TIGER 21 FORMING GROUP IN ATLANTA

TIGER 21 Forming Group in Atlanta

Georgia’s capital becomes 16th city for North America’s leading peer learning network for high-net-worth investors

Atlanta, GA, February 25, 2014 ‚Äì TIGER 21, North America’s leading peer learning network for high-net-worth investors, has announced the formation of a group in Atlanta, bringing the number of cities across North America with a TIGER 21 presence to 16.

TIGER 21 was founded in New York in 1999, and now has more than 240 Members, who manage over $22 billion in total assets. In addition to several groups in New York, it also has U.S. groups in Chicago, Dallas (2), Los Angeles, Miami (2), Palm Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tysons Corner, VA, and Washington, DC as well as Canadian groups in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver.

The Atlanta group will follow TIGER 21’s successful model of pooling collective intelligence for high-net-worth investors, who meet monthly to exchange investment ideas and share personal experiences on a broad range of wealth-related issues. In addition to serving as a professional networking and educational platform, TIGER 21 offers Members access to investment opportunities, including private equity, real estate and hedge funds, as well as participation in a host of other alternative investments.

Leading the formation of TIGER 21’s Atlanta group is Klaas Baks, who will serve as chair, and Steve Freedman, the group’s founding Member.

Baks is the Executive Director of the Emory Center for Alternative Investments and an Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. His research and teaching focuses on issues in venture capital, private equity, entrepreneurial finance and investment management, and he has published papers in a number of academic and business journals. Prior to joining Emory University, Baks held positions at Fuji Bank in Tokyo, Japan and Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong.

Baks has served as director or advisor for over 9 companies, including Triton Value Partners (financial services), Power Engineering Services & Solutions (power), Transcardiac Therapeutics (healthcare) and Two Capital Partners (financial services).

“Atlanta is the economic center of this metropolitan area and an important hub of business and finance activity in the region. Not only does Atlanta have the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, but it also is an attractive locale for entrepreneurs and start-ups because of its highly educated workforce. Atlanta is a global city and certainly has a population of high-net-worth residents that will benefit from the TIGER 21 experience,” said Baks. “

Freedman founded Getmembers.com, a leading direct marketing agency, in 1994 and sold an interest to private equity firm Lake Capital in 2007. Between 2007 and 2012, Steve and his team grew the parent company (Hyper Marketing, Inc) organically and through acquisitions into the largest independent marketing services firm in the US. The firm was sold to Epsilon, a $1.3 Billion division of Alliance Data, for $450 Million in 2012.

Currently, Freedman is the CEO of Beach Ball Capital, LLC which focuses on short and long term alternative investments in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, select service hotels, distressed and senior secured debt, private equity, venture and select operating companies with a unique selling proposition.

“I’ve experienced first-hand the TIGER 21 process in visiting other groups, and came away impressed by the level of knowledge and sharing that occurs. I am excited to have Klaas Baks as chair and I anticipate filling this first Atlanta group quite quickly,” said Freedman.

TIGER 21 creates a safe environment for Members to explore critical issues affecting their lives. Through the regular monthly meetings and an annual Members-only conference, as well as through exchanges on a private Members-only website, TIGER 21 Members share their knowledge and experiences, and help each other wrestle with issues relating to finance, investments, managers and advisors. Another important part of the curriculum focuses on philanthropy, estate planning, family, health, and issues of communal involvement.

TIGER 21’s Presenter Program complements each meeting by providing access to top finance experts from around the globe that often introduce Members to a variety of investment opportunities, as well as experts that focus on other issues.

“Atlanta presents an exciting opportunity for TIGER 21 and we have a solid team on the ground in Klaas and Steve,” said Jonathan Kempner, President of TIGER 21. “Their knowledge of issues important to high-net-worth individuals and their connections in the region will undoubtedly prove valuable. We’ve already had preliminary discussions with a number of prospective Members and we anticipate the first full group meeting soon.”

Baks is a doctoral graduate in finance of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and he also has a M.A. degree in economics from Brown University, a master’s degree in econometrics from Groningen University, The Netherlands, and a diploma in Japanese language and business studies from Leiden University, The Netherlands. Baks was born and raised in The Netherlands, and he currently resides in Atlanta.

Freedman is a native of New Jersey and attended Emory University where he earned a B.B.A. in Accounting. He began his career in the audit department at KPMG, and is a licensed CPA in the state of Georgia.

About TIGER 21:TIGER 21 (The Investment Group for Enhanced Results in the 21st Century) is North America’s premier peer-to-peer learning network for high-net-worth investors. TIGER 21’s over 240 Members collectively manage more than $22 billion in total assets and are entrepreneurs, inventors and top executives. TIGER 21 focuses on improving investment acumen as well as exploring common issues of wealth preservation, estate planning and family dynamics beyond finance. Founded in 1999, TIGER 21 is headquartered in New York City and has groups in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tysons Corner, VA, and Washington, DC as well as Canadian groups in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal. More information can be found at www.tiger21.com.