<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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SCHEDULE 13D
(RULE 13D-101)
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 /1/
TRIPOS INC.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
89692 8 108
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(CUSIP Number)
Hope Flack
BVF Partners L.P.
333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1600
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 263-7777
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
July 30, 1996
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing
this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [_].
Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be
filed with the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom
copies are to be sent.
(Continued on following pages)
(Page 1 of 8 Pages)
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/1/ The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
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NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [X]
(b) [_]
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SEC USE ONLY
3
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SOURCE OF FUNDS*
4
WC
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEDING IS
5 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [_]
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
6
Delaware
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SOLE VOTING POWER
7
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 8
117,833
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
9
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 10
117,833
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
11
117,833
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
12 [_]
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 11
13
3.9%
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
14
PN
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*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES
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NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
BVF Partners L.P.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [X]
(b) [_]
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SEC USE ONLY
3
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SOURCE OF FUNDS*
4
OO
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEDING IS
5 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [_]
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
6
Delaware
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SOLE VOTING POWER
7
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 8
202,312
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
9
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 10
202,312
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
11
202,312
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
12 [_]
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 11
13
6.6%
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
14
PN
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*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES
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NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
BVF Inc.
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [X]
(b) [_]
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SEC USE ONLY
3
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SOURCE OF FUNDS*
4
WC, OO
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CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEDING IS
5 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [_]
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
6
Delaware
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SOLE VOTING POWER
7
NUMBER OF 0
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 8
202,312
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
9
REPORTING 0
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 10
202,312
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
11
202,312
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
12 [_]
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 11
13
6.6%
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
14
IA,CO
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*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 5 OF 8 PAGES
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ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER.
This Statement on Schedule 13D (this "Statement") relates to the Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Stock"), of Tripos Inc., a Utah
corporation ("Tripos"). The principal executive office of Tripos is located at
1699 South Hanley Road, Suite 303, St. Louis, Missouri 63144.
ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.
The persons filing this Statement, the persons enumerated in Instruction C
of Schedule 13D and, where applicable, their respective places of organization,
general partners, directors, executive officers and controlling persons, and
certain information regarding each of them, are as follows:
(a) Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("BVF"),
BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Partners"), BVF Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("BVF Inc."), and Mark N. Lampert, an individual
("Lampert") (collectively, the "Reporting Persons").
(b) The business address of BVF and Partners is 333 West Wacker Drive,
Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The business address of BVF Inc. and
Lampert is One Sansome Street, 39th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104.
(c) Partners is the general partner of BVF, which is an investment limited
partnership. BVF Inc. is an investment adviser to and general partner of
Partners. Lampert is the sole shareholder, sole director and an officer of BVF
Inc.
(d) During the last five years, none of such persons has been convicted in
a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors).
(e) During the last five years, none of such persons was a party to a civil
proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as
a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final
order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with
respect to such laws.
(f) Lampert is a citizen of the United States of America.
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 6 OF 8 PAGES
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ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.
Since July 30, 1996, Partners, in its capacity as general partner of BVF,
has purchased on behalf of such limited partnership an aggregate number of
138,833 shares of the Stock for an aggregate consideration of $1,192,892.69,
utilizing funds provided by BVF from its working capital pursuant to the terms
of its limited partnership agreement with Partners. In addition, Partners, in
its capacity as investment manager with respect to certain managed accounts, has
purchased on behalf of such managed accounts an aggregate number of 134,479
shares of the Stock for an aggregate consideration of $1,436,100.09, utilizing
funds under management by Partners pursuant to investment manager agreements
between Partners and such managed accounts.
ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTIONS.
The sole purpose of the acquisitions and dispositions of the Stock reported
herein is and was for investment. The Reporting Persons did not at the time of
such acquisitions and dispositions of the Stock, and do not presently, have any
plan to acquire control of Tripos or to entirely dispose of the Stock. The
Reporting Persons may acquire or dispose of additional shares of the Stock from
time to time.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
(a) BVF beneficially owns 117,833 shares of the Stock, Partners
beneficially owns 202,312 shares of the Stock, and BVF Inc. beneficially owns
202,312 shares of the Stock, approximately 3.9%, 6.6% and 6.6%, respectively, of
the aggregate number of shares outstanding as of July 22, 1997.
(b) BVF shares voting and dispositive power over the 117,833 shares of the
Stock it beneficially owns with Partners. Partners and BVF Inc. share voting and
dispositive power over the 202,312 shares of the Stock they beneficially own
with, in addition to BVF, the managed accounts on whose behalf Partners, as
investment manager, purchased such shares. The managed accounts on whose behalf
Partners owns shares of the Stock are Investment 10 L.L.C., an Illinois limited
liability company ("ILL10") and Biotechnology Value Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands
Corporation ("BVF Ltd."). ILL10 and BVF Ltd. are collectively referred to herein
as the "Accounts." The Accounts specialize in holding biotechnology stocks for
investment purposes and the business address of each is c/o BVF Partners L.P.,
333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
(c) Exhibit B attached hereto contains information as to all transactions
in the Stock by the Reporting Persons. All such transactions were made for cash
in open market, over-the-counter transactions. No other transactions in the
Stock have been effected by the Reporting Persons.
