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020 A000001 TIEDEMANN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
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020 A000002 HOENIG & CO.
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020 A000003 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
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020 B000006 36-0899825
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020 A000007 PAINEWEBBER, INC.
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
020 A000008 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP.
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020 A000009 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
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022 C000002 949466
022 D000002 44324
022 A000003 LEHMAN BROTHERS
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022 C000003 613356
022 D000003 291528
022 A000004 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
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022 C000004 426505
022 D000004 192824
022 A000005 GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKET
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022 C000005 298500
022 D000005 302379
022 A000006 GOLDMAN SACHS& CO.
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022 C000006 443740
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022 A000007 DONALDSON, LUFKIN, JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP.
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022 C000007 113351
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
070 P010000 Y
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
074 E000000 11187
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
^^^^^^
</TABLE>