Barington Capital Group
Barington Capital Group is a New York based activist hedge fund founded in 1991 by James A. Mitarotonda. The fund primarily invests in undervalued, small and mid-capitalization companies. Barington and its principals are experienced value-added investors who have taken active roles in assisting companies in creating or improving shareholder value.
James A. Mitarotonda is the chairman of the board, president and also the chief executive officer of Barington Capital Group. He is a builder of companies that believes liquidation is the last resort for companies with failing business models. In addition, Mr. Mitarotonda believes the principles of good corporate governance should include eliminating stockholder rights plans, banning staggered boards, doing away with a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent and instituting a policy of simple majority rather than a two-thirds vote of stockholders to modify by-laws. He started his Wall Street career as broker at D.H. Blair & Co. and was a co-founder of Commonwealth. After he quit at Commonwealth in 1991, he started Barington. Mr. Mitarotonda graduated with an MBA from New York University in 1979.