Mark A. Friedman

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (MLPFS) is the SEC-registered broker/dealer subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., ultimately held by Charlotte-based Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). The firm was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in New York City. In 2010, Banc of America Securities LLC merged with MLPFS and the firm uses the trade name Bank of America Merrill Lynch. MLPFS's global strategy and economics team serves institutional and individual investors using a wide range of macroeconomic disciplines. Their analysis of global issues provides clients with investment ideas, market forecasts, macro overviews and specific sector recommendations across asset classes, regions and disciplines. Their equity research team conducts fundamental analysis on companies globally and provides institutional and retail clients with industry-specific and in-depth research and analysis on numerous industries. The firm's global fixed-income and equity-linked research focuses on fixed-income and equity derivatives, fixed-income strategy, convertibles, commodities, high-yield, mortgages, municipals and global foreign exchange.

Trilea Capital Partners (Trilea Capital Partners) is private equity subsidiary of Trilea Partners LLC founded in 2006 by Mark Friedman and Jordan Copland. The firm is headquartered in Rye, New York.

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. engages in the ownership, licensing, management, and marketing of a portfolio of consumer brands. Its brands include Candie’s, Mudd, Danskin, Mossimo, Joe Boxer, London Fog, Rampage, Ocean Pacific, Bongo, MG Icon, Rocawear, Starter, Zoo York, Ecko Unltd, Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, Artful Dodger, Umbro, Lee Cooper, and Hydraulic. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. provided wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance and investment banking services. Merrill Lynch was a global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a range of asset classes and serve as a strategic advisor to governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. The company was founded in 1913 and was headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

A subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Lehman Brothers, Inc. is a broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. They provide global equity and fixed research. The equity research department covers more than 100 sectors. They use a fundamental, quantitative, strategic and tactical research approach. In addition to these Lehman has also developed special products, such as 10 uncommon values and 10 uncommon eurovalues.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (GS&Co.) is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1927, the firm is a subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS). GS&Co. provides services to help hedge funds manage risk, monitor portfolios, maintain liquidity and build their businesses. They offer clients access to global equity and derivatives markets, as well as foreign exchange, commodities, European Lefts, rates and credit across the Americas, Europe and Asia. The firm proactively monitors capital markets, searching for pockets of liquidity and news that may require changes to those strategies. Integration with the Goldman Sachs network gives clients access to the firm's sectored block trades and their insights into price discovery. Their electronic trading program provides clients with tools to manage their trades from pre-trade analytics to post-trade analysis.

Gates Capital Management, Inc. (Gates Capital) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and hedge fund manager headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded by Jeffrey Gates in 1996. Gates Capital sponsors and serves as investment manager to domestic limited partnerships, an offshore investment company and an offshore limited partnership (Funds). Investors may include but are not limited to high net-worth individuals, family offices, advisor/consultants, foundations and endowments.

The Retail Tracker LLC provides strategic advisory and retail consulting services. The private company is based in New York, NY. The company was founded by Mark A. Friedman, Marni Shapiro.