Toronto-based BMO Financial Group will pay $7.75 per share for M&I, notably higher than Thursday's $5.79 closing price, in a deal that's expected to close before July 31, 2011.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking information from consumers who believe they've been improperly billed by Alternate Billing Corporation or any of its affiliated companies.

Roger Coombs pleaded guilty in August to one count of soliciting and agreeing to take a $9,700 bribe in exchange for reducing the tax bills of two Minnesota business owners.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area lost 3,800 jobs in the technology industry during the recession.

However, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis expects Minnesota to be the only state in the region that won't see a year-over-year increase in the rate of employment growth.

The Minneapolis-based marketing company has donated a total of $5,000 to the five charities that have generated the most tweets over the past five days.

Calhoun Square's expansion was approved by the Minneapolis Planning Commission without any conditions for future development into a mixed-use building.

The company has agreed to purchase a grain commodities business in Australia and has acquired a majority stake in an Indonesian firm that produces sorbitol-a sweetener found in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.

The medical device startup will use its proceeds to continue working to gain U.S. regulatory approval of its Maestro RC System, which uses electrical impulses to block the nerve that makes people overeat.

In addition to its request for funding next year, the Minnesota Science and Technology Authority hopes to secure $750 million in state money over the next 10 years.

The number of jobs declined by 5,100 in November, while the state's unemployment rate-7.1 percent-remained well below the national average.

Iron Range Resources and PolyMet Mining Corporation are nearing a deal that could grant the mining company a $4 million loan and give the state agency a stake in the company.

The hair-care company said that it's done exploring "strategic alternatives" and plans to continue with its existing business plan-although it will implement some new initiatives in an attempt to boost long-term shareholder value.

The University Avenue Business Association and the Asian Economic Development Association want a compensatory fund of at least $20 million to $30 million for businesses to be established before area construction begins on the Central Corridor light-rail line.

News of the company's lower-than-expected sales and a decline in earnings caused its stock to drop nearly 15 percent.

All positions were filled internally and are effective as of January 3.