Economic Development

Mequon-based Charter Manufacturing Company announced it has acquired Dura-Bar and Dura-Bar Metal Services as part of its stock purchase of Illinois-based Wells Manufacturing Company.

A group of 158 CEOs who are members of the Business Roundtable last week sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders, urging them to compromise and avoid driving the federal government over the fiscal cliff.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation COO Ryan Murray encouraged local entrepreneurs to support the early stage capital program being proposed in the state legislature at a meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network-Milwaukee last week.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced it has acquired Companhia Caetano Branco of Brazil for a total consideration of approximately $57 million in cash.

Marcus Theatres, a division of The Marcus Corp. in Milwaukee, announced it has signed an agreement to purchase MESCOP Inc., a film buying and booking business located in Sussex.

Banks and credit unions that actively market their mobile banking services have experienced adoption rates twice as high as financial institutions that do not promote the service, according to a new statistical analysis by Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc.

Mayville Engineering Company Inc. announced it has acquired Center Manufacturing Inc. a Byron Center, Mich.-based manufacturer of metal products for the commercial vehicle, powersports, agriculture, construction, automotive and military industries, through a private stock purchase.

Businesses in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties are slightly more optimistic about 2013 than they were heading into 2012, according to the First Business Economic Survey released Wednesday by First Business Bank-Milwaukee.

Jeff Yabuki, president and chief executive officer of Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc., will headline a stellar panel of business executives at the 2013 Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast.

BMO Financial Group, the Toronto-based parent company of BMO Harris Bank, reported strong fiscal fourth quarter earnings and a plan to repurchase up to 15 million of its common stock shares.