180s® Receives Women's Business Enterprise National Certification

BALTIMORE, Maryland, August 22, 2011 – 180s, a leading brand of year-round
innovative performance apparel and accessories, has received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women President’s Educational Organization-DC (WPEO), a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (www.wbenc.com).

“We are pleased to receive this important certification by WBENC and are honored to be a part of this respected organization that promotes and fosters growth for women-owned businesses,” said Lynn Tilton, founder and CEO of Patriarch Partners, whose investment funds are majority owners of 180s. “We look forward to building a more expansive relationship with WBENC as we certify more of our portfolio companies and build our own diversity programs within our businesses, creating a network of depth and breadth.”

“Business is about making connections and building sustainable relationships with the right contact,” said Sandra Eberhard, executive director of the WPEO – DC. “As a member of the WPEO DC, the regional partner of WBENC certifying women owned businesses in DC, MD and VA, 180s has taken a step to increase their access to corporate buyers locally and nationally. Additionally, 180s joins a network of other women business owners who generate more than $1.2 billion in local revenue while employing more than 22,000 local people, another source of buying opportunity and business collaboration.”

WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women President’s Educational Organization-DC is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. According to the WBENC, by including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.

About 180s, LLC:
Baltimore-based 180s introduced the original behind-the-head ear warmers in 1995 and pioneered Tec Touch™ technology, enabling consumers to use their iPhone® and other touch screen devices in the winter without removing their gloves.

With over 25 styles of men’s and women’s gloves featuring Tec Touchâ„¢, 180s has the widest selection of iPhone® and touch screen compatible gloves on the market. Since the launch of this initial and highly successful technology, the company has branched into gloves, apparel and accessories for an active lifestyle year round. 180s’ mission is to find a new approach in developing innovative performance based products that are built for the active lifestyle. With nearly 80 patents and patents pending, 180s products are technical, stylish and far from ordinary. www,180s.com

About Patriarch Partners, LLC:
Patriarch Partners, LLC, is a private equity firm and holding company managing 74 companies with annual revenues of more than $8 billion. Founded by Wall Street veteran Lynn Tilton in 2000, Patriarch is dedicated to saving American manufacturing jobs by saving American companies that have fallen from economic favor. Since its inception, Patriarch has bought more than 150 companies, and in so doing has saved over 250,000 jobs. Patriarch’s portfolio includes a broad range of industrial concerns including Dura Automotive, American LaFrance, Denali, and MD Helicopters, in addition to iconic American brands such as Rand McNally, Spiegel Catalogs and Stila Cosmetics. Under Ms. Tilton’s leadership, Patriarch has become the largest woman-owned business in America employing more than 120,000 employees. For more information, please visit: www.patriarchpartners.com.

About WBENC:
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the nation’s largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC is a resource for the more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC’s certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs. www.wbenc.org/.

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Media Contact:

Richard White
Patriarch Partners
Richard.White@patriarchpartners.com
(212) 825-6836