Ideas

Milwaukee-based Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. held an initial public offering last week with shares priced at $30 on the New York Stock Exchange. The share price quickly rose to $36.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. is considering a divestiture of its automotive electronics business.

Racine-based Johnson Financial Group announced the appointment of Todd Shaffer as chief risk officer for the company.

BMO Private Bank announced it has hired Peter Koleske as vice president and private banker in Milwaukee.

John Blau has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president and chief credit officer at Pewaukee-based Foundations Bank.

Standard & Poors has upgraded its rating of MGIC Investment Corp. to B-, up from CCC+, as a result of the company’s capital raise last week.

Brookfield-based Advantage Federal Resourcing has been acquired by Florida workforce solutions company STS Technical Services.

Many families dream of the possibility of building a business enterprise that can support and be enjoyed by many generations of the family. But making important and sometimes necessary transitions along the way can be difficult. Many advisers know the best techniques to make those transitions in a tax-efficient and legally beneficial matter, yet it is still notoriously difficult to maintain a family business through succeeding generations.

Alto-Shaam, Inc., a foodservice equipment manufacturer in Menomonee Falls, plans to add up to 110 jobs at its newly expanded facility. There are currently 300 workers at the plant.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce read with great interest the recent Milwaukee Biz Blog by History Professor Marc Levine from UW-Milwaukee.