where it operates.

Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy firm focused on the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company operates primarily in two segments: Exploration and Production, which is its main revenue driver, and Marketing. Southwestern Energy emphasizes the development of unconventional natural gas reservoirs, particularly in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, holding significant acreage in Northeast and Southwest Appalachia. As of the end of 2019, the company reported substantial proved reserves, including over 12,721 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent and 929 billion cubic feet of proved undeveloped reserves. Additionally, it engages in marketing natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids, catering to energy companies, utilities, and industrial buyers. Founded in 1929, Southwestern Energy is headquartered in Spring, Texas.

GlyEco, Inc. is a specialty chemical company focused on the recycling of waste glycol into high-quality recycled glycol products, primarily for the automotive and industrial markets in North America. Founded in 1996 and based in Institute, West Virginia, the company operates through two segments: Consumer and Industrial. The Consumer segment processes waste glycol into automotive antifreeze and specialty blended antifreeze, while the Industrial segment manufactures additive packages for antifreeze/coolant, gas patch coolants, and heat transfer fluids. Additionally, GlyEco operates a glycol re-distillation plant that transforms waste glycol into virgin quality recycled glycol, which is sold to industrial customers globally. With a commitment to sustainability, GlyEco serves a vital role in providing eco-friendly alternatives in the chemical manufacturing sector.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a master limited partnership based in Houston, Texas, that owns, manages, and leases a diverse portfolio of mineral properties across the United States. The company primarily focuses on coal, soda ash, and other natural resources, with significant coal reserves located in regions such as Appalachia, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin. In addition to coal, its assets include oil and gas royalties in Louisiana, timber in West Virginia, and trona ore mining and soda ash refining operations in Wyoming. Natural Resource Partners does not engage directly in mining but instead leases its properties to experienced operators, generating royalty income from these long-term agreements. The company's operations are organized into two main segments: Coal Royalty and Other, and Soda Ash. Founded in 2002, Natural Resource Partners has established itself as a key player in the natural resources sector.

Meritus Ventures, L.P. is a venture capital firm established in 2002 and headquartered in London, Kentucky, with an additional office in Knoxville, Tennessee. The firm specializes in making equity investments in private, expansion-stage companies, focusing primarily on rural areas in Central and Southern Appalachia, including states such as Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Meritus Ventures invests between $0.25 million and $2.5 million in each portfolio company, typically over multiple rounds, and prefers equity investments in preferred stocks. The firm is particularly interested in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and software, though it maintains a broad industry focus. Meritus seeks active involvement in its investments, offering operational assistance and mentoring, often funded through grants from the USDA/SBA. The firm generally holds investments for three to five years, planning to exit through methods such as sales, mergers, management buyouts, or initial public offerings.

Berwind is a fifth-generation, family-owned investment management company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It operates through two primary entities: Berwind Natural Resources Corporation and Berwind Financial Group. The Natural Resources division focuses on land and resource management, owning, leasing, developing, and selling mineral resources, particularly natural gas and coal, in states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. Founded in 1962, this division has its roots in the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company. Meanwhile, Berwind Financial Group serves as an equity investor and investment banking firm, specializing in middle-market companies. It provides a range of services, including equity investments, mergers and acquisitions advice, and financial strategy. The firm emphasizes a personalized approach and agility, catering to the unique needs of its clients across various industries.

Blue Highway Capital is a private equity firm that focuses on providing growth capital to small and middle-market companies, particularly in rural communities within the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The firm primarily invests in sectors such as specialty manufacturing, distribution and logistics, business and technology services, healthcare and medical products, as well as natural resources and environmental services. With a target equity investment range of $2 million to $5 million, Blue Highway Capital seeks companies with revenues exceeding $2 million, typically preferring to take either majority or minority stakes. The firm operates from its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, with additional offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Biddeford, Maine.

Route 2 Capital Partners is a private equity firm founded in 2017 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, with an additional office in Charleston. The firm specializes in providing both debt and equity investments to lower middle market companies primarily located in the southern United States. It targets investments ranging from $3 million to $5 million in businesses with an EBITDA between $2 million and $10 million and annual revenues of at least $10 million. Route 2 Capital Partners focuses on sectors such as business services, healthcare services, niche manufacturing, and specialty distribution, aiming to support growth through acquisitions, buyouts, and recapitalizations.

