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Westrock Again Tops Placement List

Arkansas private placements rebounded in 2024, led by Westrock Coffee’s $72M debt offering, with AcreTrader and six banks also actively leveraging investments.

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New Names Join Familiar Firms on List of State’s Largest Asset Managers

Mixed in among the familiar names of Arkansas asset managers are some notable newbies, including a mysterious Little Rock venture capital firm managing three-quarters of a billion dollars, most of it from foreign investment pools.

Small Banks, Small Commercial Loans

A deeper look at this week’s business list: Small Commercial Lending by Arkansas Banks

Private Firms List Led by Blue Cross

Seventeen private companies owned and headquartered in Arkansas are believed to have had revenue of more than $1 billion in 2023.

Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Investments

Private Investment Offerings Plunge in 2023

The number of private placements offered by Arkansas companies plummeted in 2023 compared with 2022, but both new and established businesses sought out investors. read more >

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Banking & Finance / Health Care / Insurance

Cracking the Code: Understanding Contractual Allowances in Arkansas HospitalsLock Icon

Contractual discounts vary widely, although they typically average more than 50% of the initial billed amount. read more >

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Banking & Finance / Government & Politics / Restaurants & Food

Hospitality Tax Collections Jump in 2022

The jump signals a continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated the state’s tourist industry three years ago. read more >

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Banking & Finance / Investments

Evolve Overtakes Simmons in Trust Assets

Stephens Inc. remains No. 1 on the annual lists of Arkansas’ largest broker-dealers and largest money managers, but Evolve takes the top spot in trust departments. read more >

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(From left) Vijay Manthripragada, CEO of Montrose Environmental Group; Tony Aquila, CEO of Canoo Inc.; and Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart.

Transplanted Executives Dominate Pay ListLock Icon

Two companies that recently moved their headquarters to Arkansas passed Walmart in executive compensation, but not profitability. read more >

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Doug Hendrix, left, and his brother David Hendrix own Summerwood Partners LLC of Bryant, which owns convenience store chain Big Red and this year ranked No. 5 for revenue growth among the largest private companies in Arkansas.
Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Business Services

2021: A Good Year for Big Private CompaniesLock Icon

For most of the businesses on this year’s list of Arkansas’ 75 largest private companies, top-line revenue in 2021 was significantly better than in 2019, before any of us had heard of COVID-19. read more >

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Education / Legal

More Law Students Interested in Public Service, Dean Theresa Beiner Says

She is the first permanent female dean at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Bowen School of Law. read more >

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A crew from Seal Solar of North Little Rock installs solar panels at 107 Liquor in Sherwood.
Construction / Energy / Government & Politics

For Solar, A Threat Is Rising In the EastLock Icon

A U.S. investigation into Asian solar panel exports has stalled two of Entergy Arkansas’ largest sun projects. read more >

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Maria Markham, director of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Business Services / Education / Government & Politics

Arkansas Colleges Shrinking, and ‘Cliff’ Still LoomsLock Icon

A recent college attendance dip in Arkansas doesn’t reflect the “enrollment cliff” that higher education leaders have harped about for years. It’s been more of a slow roll down to the edge. read more >

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Arvest Bank was the leader of this year's list of largest banks in Arkansas, ranked by assets, followed by Bank OZK, Simmons Bank, Centennial Bank and First Security Bank.
Banking & Finance / Business Services / Insurance

Arvest No. 1 Bank by Assets, But List is ShufflingLock Icon

A near 10% increase in assets helped push Arvest to the top of Arkansas Business’ annual list of the state’s biggest banks, but more changes are in store as the runners-up prepare to close significant acquisitions. read more >

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Transplace’s new 150,000-SF center on 15 acres in Rogers houses 800 workers now, but it can support up to 1,100, executives say.
Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Business Services

Arkansas Dealmaking Down 17% in ’21Lock Icon

The number of the biggest deals in Arkansas worth $10 million or more rose to 95, an increase of 12% compared with the 85 big deals in 2020. read more >

