Michael H. Ladd

Fred's, Inc. was engaged in the sale of general merchandise and pharmaceuticals. The firm managed express and franchised stores, full service pharmacies, and specialty pharmacy facility. It also offeredpharmacy, consumables, household goods and soft lines, and franchise products. The company was founded in 1947 and was headquartered in Memphis, TN.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. engages in the provision of access to trade books and other content across its multi-channel distribution platform to its customers. It operates through Barnes & Noble Retail (B&N Retail), and NOOK segments. The B&N Retail segment focuses in the retail bookstores under the Barnes & Noble Booksellers trade name, which includes also publishing operations, Sterling Publishing. The NOOK segment refers to the digital business, offering digital books and magazines for sale and consumption online comprises of digital content such as eBooks, digital newsstand and sales of NOOK devices and accessories to B&N Retail. The company was founded by Leonard S. Riggio in December 1986 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Sears Holdings Corp. engages in the provision of retail stores through its subsidiaries. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, IL.