TorcSill Foundations LLC specializes in the design, manufacture, and installation of helical piles and ground anchoring systems primarily for the energy sector. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Pasadena, Texas, the company serves a broad range of customers, including oil and gas midstream operations, electrical transmission and utility firms, EPC contractors, and various industrial facilities. TorcSill is recognized for its engineering expertise and commitment to safety, ensuring that all foundations are installed to high standards. With additional offices across several states, including North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, the company has established a significant presence in the energy market, focusing on quality and efficiency in its offerings.

FirstEnergy Corp. is a diversified energy company based in Akron, Ohio, engaged in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across the United States. The company operates through regulated distribution and transmission segments, managing a portfolio that includes coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, natural gas, wind, and solar power facilities. FirstEnergy serves approximately six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, with an extensive infrastructure of 24,486 circuit miles of transmission lines and 269,691 miles of distribution lines. The company is recognized as one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the nation, with its generation subsidiaries controlling over 14,000 megawatts of capacity. Founded in 1996, FirstEnergy is committed to providing energy management and related services to its retail and wholesale customers.

U.S. Silica Holdings is a prominent producer of high-quality silica products, including unground silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay, and aplite. Established over a century ago, the company traces its origins to the discovery of the Oriskany sandstone deposit in West Virginia by Henry Harrison Hunter, who showcased silica sand at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Over the years, U.S. Silica has expanded its operations through acquisitions and the development of a diverse range of over 200 unique products. The company operates a comprehensive network of production plants and packaging facilities across the United States, facilitating reliable procurement of silica and other industrial minerals. A significant portion of its revenue is generated from its Oil and Gas Proppants segment, supporting hydraulic fracturing operations. U.S. Silica emphasizes collaboration with customers to innovate product applications while maintaining a commitment to health, safety, quality, and environmental integrity. In 2008, the company was acquired by Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Eastern Vault Company, Inc. specializes in the manufacturing of precast and prestressed concrete products. Its extensive product range includes prestressed bridge beams, precast manholes, open-topped drains, vaults, and concrete steps, among other offerings. The company also produces a variety of engineered concrete solutions such as structural precast products, box culverts, and burial vaults, catering to construction, utility, and mission-critical projects. Established in 1970 and based in Princeton, West Virginia, Eastern Vault serves clients across West Virginia and neighboring states including Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, distributing its products through a network of dealers.

Aldrich Capital Partners is a Virginia-based private equity firm founded in 2014, focusing on investments in sectors such as fintech, healthcare information technology, software, and tech-enabled services. The firm aims to support private, entrepreneur-run companies in achieving their growth objectives by leveraging its extensive resources, industry knowledge, and network. Aldrich Capital Partners' team comprises experienced investors and operators who have collectively facilitated over $1 billion in technology investments over the past decade. The firm has a strong track record of collaborating with owner-operators to build sustainable businesses and assist them in realizing their liquidity goals. Its leadership and advisors bring decades of experience in executing transactions across various industries, including business services and healthcare, enhancing the operational and strategic support offered to portfolio companies.

Civitas Media, based in Davidson, North Carolina, operates as a local information company with a strong emphasis on community newspaper publishing. The organization publishes over 100 titles, including daily and weekly newspapers and magazines, achieving a combined weekly distribution exceeding 1.6 million copies. Civitas Media focuses on delivering community news, information, and entertainment through various platforms, including print, digital media, and video. With a workforce of more than 1,200 employees across 12 states, the company is dedicated to serving as a primary source of local information, adapting to evolving technologies in both content and advertising.

Grape Arbor LLC is a venture capital firm founded in 2006 and based in Grafton, West Virginia. It specializes in making investments in startups and early-stage companies, particularly in sectors such as online advertising and marketing, social networking, financial services, and software/web-enhanced services. The firm typically targets companies with trailing revenues ranging from several hundred thousand to a few million dollars and looks for those with a clear strategy for addressing large, rapidly growing markets. Grape Arbor focuses its investments primarily in the United States, Europe, and Africa, with occasional investments outside these regions. Over the years, the firm has collaborated with several notable co-investors and has supported more than two dozen companies, ranging from those in the pre-beta stage to those with established revenue streams.

iNetworks BioMedical Advisors is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1999. The firm specializes in providing strategic management and business development support to companies and research institutions within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and healthcare sectors. iNetworks focuses on investing in information technology and life science companies, aiming to accelerate their growth while delivering strong returns for investors. Through its Opportunity Fund, the firm targets opportunities specifically in healthcare and information technology, positioning itself as a key player in these dynamic industries.