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Last year, Simmons Bank of Pine Bluff bought the former Bank OZK headquarters in west Little Rock for $23.25 million.
Banking & Finance / Construction / Investments

Commercial Real Estate In Arkansas Soars in ’21Lock Icon

Especially robust was the multifamily segment, boosted by a variety of factors ranging from rising inflation, high construction costs for new homes and the continued popularity of regions such as northwest Arkansas. read more >

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The Chancellor Hotel in Fayetteville, the Arlington Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs and the Marriott in Little Rock
Business Services / Government & Politics / Media & Marketing

A&P Taxes Indicate Rebound Strong, Not Complete

The tourism and hospitality industries rebounded strongly in 2021, but local tax collections indicate that a few cities haven’t seen visitors return to pre-pandemic levels. read more >

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Agriculture & Poultry / Business Services / Government & Politics

Medical Marijuana Cards Prized in North-Central ArkansasLock Icon

Data from the second fiscal year of medical marijuana sales in Arkansas confirms a trend spotted after 2020: Residents in north-central Arkansas are most likely to seek out the ID cards allowing them to buy the stuff. read more >

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Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Energy

Investments List Includes Banks, Tech, Farming

With $30.1 million raised, Tempus USF LLC of Little Rock tops Arkansas Business’ list of the largest private investment offerings ranked by total investment amount sold. read more >

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Karen Garrett is managing partner of HCJ CPAs & Advisors, a firm created by a merger this year.
Banking & Finance / Business Services / Investments

Arkansas CPAs Find Open Lane for MergingLock Icon

Today’s public accounting firms are hitting the plus sign. read more >

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in Washington, D.C.

In-state Bank Deposits Grow by 9.6% Over Past Year

Arkansas bank deposits exceeded $90 billion on June 30, an increase of 9.6% in 12 months and almost identical to the national trend line. read more >

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UAMS Medical Center in central Little Rock.
Government & Politics / Health Care / Insurance

Government Aid Rescues Hospital Financials

Hospitals and medical centers in Arkansas benefited from government relief money last year to offset losses caused by COVID-19. read more >

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Stephens Inc. and Stephens Investment Management Group, both based in the Stephens Building in Little Rock, were both ranked in the Top 5 of Arkansas Business' Largest Money Managers list.
Banking & Finance / Business Services / Insurance

RIA That Lost Client Falls as Others Rise

The pandemic years have been good for registered investment advisors, with most of the top RIAs based in Arkansas posting increased assets under management since Arkansas Business’ last list of money managers appeared a year ago. read more >

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Agriculture & Poultry / Banking & Finance / Government & Politics

Big Farm Subsidies Surge Is Crisis-Driven, Industry Says

Trade war repercussions with China and Trump administration spending to keep farmers solvent in a commodities price crash propelled federal farm subsidy payments in Arkansas to a record $828 million in 2019. read more >

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THIS WEEK’S EDITION

This Week’s Stories View Digital Edition

EDITORS’ PICKS

Whispers Massachusetts Insurer Wins Appeal in $4.7M Arkansas Chicken House CaseLock Icon
Whispers Chris Bahn Starts New Communications Firm, Partners with Kirkpatrick CreativeLock Icon
Health Care Mercy’s $186M Project Nears Completion
Cover Story Arkansas Hospitals Brace for More Insurer Showdowns Amid Financial RecoveryLock Icon
Spotlight Arkansas Blue Cross Undergoes Major Restructuring Amid $100M Loss & Merger Talks
Spotlight Little Rock Port Pushes Forward with Megasite Plans After Sales Tax Proposal RejectionLock Icon
Whispers Lake Hamilton Resort Faces Foreclosure in $2.6M Loan Default CaseLock Icon
Arkansas Business Sanders to Speak at World Economic Forum in Switzerland
Technology & Telecom Zenwork of Fayetteville Sues Social Security Administration Over E-Filing Suspension
Retail Walmart to Unveil New 350-Acre Headquarters in Bentonville