Recent content from Evan Ramstad
How a Minnesota nonprofit became a lifeline for women business owners
The leaders of WomenVenture reflect on what the financial crisis of the pandemic has meant for women entrepreneurs.
Even at $1T, Tesla's value still likely to climb, Piper Sandler analyst says
Tesla will keep grabbing car market share and disrupt other industries, says Alexander Potter, the Minnesota analyst who predicted it would join the $1 trillion valuation club.
AG settles price-gouging suit with Sparboe for donation of 1 million eggs
The Litchfield, Minn., egg producer said it has never engaged in price gouging and offered the donation to resolve the state's lawsuit quickly.
A key subplot within the Bremer drama: How much trustees and bank executives are paid
Money is at the center of many disputes and the Bremer clash quickly put the spotlight on the pay of the main combatants.
Bremer case lays bare a relationship that goes back decades — but may have reached its limit
Nowhere else in America does a charity like Bremer Trust own a bank like Bremer Financial.
Minnesota added 17K jobs in September, one of biggest jumps of the year
The biggest gain happened in the hard-hit leisure and hospitality sector.
Bremer combatants have spent $36 million on legal battle
Bremer's CEO testified she wanted to preserve founder's vision for a "community" bank.
Bremer Trust conflicts 'always understood' as deal discussions began in 2019, bank CEO says
But for months in 2019, bank executives and leaders of the trust that owns the bank appeared to be on the same page.
Bremer Financial CEO Crain: Trustees chose 'most destructive way' to try to sell bank
The October 2019 announcement that thrust the Bremer dispute into the public eye likely "destroyed value," CEO Jeanne Crain said.
Bremer Financial CEO says her job is not a factor in dispute with trustees
Jeanne Crain, who has led Minnesota's No. 4 bank since 2016, rejected allegations that the company's conflict with trustees shaped by her job and finances.
U.S. Bank's profit leaps after releasing more pandemic rainy-day funds
But its revenue fell as big businesses scaled back loans and consumer borrowing remained light.
Bremer Financial execs appeared to favor a merger in early 2019, trustee says
In early 2019, Bremer Bank leaders held talks with South Dakota-based Great Western Bank and planned for the combined firm to take the Bremer name.
Bremer trustee Lipschultz saw 'once in a lifetime' chance to sell Bremer bank company
Through summer 2019, Otto Bremer Trust trustee Brian Lipschultz tried to attract buyers for Bremer Financial and do it in a way a skeptical trustee could accept.
Calyxt, firm that edits genes in plants, will offer its technology to other firms
The Roseville company until now has focused on using gene-editing technology to develop its own products, including a soybean that had a trans fat gene taken out.
Cargill buys Blooming Prairie business that turns soybean oil into chemicals for home products
The agribusiness is spending about $40 million to buy the epoxides business of Arkema, the Dutch chemical conglomerate.
At U.S. Bank under Cecere, doing a giant deal takes 'discipline'
The Minneapolis banking giant waited years to join the industry's latest dealmaking wave as CEO Andrew Cecere applied a tough standard for making a big move.
U.S. Bank buying West Coast's MUFG Union Bank for $8B
The deal gives a strong lift to U.S. Bank's presence in California, where it will rise to fifth in market share from 10th.
For Minnesota businesses, higher costs are 'coming everywhere'
Inflation is causing disruptions to workflow, threats to profits and tough decisions about passing rising costs on to customers.
Pet-food maker buys former Del Monte canning plant in Sleepy Eye
The plant will become a central cog in the rapidly expanding pet-food businesses of entrepreneur Stephen Trachtenberg.
Lerner will distribute books from publishing startup Soaring Kite
Soaring Kite Books, a startup publishing house in Washington focused on minority authors and diverse audiences, will have its books distributed by Lerner Publishing Group,…
U.S. Bank adds to small-business services with acquisition of Bento Technologies
Bento, since 2014, has built a platform that simplifies the way employees keep track of business expenses.
Star Tribune chair Jean Taylor will become MPR's new CEO
She has chaired the Star Tribune's board for the last three years.
Electromed reveals data breach, offers identity theft protection to customers
The maker of products for chronic respiratory conditions said the breach occurred in June.