Core10 is a company focused on revitalizing the heartland by linking West Virginia's skilled workforce of developers, analysts, and quality assurance professionals with the rapidly evolving fintech sector. It offers a range of banking and lending products, as well as financial technology services tailored to community banks and credit unions. Core10's platform features a configurable lending and onboarding banking application that aims to enhance digital innovation in the financial industry. The company provides outsourced fintech solutions, integration expertise, and implementation services, enabling its clients to effectively navigate and transform their operations within the $20 billion fintech landscape.

Tecum Capital is a private equity firm based in Wexford, Pennsylvania, specializing in investments in lower middle market companies across various sectors, including business services, healthcare, consumer goods, and precision manufacturing. Founded in 2006, the firm focuses on providing mezzanine debt and equity capital to stable and growing enterprises in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and surrounding regions. Tecum Capital typically invests between $3 million and $20 million, targeting companies with an enterprise value of $10 million to $50 million and revenues between $8 million and $100 million. The firm aims for either majority or minority stakes and prefers to hold investments for up to seven years. Tecum Capital also manages Tecum Capital Partners, a $200 million SBIC investment fund launched in 2013, which seeks to enhance its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and growth capital investments.

Tamarind Hill is a venture capital firm founded in 2017 and based in Dublin, Ohio. The firm focuses on providing Entrepreneurial Stage Capital™ to seed and early-stage companies, primarily in the B2B software sectors such as healthcare IT and enterprise IT. With offices located in Ann Arbor and Columbus, Tamarind Hill aims to identify investment opportunities across the Midwestern U.S., including states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The firm's investment strategy emphasizes automation software, workflow software, business software, productivity software, application software, vertical market software, and healthcare-related enterprise systems, with a particular focus on enhancing outcomes in the healthcare sector.

M&T Bank Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, and traces its origins to the founding of Manufacturers and Traders Bank. It operates as Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, offering a wide range of financial services to consumers, businesses, and government clients. M&T Bank provides various products, including deposits, consumer and commercial loans, credit cards, and investment options. Additionally, it offers services such as Treasury Management, merchant services, and insurance. As of late 2015, M&T Bank held approximately $123 billion in assets and ranks among the largest commercial bank holding companies in the United States. The bank operates over 800 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs across several states, including New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, facilitating access to its diverse financial offerings.

Carousel Capital is a private investment firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 1996. The firm specializes in mid-market investments, focusing on companies in the business services, consumer products and services, and healthcare services sectors, primarily in the Southeastern United States. Carousel Capital partners with management teams to foster the growth of businesses, aiming to build firms with national and global reach. The firm manages a buyout fund that targets investments in 8 to 12 businesses with a minimum EBITDA of $3 million, typically over a 3 to 5-year horizon. Its investor base includes institutional investors and a network of over one hundred current and former corporate Chief Executive Officers, who contribute to opportunity sourcing and provide valuable sector insights and strategic support.

Oxford Capital Group, LLC is a diversified national real estate investment, development, management and branding firm that focuses on large-scale acquisitions, developments, and redevelopments. Many of these investments benefit from the involvement of the company’s wholly owned hotel-operating affiliate, Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

Google is a multinational corporation that specializes in Internet-related services and products, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. Its primary offerings include Google Search, which helps users find information online, and a range of advertising services such as AdWords and AdSense. The company also provides various consumer and business tools, including Google Drive for collaboration, Google Maps for navigation, and Google Play for digital entertainment. Additionally, Google has ventured into hardware with products like Chromebooks and smart devices. The company is also focused on artificial intelligence through Google AI, developing advanced technologies to enhance its products. Furthermore, Google engages in philanthropic efforts through Google.org, supporting organizations that leverage technology for social good.

