My Choice Family Care to acquire Trilogy Health Insurance

My Choice Family Care is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trilogy Health Insurance, a Wisconsin‐based HMO.

As a Managed Care Organization, My Choice has nearly two decades of experience serving older adults and persons with disabilities. Through the Family Care program, My Choice serves enrolled members in twenty‐six counties with emphasis on helping people live independently in the community rather than institutional settings. The company, now a nonprofit entity, was an original pilot partner for the Wisconsin Family Care program in 2000.

Trilogy’s lines of business are closely aligned with My Choice’s mission to serve vulnerable populations with a focus on quality of services to its members.

“As an organization that continues to experience sustained, planned growth while maintaining high levels of member satisfaction, we are very happy for the opportunity to expand our breadth of services to improve the quality of life for a broader group of consumers”, said Maria
Ledger, My Choice CEO. “We look forward to collaborating with the current Trilogy leadership to ensure smooth transition and continuity of services for clients and members alike. We are also committed to continued development of effective working relationships with our network
providers,” Ledger added.

My Choice currently serves approximately 8,600 Wisconsinites through the Family Care program. Trilogy serves approximately 11,600 members.

This transaction is subject to acquiring the necessary regulatory approvals.

Services to persons currently served by both My Choice and Trilogy Health Insurance will be uninterrupted. Family Care members served by My Choice and BadgerCare Plus clients served by Trilogy will remain fully intact with no changes to service, coverage or service plans.

For more information, please contact Maria Ledger at 414-287-7600.

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc.: Jim Tubbs, (608) 798-3961

Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.: Steve Eager, (608) 490-2251

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.

CROSS PLAINS, WI – S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. (“SBCP”) and Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc. (“Union Bancorp”), the bank holding company for Union Bank & Trust Company (“UB&T”), jointly announced today the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization under which SBCP will acquire Union Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, UB&T, in a cash and stock transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each company and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the shareholders of Union Bancorp and bank regulatory authorities.

The transaction will result in the merger of two strong and like-minded community banks, expanding the presence of State Bank of Cross Plains—a Wisconsin state-chartered institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of SBCP—from 10 locations in Dane County to a combined 15 locations operating in three southern Wisconsin counties. The five additional cities include Belleville, Brooklyn, Evansville, Janesville, and New Glarus, Wisconsin. Both organizations currently operate locations in Oregon, Wisconsin.

Jim Tubbs, President and CEO of State Bank of Cross Plains, said, “We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to join forces with the UB&T team and to continue the bank’s success and long-standing commitment to the communities it serves. We have an immense respect for the UB&T management and board of directors, and we look forward to continuing to work with the management team after consummation of the proposed merger. We intend to capitalize on the existing footprint of UB&T and to strategically grow the bank’s presence in Wisconsin, all while honoring the bank’s emphasis on building long-term relationships and providing exceptional levels of service.”

Just recently completing its 110-year anniversary celebration, State Bank of Cross Plains currently operates 10 locations throughout Dane County and offers a full range of business and personal financial services, including business, real estate, and consumer lending, as well as wealth management and financial advisory services.  UB&T was established in 1897 and operates from six locations.  As of September 30, 2018, UB&T had approximately $258.61 million in assets, $205.69 million in total loans and leases, and $214.90 million in deposits. The combined organization will have more than $1.25 billion in assets, $1.00 billion in total loans and leases, and $1.03 billion in deposits.

“This merger is a tremendous opportunity, and we are excited about the potential this partnership will bring to our customers, employees, and communities going forward,” said Stephen J. Eager, President and Chief Executive Officer of UB&T. “For us, it was about finding the right partner, someone who would mirror our image and help us expand our relationships throughout the bank’s market area. To team up with a group that has shown a very strong commitment to the state will not only strengthen our banking relationships, but will provide the resources for continued growth in this highly competitive marketplace.”

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP acted as legal advisor and Bank Advisory Group, LLC, acted as financial advisor to SBCP.  Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., acted as legal advisor and The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc., acted as financial advisor to Union Bancorp.

# # #

Madison’s Oldest Law Firm Announces its Reorganization to DeWitt LLP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2019

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle M. Friedman (262) 754-2877
mmf@dewittllp.com

Madison’s Oldest Law Firm Announces its Reorganization to DeWitt LLP

MADISON|MILWAUKEE|MINNEAPOLIS – The Wisconsin-based law firm DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., and its Minnesota affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., announced today they have reorganized to DeWitt LLP (DeWitt), effective January 1, 2019.

