Nordic American Offshore Limited: Owner and Operator of Platform Supply Vessels

Incorporated in the Marshall Islands in 2013, Nordic American Offshore Limited continues to engage in the acquisition and operation of platform supply vessels (PSV). The business offers their services and solutions to the international markets.

Platform supply vessels are huge ships that are used to supply offshore oil and gas platforms. At present, the company has 10 of these vessels that are operating around the world. Their vessels include the NAO Horizon, NAO Galaxy, NAO Viking, NAO Guardian, NAO Storm, NAO Power, NAO Prosper, NAO Fighter, NAO Thunder and NAO Protector. They have strong partnerships with some of the biggest names in the oil and gas industry. There are two subsidiaries that the business oversees, namely Nordic American Offshore (UK) Limited and Platform Supply Vessels (PSV).

Nordic American Offshore Limited is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. It remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and markets its common shares using the ticker symbol NAO.

National Storage Affiliates Trust: The 6th Largest Operator of Storage Facilities in US

Self storage facilities continue to provide leasable space to both companies and individual consumers. These facilities are rented in various terms and addresses the need for extra space to store items and other personal effects, that are to be used in the future. In the United States, there are several companies that offer this kind of products and services. National Storage Affiliates Trust is one of the most trusted and one of the largest in the industry.

Considered as the 6th largest owner and operator of storage facilities in the United States, the company strongly attributed its growth to acquisition and the expansion of its Participating Regional Operators. National Storage Affiliates continues to operate as a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust. At present, the operations of the company include the ownership and management of 277 self storage facilities. These properties have a total of 15.8 million rentable square feet and are operating in 16 states.

National Storage Affiliates continues to attract private operators to join their network of Participating Regional Operators. To entice these operators, they provide the same benefits that were only previously available to the publicly traded affiliate of the company. Currently, their lineup of Regional Operators includes SecurCare Self Storage, Guardian storage, Move It and Storage Solutions, Northwest Self Storage and Optivest Properties. These operators continue to align their operations with the ideals of the company and operate with transparency and integrity as its two core principles. National Storage continues to focus on the integration of their best in class practices to those operators who are located in the top 100 markets in the country.

It is in Greenwood Village, Colorado that the company holds its corporate office. National Storage Affiliates Trust remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and continues to market its common shares using the symbol NSA. The business remains listed as a component of the Russell 3000 Index.

Liberty Media: A Diversified Media Company

Liberty Media is a multi-billion media company that is currently controlled by Chairman John C. Malone, who is also a major stockholder of the business. This American mass media company is also known as the Liberty.

Generating more than $10.98 billion in annual revenue, Liberty Media has interests in entertainment and communications and operates several divisions, including the Liberty Capital, Liberty Interactive Group and Other Assets. These divisions are represented by various brand names that continue to provide entertainment and telecommunication services. Some of the most prominent subsidiaries of the company include Sirius XM Holdings, Inc., Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc., among others.

The company is also an investor and has interests in some of the leading brand names in media and entertainment, including in Barnes & Noble, Inc., CenturyLink, Inc. and Charter Communications, to name a few. It is in Douglas County, Colorado that the business holds its corporate office.

Lexmark International: A Global Printer and Software Enterprise Company

It was in 1991 that Lexmark International was put up as an international provider of laser printers and enterprise software. This American venture is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky and continues to operate several hubs across the world. It is listed as a component of the Russell 3000 and the S&P 400 Indices. It thrives in the industries of Enterprise Output, Business Process Management, Printers, Document Management Systems and Enterprise Content Management.

The creation of the business is the result of IBM’s move to divest its hardware manufacturing operations to investment firm Clayton & Dubilier & Rice, Inc. Since its inception, Lexmark International has received several laudations in the industry it serves. The operations of the company are intended to help businesses and organizations improve their processes and reduce their operational costs. As the world moves into the digital age, the award winning imaging and output technologies offered by the company continues to evolve.

