Stephens acquires restructuring group
Stephens Inc. has acquired the restructuring advisory business of Dallas-based investment bank Blackhill Partners, the Little Rock-based financial services firm said Monday.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Stephens' U.S. restructuring advisory practice has 14 former Blackhill professionals, including Blackhill managing directors Lane Gurley, Jeff Jones, Eric Scroggins and Joe Stone, all of whom were principals in Blackhill.
There is a significant overlap in the industries that Stephens covers and those where Blackhill has historically advised clients. The group will work from Stephens' Dallas office.
"We have experienced a strong appetite for restructuring expertise in our Stephens Europe Limited operation and the addition of Blackhill better positions us to service the growing opportunity in the domestic market," Brad Eichler, head of investment banking at Stephens, said in a statement.
-- David Smith
Exec-search firm going international
Cameron Smith & Associates, a Rogers-based executive recruiting firm, is starting an international division dedicated to placing business leaders in positions around the world.
The new division will be led by two former Walmart Inc. executives, according to a news release. Tom Colella led Walmart's international executive recruiting organization before joining Cameron Smith & Associates. Eduardo Mariscotti was most recently vice president of human resources, focusing on the development of Hispanic talent with the retailer.
Cameron Smith & Associates' international division will operate out of Rogers and add to the firm's network across the U.S. and in Canada. The company also plans to open a central Arkansas office later this year.
Last year, Forbes ranked Cameron Smith & Associates No. 96 among the top 250 professional search firms in the U.S.
-- Robbie Neiswanger
Market surge helps lift state index 2.27
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, gained 2.27 to 415.80 on Monday.
"U.S. stocks rose sharply on Monday as all three major indices rose to a more than three-week high as a decline in Treasury yields eased investors' concerns about rising interest rates," said Chris Harkins, managing director with Raymond James & Associates in Little Rock.
Total volume for the index was 25.8 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 02/27/2018