Banking & Finance
Stay informed on the latest banking, finance, and investment news across Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
ESOP fables: Reviewing the myths and facts about Employee Stock Ownership Plans
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can be an attractive way for an owner to sell a company and for employees to gain an ownership stake. ESOPs are qualified retirement plans that buy, hold and sell company stock for the benefit of employees. One of the main reasons ESOPs are often dismissed by business owners (and their advisors) as a legitimate succession planning option is due to the many unfounded misconceptions about them. In reality, many businesses are a perfect fit for ESOPs, but the business owners will never know because they think selling to a private equity or other third-party buyer are their only legitimate alternatives. Discussed below are some of the most common myths associated with ESOPs (sometimes referred to as “ESOP fables”):
A piece of the pie: Employee Stock Ownership Plans provide unique advantages
Ruekert & Mielke Inc. owner Bill Mielke started thinking about his eventual exit from the Waukesha-based civil and municipal engineering firm about 20 years ago.
Baird Capital acquires LED lighting manufacturer
Milwaukee-based Baird Capital, the direct private investment division of Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., has acquired SloanLED through its U.S. private equity group.
SVA donates 1,400 jars of peanut butter to Hunger Task Force
SVA Professional Services has donated 1,400 jars of peanut butter to Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee.
Furlong to retire from BMO Harris
Mark Furlong, who served as chief executive officer and chairman of Marshall and Illsley Corp. until it was acquired by BMO Harris Financial Group, has announced he will retire from BMO Harris in June.
PSC approves Wisconsin Energy deal
Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corp.’s acquisition of Integrys Energy Group Inc. has received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
- Advertisement -
Rockwell earnings down on strong dollar
Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation Inc. today reported fiscal second quarter net income of $206 million, or $1.51 per share, up from $180.3 million, or 1.28 per share, in the second quarter of 2014.
Generac reports soft quarter on telecom decline, fewer outages
Waukesha-based Generac Holdings Inc. today reported first quarter net income of $19.7 million, or 28 cents per share, down from $34.7 million, or 50 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.
Roadrunner profit up on both organic and strategic growth
Cudahy-based Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. has announced first quarter net income of $13.6 million, or 35 cents per share, up from $10.4 million, or 27 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.
Milwaukee firms named to FT 400
Several Milwaukee financial advisors have been named to The Financial Times’ 400 Top Financial Advisors list.
