A federal bankruptcy judge has dismissed the bankruptcy case of Central Iowa developer John Kline. Judge Lee Jackwig took the unusual step last week of filing her own motion to dismiss the case, which had been pending since February and was noteworthy for its revelations that a federal bank fraud investigation was under way in Greater Des Moines as well as for the limited amount of financial information that Kline revealed. Jackwig dismissed the case after a hearing Thursday. The developer is not prohibited from filing again for bankruptcy. Until then, banks can continue to pursue their claims in state courts in an attempt to recoup bad development loans. The bankruptcy filing brought a halt to those efforts.

IMAP Inc., a global organization of merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory firms, announced in its 2009 annual report that the average value of its completed transactions in 2008 was $51.6 million. The figure represents a 280 percent increase over the last three years. During the same period, IMAP advisers completed 75 cross-border deals, contributing to a 53 percent increase over the last five years. The company attributes the increase in transaction values to more global deals, including closing activity throughout its network in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. In 2009, 39 percent of IMAP’s completed transactions have been cross-border, compared with 30 percent in 2008. “While M&A activity has been affected by the financial crisis that began last year, IMAP’s advisers still managed to complete an impressive 252 transactions with a total value of more than $13 billion,” said Mark Esbeck, president of IMAP, in a release. Reuters reported today that so far this year, global M&A plummeted 41 percent to $1.392 trillion.

Friends and family of the late Des Moines business leader Jim Goodman will host the Second Annual Jim Goodman Memorial Bike Ride tomorrow. This year’s ride features 25- and 45-mile routes, a 5-mile family ride and a 2-mile walk. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the State Capitol Grounds. Fees are $25 for adults and $50 for families and proceeds will benefit tutoring programs at Orchard Place. Goodman was serving as board president of Orchard Place when he passed away unexpectedly last summer. For more information, contact Nancy Bobo at 287-9610 or register online at www.JimsRide.com.

Meredith Corp. has announced the date of its annual stockholders meeting. On Nov. 4, shareholders will gather at 1716 Locust St. to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm; consider a proposal to reaffirm previously approved business criteria, classes of eligible participants, and maximum annual incentives awarded under Meredith’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan; and consider a proposal to authorize an additional reserve of 3.5 million shares that may be granted under that plan.

The Iowa chapter of American Institute of Architects (AIA) will participate tomorrow in Habitat for Humanity’s “Architecture for Humanity.” For the sixth consecutive year, Iowa architects, intern architects, representatives of companies allied to the field or architecture, and architectural students will gather to show their support for nine Iowa communities. The event will take place simultaneously in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Ames, Davenport, Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Sioux City. Due to a scheduling conflict, Waterloo held its event on Sept. 19. For more information, contact Jessica Reinert at 244-7502 or e-mail her at jreinert@aiaiowa.org.