MEMO

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength of Aid Association for Lutherans with an A-double-plus superior rating.

The rating is the highest assigned by Best under a letter-rating system implemented by the rating agency in 1992. AAL has received Best's highest rating since the fraternal benefit society began receiving ratings from Best.

AAL is the nation's largest fraternal benefit society in terms of assets and ordinary life insurance in force.

Boatmen's Bancshares Inc. has announced its board of directors increased the quarterly dividend 9.7 percent, to $0.34 per share from $0.31 per share, payable Oct. 1 to stockholders of record Aug. 31.

Boatmen's Bancshares, with assets of approximately $28 billion, is one of the 30 largest U.S. bank-holding companies, operating more than 400 facilities in nine states.

The National Hockey League and Anheuser-Busch Inc. have formed a partnership that gives the brewer exclusive beer category advertising and marketing rights in the United States and positions Ice Draft from Budweiser as the Official Beer of the NHL.

The multiyear agreement, effective immediately, includes exclusive sponsorship rights and signs for Ice Draft, as well as exclusive rights to use league and team logos in Ice Draft advertising, merchandising and point-of-sale materials.

As part of the agreement, the NHL will integrate Anheuser-Busch's "Know-when-to-say-when" slogan into its community services programs.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon announced that Sara Lee Corp., a Chicago-based food manufacturer accused of misleading consumers about fat content and health benefits of its Hillshire Farm sausage and meat products, has agreed to change its advertising practices. The agreement was reached with Missouri and 12 other states.

Sara Lee has agreed to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations, in particular the new U.S. Department of Agriculture labeling rules that took effect July 6, and the new Nutritional Labeling and Education Act that took effect May 8.

The Board of Directors of Commerce Bancshares Inc. declared a regular third-quarter cash dividend of $0.17 per share on the company's $5 par-value common stock, payable Sept. 30.

Commerce Bancshares is a registered bank-holding company offering a full line of banking and financial services, including investment management and securities brokerage.