Banking & Finance

The U.S. economy is showing positive signs of continued recovery with a variety of sectors witnessing significant growth, according to BMO Private Bank's December Outlook for Financial Markets Report.

Milwaukee-based private equity firm Mason Wells has acquired Whitehall Specialties Inc., a Whitehall-based cheese products manufacturer.

Milwaukee-based manufacturer Brady Corp. has sold its Varitronics LLC division to Minnesota private equity firm Renaissance Equity Partners. Milwaukee investment banking firm Emory & Co. advised Brady in the transaction.

Cudahy-based Lucas-Milhaupt Inc., a subsidiary of Handy & Harman Ltd., announced it has acquired Inmet Metal Processing Plant Ltd. of Gliwice, Poland.

Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc. has positioned itself to grow in line with the rising popularity of mobile payment and banking technologies worldwide. Consumers are asking banks to offer more flexibility, and Fiserv develops the technologies that enable banks to answer those demands.

As consumers demand more convenient access to financial accounts on the go, banks have adjusted by offering mobile banking and even creating apps for ease of use on smart phones.

Christy Schwan, president and owner of Brookfield-based Stellarus Benefits Inc., approaches her business with the same fearlessness she has when snowshoeing out into the unknown.

Visits to brick-and-mortar banks are on the decline as mobile banking becomes the norm, and Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc. is poised to capitalize on the electronic trend.

Waukesha-based Generac Holdings Inc. announced it plans to acquire Latin American generator manufacturer Ottomotores UK Ltd. for $46.5 million.

The Wisconsin economy is expanding at a somewhat sluggish pace and has struggled to gather any sustained momentum given declining factory activity, according to the State Monitor report released by BMO Capital Markets Economics.