Mergers and acquisitions

Bentley World-Packaging and Modern Packaging have joined forces to combine facilities and management. The combined operation of the export packaging operations will have six facilities in Wisconsin and serve more than 300 customers.
Bentley, with headquarters at 4080 N. Port Washington Rd. in Milwaukee, constructs wood crates, loads ocean carriers, sells custom specification cartons, provides parts distribution services, warehouses products and packages products to government and hazardous-goods specifications.
Modern Packaging, of Muskego, has been operated by Kurt Prange and Walter Wrobbel.
The combined companies will operate under the Bentley World-Packaging name.
R&R Insurance Services of Waukesha has acquired Ziegler Insurance – a division of B.C. Ziegler and Company, located in West Bend. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We had been looking for an opportunity to expand our operations into the counties north of Milwaukee, and acquiring Ziegler Insurance has given us a solid foundation for that expansion,” said Ken Riesch, owner and president of R&R Insurance. “We see exciting growth opportunities for R&R Insurance as we expand our operations in Washington County.”
John Mulherin, president and CEO of Ziegler, said the transaction “provides a wonderful opportunity for Ziegler Insurance and its staff to grow with a partner that has a excellent reputation in insurance services.”
Agents and personnel of the Ziegler agency will become employees of R&R Insurance, and will remain in their current office space in the Ziegler building at 215 N. Main St. in West Bend.
Besides Waukesha and the new West Bend office, R&R has an office in Ft. Atkinson in Jefferson County.
Milwaukee Eye Care Associates (MECA) has purchased the Franklin-based ophthalmology practice, Allen Eye Care Associates, from Dr. Ronald Lee Allen and the practice of the late Dr. J.B. Stafl, whose offices were at 10425 W. North Ave. MECA is under the direction of ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon Dr. Peter Foote, and has five locations: Brookfield, Bayside, Franklin and Milwaukee’s east and south sides. The Franklin office is at 9200 W. Loomis Rd.
Stay-Lite Lighting of Waukesha has acquired the assets of General Lighting of Little Chute. Stay-Rite provides lighting systems and maintenance services for commercial, industrial and retail buildings. It was founded in 1970.
According to Kirk Tuson, president of Stay-Rite, the company decided to acquire General Lighting in order to expand capabilities and provide better customer support throughout the state, including the Appleton area where General Lighting operated. Larry VerHeyden, former owner of General Lighting, will remain with the operation in a sales capacity. Stay-Lite is based at 222 W. St. Paul in Waukesha, while the Little Chute office is at 2215 Kelbe Dr.
Horizon Partners of Milwaukee has acquired Lantor, Inc., of Boston, and its two UK-based affiliate companies: Lantor U.K., Ltd., and Lantor Universal Carbon Fibres, with management from IPT, Ltd., in England.
The company will operate as Lantor, Inc., a subsidiary of Horizon. W.T. Sellman, its former general manager, will be its president and CEO.
With approximately $35 million in sales, Lantor is a leader in specialty sectors of the non-woven textile field, according to Robert M. Feerick, Horizon’s chairman.
Sellman said the transaction returns ownership of the operations to the United States and provides the capital for future expansions and acquisitions. It was established in 1974 to manufacture specialty textile materials for use in filtration applications within the cement, asphalt, power generation, automotive and chemical-processing industries. Lantor UK was established in 1957.
Aerial Specialists Inc-USA of Racine has acquired the total assets of Pro-Mark Aerials. Pro-Mark manufactured trailer-mounted boom lifts along with electric-vehicle-mounted models.
Aerial Specialists (www.aerialspecialists.com) markets itself as the “largest listing” aerial lift parts company in the US.
MC Care, a Milwaukee-based provider of rehabilitation therapy services to the long-term care industry, has acquired Greenbriar Rehabilitation in an effort to move into new markets, according to Curt Klade, chief operating officer for MJ Care. “Greenbriar Rehab is a logical addition to our existing business and assists in our expansion into northern Wisconsin,” Klade said. Greenbriar has headquarters in Eau Claire. It will operate as a subisdiary of MJ care. Jim Price, the head of Greenbriar, will become vice president, Greenbriar Division. MJ Care (www.mjcare.com), with headquarters on South 102nd Street, now employs more than 500 therapists and has contracts in six states.
Aug. 17, 2001 Small Business Times, Milwaukee