Bank buy back: The Baton Rouge-based parent of Investar Bank has announced plans to buy back up to 250,000 shares, or about 3.5%, of the company’s outstanding common stock. In its announcement Thursday, Investar Holding Corp. said its board authorized purchases to be made from time to time on the open market and through private transactions. The company’s shares have traded in a 52-week range of between $13 and $19 per share and closed Thursday at $14.70. Investar Bank has 11 offices in South Louisiana.
Round two: The Securities and Exchange Commission has brought insider trading charges against former Shaw Group executive Scott Zeringue and his brother-in-law, Jesse Roberts III, of Ruston. Roberts has also been indicted on federal conspiracy and securities-fraud charges. Last summer, Zeringue pleaded guilty to criminal charges. The SEC alleges that while serving as vice president of construction operations at Shaw, Zeringue bought stock and asked his brother to do the same based on his knowledge of the impending acquisition by Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.
Ready to rock: The popular Live After Five concert series kicks off April 3 with Cowboy Mouth with Elvin Killerbee. The Downtown Business Association, which produces the series, unveiled its spring lineup today. Other upcoming artists include Hai Karate, Gina Brown and Anutha Level, and Dumpstafunk. Concerts are held from 5-8 p.m. at the Crest at Galvez Plaza, and run through May 21.