KeyBank National Association, a subsidiary of KeyCorp, is a comprehensive financial services provider based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1849, it offers a wide array of retail and commercial banking products across the United States through its Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank segments. KeyBank provides essential services such as checking and savings accounts, loans (including home equity, personal, and auto loans), credit cards, and investment products like individual retirement accounts and mutual funds. Additionally, the bank offers wealth management, financial advisory, and community development financing. Its operations include a network of branches and ATMs, as well as online and mobile banking platforms, ensuring accessibility for customers. KeyBank's diverse offerings cater to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and middle-market clients, making it one of the largest bank-based financial services companies in the nation.

Innovation Works is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1999. With over 20 years of experience, it has become a key player in Southwestern Pennsylvania's technology economy, focusing on investing in high-potential companies that can significantly impact the regional economy. As the largest investor in seed-stage companies in the region, Innovation Works supports a diverse range of sectors, including robotics, artificial intelligence, medical devices, retail technologies, and enterprise software. In addition to financial investment, the firm offers business expertise and resources to help manufacturers adopt new technologies, further fostering innovation and growth within the local economy.

Supply Chain Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Tampa, Florida, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in investing in the distribution and logistics sectors, focusing on B2B distribution companies and related services that are essential components of the supply chain. Its investment strategy includes platform acquisitions, corporate divestitures, and turnarounds, primarily targeting middle-market and mature-stage businesses. Supply Chain Equity Partners concentrates on sectors such as consumer durables, healthcare equipment distribution, and construction materials, among others. The firm typically seeks to acquire controlling or majority stakes in its portfolio companies, ensuring active involvement in their management and growth, while also being open to non-controlling investments. Through its deep sector expertise and disciplined investment process, the firm aims to enhance the performance of its portfolio companies and drive value creation in the logistics and distribution landscape.

Corre Partners is a lending firm, founded in 209 and based in New York City, New York. The firm provides financing solutions.

Enhanced Capital Partners, founded in 1999 and headquartered in New York City, is a national investment firm specializing in equity and debt investments in small and mid-sized companies across the United States. With over $400 million under management, the firm focuses on various sectors, including healthcare technology, renewable energy, and affordable housing projects. Enhanced Capital employs a flexible investment approach that includes offering tax credits, tax credit lending, and impact lending to foster the growth and expansion of businesses. The firm manages multiple funds that primarily target the lower middle market, utilizing federal and state incentive programs along with public policy investment strategies to maximize growth potential and support rapid development for its portfolio companies.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services institution headquartered in San Francisco, California, founded in 1852. It offers a wide range of banking, investment, mortgage, insurance, and consumer finance products to individuals, businesses, and institutions both in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three main segments: Community Banking, which includes personal banking services such as checking accounts, loans, and credit cards; Wholesale Banking, which provides commercial and corporate banking services, including asset-based lending and treasury management; and Wealth and Investment Management, offering personalized financial planning, investment management, and retirement services. With significant assets and a substantial presence, Wells Fargo operates thousands of retail branches and ATMs across North America and around the globe. The firm also engages in corporate and investment banking through its subsidiaries, delivering a comprehensive suite of financial services to meet diverse client needs.

PNC is a comprehensive financial services institution headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offering a range of banking services to individuals, small businesses, corporations, and government entities across the United States. The bank provides checking and savings accounts, mortgages, loans, credit cards, and wealth management services, along with specialized offerings for small businesses, such as business loans and merchant services. PNC also serves corporate and institutional clients with treasury management, capital markets, and investment management solutions. Founded in 1804, PNC has established a significant presence with over 2,700 branches and 7,400 ATMs, primarily in its core markets, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia. Additionally, PNC Mezzanine Capital, a subsidiary of PNC Financial Services Group, focuses on investments in middle-market companies, specializing in leveraged buyouts and growth capital transactions without engaging in early-stage investments.

Wasatch Equity Partners, founded in 1988 and based in Logan, Utah, is a private equity investment firm that focuses on investing in companies within the medical technology, property technology, energy, and enterprise services sectors. The firm engages in a variety of investment strategies, including all-equity and leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, public-to-private transactions, and recapitalizations. In addition to its investment activities, Wasatch Equity Partners offers a range of support services, including accounting, legal, marketing, tax, finance, information technology, and human resources. The firm also provides debt financing options such as guaranty capital, convertible debt, and mezzanine financing, catering to the diverse needs of the companies it invests in. Inquiries can be made through phone calls, email, and online applications.