SkyWater shares rise 20% as execs explain move to expand production capacity
The company's capital spending plan will erode short-term profit margins but set it up for sustained revenue growth, executives told investors Wednesday.
Land O'Lakes profit rose 22% as crop-related businesses drive more growth this spring
Demand for butter and milk surged in spring 2020, giving a boost to the farmers' co-op when the broader economy was contracting.
Sun Country nearly back at prepandemic operation levels
The Twin Cities-based airline's third-quarter revenue could exceed 2019 levels, executives said.
The businesses that needed cleaning changed this spring, Ecolab's results show
As the pandemic started to come under control, more restaurants and offices reopened. And they bought Ecolab's cleaning products again.
Brooklyn Park's Clearfield expands as broadband demand soars
Executives at the fiber-equipment maker cite a "once a generation" moment to grow in key rural markets as pandemic makes customers realize necessity of broadband and government investment pours in.
Digi continues buying spree, picks up remote-monitor specialist Ctek
The deal brings a longtime maker of remote monitoring equipment into Digi's universe of internet-based technology.
Verdant Tech, a food-storage innovator started by Holiday executives, is purchased by Colorado firm
The company developed sheets that go into food packaging and slow the ripening process in fruits, produce and flowers.
U.S. Bancorp boosts dividend 10%, joining other banks after passing stress test
It's the first dividend increase since 2019 and a milestone in the recovery of the economy as the pandemic abates.
Tile Shop stock returns to main Nasdaq on Thursday
The Plymouth-based retailer took itself off the main Nasdaq exchange in late 2019, surprising its investors. After a business rebound last year, new investors pushed for its return.
More EV charging stations on the horizon for Minnesota
Within a decade, state transportation officials say they expect 20% of all Minnesota light vehicles will be electric. But for the number of EVs to increase, the construction of charging stations will have to accelerate.
Minnesota-based Live Give Save, a promoter of smart saving, is bought by Michigan credit union
The Red Wing-based company created an app that helped users save and donate money to charities. Now, one of the nation's largest credit unions will help promote it.
In visit to SkyWater chip plant, Klobuchar, Phillips tout Minnesota as tech center
As Senate nears vote on technology bill, Minnesota lawmakers say the nation's chip industry needs government investment to compete.
Surprise cold may have hurt crops just emerging in northern Minnesota
Sub-freezing temperatures Thursday night and Friday morning in the northern third of the state might have hurt soybean, wheat and corn plants.
Minnesota's crop farmers are off to a strong start this spring
Minnesota farmers are in the best shape in a decade as planting begins.Coming out of a year that appeared disastrous at first and turned out…
Sezzle, after success in Australian stock market, will offer shares to U.S. investors
The move would raise more capital and give the Minneapolis financial technology firm a higher profile with retailers and consumers.
Recovery is more visible as 1Q results at Minnesota companies emerge
Turnaround is broad-based, extends beyond shock drops of year-ago period.
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Bremer Financial shareholders approve a board with no members from the Bremer Trust
The move leaves trustees who want to sell the bank company with less access to its operations and finances.
After politics, Walter Mondale made Minnesota business his business
When he returned after two decades in Washington, the former vice president quietly influenced the Minnesota business scene.
How Tile Shop survived a delisting, shareholder lawsuits and a pandemic
The Plymouth-based chain wiped out debt to end the year with cash on hand.
Minneapolis fintech ClickSwitch is sold to Q2 Holdings
The Mpls. company, which simplifies switching to a new bank, will keep its office here.
After 18 months away, Tile Shop aims for return to main Nasdaq
Plymouth tile and remodeling products firm wiped away debt, saw sales recover after shutdowns.
SkyWater, Minnesota's largest chipmaker, will jump into the IPO frenzy
Its strategy as a contract manufacturer will now get a broader test with the investors.
Google says its economic impact on Minnesota businesses grew 12% last year
The search and advertising giant is still considering a site near Becker for a data center, a utility executive says.
As soybean prices and demand soars, Cargill expands soy processing sites
Cargill Inc. said it will spend $475 million to expand and update soybean processing plants in seven states, raising capacity at a moment when demand…
Bakers, pet lovers lifted profits for Land O'Lakes in 2020
As farmers cut back in some areas, the giant cooperative relied more heavily on butter, pet food sales for growth.
