Banking & Finance

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

Milwaukee-based marketing agency GMR Marketing plans to merge with San Francisco-based SportsMark Management Group.

Milwaukee-based accounting, tax and business consulting firm Schenck S.C. has acquired most of the practice of Milwaukee CPA firm Bonfield & Company S.C.

Chicago-based Cole Taylor Bank has hired two new employees at its Franklin commercial banking office as part of a southeast Wisconsin expansion.

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.