Economic Development

Executives representing a diverse range of industries will share insights about the year ahead in business at the 11th annual Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast to be presented by BizTimes Media on Friday, Jan. 20.

The United Way of Greater Milwaukee announced today that it raised more than $50 million, an all-time record, exceeding its $48 million projected goal by more than $2 million.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Menomonee Falls-based ZBB Energy Corp., a developer of intelligent, renewable energy power platforms, announced today it has signed a joint development and license agreement and a stock purchase agreement with a major global technology company to jointly develop flow batteries.

The Marcus Corp. today reported fiscal second quarter net earnings of $2.8 million, or 10 cents per share, up from $2.1 million, or 7 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Baird Venture Partners (BVP), the venture capital fund of Baird Private Equity, today announced that Donald Layden Jr. and Frederick Robertson, M.D., have joined the firm as operating partners.

Morningstar Investment Services has selected Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc.’s managed account technology to support Morningstar Managed Portfolios.

Associated Bank announced it plans to close 21 branches across three states, including 16 in Wisconsin, in the late first quarter and early second quarter of 2012.

Brookfield-based financial services technology provider Fiserv Inc. is supporting holiday charities across the country, including in Brookfield.

Banking Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions  Federal Deposit Insurance Corp....