Opus Bank: A California-chartered Commercial Bank

The word opus is a Latin word which means “a life’s work”. True to its name, Opus Bank is a financial institution that continues to honor the life’s work of their clients. The company is registered as a California-chartered commercial bank.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Opus Bank offers a wide range of products and services that are geared towards helping their clients reach their financial goals. The bank serves customers, businesses and select institutions across the metropolitan markets of California, Washington and Arizona. It has 58 banking offices and operates through its four lines of business, namely commercial banking, retail banking, merchant banking and correspondent banking.

At present, Opus Bank has declared its assets to be more than $6.2 billion. As the bank continues to help the communities they thrive in, they also continue to grow and expand their operations. Out of the approximately 5,645 in the United States, Opus Bank is ranked 165th in terms of operations and size.

Nobilis Health Corp: A Healthcare Company

One of the keys to a healthier economy is the preservation of healthy communities. The healthcare industry plays a vital role in the growth of economies around the world. Several companies continue to invest in empowering people to keep themselves healthy and others are engaged in providing the services to keep their citizens in good shape. Nobilis Health Corporation is one of those businesses that closely work with the communities they thrive in to provide the best healthcare solutions.

The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Prior to adopting its current brand name, the business used to be a Canada-based company and traded under the name Northstar Healthcare, Inc. Nobilis Health closely works with physicians in the development and management of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The operations of the company are focused on the states of Arizona and Texas. They continue to engage in the acquisition and management of healthcare facilities in the country. Through these facilities, they are able to offer healthcare services that remain unparalleled and unmatched, with the customers’ welfare at the center of their operations.

Nobilis Health Corporation has several subsidiaries. These affiliates include the Willowbrook Imaging, LLC, GRIP Medical Diagnostics, LLC, Spring Northwest Operating, LLC, Spring Northwest Management, LLC, and Athas Health, LLC, among others. Currently, they have 5 ambulatory surgery centers, 9 healthcare facilities, 2 MRI centers, 1 hospital and an urgent care center. Their highly trained surgeons have multiple specialties, including podiatry, pain management, spine surgery, orthopedic surgery, gastrointestinal scopes, general surgery and in otolaryngology.

The company is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index. It remains publicly traded in two exchanges, namely the New York Stock Exchange (HLTH) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (NHC). The business made it their mission to provide exceptional medical care, lower cost of health care services and increased patient satisfaction.

LHC Group: Provider of Post-Acute Services

When patients have already completed their treatment and is in the process of recuperating, they are moved to post-acute health care service providers. LHC Group, Inc. is a holding company that is acknowledged as one of the leading partners in post-acute health care services.

Hospitals, physicians and families across the United States continue to trust the services provided by the companies that comprise the LHC Group. Through its subsidiaries, the company delivers high quality, cost-effective care to patients. The business takes pride of their partnerships with leading hospitals across the country. As of, more than 60 leading hospitals prefer the services offered by LHC Group. The company operates in 29 states and has more than 10,000 employees who are dedicated in helping people.

It is in Lafayette, Louisiana that the company holds its corporate office. The business operates in three segments, namely hospice services, home-based services and facility-based services.

LeMaitre Vascular: A Medical Device Company

The valvulotome is a surgical device that is now used by vascular surgeons around the world. This scientific breakthrough is the brainchild of George D. LeMaitre, M.D., an inventor and the founder of LeMaitre Vascular. It was in 1983 that he started the business and the company got incorporated in June 1998.

Through his innovative works and the dedication of the group of experts in the company, LeMaitre Vascular continues to make a name in the industry it serves. The business innovates devices that are used for the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases. LeMaitre Vascular designs, develops and manufactures medical devices and implantable products that are primarily used in the field of vascular surgery. The company has several products that are now circulating in the markets in the United States and in some select international locations. These products are created to address various needs of vascular surgeons.

Part of the portfolio of the business is their valvulotomes, biologic grafts, biologic patches, carotid shunts, balloon catheters, radiopaque marking tape, anastomotic clips, laparoscopic cholecystectomy devices, angioscopes, vascular grafts, remote endarterectomy devices and powered phlebectomy devices. These products are marketed under various brand names, which include the Expandable LeMaitre Valvulotomoe, XenoSure biologic patch, the Pruitt F3 Carotid Shunt and the VascuTape Radiopaque Tape. To help the business market their products in various international locations, they continue to operate several subsidiaries, These companies include the LeMaitre Vascular Switzerland GmbH, LeMaitre Vascular GK, Vascutech Acquisition LLC, LeMaitre Vascular GmbH, LeMaitre Vascular AS, and LeMaitre Vascular ULC, among others.

It is in Burlington, Massachusetts that the company holds its corporate office. The company is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index. LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. remains publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market and uses the ticker symbol LMAT to trade its common shares.

Heritage Financial Group, Inc.: More Than a Century of Exceptional Banking

Heritage Financial Group, Inc. is a bank holding company that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Heritage Bank. The history of the business goes back to the creation of the bank in the state of Georgia in 1911.

Since its inception, the company has been consistent in working towards its goal of helping their clients achieve their financial goals. The Heritage Bank has 36 banking locations across the state of Georgia, Florida and in Alabama. Additionally, they also maintain 21 mortgage offices and 5 investment offices. As of December 2014, the assets of the company are estimated to be around $1.7 billion. Other than the customary depository products and services, the bank also offers a wide range of loan products and investment instruments.

Prior to becoming The Heritage Bank, the company started out as The Hinesville Bank. It was not until 1997 that the business adopted its current brand name.

Golden Ocean Group: An International Leader in Dry Bulk Transportation

Golden Ocean Group is a publicly traded company that markets its common shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. It uses the ticker symbol GOGL. It is in Hamilton, Bermuda that the company holds its corporate office. Since its inception, the business is known for providing its business partners with reliable transportation services and innovative solutions.

Through its in-depth knowledge in maritime and its state of the art vessels, they are able to continue on attracting new business partners and provide better value to their shareholders. Golden Ocean is best known for forging strong relationships with their clients and business partners. There are four affiliated partners of the company, which provide technical management, commercial and financial operations. These businesses include Frontline, Limited, Ship Finance International Limited, SeaDrill LImited and United Freight Carriers.

Golden Ocean Group is registered as a leading international dry bulk shipping company. As one of the largest players in the industry, the business has a fleet of 70 vessels that include new buildings and those vessels that are chartered on long term contracts. In total, these vessels have a total carrying capacity of 10.6 million dwt (deadweight tonnage). These vessels are flagged in Hong Kong and in the Bermuda. The company continues to focus on the markets of Capesize, Supramax and Panamax. The management services of the company are overseen by its subsidiary the Golden Ocean Group Management (Bermuda) Limited. The business has also subcontracted its services to two other subsidiaries: Golden Ocean Management Asia Pte Ltd. and Golden Ocean Management AS.

The company operates with transparency, strong management team, good corporate governance and competitive costs as its building blocks. The growth of the business is achieved through its strategic acquisition of additional tonnage and by entering into chartering contracts with businesses around the world.

Eldorado Resorts: A Gaming Company

Eldorado Resorts is one of the companies in the entertainment and hospitality industries. The business was created by the Carano family in Reno, Nevada in 2014. It operates its headquarters in Nevada.

Registered as a gaming company, Eldorado Resorts provides entertainment and hospitality services in 5 states. The business was created as a result of the merger of MTR Gaming Group and Eldorado Holdco LLC. The merger was completed in September 2014 and as a result, expanded the operations of the business. There are 7 properties that are owned and operated by the company. These establishments include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Reno, Eldorado Shreveport, Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, Scioto Downs Racino, Presque Isle Downs & Casino and Silver Legacy Reno.

The company is a component of the Russell 3000 Index and continues to publicly trade on the NASDAQ. Common shares are marketed using the ticker symbol ERI.

Digital Turbine, Inc.: Provider of End-to-End Products and Solutions

More than 31 million customers make use of the solutions offered by Digital Turbine, Inc. The business is a global provider of end-to-end products and solutions that are used by mobile operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other third parties. It was in September 2007 that the company was incorporated. It was previously known as Mandalay Digital Group, Inc.

The offerings of the company are intended to monetize mobile content. They have a wide array of solutions that are used by more than 20 global operators. The operations of the company are divided into four operating segments, namely Ignite, Content, Appia Core and IQ. Furthermore, these segments are aggregated into two divisions, Advertising and Content. These solutions continue to operate where mobile communications and media converge.

Under their Advertising operations, Digital Turbine offers DT Ignite, DT IQ, DT Media and Appia Core. Through these offerings, mobile operators and manufacturers are able to control, manage and monetize the applications in mobile devices. These solutions also offer a better customer experience with the operators and as well as with the brand of mobile devices. The Content division is represented by DT Marketplace and DT Pay. DT Marketplace is an application and content store and the latter is a content management and mobile payment solution. This division is also engaged in the distribution and licensing of content across multiple categories, including music, eBooks, games, wallpapers and applications. It continues to compete against the offerings of Apple (iTunes) and Google (Play) and several other providers.

It is in Austin, Texas that the business holds its corporate office. The company maintains global offices in Berlin, Singapore. Tel Aviv and in Sydney, Australia. Digital Turbine, Inc. remains publicly traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market and continues to trade its shares using the symbol APPS. The business is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index.

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc.: Designing and Developing Novelty Anti-infectives

Just like medicine, diseases also tend to evolve and become resistant to some of the existing therapeutics. For this reason, biopharmaceutical companies innovate and check on the efficacy of the products they market.

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. is one of the biotechnology companies that focus its resources on the discovery, development and commercialization of novelty therapeutics. The offerings of the company are focused on anti-infectives. These compounds are used in the treatment of diseases that are now inadequately address by existing standard of care therapies. The company has two lead products, CD101 IV and CD101 topical. The former is used in the treatment of systemic fungal infections, while the latter is a topical formation for vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The company was formerly known as K2 Therapeutics, Inc. It holds its corporate office in San Diego, California and remains publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. Common shares of the business are marketed using the ticker symbol CDTX.

Chesapeake Energy: The 12th Largest Oil and Natural Gas Company in US

Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Chesapeake Energy, Inc. markets its common shares using the ticker symbol CHK. The business is registered as an independent oil and natural gas company. It is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 and the S&P 500 Indices. It is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that the business holds its corporate office.

The company is recognized as the country’s second largest natural gas producer. Its operations are focused on reserves and unconventional fields onshore in the United States. The history of the company started with the investment made by founders Aubrey McClendon (retired CEO) and Tom L. Ward (President and COO) in 1989. With 10 employees and $50,000 in initial investment, these two entrepreneurs started Chesapeake Energy. Their perseverance paid off and made the company they created into the country’s 12th largest producer of oil and natural gas.

Chesapeake Energy engages in the development, acquisition and exploitation of reserves in high profile assets in top onshore plays. Their world-class technical resources and their highly innovative employees continue to accelerate their operations. Through these dedicated associates, the business also delivers value adding strategies to their shareholders. Chesapeake underscores the value of safety to every associate and contractor, who works for their operations. The company also invests on recent technologies that would help mitigate whatever damage their operations may cause to the environment.

The business is capable of generating more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Their portfolio of assets are located in the Granite Wash, Cleveland, Eagle Ford, Utica, Mississippi Lime, Tonkawa, Niobrara unconventional liquid plays. They also have assets located in the Barnett shale, Marcellus and Haynesville/Bossier natural gas shale plays. Chesapeake operates as the parent business of Chesapeake Oilfield Services, LLC and Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc.

Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc.: Operating Luxury Class Hotels

Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) firm, that operates through its subsidiary, the Ashford Hospitality Prime Limited Partnership. The company engages in the ownership and management of hotel properties in the United States.

The portfolio of the company is comprised of luxury, upscale and upper-upscale hotels. As of March 2015, they have interests in 10 hotels that are located in 6 states and in the District of Columbia. In aggregate, these properties have a total of more than 3,400 rooms. These properties are affiliated under the brand names of Marriott International, Inc. and Hilton Worldwide, Inc. They are also affiliated with Accor Business, Remington and Leisure Management, LLC.

The company is advised by Ashford LLC, which is a subsidiary of Ashford, Inc. It remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker symbol AINC. It is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index.

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation: A Real Estate Investment Trust Firm

Registered as a specialty finance company, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) firm. It was in September 2011 that the company got incorporated and continues to operate its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. The focus of the company is their portfolio of commercial real estate (CRE) debt-related investments.

As a specialty finance venture, it provides service to underserved and distinct middle-market commercial real estate. It operates as a one-stop provider of solutions that are designed to address their partners’ financing needs. The middle-markets the company serves are those businesses with values of $15 to $250 million. Through their seasoned leadership team, they are able to successfully manage their investments from origination to payment or maturity. The company operates through its two reporting segments: Principal Lending Business and Mortgage Banking Business.

Its Principal Lending Business offers a wide range of lending portfolio. This segment is operated by investment professionals across the United States and in Europe, who continue to assess the capacity and potential of every client. The Mortgage Banking Business operates under a combination of programs, including HUD, Ginne Mae, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These two business segments are overseen by their managing directors, who have created a formidable experience in the industry. In average, these professional have more than 27 years of experience in middle-market commercial real estate lending and financing.

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation is managed by Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC, which is a subsidiary of Ares Management, LP. The latter is known for managing more than $92 billion of assets. Ares Commercial remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It markets its common shares using the ticker symbol ACRE. It is listed as one of the components of the Russell 3000 Index.

Associated Estates Realty Corp: Operating Multifamily Apartment Units

Headquartered in Richmond Heights, Ohioa, Associated Estates Realty Corporation is one of the real estate investment trust (REIT) firms that focus its resources on the ownership and development of multifamily apartment units.

The company is being managed by Fairfield Residential and has a portfolio of about 49 apartment communities. It continues to operate in some of the most desirable neighborhoods across America. In total, these properties have about 12,700 apartment units. In addition to these properties, Associated Estates Realty Corporation also manages a commercial building in Los Angeles, California that has a total of 78,800 total spaces for office and commercial use. As a REIT, the company is obliged to return at least 90% of its total revenue back to its shareholders for the company to remain free from federal tax obligations.

It remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and markets its common shares using the ticker symbol AEC.

Investors Real Estate Trust: A REIT

Investors Real Estate Trust is a Minot, North Dakota-based self-advised equity real estate investment trust (REIT). The company was incorporated in August 1997 and continues to operate as a publicly traded entity. Common shares of the business are marketed on the New York Stock Exchange, using the ticker symbol IRET.

As a REIT, the business operates in 5 reporting segments, namely healthcare, industrial, retail, multi-family residential and office. The properties owned and managed by the company are focused on the Midwest states of North Dakota and Minnesota. The company has been around since 1970 and has strongly focused its resources on the owning and operating of income-producing real estate properties located in the two states, until it started expanding in nearby states. Over 400 people are working for the company on a full-time basis. These employees operate in 10 states, while the properties owned and managed by the company are located in 12 states. In total, these properties comprise the $2 billion assets owned by the company.

As of April 2015, the company’s portfolio is comprised of 100 multi-family residential properties, office properties with more than 4.2 million square feet in leasable space, 7 industrial properties with a total of 1. Million square feet of leasable space, 23 retail properties and 66 healthcare properties. Their multi-family residential properties have a total of more than 11,800 apartment units. They have a strong presence in the states of South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Iowa, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas, among other states.

The business is listed as one of the components of the Wilshire 5000 Index. It is the owner of some of the renowned establishments in several states, including the 2800 Medical Building in Minneapolis, Barry Pointe Office Park in Kansas City and the High Pointe Health Campus in Lake Elmo.

Willamette Valley Vineyards: An American Winery

Headquartered in Turner, Oregon, Willamette Valley Vineyards publicly trades its common shares on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. The business uses the ticker symbol WVVI. It is registered as an American winery and is the leading producer of Pinot noir.

It was in 1983 that the company was started by founder, Jim Bernau. Today, the business is one of the leading producers of world class wine, including Pinot gris and Chardonnay. Through a series of acquisitions, the business continues to expand its operations and further diversify its offerings. Willamette Valley Vineyards take pride of handpicking all the fruits they use to create their wine. Their Pinot noir is fermented through small bin fermentation. They also keep their own fermentation method, which gives their products a distinct taste over other products.

It was in 1989 that the business has gone public. Today, Willamette Valley Vineyards is listed as one of the components of the Wilshire 5000 Index.

Wilshire Bancorp, Inc.: A Bank Holding Company

Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. is a Los Angeles, California-based bank holding company. The business is the parent company of the Wilshire Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank. Through its operating subsidiary, the company continues to offer a wide range of financial products and services that are tailored to help their clients reach their financial goals.

It was in December 2003 that the company got incorporated. It continues to publicly trade its common shares using the ticker symbol WIBC on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. As of December 2014, the company’s portfolio is comprised of more than $4.16 billion in assets and a total of $3.32 billion in loans. Deposits of the company are estimated to be around $3.40 billion. Wilshire Bancorp is a member of the Federal Insurance Deposit Corporation and continues to fortify its membership of Federal Home Loan Banks.

Wilshire Bank operates within the southern California region. They also have banking branches in Texas, the greater New York area and in New Jersey. There are 34 full-service bank branches that operate under the Wilshire Bank brand name. In addition to these locations, they also maintain 4 loan production offices, each located in California, Colorado, Georgia and Washington. The business offers depository products and services and a variety of loan activities that are fuelled by the company’s pooled deposits. Additionally, Their membership to the FHLB allows them to secure overnight and short term borrowings to supplement their funds. As of December 2014, their real estate loans remains to be the biggest portion of their portfolio and encompasses 81% of their total loan activities.

Wilshire Bancorp invests on the latest technology to further provide their consumers the best banking experience. Their seasoned employees continue to provide the best service to customers, businesses and institutions. As a community bank, Wilshire Bank highlights the solutions they provide to small and medium-sized businesses, which serve as backbone to the communities they operate in.

Vulcan Materials Company Dominates the Construction Materials Sector

From its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, Vulcan Materials Company dominates the construction materials sector in the United States especially in the production, distribution and sale of gravel, sand, and crushed stones, among others. With over 7,000 people employed in more than 300 facilities, the company supplies its products to 19 states and the District of Columbia as well as Mexico.

In order to maintain its leadership status, Vulcan has implemented several innovative projects including the Crescent Market project, which resulted in the construction of a deep water seaport and large quarry on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The facility supplies several cities including Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston as well as many Gulf coast seaports with construction materials primarily crushed limestone.

Vulcan Materials Company previously owned Vulcan Chemicals, a chemical business, before it was sold to Occidental Chemical Corporation. The company also made several acquisitions to expand its operations including the purchase of 11 aggregates companies and 5 asphalt plants in Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, and Tennessee (2005).

Vitesse Semiconductor: A Fabless Semiconductor Company

Vitessse Semiconductor was a fabless American semiconductor company that continued to operate as an independent company until June 2015. The company thrived in the industry of communication equipment and has created innovations that made a difference in the electronic products that we make use today. The company was once listed as one of the components of the Wilshire 5000 Index.

