Banking & Finance

A group of 158 CEOs who are members of the Business Roundtable last week sent a letter to President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders, urging them to compromise and avoid driving the federal government over the fiscal cliff.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation COO Ryan Murray encouraged local entrepreneurs to support the early stage capital program being proposed in the state legislature at a meeting of the Wisconsin Innovation Network-Milwaukee last week.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced it has acquired Companhia Caetano Branco of Brazil for a total consideration of approximately $57 million in cash.

Marcus Theatres, a division of The Marcus Corp. in Milwaukee, announced it has signed an agreement to purchase MESCOP Inc., a film buying and booking business located in Sussex.

Banks and credit unions that actively market their mobile banking services have experienced adoption rates twice as high as financial institutions that do not promote the service, according to a new statistical analysis by Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc.

Mayville Engineering Company Inc. announced it has acquired Center Manufacturing Inc. a Byron Center, Mich.-based manufacturer of metal products for the commercial vehicle, powersports, agriculture, construction, automotive and military industries, through a private stock purchase.

Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. and Axis Capital, the investment banking subsidiary of Axis Bank, one of the leading private sector banks in India, today announced a strategic alliance for investment banking services, with an initial focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between India and Europe, and India and the United States.

Mequon-based Charter Manufacturing Company announced it has acquired Dura-Bar and Dura-Bar Metal Services as part of its stock purchase of Illinois-based Wells Manufacturing Company.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced it has acquired Companhia Caetano Branco of Brazil for a total consideration of approximately $57 million in cash.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls has filed an appeal of the sale of A123 Systems Inc. to Chinese automotive parts company Wanxiang.