Bremer fight flares as bank board tries to boot trustees
Two trustees refused to resign, but other directors decided not to renominate them for another board term.
Hormel CEO frustrated by lack of COVID-19 vaccine access for workers
Snee said some states have placed a priority on meatpacking workers, but he is 'incredibly frustrated' overall.
Sorenson, Minnesotan who became CEO of Marriott, dies of cancer at 62
He grew up in St. Paul, got a law degree at the U and became the first outsider to lead Marriott.
Is Tesla worth a trillion dollars? You bet, says a Minnesota analyst
A Piper Sandler analyst makes an aggressive call on Tesla, just like one did on Apple in the early 2000s.
Buyer of Eden Prairie's MTS finds another buyer for its biggest business
Amphenol said last month it would review MTS test business and found a buyer quickly.
For Minnesota farmers, 2020 was nothing like they expected and surprisingly profitable
The continuing pandemic, a trade war and natural disaster blew apart all expectations.
Diary of a miss: Coronavirus lesson of humility for Minnesota professional investors
Analysts admit they could have done a better job after first hearing about the virus.
With Sezzle now worth more than $1 billion, CEO describes a year on a rocket ship
During the Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend two years ago, about 8,000 people for the first time used Sezzle Inc.'s payment system when they…
Judge finds Winona County board was biased in denial of dairy farm expansion
The judge found that an activist group's members didn't give a fair hearing to a farm near Lewiston that wants to triple its size.
Small businesses that took PPP aid may face a tax problem
An IRS ruling hardened a battle over the tax treatment of aid to small employers.
No matter who wins, Minnesota business fortunes are shaped by other forces beyond the president
The U.S. president can influence the economy, but some trends are outside the reach of the office.
City Pages is closing, ending era of Twin Cities alt-weeklies
Four decades of alt-weekly journalism ends in Twin Cities.
Southwest Journal, two magazines to close as owners seek buyer
One of the last neighborhood newspapers in Minneapolis is an influential voice in the city.
Fastenal sales, profits rise as demand for safety gear at manufacturers remains strong
The manufacturing supplier has also seen the decline of its main industrial parts business slow down.
As SkyWater expansion shows, government's role in U.S. chip industry is rising
Semiconductor industry sees future public-private cooperation
U.S. Bank reveals targets for reopening Minneapolis branches damaged in riots
Two of the three branches — damaged in riots following the police killing of George Floyd — are being rebuilt from the ground up.
Mpls. Fed's Kashkari explains why he hasn't turned into a hawk on rates
The Minneapolis Fed chief insists board's inflation fears are overblown.
Minnesota chipmaker SkyWater finishes addition construction, equipment going in sooner than planned
The turning point is a signal to SkyWater's customers that chip design work can begin.
Leadpages taps Jeanette Dorazio, a software veteran, as new CEO
She most recently was vice president of operations for Solera Inc., a Texas-based provider of risk-management software used chiefly in the insurance and automotive industries.
Bremer trustees fire back at Ellison's attempt to oust them
In legal response, Bremer's trustees say Minnesota attorney general's desire to remove them is a 'political ploy.'
Wilfs' e-sports venture starts a team playing Rocket League
The new team, called Version1, has its first game on Friday.
Ecolab's most profitable business is suffering the most from the pandemic
Profits fell for the cleaning-products company, though executives see big rebound.
Minnesota's state watchdog agency dings utilities commission on dealings with public
The state review focuses on Enbridge pipeline plan.
Tile Shop tentatively settles lawsuit brought by angry investors
Plymouth company sets up $12M settlement fund.
Sezzle's growth rockets higher as online shopping soars
The Minneapolis-based fintech company saw its Australia-listed shares hit a new high on the news.
Cargill mapping project in Brazil meant to help control deforestation
Cargill Inc. last week announced it has mapped out its entire supply chain for soybeans in Brazil, where the destruction of forest to make land…
After a spring like no other, the question for General Mills is how to keep it going
At-home eating drove a huge jump in sales and profits, and no one is sure how long it will last.
