The Stephens Group, LLC Reveals Private Equity Investment Team

July 6, 2006

The Stephens Group, LLC, the newly formed private-equity firm founded by Witt Stephens, Jr. and Elizabeth Stephens Campbell, today announced the addition of seven new members to its private equity investment team. Jon Jacoby will join the firm as vice chairman and senior principal, Rick Turner as senior managing principal, Bob Schulte as chief financial officer, and Ron Clark as general counsel. Additionally, Jim Jacoby Jr., Kent Sorrells, and Hunter Carpenter will join the firm as principals. The Stephens Group will invest in businesses across a broad range of industries and provide growth equity, recapitalization, and leveraged buy-out financing to both private and public companies.

“This team has a combined 150 plus years of private equity experience and a long history of creating substantial wealth,” said Witt Stephens, Jr. “Elizabeth and I are flattered that each of these individuals, with such impressive tenure at their previous organizations, decided to join our firm.”

Formed as part of the reorganization of the Stephens family businesses, The Stephens Group is focused on investing its principals’ capital. The Stephens Group typically provides equity capital of five to 75 million dollars to companies with exceptional management teams in growing industries and has the ability and resources to invest in larger transactions.

“Long ago, Jon helped create our partnership philosophy of investing in private companies,” said Witt Stephens, Jr. “Rick’s contributions to this philosophy and his deep expertise in the oil and gas industry have helped grow our capital base over the long term. With this talented group in place, we look forward to carrying on the investment legacy our father began in 1933 and has continued through companies like Systematics (now Alltel), Viking Range, Conn’s Appliances and Energy Transfer Partners.”

The Stephens Group, LLC, is a private, family-owned firm looking to invest its capital in private and public companies with exceptional management teams and high returns on invested capital in growing industries. The Stephens Group’s philosophy is one of strategic partnership – pursuing relationships with managers, entrepreneurs, and chief executive officers to establish strategic vision, pursue long-term business objectives, and help them achieve personal goals.