Badger Meter Inc. today announced at its annual meeting of shareholders that it has filed an application to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Pending approval of its application, Milwaukee-based Badger Meter anticipates that its stock will begin trading on the NYSE in mid-June, under its current symbol "BMI." Until that time, Badger Meter's shares will continue to trade on the American Stock Exchange.
"We are honored to be eligible to join the many leading companies on the Big Board. Badger Meter has enjoyed a 37-year relationship with the American Stock Exchange that has served us well and has helped us to grow as a public company. However, with the increasing value of our shares, higher trading volume and improved financial performance, we believe our move to the NYSE is an appropriate next step that will give Badger Meter more visibility in the financial market and improve our stock's liquidity," said Richard Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter.
In other business, shareholders voted to declassify Badger Meter's board of directors. As a result, beginning at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders, all directors will stand for reelection annually.
"Our board recommended this change to our shareholders as part of our commitment to maintaining best practices in corporate governance," Meeusen said.
Shareholders also approved the company's 2008 restricted stock plan, which allows the company to make periodic grants of restricted stock to officers and certain employees.
Badger Meter is a manufacturer and marketer of products incorporating liquid flow measurement and control technologies.

Ken Yunker has been selected to succeed Phil Evenson as executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC).
Yunker has more than 30 years of experience with the organization, including service as its assistant director and deputy director. He will succeed Evenson as of Jan. 1, 2009.
"Ken Yunker is the best choice to lead SEWRPC as it helps address key regional issues in southeastern Wisconsin in the coming years," said SEWRPC chairman Thomas Buestrin. "He has demonstrated high-level leadership, including his work in managing the water supply study, the short-range transit plans for local systems and the work surrounding the KRM commuter rail."
“Ken is widely respected in the state for his technical skill and leadership acumen," said long-time SEWRPC member William Ryan Drew. "We are confident Ken will continue SEWRPC's long tradition of serving as a trusted advisor to the region on important planning and infrastructure issues."
The SEWRPC was established in 1960 as the official area-wide planning agency for the region. It serves as a partner in working with the seven counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha.

Gehl Co. today reported a first quarter net loss of $822,000, or 7 cents per share, compared with a net profit of $6.3 million, or 51 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.
The company's quarterly net sales fell to $82.2 million from $115.2 million a year earlier.
The company said its results were affected by the adoption of a change in accounting principles that included "fair value measurements." Excluding those adjustments, the company's quarterly income from continuing operations was $600,000, or 5 cents per share.
"Despite the prolonged weakening in the U.S. housing market, our solid foundation and diversity of our served markets helped maintain our positive operating results," said William Gehl, chairman and chief executive officer. "As demonstrated by our consistent gross margin level, continued market share gains and ongoing efforts to drive costs out of our business, we are well-positioned for continued expansion of our compact equipment business worldwide."
Based on current 2008 market forecasts, current company backlog positions, new product acceptance rate, targeted market share gains and field inventory adjustments, Gehl reaffirms its 2008 full-year outlook with net sales from continuing operations in the range of $405 million to $425 million and earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of 95 cents to $1.20.

Racine-based Johnson Outdoors Inc. today reported fiscal second quarter net income of $462,000, or 5 cents per share, down from $1.7 million, or 19 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.
The company's quarterly net sales fell slightly to $121.8 million from $122.0 million a year earlier.
Second quarter sales reflect initial shipments to customers in anticipation of the primary retail selling period for the company's seasonal outdoor products. Total company net sales in the quarter were flat with the prior year period, benefiting from higher exports in marine electronics, growth in watercraft and diving, foreign currency translation increase of 2.2 percent and acquisitions.
The expected slowing of military sales accounted largely for the unfavorable year-over-year comparison in outdoor equipment, the company said.
"Economic uncertainty in the U.S. is starting to have an effect on outdoor retailers, which are keeping inventory levels below last year until they can gauge consumer demand at shelf in the next few months. On the other hand, international sales continue to grow and orders among U.S. specialty retailers are solid," said Helen Johnson-Leipold, chairman and chief executive officer of Johnson Outdoors. "In addition to ongoing cost-savings initiatives, we have instituted strict company-wide cost-control measures and are working hard to manage inventory levels down in the face of a soft marketplace. At the same time, we will continue to protect the future by investing wisely and appropriately in innovation."

Key Milwaukee Magazine, an information source for Milwaukee visitors for nearly 50 years, has launched the first e-mail newsletter designed to assist travelers planning their trips to the Milwaukee area.
"We're thrilled with the feedback from the first subscribers to our new Key-zine," said Beth Stafford, publisher of Key Milwaukee and president of Key Milwaukee Magazine Inc. "It's a natural extension of our growing web site (www.keymilwaukee.com) and our travel podcasts, also the first to be offered for the metro area. Upcoming Key-zines will focus on information requested by subscribers and will link to KeyMilwaukee.com for details. When travelers arrive at hotels, visitor centers, Mitchell International and leading corporations, they will be primed to use that month's print issue.”
Productive Knowledge, a Milwaukee-area communications and marketing consulting firm, assisted Key Milwaukee in developing the new monthly Key-Zine. Like the magazine and the Website, the Key-zine is a free service. Those wishing to subscribe should use a sign-up form available on KeyMilwaukee.com.
Late last year, Key Milwaukee was one of the first Wisconsin businesses to be certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.
"I'm gratified that our state established a certification program for woman-owned business enterprises and that it includes rigorous standards," Stafford said. "I believe the program will boost economic growth by providing needed documentation for businesses wishing to support of woman-owned ventures."

The ongoing United Auto Workers strike against American Axle will continue to affect production at the Janesville General Motors plant. Next week, second-shift workers will build full-size sport utility vehicles, and the plant's first shift will be laid off. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com/#news.

Busy readers of the BizTimes Daily can get a jumpstart on the weekend ahead by reading the OnMilwaukee.com Weekend Preview. OnMilwaukee.com is a media partner of Small Business Times.

U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) is part of the problem, not part of the solution, according to his Republican challenger, Jim Burkee. Read more in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog.

More than 60 wishes will be granted to children with cancer after the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin raised a record $335,000 at its annual Host Night signature fundraising event at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. More than 600 people attended the event, which featured a theme of Gallery of Wishes" this year, according to Patti Gorsky, president of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, and David Williams, chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. To view a photographic slideshow of the event, see the latest edition of SBT Around Town.

The BizTimes Stock Index gained 1.18 points to close at 157.97 Thursday, but most local stocks lost ground in early morning trading today. The largest local decliners this morning were Fiserv Inc. (down $2.45 to $50. 53) and Gehl Co. (down $2.03 to $16.47). The stock for Bucyrus International Inc. rose $9.24 to $125.87 today after reporting a favorable quarter Thursday night. The BizTimes Stock Index was created by Small Business Times and is monitored by North Shore Bank. The index, which measures the stock values of publicly held companies based in southeastern Wisconsin, is updated daily and can be viewed at www.biztimes.com.

Pre-registration to attend the BizTech Expo will close at the end of the day on Monday, April 28. Pre-registration is free. Click here to pre-register and avoid the $45 admission fee at the door. More than 200 companies and organizations have reserved booths to exhibit their products and services at the BizTech Expo. Click here to see the list of exhibitors.