Founded in 2020, Twenty Five Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in San Mateo, California. The firm prefers to invest in real estate, property technology, and financial infrastructure sectors.

Sun Capital Partners is a private equity firm established in 1995 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The firm specializes in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies across various sectors, including business services, consumer products, healthcare, industrial, and technology. With a focus on control buyouts of defensible businesses in growing markets, Sun Capital partners with its in-house operating professionals to enhance the performance of its portfolio companies. The firm invests primarily in North America and Europe, leveraging its extensive experience to drive value in its investments.

Founded in 2023, Bias Capital is a venture capital firm based in San Franciso, California. The firm prefers to invest in early-stage & seed-stage firms.

The Carlyle Group, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a global alternative asset manager specializing in private equity, real assets, and investment solutions. With over $81 billion in equity capital under management, the firm operates across various fund families that focus on leveraged buyouts, venture and growth capital, real estate, and leveraged finance investments. Carlyle employs more than 575 investment professionals across 21 countries, managing a diverse portfolio that includes investments in sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, technology, and financial services. The firm has established a significant presence in the private equity industry, targeting long-term capital appreciation through strategic investments in businesses and management teams. Carlyle's extensive network includes over 1,200 institutional and private investors from 68 countries. The firm also recently expanded into hedge fund management, further diversifying its investment offerings.

NASA's vision is to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958, partially in response to the Soviet Union's launch of the first artificial satellite the previous year. NASA grew out of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), which had been researching flight technology for more than 40 years. President John F. Kennedy focused NASA and the nation on sending astronauts to the moon by the end of the 1960s. Through the Mercury and Gemini projects, NASA developed the technology and skills it needed for the journey. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first of 12 men to walk on the moon, meeting Kennedy's challenge. Meanwhile, NASA was continuing the aeronautics research pioneered by NACA. It also conducted purely scientific research and worked on developing applications for space technology, combining both pursuits in developing the first weather and communications satellites. After Apollo, NASA focused on creating a reusable ship to provide regular access to space: the space shuttle. First launched in 1981, the space shuttle flew more than 130 successful flights before retiring in 2011. In 2000, the United States and Russia established permanent human presence in space aboard the International Space Station, a multinational project representing the work of 16 nations. NASA also has continued its scientific research. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder became the first in a fleet of spacecraft that will explore Mars in the next decade, as we try to determine if life ever existed there. The Terra and Aqua satellites are flagships of a different fleet, this one in Earth orbit, designed to help us understand how our home world is changing. NASA's aeronautics teams are focused on improved aircraft travel that is safer and cleaner. Throughout its history, NASA has conducted or funded research that has led to numerous improvements to life here on Earth.

JPMorgan Chase is a financial holding company headquartered in New York, providing a wide range of financial services globally. Established in 1799, the firm operates through various segments, including investment banking, commercial banking, and asset management. Its investment banking division offers services such as corporate strategy advisory, capital raising in equity and debt markets, risk management, and market-making in securities and derivatives. In addition, JPMorgan Chase serves consumers and small businesses with financial transaction processing and innovative banking solutions. The company is committed to delivering comprehensive financial services tailored to the needs of its diverse clientele, making it a significant player in the global financial landscape.

White Deer Energy is a private equity investment firm established in 2008, with offices in Houston, Texas, and New York. The firm focuses on the mid-market segments of the oil and gas industry, specifically targeting investments in exploration and production, oilfield services and equipment manufacturing, and midstream operations. With $821 million in assets under management, White Deer Energy aims to provide growth capital through equity investments ranging from $50 to $100 million. The firm has a strong track record of creating value for its investors and partners, supported by a team with extensive industry expertise and a wide network of relationships in the energy and financial sectors. White Deer Energy has invested in a diverse portfolio, which includes exploration and production companies, domestic service and equipment manufacturers, and an international service company.

Patriot Financial Partners, L.P. is a private equity firm founded in 2007 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm specializes in investing in community banks, thrifts, and other financial services companies across the United States. It focuses on growth-stage investments, targeting transactions typically ranging from $5 million to $35 million. Patriot Financial Partners seeks to capitalize on market opportunities primarily in metropolitan, growth, or niche markets, aiming for non-controlling investments in small to mid-sized banks with solid core deposit franchises. The firm is particularly interested in companies within the healthcare, real estate, distressed debt, and structured debt sectors, as well as financial technology.

