SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HARBERT CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE MASTER FUND LTD

(Last) (First) (Middle)
INTERNATIONL FUND SERVICES
THIRD FLOOR BISHOPS SQ REDMONDS HILL

(Street)
DUBLIN IRELAND L2 00000

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FRIEDMANS INC [ FRDMQ.PK ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/26/2005
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
Form filed by One Reporting Person
X Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock(1) 04/26/2005 P 29,980 A $0.95 3,354,205 D
Common Stock(2) 04/26/2005 P 0 A $0 3,354,205 I By Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd.
Common Stock(3) 04/26/2005 P 770 A $0.95 85,645 I By Alpha US Sub Fund VI, LLC
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HARBERT CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE MASTER FUND LTD

(Last) (First) (Middle)
INTERNATIONL FUND SERVICES
THIRD FLOOR BISHOPS SQ REDMONDS HILL

(Street)
DUBLIN IRELAND L2 00000

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HMC DISTRESSED INVESTMENT OFFSHORE MANAGER LLC

(Last) (First) (Middle)
ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH

(Street)
BIRMINGHAM AL 35244

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HMC INVESTORS LLC

(Last) (First) (Middle)
ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH

(Street)
BIRMINGHAM AL 35244

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
FALCONE PHILIP

(Last) (First) (Middle)
555 MADISON AVE
16TH FLOOR

(Street)
NEW YORK NY 10022

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
HARBERT RAYMOND J

(Last) (First) (Middle)
ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH

(Street)
BIRMINGHAM AL 35244

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
LUCE MICHAEL D

(Last) (First) (Middle)
ONE RIVERCHASE PARKWAY SOUTH

(Street)
BIRMINGHAM AL 35244

(City) (State) (Zip)

Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Explanation of Responses:
1. These securities are owned by Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., which is a Reporting Person.
2. These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC Distressed Investment Offshore Manager, L.L.C. ("HMC Management"), the investment manager of Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., HMC Investors, L.L.C., its managing member ("HMC Investors"), Philip Falcone, a member of HMC Management and the portfolio manager of Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., Raymond J. Harbert, a member of HMC Investors, and Michael D. Luce, a member of HMC Investors. Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.
3. These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC Investors, Philip Falcone, who is the portfolio manager of Alpha US Sub Fund VI, LLC, Raymond J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce. Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.
Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., HMC distressed Investment Offshore Manager, LLC, By: HMC Investors, LLC, Managing Member, By: /s/ Joel B. Piassick 04/28/2005
HMC Distressed Investment Offshore Manager, LLC, By: HMC Investors, LLC, Managing Member, By: /s/ Joel Piassick 04/28/2005
HMC Investors, LLC, By: /s/ Joel Piassick 04/28/2005
By: /s/ Philip Falcone 04/28/2005
By: /s/ Raymond J. Harbert 04/28/2005
By: /s/ Michael D. Luce 04/28/2005
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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