Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Research Adds Two Strategists to Global Commodities
Team
LONDON, June 2 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
PR34873
Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Research today announced the addition of two strategists to its
Global Commodities Research team. Michael Widmer joins to lead the research coverage effort in metals
markets and Tanapoom Damraks joins as a commodities strategist.
"These strategic hires confirm the commitment of Bank of America Merrill Lynch to the substantial
expansion of our global commodities business," said Francisco Blanch, head of Banc of America Securities-
Merrill Lynch Global
Commodities Research. "We are expanding our team to provide broader and deeper commodities research
for our clients."
Widmer joins from BNP Paribas where he was Senior Metals Strategist. Before BNP, Widmer was head of
Metals Research at Lehman Brothers where he had been responsible for building their base and precious
metals research
franchise in fixed income. He is based in London and will report to Blanch.
Widmer brings to this role in-depth industry expertise and a thorough understanding of client needs having
held a variety of senior commodities positions, including head of Metals Research at Calyon Corporate and
Investment Bank, and Macquarie Bank, among others. He earned a dual MSc degree in Finance/Economics
and International Management from the University of Cologne in Germany.
Damraks will earn a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago in June 2009. He also earned an
M.S. in Economics from the University of Chicago, an M.S. in Informatics from the University of Tokyo and a
BEng in Electronic Engineering from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Damraks is based in London and
will report to Blanch.
The goal of the company is to be the premier global research franchise, providing clients with exceptional
service, value-added investment insights and alpha-generating investment recommendations. Since January
2009, Banc of
America Securities-Merrill Lynch Global Research has hired seven analysts in EMEA and an additional 32
analysts globally. The Research team provides recommendations on nearly 3,000 equity securities and 850
corporate bond
issuers. The group also provides economic forecasts for approximately 60 countries and recommendations
on 40 currencies.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small-
and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides
unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 55 million consumer and small business
relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online
banking with nearly 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth
management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a
broad range of asset classes serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the
world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through
a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than
150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial
Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
"Bank of America Merrill Lynch" is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets
businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities
are performed by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A.,
member FDIC. Securities, financial advisory, and other
investment banking activities are performed by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation
("Investment Banking Affiliates"), including Banc of America Securities LLC, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, which are both registered broker-dealers and members of FINRA and SIPC. Investment
products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank
Guaranteed.
SOURCE: Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Research
CONTACT: Reporters:
Susan McCabe Walley,
Bank of America,
+1-212-449-0389,
susan_mccabe@ml.com, or
Tomos Rhys Edwards,
Bank of America,
+44-20-7995-2763,
tomos_edwards@ml.com
(BAC)
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