Banking & Finance

The Riverwest Investment Cooperative has started a microlending program in cooperation with the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation.

The preferred stock and subordinated debt positions of Waukesha-based bank holding company Waukesha Bankshares Inc. will be auctioned today and tomorrow as part of the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program’s Capital Purchase Program.

Baird Private Equity, the direct private investment arm of Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., today unveiled an updated strategic brand that includes the new name of Baird Capital.

Wauwatosa-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. reported that its fiscal second quarter net sales increased 2 percent to $439.1 million.

Green Bay, Wis.-based Associated Banc-Corp. is consolidating its Chicago operations into one larger office in the West Loop from four other buildings in the market.

Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Inc. today announced its 2012 financial results, which include a record dividend payout to policy owners expected to exceed $5 billion in 2013. The company paid $4.97 billion in dividends last year.

Steve Booth has been promoted to chief operating officer and will eventually serve as chief executive officer and president of Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co Inc.

Most Wisconsin bank leaders consider the state’s economic health to be at least “fair,” according to a Bank CEO Economic Conditions Survey recently conducted by the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

Milwaukee-based Vector Technologies Inc. has been acquired by Holden Industries Inc. of Deerfield, Ill.

Generation Growth Capital Fund I, LP, a Milwaukee-based private equity fund, has acquired Mica Tool & Manufacturing Inc. of Mukwonago.