Leading market analyst firms around the world continue to recognize the expertise of the company. Its offerings are able to reach more than 170 countries. The offerings of the business generate more than $3.7 billion annually. There are more than 12,700 associates who are working for the company, they have operations in the Philippines, India, Sweden, Germany and the United States. They also maintain several offices across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. Since 2010, the company has been aggressively taking over businesses and acquired companies that further expanded its operations. Through these takeovers, the company has expanded to include innovative software solutions.

In November 1995, the business has made its initial public offering. It is on the New York Stock Exchange that the company markets its common shares. It uses the ticker symbol LXK. Currently, Paul Rooke, sits as the company’s Chairman and CEO.

Hingham Institution for Savings: Hingham’s Oldest Financial Institution

Acknowledged as one of the oldest continuously operating banks in the United States, Hingham Institution for Savings is considered as the oldest financial institution in Hingham. The institution has been around since 1834 and continues to operate as a full service community bank.

Serving more than 20,000 customers in the state of Massachusetts,  Hingham Institution for Savings operates 11 bank branches and offers a wide range of financial services. The company has assets amounting to over $1.7 billion. It continues to attract deposits from customers, businesses and institutions and use the pooled funds to finance its lending activities. The product portfolio of the company includes Savings and Certificate of Deposits, payment products, courier services and commercial loans. Their operations cover the areas in South Shore, the South End of Boston and Beacon Hill and as well as in Nantucket.

The company remains publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. It market its shares using the ticker symbol HIFS.

GTT Communications: Global Tier 1 IP Network Provider

Overseeing their global operations from their headquarters in McLean, Virginia, GTT Communications operates in more than 100 countries around the world. The IP network services offered by the company have been consistently ranked as part of the world’s Top 5 IP networks. It was not until January 2014 that the company adopted its current name. It was previously marketed as the Global Telecom & Technology Communications, Inc.

GTT Communications is a telecommunications and internet provider company that was established in 1998. It operates a Tier 1network and caters to the needs of enterprises, carrier customers and government entities for IP transit and MPLS transport services. The main objective of the offerings of the company is to help their business partners and client better reach the cloud. The business has a strong understanding of how the cloud network continues to shape the growth and operational excellence of companies.

Currently, GTT Communications offers internet services, managed services, telecommunications and unified communications. There are more than 250 Points-of-Presence (PoPs) that the company operates under its network reach. These PoPs are located in more than 300 markets, including the 56 top metropolitan areas. Through these resources, they are able to provide flexible solutions to their clients to connect to the cloud from anywhere around the world. The business takes pride of their comprehensive portfolio of managed services. Their industry-leading experts continue to offer multi-layered security services, managed CPE, PCI compliance services and managed remote access.

GTT Communications provides its products and services to the world while highlighting their three core values: Simplicity, Speed and Agility. Because of the wide network the business operates, they are able to respond to their clients’ needs right away. They remain agile and continuously challenges boundaries to provide the latest innovation in connectivity.

Entercom: A Broadcasting Company

Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Entercom operates as an American broadcasting company. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol ETM. The company is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index.

Founded in 1968, the company is acknowledged as the 4th largest radio company in the United States. Entercom operates more than 125 radio stations. These ventures continue to reach out to 27 media markets. On a weekly basis, the offerings of the business are able to reach to more than 40 million people across the country. They offer engaging news, talk, sports and music content. Additionally, they also hold and operate hundreds of events every year that continue to attract millions of attendees.

It is in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania that the business holds its corporate office. Currently, the business is led by their Chief Executive Officer, David Field.

Erin Energy Corp: An Independent Oil and Natural Gas Company

Erin Energy Corporation is one of the energy companies in the United States that holds its corporate office in Houston, Texas. The company is registered as one of the independent oil and natural gas exploration businesses that continues to focus its resources in operations outside the country. The business focuses on harnessing the energy resources in Africa.

