U.S. Trust and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Named Official Sponsors of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

TRYON, NC, USA – August 17, 2018 – The Organizing Committee of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 is proud to announce U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch as the Official Sponsors of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). The Games, which will be hosted at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) from September 11 to 23, are expected to be the largest attended sporting event in the United States this year and the fourth largest event worldwide.U.S. Trust will become the title sponsor of the main competition arena at WEG, and Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP) is looking forward to welcoming the world to the U.S. Trust Arena for unparalleled equestrian competition in the three Olympic disciplines of equestrian sport, Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. Spectators will be able to observe the most decorated athletes in the equestrian world as they compete to become the World Champion within their respective disciplines. The WEG will host eight disciplines in total.The U.S. Trust Arena is the largest featured competition arena to be utilized during the Games and will accommodate up to 20,000 spectators, boasting impressive architecture on the TIEC grounds. With seating available on the North, East and South sides of the stadium, the fourth and final side is comprised of a three-story International Pavilion, which overlooks the arena’s field of play and will also be home to the International Media Center on the first floor and VIP guests on the top two tiers of the building. VIP guests will have exclusive views from the top two stories.“We are very eager to welcome U.S. Trust and Bank of America Merrill Lynch to brand this iconic global championship and into the fold of our sponsorship family. The U.S. Trust Arena is a key focal point of the WEG and will have high visibility on national and international broadcast television, including unprecedented equestrian sport coverage with NBC Sports Group,“ said Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners and CEO of Tryon International Equestrian Center. “The U.S. Trust Arena will be one of the largest infrastructure footprints built for the WEG, and we’re honored to have the support of U.S. Trust and Bank of America Merrill Lynch for this event.“NBC Sports Group will present more than 60 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN and the Olympic Channel. The Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle and Individual Medals, as well as the Eventing Cross-Country phase, both of which utilize the U.S. Trust Arena, will be aired on NBCSN. The Jumping Final, which will also take place in the U.S. Trust Arena, will be broadcasted live on Sunday, September 23, at 2:00 p.m. EST.“At U.S. Trust, we help high-net-worth individuals and families match their wealth to their passions through a wide range of investment management, wealth structuring and banking capabilities. Partnering with an organization that provides a forum for so many to enjoy their equestrian passion is a natural fit,“ said U.S. Trust Market Executive Woodward Middleton.To learn more about the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, please visit www.Tryon2018.com.To purchase tickets or for more information about the WEG, please visit www.Tryon2018.com.Click here to watch the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 promo video! Media InquiriesFor media inquiries about the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, please visit www.Tryon2018.com or contact one of the following press officers:National Press Officer – Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@tryonweg.com or +1 (828) 863-1144International Press Officer – Niki McEwen at niki@revolutionsports.co.uk or 0044(0) 203 176 0355For more information from the FEI, please contact Shannon Gibbons at shannon.gibbons@fei.org or 0041-78-750-6146.About U.S. TrustU.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management is a leading private wealth management organization providing vast resources and customized solutions to help meet clients’ wealth structuring, investment management, banking and credit needs. Clients are served by teams of experienced advisors offering a range of financial services, including investment management, financial and succession planning, philanthropic and specialty asset management, family office services, custom credit solutions, financial administration and family trust stewardship.U.S. Trust is part of the Global Wealth and Investment Management unit of Bank of America, N.A., which is a global leader in wealth management, private banking and retail brokerage. U.S. Trust employs more than 4,300 professionals and maintains 138 offices in 33 states. As part of Bank of America, U.S. Trust can provide access to a broad range of banking solutions for individuals and businesses, and an extensive retail banking platform.About Bank of America Merrill LynchBank 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 globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates“), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., both of which are registered broker-dealers and Members of SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank GuaranteedAbout the Tryon International Equestrian CenterTryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort, host of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, is one of the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destinations, with first-class facilities for all eight FEI disciplines. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. Tryon Resort is a spring, summer and fall haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment. Learn more at www.Tryon.com.About the FEI World Equestrian Games™The FEI World Equestrian Games™, held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, is the property of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for horse sport organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is one of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar, combining World Championships in the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, the Paralympic discipline of Para-Equestrian Dressage, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ were hosted in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990. Since then the Games have been staged in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez (ESP) in 2002, and Aachen (GER) in 2006. The first Games to be organized outside Europe were the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky (USA) 2010. The Games came back to Europe for the 2014 edition, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA), which attracted more than 500,000 on-site spectators and a worldwide television audience of 350 million, as well as delivering an economic impact of €368 million to the French economy.The FEI World Equestrian Games™ History Hub can be viewed here. For more information, visit www.tryon2018.com and http://www.fei.org/tryon-2018.