Scotiabank, founded in 1832 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a leading financial institution that serves approximately 21 million customers in over 55 countries. The bank offers a comprehensive range of banking products and services, including personal and commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management, and insurance. Its private equity arm focuses on middle-market investments, specializing in sectors such as healthcare, technology, and consumer products. Scotiabank typically invests between $5 million and $25 million in companies, seeking both minority and majority ownership stakes. With a commitment to managing risk and capital effectively, Scotiabank aims to support individuals, businesses, and communities in achieving financial success. The organization employs over 86,000 people dedicated to understanding customer needs and delivering tailored financial solutions.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA), established in 1857 and headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is an international financial group that offers a wide range of banking and financial services. It provides retail and wholesale banking, asset management, private banking, and insurance services. The bank's offerings include current and savings accounts, term deposits, various loan products, credit cards, and corporate and investment banking services. BBVA operates in multiple regions, including Spain, Mexico, South America, the United States, Turkey, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, catering to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, institutional investors, and corporations. The merger of Banco Bilbao and Argentaria in 1999 strengthened its market position, allowing for enhanced value creation and diversified risk management. BBVA is also involved in managing pension funds and foreclosed real estate assets, reflecting its comprehensive approach to financial services.

Truist Financial, founded in 1871 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a comprehensive banking organization that provides a variety of financial services. It serves both individual and commercial clients, offering retail deposit services, small business lending, consumer finance, and wealth management solutions. Additionally, Truist provides asset management, home equity and mortgage lending, and investment brokerage services. For commercial clients, the bank offers asset-based lending, commercial mortgage lending, leasing and payment solutions, supply chain financing, and treasury services. Through its diverse range of services, Truist aims to meet the financial needs of its customers effectively.

Mizuho Bank, established in 2013 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, provides a comprehensive range of banking services tailored for major corporations, financial institutions, and public sector entities. Its offerings include corporate and investment banking, facilitating various financial products such as deposits, loans, and trade financing. Mizuho Bank also engages in investment banking services including real estate finance, acquisition finance, and syndication. As a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, it plays a significant role in Japan's banking landscape, focusing more on corporate clients compared to its peers. Additionally, Mizuho has expanded its reach through subsidiaries like Mizuho Americas and Mizuho Capital Partners, which specialize in investment banking and private equity, respectively, thereby enhancing its service capabilities and market presence both domestically and internationally.

TD Securities is an investment banking firm based in Toronto, Canada, established in 1987. The firm offers a comprehensive range of advisory and capital market services, including investment banking, equity research, and commodities. Its investment banking services encompass mergers and acquisitions, debt capital markets, corporate divestitures, private placements, and various financing solutions such as bridge and acquisition financing. Additionally, TD Securities provides risk management services and securities brokerage, catering to a diverse clientele across sectors such as communications, media, technology, financial institutions, energy, and real estate. The firm also engages in research and offers capital market products, reflecting its commitment to delivering tailored financial solutions to clients globally.

Penfund is a prominent private equity firm based in Toronto, Canada, established in 1979. It specializes in providing junior capital to mid-market companies across North America, focusing on both debt and equity investments. The firm offers a range of financial solutions including mezzanine debt, second lien debt, and equity co-investments, as well as bridge financing and financial guarantees. Penfund manages capital sourced from various institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, and banks. With over $2.5 billion invested in more than 220 companies since its inception, Penfund continues to actively invest through its latest fund, Penfund Capital Fund IV, which has $460 million in committed capital. The firm's investment strategy primarily targets sectors such as industrials, consumer products, and healthcare.

Computershare, founded in Australia in 1978, has evolved into a leading global provider of issuer services, employing over 15,000 people across approximately 90 offices worldwide. The company offers a diverse range of services, including employee share plans, corporate communications, business services, and corporate trust solutions. Computershare has expanded significantly through acquisitions and focuses on delivering certainty and innovation to its clients. A notable aspect of its operations is the generation of income from client cash balances, which is sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, contributing to a substantial portion of the company's earnings. As a recognized leader in its field, Computershare emphasizes a commitment to service excellence and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit among its workforce.