D.A. Davidson & Co., a regional investment firm based in Great Falls, Mont., on Monday completed its acquisition of Des Moines-based Ruan Securities Corp. Ruan Securities, which specializes in underwriting public bond issues, is now part of Davidson’s Fixed Income Capital Markets Group, which has approximately 130 employees in 14 offices, predominantly in the West and Midwest. Announced on Jan. 30, the deal is expected to enable Ruan Securities to significantly expand its business in Iowa and surrounding states. The Des Moines office, with a staff of 13, will continue to operate under the Ruan name from its current downtown location.

Gannett Co. Inc., owner of The Des Moines Register, saw its bond ratings downgraded to junk status yesterday by Standard & Poor’s, which cited worsening prospects for advertising sales at the largest U.S. newspaper chain, Reuters reported. Gannett posted a 36 percent decline in ad revenue in the fourth quarter and the company’s bonds fell significantly after the downgrade. A downgrade to junk status can significantly increase a company’s borrowing costs.

The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition has found a new location for its annual 80/35 music festival. The event will take place in the eastern section of Western Gateway Park, bounded by 12th and 13th streets, Grand Avenue and Locust Street, to the west of the Central Library. Last year, the festival took place where the sculpture park is being installed in Western Gateway Park. The new site has a capacity of 12,000 people in the paid area grounds and will have other activities in a free festival area on Locust. 80/35 will feature more than 40 acts on July 3 and 4. A limited number of tickets will go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. through IowaTix for $60.

Iowa Health – Des Moines has announced the 2009 officers on the board of directors that oversees Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Blank Children’s Hospital and affiliated physicians and clinics. Kent Henning, president of Grand View University, has been named board chairman. Other board leadership roles include Burton “Toby” Joseph of Josephs Jewelers, vice chair; Brad Brody of Strategic Growth Co., treasurer; and Bishop Michael Burk of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Iowa Synod, secretary. Bishop Julius Trimble of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church also was named to the board of directors.

The American Advertising Federation of Des Moines will host a 100 Years Celebration gala Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Polk County Heritage Gallery, 111 Court Ave., Des Moines. An exhibit will be on public display from March 6 – April 1. For more information, go to www.aafdsm100.com.

West Des Moines-based American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. today announced that the company’s president and CEO, Wendy Carlson, and John Matovina, chief financial officer and vice chairman, will present at the Raymond James Institutional Investors conference in Orlando, Fla., on March 9 at 3:50 p.m. Iowa time. Investors can access a webcast of the presentation on American Equity’s Web site, www.american-equity.com.