Meredith Corp. has declared a quarterly dividend of 21.5 cents per share, payable Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as on Nov. 26. The company said in a news release that this is the 61st consecutive year that it has paid a dividend and the 15th consecutive year that it has increased the dividend. These directors were re-elected during Meredith’s annual meeting Wednesday: Alfred Drewes, senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Pepsi Bottling Group Inc.; David Londoner, general partner of the North River Company; Philip Marineau, retired president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co.; and Elizabeth Tallett, principal of Hunter Partners LLC.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. has reported third-quarter operating income of $23.1 million, a 41 percent increase over third-quarter 2007 income of $16.4 million. The West Des Moines-based company said annuity sales in the quarter increased 5 percent from the same period last year to $571.8 million. Investment earnings increased 14 percent to $210 million. An audio replay of a conference call to discuss the earnings report was scheduled for 10 a.m. today. An audio replay will be available at www.american-equity.com. In addition, an audio replay will be available through Nov. 27 by calling (888) 286-8010, passcode 27418323.

Wells Fargo & Co. said it plans to sell at least $10 billion of stock to help fund its purchase of Wachovia Corp., an acquisition that will create the fourth-largest U.S. bank by assets, Reuters reported. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo previously said it planned to raise up to $20 billion to fund the all-stock purchase of Wachovia, which it valued at $15.1 billion upon announcing it last month. That value had fallen to about $13.6 billion by Wednesday’s close because Wells Fargo shares have declined. Wells Fargo expects to sell the new stock after U.S. markets close today. The new capital is on top of the $25 billion Wells Fargo is receiving by selling preferred shares to the government as part of U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s $700 billion industry-wide bailout. Through the close of trading on Wednesday, Wells Fargo shares were up 5 percent this year, outperforming most major lenders, despite falling 8.9 percent to close at $31.68. They fell another $1.44, or 4.6 percent, to $30.24 in after-hours trading.

Richard Jacobson of Des Moines and Bruce Rastetter of Alden will contribute $5 million each to the University of Iowa Foundation to support the renovation and expansion of administrative space and training facilities used by the football team and staff. In a news release, Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said the $10 million will help ensure the continued success of the project, which the Iowa Board of Regents approved last month for further study. The project will include expansion and improvements to the Jacobson Athletics Building and improvements to the current indoor practice facility known as the Bubble. Construction of the Ron and Margaret Keynon Outdoor Practice Facility and renovation of historic Kinnick Stadium were the first phases of improvements to football facilities. Jacobson is chairman of the board emeritus of Jacobson Cos. Rastetter is CEO of Hawkeye Energy Holdings LLC, a producer of ethanol.