Ideas

Appleton Papers Inc. and Hicks Acquisition Company II Inc. today announced a definitive agreement under which Appleton will engage in a business combination with Hicks in a transaction valued at $675 million.

After a long slump since the housing market crash that led to the Great Recession, the metro Milwaukee housing market is finally regaining a balance between supply and demand.

The Walker administration today took the unprecedented step today of releasing preliminary employment numbers that indicate Wisconsin may have created 23,321 jobs in 2011.

A “ground blessing” ceremony will be held today for the School Sisters of St. Francis’ project to build a 72-unit independent senior and assisted apartment building on the grounds of the sisters' St. Joseph Center campus at 1501 S. Layton Blvd., on the south side of Milwaukee.

Sheldon Lubar will receive the BizTimes Bravo! Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award at the Biz Expo on Thursday.

Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. reported quarterly net earnings of $47.5 million, or $1.01 per share, compared with a net loss of $7.3 million, or 15 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based Roundy's Inc. reported first quarter net income of $2.3 million, or 6 cents per share, down from $8.8 million, or 29 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

The historic Times and Rosebud theaters have been sold at sheriff's auction to Lee Barczak, who also owns the Avalon Theatre in Bay View.

Milwaukee-based Rexnord Corp. completed its first quarter as a public company with net earnings of $9 million, or 12 cents per share.

Lee Brass Company has been acquired by Morris Capital Management, with the help of Cleary Gull Inc. of Milwaukee.