Banking & Finance

ZBB Energy Corp., a Menomonee Falls-based developer of intelligent, renewable energy power platforms and hybrid vehicle control systems, today announced it has entered into an agreement in which Aspire Capital Fund LLC, a Chicago-based limited liability company, has committed to purchasing up to $10 million of ZBB Energy common stock over the next two years.

Northern Trust Corp. today announced it has received no objections from the Federal Reserve Board to its proposed 2013 capital plan.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average will need an afternoon rally to extend its longest winning streak since 1996.

Company owners interested in learning more about the process and prospects of buying or selling businesses are invited to attend the annual BizTimes M&A Forum, which will take place Friday, May 3, at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

There’s been a lot of talk about reforming the Federal Tax Code in the Fiscal Cliff and Sequester debates and now it appears that Wisconsin may be getting in on the act. Gov. Walker’s budget included a very modest reduction in the Wisconsin income tax rates and it appears that the legislature wants to go further.

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.