As a global player in the oil and natural gas industry, Erin Energy has a rich portfolio of properties in several countries in Africa. Part of its portfolio is the 9 licenses that cover an area of about 43,000 square kilometers (10 million acres). These licenses include production and exploration properties that are located in Kenya, Gambia, Ghana and in Nigeria. The business continues to seek for opportunities of expanding their operations and their portfolio by acquiring more properties in resources-rich areas where they operate nearby. In Nigeria, the company has a 100% interest in oil mining leases. Their property in the country includes the Oyo Field, which achieved its first oil production in 2009. The acreage of the company in Kenya includes 36,913 kilometers of property that is smack in the center of the Lamu Basin. They also have ultradeep water operations in the Indian Ocean. In Gambia, Erin Energy maintains two exploration licenses and operates within the greater Senegal-Basin. It is in the Shallow Water Tano Block in Ghana that the company operates in the country.

The operations of the company were rolled out through their strong ties with much bigger oil and gas businesses. It has partnerships with CONOCO, BP, Statoil and ENI. Prior to adopting its current brand name, the business was introduced as Cameroon-American Company (CAMAC). It was not until 2015 that the business adopted its new brand name.

Erin Energy Corporation remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, where it began trading in 2010. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol ERN. In 2014, the business made its debut on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.: Connecting Businesses and Individuals to the World

Incorporated in March 2002, Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. operates several subsidiaries that engage in providing communication services in several states across the country. The business is headquartered in Mattoon, Illinois.

Its offerings include communications services in commercial, consumer and carrier channels. Their products and services are available in the states of California, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas and in Rhode Island. Their offerings include network access services, long-distance services, local calling services; video, data and internet services, and other related services. The company has a strong partnership with GTE Mobilnet to carry out their operations in certain states.
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. offers a wide range of telecommunications services. Through their products and services, they provide the means for businesses and individual users to connect to the world. The company is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index.

Code Rebel: Software Solutions Specific for Mac Devices

Thriving in the computer software industry, Code Rebel designs, manufactures, licenses, markets and supports various computer software. The business is best known for supporting the products offered by Apple, Inc. Their main offerings include terminal services and virtualization software.

It was in October 2006 that the company was created by Arben Kryeziu. This American technology company is currently headquartered in Kahului, Hawaii and remains publicly traded on the NASDSAQ Stock Exchange. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol CDRB. Through years of perseverance and fearless innovation, Code Rebel has created the most suitable software that would allow Mac users to remotely access a specific application in any Apple device in its active state. The flagship products of the company are the iRAPP and iRAPP TS, which have gained popularity in a wide range of verticals.

As a testament to the company’s expertise and breadth of their knowledge of software applications, they have won the trust and confidence of major companies around the world. A handful of the Fortune 500 companies adopted their software solutions because of its secure remote desktop and stability. Their two leading software products have established a name as preferred enterprise software solutions specific to Mac. Giant companies like IBM, USAA and JP Morgan continue to advocate the products and services offered by Code Rebel. Compared to other software companies, the offerings of the business remain focused on supporting Mac devices. It continues to innovate products to further customize the level of service they provide to their business partners.

Code Rebel is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index. As of December 2014, the company has more than 50 software engineers and designers that are working in their offices in the United States and across Europe. The products and services of the company are marketed by their network of 17 resellers across 9 countries around the world.

U.S. Ordnance, Inc. And Its Partnership with the Military

U.S. Ordnance–Defense Systems and Manufacturing, usually known as USORD, is one of the few arms manufacturers with close ties to the United States military. Since 1997, the firearms manufacturer has designed, developed and produced small firearms and machine guns including their replacement parts.

Its specialization include the production of new and enhanced versions of Mk43/M60E4 and M2, both of which are combat-proven mature firearms. In fact, the Nevada-based corporation is the only authorized manufacturer of the Mk43 machine gun for this reason. U.S. Ordnance also tests and manufactures these guns according to the technical specifications and instructions of the U.S. military.