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 7 OF 8 PAGES
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(d) The Accounts are entitled to receive dividends and any sale proceeds
with respect to the Stock in proportion to their respective ownership interests
therein.
ITEM 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Partners is the general partner of BVF pursuant to a limited partnership
agreement which authorizes Partners, among other things, to invest the funds of
BVF in the Stock and to vote and dispose of the Stock. Pursuant to such limited
partnership agreement, Partners is entitled to allocations based on assets under
management and realized and unrealized gains thereon. Pursuant to investment
management agreements with the Accounts, Partners and BVF Inc. have the
authority, among other things, to invest funds of the Accounts in the Stock and
to vote and dispose of the Stock. Pursuant to such agreements, Partners and BVF
Inc. receive fees based on assets under management and realized and unrealized
gains thereon. BVF Inc. is the general partner of Partners and may be deemed to
own beneficially securities over which Partners exercises voting and dispositive
power.
ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
Exhibit A - Agreement Regarding Joint Filing
Exhibit B - Transactions in the Stock by the Reporting Persons.
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CUSIP NO. 89692 8 108 13D PAGE 8 OF 8 PAGES
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After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Dated: July 22, 1997
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
---------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
--------------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF INC.
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
--------------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING
--------------------------------
The undersigned, Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and BVF
Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby agree and acknowledge that the statement
containing the information required by Schedule 13D, to which this Agreement is
attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them. The undersigned
further agree that any amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on
behalf of each of them.
Dated: July 22, 1997
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
--------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
-------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF INC.
By: /s/ Mark N. Lampert
------------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
TRANSACTIONS IN THE STOCK BY THE REPORTING PERSONS
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Settlement For the Price
Date By Account of Quantity per Share Type of Trade Broker
=======================================================================================
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
07/30/96 Partners BVF 115,000 $ 8.6250 Purchase HMQT
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07/30/96 Partners ILL10 35,000 $ 8.6250 Purchase HMQT
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07/31/96 Partners BVF 7,500 $ 8.6250 Purchase HMQT
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08/05/96 Partners BVF 15,000 $ 8.2500 Purchase HMQT
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08/05/96 Partners ILL10 5,000 $ 8.2500 Purchase HMQT
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08/31/96 Partners BVF Ltd. 17,500 $ 9.2500 Purchase NB
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09/23/96 Partners BVF Ltd. 4,479 $ 9.3750 Purchase MIST
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09/25/96 Partners BVF 1,333 $ 9.4375 Purchase MIST
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09/26/96 Partners BVF Ltd. 2,000 $ 9.4375 Purchase MIST
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10/31/96 Partners BVF (6,000) $18.9375 Sale MIST
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11/01/96 Partners ILL10 (3,000) $18.9375 Sale MIST
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11/29/96 Partners BVF (6,000) $18.7500 Sale MIST
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11/29/96 Partners BVF Ltd. (1,000) $18.7500 Sale MIST
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12/19/96 Partners BVF Ltd. 30,000 $11.5000 Purchase HMQT
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12/19/96 Partners BVF Ltd. 17,000 $11.5156 Purchase MIST
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01/03/97 Partners BVF Ltd. 6,000 $11.8125 Purchase MIST
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01/06/97 Partners BVF Ltd. 2,500 $11.8125 Purchase MIST
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01/07/97 Partners BVF Ltd. 5,000 $12.0000 Purchase MIST
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01/17/97 Partners BVF Ltd. 10,000 $16.9063 Purchase MIST
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01/17/97 Partners ILL10 (10,000) $16.8750 Sale MIST
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02/13/97 Partners BVF Ltd. (14,000) $22.8750 Sale MIST
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02/13/97 Partners ILL10 (3,500) $22.8750 Sale MIST
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02/14/97 Partners ILL10 (2,500) $23.2500 Sale MIST
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02/18/97 Partners ILL10 (1,000) $22.8750 Sale MIST
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04/11/97 Partners BVF (5,000) $18.1250 Sale MIST
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04/11/97 Partners BVF Ltd. (9,000) $18.1250 Sale MIST
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04/11/97 Partners ILL10 (2,000) $18.1250 Sale MIST
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</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Settlement For the Price
Date By Account of Quantity per Share Type of Trade Broker
=======================================================================================
<C> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
04/14/97 Partners BVF Ltd. (4,000) $18.0000 Sale MIST
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04/18/97 Partners BVF (4,000) $18.0000 Sale MIST
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</TABLE>
HMQT = Hambrecht, Quist
MIST = Mr. Stock
NB = No Broker
