Banking & Finance

Waukesha State Bank has promoted Marynell Costa and James P. Riley to senior vice president.

Associated Bank has named three new leaders in the Milwaukee area.

James Cox has joined Milwaukee private equity firm Brass Ring Capital as special advisor. He will assist the firm in identifying and completing investments in the southeastern United States as it expands its geographic reach.

Brookfield-based Ridgestone Financial Services today reported record earnings during the first six months of 2013, with a net income of $4.2 million, up from $219,000 for the first six months of 2012.

Milwaukee-based solar panel manufacturer Helios USA has closed, and about 24 employees have been laid off.

S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Melvo Holding GmbH, a shoe care company with leading brands sold throughout Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), from a shareholder group led by VR Equitypartner.

Johnson Outdoors Inc., a Racine-based global outdoor recreation equipment company, has announced a new streamlined structure of the company's debt.

London-based private equity firm Nova Capital announced recently that it has acquired a portfolio of businesses from Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid Inc.’s hardware group, including Shur-Line Inc., for $214 million.

Talmer Bank and Trust, a subsidiary of Talmer Bancorp, Inc. announced today it has hired Gary Hutchins as managing director and commercial relationship manager in Kenosha.

Johnson Outdoors Inc., a Racine-based global outdoor recreation equipment company, today announced a new streamlined structure of the company's debt.