U.S. Ordnance has several primary weapons systems including the M2A2 (QCB), the M2HB, the M60D Enhanced, the Mk43/M60E4, and the M16/M4/M203; all of these weapons are sanctioned by NATO as well. The company sells these weapons to military unites, law enforcement agencies, and to foreign leaderships and militaries approved by the federal government as well as provides the training for these products.

U.S. Steel: Among Giants of the Global Steel Industry

In 2 March 1901, J. P. Morgan and Elbert H. Gary founded U.S. Steel by merging the Carnegie Steel Company, Federal Steel Company, and National Steel Company. At one time, the American integrated steel producer was the world’s largest corporation and largest steel producer as well as the world’s first corporation to reach a $1 billion market capitalization.

Today, U.S. Steel may not be the titan it once was but it is still a giant among its peers in the global steel production industry. In 2014, it was the ranked as the world’s 15th largest steel producer with major production operations across North America and Central Europe.

Its headquarters are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while its production facilities have a combine annual raw steel production capability of over 24.4 million tons. U.S. Steel also manufactures several value-added products including steel sheets and tubular items for distribution to diverse industries including oil and gas, appliance, automotive, industrial machinery, container, and construction.

The corporation has several integrated steel facilities including:

• Gary Works with the facilities in Gary, Indiana; Midwest Plant in Portage, Indiana; and East Chicago Tin in East Chicago, Indiana
• Mon Valley Works including the Irvin Plant and Edgar Thomson Plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as the Fairless Plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Great Lake Works with the plants in Ecorse and River Rouge, both in Michigan
• Fairfield Works in Fairfield, Alabama
• Granite Clay Works located in Granite City, Illinois
• U. S. Steel Košice located in the Slovak Republic

U.S. Steel has also established several joint ventures for steel finishing projects in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.

As a recognized leader in steelmaking process and product technology, U.S. Steel has been known to produce the world’s best steel-based products. It has four R&D facilities with scientists dedicated to discovering new technologies and pushing the boundaries of steelmaking.

Indeed, U.S. Steel may yet take back its crown as the titan of the global steelmaking industry!

Education Realty Trust, Inc.: Operator of Collegiate Housing Communities

Education Realty Trust, Inc. is one of the real estate investment trust (REIT) firms that focus its resources on the acquisition, development, ownership and redevelopment of collegiate housing communities. The properties owned by the business are near university campuses across the country.

Incorporated in July 2004, the business holds its corporate office in Memphis, Tennessee. As of December 2014, their portfolio is comprised of 50 collegiate housing communities. These properties are located in 21 states. In aggregate, these properties have a total of 10,444 apartment units and are near 37 universities. In addition to managing and owning their own portfolio, the business also engages in providing third-party management services for m23 collegiate housing communities.

The company has been around since 1964 and is now a multi-million venture. It remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and continues to market its common shares using the ticker symbol EDR.

Brandywine Realty Trust: More than 20 Years of Excellence in Real Estate

Founded in 1994, Brandywine Realty Trust operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) firm. The company engages in the acquisition, ownership and development of Class-A offices and mixed use properties. On the company’s website they highlighted their operations to be always “Best of Class”.

For more than 20 years, it has provided the United States with some of the most remarkable properties that further harness their tenants’ potential to grow and expand their operations. It was Jerry Sweeney, who created the business. It is now headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania and manages more than 220 commercial properties. Additionally, they have about 25 industrial parcels of land and mixed use properties. The business is capable of generating more than $500 million in annual revenue. As of 2010, their assets are estimated to be around $4.69 billion.

Through the company’s strategic approach in acquiring not just properties, but entire companies, they continue to expand their operations and presence across the country. Some of the companies it has acquired include the Prentiss Properties Trust and a substantial holding value in Center City. Brandywine Realty Trust maintains offices in Northern California, Texas, Delaware, Virginia, Southern California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and in Metro D.C. For years, the company has benchmarked some of the best practices in the industry. Out of its boards, sprung some of the most visionary development projects in the country.