“Reorganizing our two entities into DeWitt LLP follows our strategic business goals and is also conducive to a more effective branding strategy by creating a consistent corporate identity across our markets,” said Bradley C. Fulton – President & Managing Partner of DeWitt.

During the past several years the firm has expanded its practice into Minnesota and grown its Metro Milwaukee office to one of the largest in Waukesha County. Founded in 1903, Dewitt is the oldest law firm in Madison, Wisconsin. While the firm’s name is changing, its commitment to its clients’ success remains the same.

Fulton notes, “In addition to the strong business reasons for reorganizing, we also recognize that the old-school tradition of long law firm names simply doesn’t match what consumers prefer: short brand names that are more memorable.”

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP, is one of the largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has nearly 140 attorneys practicing in Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a variety of legal areas and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in several areas, including civil rights litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family law, government relations, health care, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, litigation, personal injury, real estate, and tax law.

gener8tor and NMotion Join Forces

gener8tor NMotion Partnership Release

International “Rising Star” Chocolatier Has Officially Opened Its Doors on Madison’s East Side

CocoVaa Chocolatier will be hosting its grand opening and an all day open house of its new space at The Marling on Tuesday, December 18th from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The event will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and events throughout the day including a tempering
demonstration by master chocolatier and owner Vata Edari and a chocolate bar station where customers can choose inclusions for custom holiday bars.
The event is open to the public and will take place at CocoVaa Chocolatier, 1815 East Washington. Doors open at 10 a.m. with formal remarks and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m.
Speakers will include Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Alder Marsha Rummel, representative of District 6 where CocoVaa is based, Lynn Lee, head of the Marquette Neighborhood Association, and others. Lee says that the community is excited to have CocoVaa in the neighborhood. “The meticulous craftsmanship Vata applies to her chocolates synthesizes science and magic to create unique experiences Marquette neighbors can relate to. We are proud CocoVaa has found a home with us in the Marquette neighborhood.”
The Open House will feature guided tours throughout the day where Edari will share the backstories of her shop’s unique and unusual design elements, as well as information about her product and the science of chocolate.
Beginning as a hobby in the background of a solo law practice, Edari, a single mom, grew CocoVaa Chocolatier into an International award winning fine chocolate company in only two years. Known for her unique flavor profiles, her chocolate encased fruit infused caramels and whimsical designs, CocoVaa has
quickly gained a growing fan base of regulars on a regional and national level.
This past summer, she traveled to London with her kids to collect seventeen Academy awards at the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards. Competing with well established fine chocolate companies from around the world, Edari was named an International Rising Star making her one of only a few American chocolatiers to ever make the Academy’s Roll of Honour Board. Edari returned from London to supervise the buildout of her new shop which was little more than a concrete slab at that point. Edari chose to build out in new construction and specifically chose The Marling for its location and its aesthetic appeal.
The developers of The Marling will be in attendance to celebrate the completion of the CocoVaa buildout. Dan Lipnick of Houston based M-M Properties expressed his excitement about the CocoVaa opening. “We are very excited to have the world renowned chocolatier as our first commercial tenant. Vata and her chocolate company, which has risen to some extraordinary heights in a very short period of time, really exemplifies the dynamic energy that made Madison appeal to us in the first place. We look forward to CocoVaa’s opening. It’s a grand occasion for us as well as the community as a whole.”
Mayor Paul Soglin states he plans to make an appearance to celebrate the accomplishments of Edari who is also the granddaughter of his long-time friend, the late Clarence Kailin, a well-known Madison social justice activist.
Edari says she’s overcome with emotion when she thinks about the unwavering support she’s received for her upstart chocolate company. “The buildout took longer than I expected and was much more expensive than I ever imagined. My biggest fear was that everyone would forget about me and I’d have trouble making the rent after pouring everything I have into this. However, the first day I opened a couple weeks ago, I had a line of regulars at the door waiting to get their favorite flavors. I didn’t advertise and I had no signage, yet they were there through word of mouth.” More than half of Edari’s customers are regulars.
Edari plans on having a special dedication at her opening to the trades she commissioned to build her new space. “This was a small job for some of these companies who pushed aside more lucrative jobs to take on the CocoVaa buildout. I’m eternally grateful to them and I think they should be recognized by the community for what they helped to build.”
E-Mail: info@cocovaa.com
Phone: 1-888-803-6122
www.cocovaa.com