Brian P Friedman

Brian P. Friedman a nominee, has been one of our directors and an executive officer since July 2005, and has been Chairman of the Executive Committee of Jefferies since 2002. Since 1997, Mr. Friedman has also been President of Jefferies Capital Partners, (formerly known as FS Private Investments). Mr. Friedman splits his time between his role with us and his position with Jefferies Capital Partners. Mr. Friedman was previously employed by Furman Selz LLC, and its successors, including serving as Head of Investment Banking and a member of its Management and Operating Committees. Prior to his 17 years with Furman Selz and its successors, Mr. Friedman was an attorney with the New York City law firm of Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz. As a result of his management of various private equity funds and the significant equity positions those funds hold in their portfolio companies, Mr. Friedman serves on several boards of directors of private portfolio companies, and has served on the Board of the general partner of one public portfolio company, K-Sea Transportation L.P., since 2004.