Stephens Group

The Stephens Group, LLC is a private equity and venture capital firm that focuses on mid-venture investments, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth capital. Established in 1933 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with additional offices in Frankfurt, London, and New York, the firm invests across a wide array of sectors, including agriculture, energy, technology, healthcare, consumer products, and financial services. The Stephens Group emphasizes companies with strong management teams and seeks to invest in businesses headquartered primarily in the United States and Canada, particularly in the Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions of the U.S. For buyouts, investments typically range from $25 million to $125 million, while growth equity investments range from $10 million to $30 million. The firm targets companies with significant earnings, taking either majority or significant minority stakes and often obtaining board representation in its portfolio companies.

Elizabeth Stephens Campbell

Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Ronald M. Clark

COO and General Counsel

Aaron Clark

Managing Director

Rob Dickinson

Vice President

Evan Grisham

Vice President

Clay Hunter

MD

Grant Jones

Managing Director

Allie Laborde

Principal - Business Development

Davis Malone

Associate

Kyle McCuen

VP

Anthony Porcelli

Associate

Robert L. Schulte

Chief Financial Officer

W. Kent Sorrells

Managing Director

Mark Steenhoek

Principal - Operations

Jens Talbert

Vice President

Tim Trzebiatowski

Managing Director

Timothy S. Trzebiatowski

MD

Past deals in Arkansas

Revolution

Venture Round in 2019
Revolution is a manufacturer based in Little Rock, Arkansas, specializing in closed-loop plastic bags and related products for agricultural, consumer, and industrial markets. The company focuses on developing environmentally friendly plastics aimed at reducing environmental impact while serving various sectors. By emphasizing sustainability, Revolution aligns its operations with a mission to create products that contribute positively to the environment.

Westrock Coffee Company

Venture Round in 2017
Westrock Coffee Company, LLC is engaged in the roasting, production, and distribution of coffee and tea products. The company offers a variety of items, including coffee accessories such as creamer and sugar, brewing equipment, and dispensers. Its product range features specific blends and branded merchandise, including mugs, tote bags, and apparel. Westrock Coffee supplies its products to a diverse customer base that includes offices, convenience stores, grocery stores, universities, coffeehouses, and restaurants. Additionally, the company exports its offerings through a subsidiary and provides online sales. Founded in 2009 and based in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Westrock Coffee was previously known as Coffee Legends, LLC.
Bear State Financial provides money management and community banking services.

Vestcom

Venture Round in 2007
Vestcom International, Inc. specializes in customized shelf-edge communication and marketing solutions for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies. The company offers a range of innovative tools designed to enhance the shopping experience and improve marketing efficiency, including Stackz for pre-cut, self-adhering stacks, ISMAds for advertising campaigns, adSigns for in-store promotions, and shelfStrips to optimize shelf space. Additional offerings include snapTalker for highlighting promotions, pegAssist for custom category backgrounds, @shelf to transform smartphones into selling tools, and healthyAisles for providing nutritional advice. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Vestcom serves supermarkets and drug stores across the United States, focusing on reducing operational costs while increasing sales and product margins. The company has established a strategic partnership with Eversight to further enhance its capabilities.

Stephens Media

Venture Round in 1993
Stephens Media™ started with this idea: Give readers what they can't get anywhere else - hometown news. That idea grew into a multi-media company that anticipates what customers need and provides it. Stephens Media™ is an industry leader that remains true to its roots, while looking to the future. Stephens Media LLC is the successor in interest to Donrey Media Group. Donrey Media Group was founded in 1949 by Donald W. Reynolds. In 1993, companies associated with Jackson T. Stephens of Little Rock, Arkansas purchased Donrey Media Group, following the death of Mr. Reynolds. In 2002 the name of the company was changed to Stephens Media Group. In 2006, the name was shortened to Stephens Media. Stephens Media publishes 11 daily newspapers, 64 weeklies, magazines, specialty publications and more than 100 websites operating in seven states. Stephens Media also owns the domain name, lasvegas.com, which is licensed to another company. It also holds a 50% interest in Hawaii.com. Stephens Media also owns 50% of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC, publisher of four daily newspapers in Washington and Benton County, Arkansas.

Stephens Natural Resources

Venture Round in 1953
Stephens Natural Resources is an energy exploration and production company providing natural gas service to parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The Company has a rich history of drilling and producing both oil and natural gas and partnering with best-in-class operators. Stephens Natural Resources continues to expand its production and reserves in the continental U.S. and offshore Gulf of Mexico, where acceptable returns for shareholders can be achieved given an appropriate level of risk.

A.O.G. Corp.

Funding Round in 1945
A.O.G. Corp., provides natural gas distribution service in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The company is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas.