On the Street

JQH Finance LLC, an affiliate of JQH Acquisitions LLC, the entity buying out John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. for approximately $132 million, Aug. 26 issued a tender offer to pay cash for all of the outstanding $499 million principal amount of Series B first mortgage notes due 2012 that were issued by Hammons Hotels’ affiliates. By Sept. 9, 98.8 percent, or more than $493 million, of the notes were validly tendered, according to a company news release. The offer is scheduled to expire 9 a.m. Sept. 26. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is dealer manager for the tender offer, and Global Bondholder Services Corp. is information agent and depositary.

Top small businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting nominations for its 2006 Small Business Week Awards through Nov. 4. District- and state-level awards will be issued in several categories, including Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Veteran Small Business of the Year and Women in Business of the Year. State award winners advance to the national awards during National Small Business Week ceremonies. There are an estimated 25 million small businesses in America. For more information visit www.sba.gov/nominationsguideline.html or call the local SBA office at (417) 890-8501.

Hammons’ high-rise

Dallas Business Journal reports that John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. is considering building a second high-rise hotel on 12 acres near Dallas – this time with condo units. The company’s existing 230-room John Q. Hammons Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco hotel is connected to the Frisco Conference Center.

CEO confidence slips

A recent international poll of CEOs shows that executives’ confidence in the economy is sinking, and they’re pointing to Hurricane Katrina. TEC International, a worldwide organization of CEOs, conducted its latest confidence index the week Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. CEOs turned in TEC International’s lowest-rated index, as nearly one-third think future economic conditions will be worse in 12 months than now. Oil prices are tops among economic concerns of nearly half of the respondents. Many also are worried about budgeting, interest rates, price increases and vacation time.

Slice of Nice

Several small Louisiana newspapers are on the brink of extinction as Hurricane Katrina’s ripples have either shut down publications or left subscriber homes vacant, post offices closed and advertisers inoperable. Springfield Business Journal is getting reports that more than 20 Louisiana papers are still recovering. The Louisiana Press Association has set up a foundation to assist those publications. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Louisiana Press Association, 404 Europe St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

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