Banking & Finance

Milwaukee-based investment banking firm Emory & Co. has sold a majority interest in West Bend-based Discount Ramps LLC to Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm Rotunda Capital Partners.

Back in the 1970s, 25 percent of the American workforce counted on a union card to guarantee their household a place in the middle class. Blame technology, globalization or even the oil embargo, but union membership has declined as the service economy evolved. Now, standing between American households and a middle class lifestyle is a college diploma, yet only 30 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds have a bachelor's degree.

Oldenburg Metal Technologies Inc. has purchased Gen Mach Tooling in Saukville.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. has agreed to sell its automotive electronics business to Visteon Corp. for $265 million.

Racine-based Johnson Bank has named Gus Hernandez president of the Milwaukee metropolitan market.

Advicent Solutions has hired Phil Cunningham as chief executive officer.

Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Inc. is exploring a possible sale of its Russell Investments asset management business, according to a report today by Reuters.

Menomonee Falls-based Dohmen Co. announced it has acquired three technology companies: Milwaukee-based Red Arrow Labs, Milwaukee-based Clinical Path Consulting and Raleigh, N.C.-based ChemWare.

Wisconsin-based startup accelerator Gener8tor has kicked off its Winter 2014 Program with five companies planning to advance their businesses.