The business remains listed on the Wilshire 5000 Index. It continues to publicly trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol BDN. In addition to the development and ownership of properties across the country, a substantial portion of the company engages in offering construction and development services. The company remains strongly rooted on the communities it serves and never fails to give back through outreach projects and community services.

WSI Industries, Inc.: A Leader in Contract Manufacturing

Until 1999, WSI Industries, Inc. continued to operate under the flagship banner of Washington Scientific Industries. The business is a publicly traded company and made its initial public offering on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange using the ticker symbol WSCI in 1958.

The business is an expert in engineering and manufacturing of precision parts and assemblies that are used in a wide range of industries. It has become a reliable partner in providing businesses their needs to keep on growing despite stiff competitions in the markets they serve. The offerings of WSI Industries, Inc. promote the reduction of operating costs, increase in efficiency and improvement of finished products. It supports a wide range of industries that range from aerospace to powersports.

The business is a national partner in contract manufacturing. It maintains several facilities around the country and holds its headquarters in Monticello, Minnesota. Operations of the company remain onshore and doesn’t have any sales in other countries.

WSFS Financial Corp: A Delaware Bank Holding Company

WSFS Financial Corp is a Wilmington, Delaware financial holding company that offers a wide range of financial products and services through its operating subsidiary, the WSFS Bank. The history of the company goes back to the founding of the bank in 1832. The bank is considered as the 7th oldest bank that continuously operates under the same brand brand name since its founding.

Based on total deposits, the bank is considered as one of the largest financial institutions in the state of Delaware. The operations of the company cover three counties in the state and as well as certain areas in northern Virginia and southeastern Pennsylvania. Despite the stiff competition in the market, the business remains competitive in its operations. It attracts new depositors and retain new account through the efforts put in by their associates, who are not only known for their financial knowledge, but also for operating with their customers’ best interest at heart.

There are about 63 banking offices that WSFS Financial Corporation operates. These units offer retail and commercial banking products and services. They offer checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposits and a wide range of lines of credit. Their pooled deposits together with their short term borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Banks continue to fuel their financing operations. They provide a strong focus on small and medium-sized and strongly believes on the difference these ventures can give to the communities they thrive in.

Other than organic growth, WSFS Financial Corporation has found growth in strategically acquiring competing brand names. Last October 2015, the company has completed its acquisition of Alliance Bank, which gave the company 17 other banking branches. WSFS Financial Corporation operates as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol WSFS.

Walker & Dunlop, Inc.: A Commercial Real Estate Financial Services Company

Operating as a commercial real estate financial services company, Walker & Dunlop, Inc. operates through its subsidiary, the Walker & Dunlop, LLC. The business has several operations across the United States and hold its corporate office in Bethesda, Maryland.

The company focuses in multifamily lending. It continues to originate, sell and service a range of commercial real estate and multifamily financing products. The client base of Walker & Dunlop are owners and developers of commercial real estate. It operates as an approved Freddie Mac Program Plus lender. It offers construction and permanent loans to developers and owners of affordable housing, healthcare facilities and senior housing across the country. Its operations cover 22 states.

The proprietary capital business of Walker & Dunlop uses its own balance sheet or drawn from their partnerships with institutional investors. The business remains publicly traded in the New York Stock Exchange and uses the ticker symbol WD to market its common shares.

Washington Trust Bancorp: Banking for More than Two Centuries

One of the most trusted and is registered as the largest state-chartered bank in the state of Rhode Island is Washington Trust. The financial institution is the operating subsidiary of the Washington Trust Bancorp. As the oldest community bank in the region, the rich history of the company goes back to its founding in 1800.