The company was created in 1984 as Vitesse Electronics Corporation. The inception of the business was the brainchild of some of the executives from Rockwell International, which received fundings of more than $30 million from the Norton Corporation. It was in 1987 that the business adopted the corporate name Vitnesse Semiconductor. By that time, the company has already received additional fundings from investors Sequioa Capital and New Enterprise Associates. It is worth noting that the company was among the first semiconductor companies to develop Gallium Arsenide based integrated circuits.

The offerings of Vitnesse Semiconductor were used in communication. It offered Ethernet switching products that are used in access network equipment, customer-premises equipment, mobile access equipment, fiber and microwave wireless backhaul equipment and wireless base stations. It also offers Ethernet switches that enable workgroup, desktop and LAN infrastructure. Through the company’s strategic approach in acquiring competing businesses, it dramatically grew its operations. Among the companies acquired by the business are XaQti in 1999 and Orologic and Sitera in 2000.

In March 2015, it was announced that the business was purchased by Microsemi Corporation. It was around June 2015 that the acquisition was closed. Subsequent to the closing of the deal, the company’s common shares were delisted on the NASDAQ. Vitesse Semiconductor now operates as part of Microsemi Corporation. The latter continues to offer a wide range of semiconductor solutions that are used in communication, defense and security, industrial, aerospace and in other high-performance markets. Microsemi Corporation is currently headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California.

Wabash National: Crucial Player in the North American Transport Industry

Wabash National is among the major players of the North American transportation industry, thanks to its status as the leading manufacturer of semi-trailers, dry freight vans, platform trailers, refrigerated vans, and liquid tank trailers as well as composite and engineered products with its specialization being liquid transportation systems. While many of its products are sold under the Wabash National brand, the corporation also manufactures and sells products under other brands, namely, Transcraft, DuraPlate, Benson, Walker Transport, Walker Barrier Systems, Walker Defense Group, Walker Engineered Products, Beall, Brenner Tank, Garsite, Bulk Tank International, Progress Tank, TST, and Extract Technology.

Due to its nationwide distribution network, the company maintains several Wabash National Trailer Centers, which are a network of dealerships, as well as retail distributors and trailer service centers. The retail distributors offer new and used trailers as well as aftermarket parts across the United States.

As of 2013, Wabash National earned company-wide sales of approximately US$1.6 billion, one of the strongest manufacturers in the industry today.

W. R. Berkley: Insurance Provider Extraordinaire

W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company listed in the New York Stock Exchange (Ticker symbol: WRB) and based in Greenwich, Connecticut in the United States, is among the world’s major commercial lines property and casualty insurance holding companies. With total revenues of US$5.82 billion in 2012, the corporation continues to grow its client base and market share; of the $5.82 billion, $3.94 billion was generated by the insurance-domestic segment, $732 million by the Reinsurance-Global segment, and $678 million by the Insurance-International segment.

The three abovementioned segments, which are briefly described below, are in W.R. Berkley’s property insurance sector:

• Insurance-Domestic segment includes surplus and excess lines as well as admitted lines in the United States;
• Insurance-International segment includes the insurance business in the Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and Australia;
• Reinsurance-Global segment is on a treaty and facultative basis with operations mainly in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific region, and Australia.

As of 2015, W. R. Berkley Corporation has 51 operating units. Of these units, 44 units have been developed within the corporation (i.e., internally), while 7 have been added by acquisition.

William R. Berkley founded the corporation and currently serves as its Executive Chairman as of 2015. His son, William Robert Berkley, Jr., is the President and Chief Executive Officer.

W. R. Berkley Corporation prides itself on its core values, which have sustained it through the global financial crisis, among other business challenges. The business is well-known for its passionate commitment to accountability, its strong sense of fiduciary responsibility to its stockholders, and its people-oriented strategy. The corporation also manages its risks with a proactive approach, which is manifested in its strong balance sheet, stable investment portfolio, and ample resources for business growth when the right opportunities are discovered as well as ensuring superior risk-adjusted returns.