Economic Development

Blackthorne Partners Ltd., a Mequon-based private equity firm, announced it has acquired Berlon Industries, a Hustisford-based manufacturer of buckets and attachments for skid loaders, telehandlers and compact utility tractors.

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services LLC (USBFS), a Milwaukee-based subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, announced it has agreed to acquire AIS Fund Administration (AIS), a provider of fund administration and related services to alternative investment managers.

Racine-based Johnson Outdoors Inc. announced it has closed on its acquisition of Jetboil Inc., the world's No. 1 brand of outdoor cooking systems.

Grafton-based Kapco Inc., which is projecting 20-percent annual sales growth in each of the next several years, is launching a new initiative to expand its vendor base and augment its growth.

The Wisconsin economy is expanding at a somewhat sluggish pace and has struggled to gather any sustained momentum given declining factory activity, according to the State Monitor report released today by BMO Capital Markets Economics.

Of late some mud has been slung at the newly formed Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Much of it deserved. The agency discovered it had failed to track nearly $9 million in loans that are not current, the chief financial officer resigned and Governor Walker brought in a new interim leader while suggesting he would be discussing a series of dramatic moves with the board. WEDC will seek new leadership in a national search as Paul Jadin, former WEDC CEO, jumped ship to run Thrive, the economic development partnership for the Madison area.

Kohl's Corp. reported third quarter net income of $215 million, or 91 cents per share, up from $211 million, or 80 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

MillerCoors LLC reported a 74-percent increase in quarterly profits, sparked by continued growth in its Coors Light and Tenth and Blake Beer Co. brands.

Milwaukee-based WorkWise LLC announced the strategic acquisition of OnContact Software, a Cedarburg-based provider of mid-sized CRM (customer relations management) systems.

Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Companhia Caetano Branco of Brazil for approximately $60 million, subject to post-closing adjustments.