Despite the changing landscape in the financial sector of the country, the business remains competitive for more than 2 centuries. Through innovation and excellence in customer service, the business continues to attract new investors and depositors and at the same time retain old clients. It remained solid in its influence in the growth of the region and continues to fuel development of communities where it operates in. Through its guiding principles of quality, integrity and community, Washington Trust remains steadfast in its commitment in serving the region and the country.

There are two reporting segments within the venture: Commercial Banking and Wealth Management Services. Both of these segments continue to offer an array of services that are intended to help their clients, businesses and institutions reach their financial goals. The Commercial Banking segment offers commercial, residential and consumer lending activities. This segment also offers customary banking products and services, merchant credit card services, cash management activities and operation of internet banking services, automated teller machines (ATMs) and telephone banking. The services offered by their Wealth Management Services include, personal trust services, financial planning and investment management.

Washington Trust operates 14 banking branches across the state of Rhode Island and 1 in Mystic, Connecticut. Additionally, they also operate 6 mortgage offices, 2 commercial lending offices and 4 wealth management offices. The headquarters of the company is located in Block Island, Rhode Island. Washington Trust Bancorp continues to publicly trade its common shares on the NASDAQ and uses the ticker symbol WASH. The business is registered as one of the components of the Wilshire 5000 Index.

Washburn Guitars: Making Guitars Is Its Passion

Founded in 1883, Washburn Guitars has been in the business of guitar manufacture for over 130 years and, today, it is one of the divisions of US Music Corporation; it was previously a division of Lyon & Healy, a manufacturer of stringed instruments. The name Washburn continues to be associated with world-class guitars, mandolins, zithers and banjos.

Washburn has also been at the forefront of innovations. One of its notable contributions to the music world is the Lakeside Jumbo guitar, the world’s first dreadnought-sized guitar that bridged the gap between parlor guitars and jumbo acoustic guitars; its modern version is the LSJ749. Yet another innovation was the Festival Series of Acoustic/Electric guitars, which had a thinner profile than the standard acoustic guitars of the time (1980s) so that feedback was significantly reduced; it quickly became the favorite guitars among famous guitarists including Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison as well as a staple in MTV’s Unplugged concerts.

Today, Washburn Guitars makes acoustic and electric guitars, electric and acoustic basses, mandolins, travel guitars, banjos, and amplifiers as well as accessories.

Warburg Pincus: Private Equity Leader

Warburg Pincus has been in the business as a global private equity firm since 1939 when Eric Warburg established E.M. Warburg & Co. with less than 20 employees. In 1966, E.M. Warburg & Co. and Lionel I. Pincus & Co. merged to become E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co., which would later on become the current version.

The American firm has offices in various locations in the United States as well as in Brazil, China, India and Europe. Its status as a leader in the private equity investment firm started in 1966 with the merging of the two companies, a status reinforced by its multibillion assets under management.

Warburg Pincus’ investments are in diverse areas including industrial services, financial services, consumer products and services, healthcare, media and telecommunications, technology, and real estate. As a growth investor, its portfolio of over 125 companies is classified according to stage, sector, and geography while its 13 private equity funds have invested in more than 675 companies in over 35 countries for a whopping total of $45 billion – and counting.

In the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, the company has made investments in many of the world’s largest enterprises including Telcordia, Avaya, Harbour Networks, PayScale, NeuStar, and Bharti Tele-Ventures.

Warburg Pincus is also a leader in the global private equity industry through another achievement – it is the firm with the highest number of initial public offerings completed with its companies. Over 120 of its companies have been listed on 12 stock exchanges, which have raised approximately $15 billion, with Warburg Pincus being the principal financial investor. Over 20 initial public offerings have been made outside of the United States.

The firm’s history of investments in venture capital includes several historic investments, such as the founding of BEA systems; the partnerships with Bridgepoint Education, Kosmos Energy, and Lepu Medical; and the founding as founding member of several venture capital associations in the United States and China, among others.