10 cent dividend per share

Nu Skin Enterprises said it will pay a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share to stockholders of record as of Sept. 1. The dividend will be paid Sept. 20.

The announcement comes as the Provo-based maker of nutritional supplements and skin care products tries to overcome its lackluster financial performance.

For the quarter ended June 30, Nu Skin's revenue was $284.1 million, compared with $310.1 million for the prior-year period.

Net income and earnings per share for the quarter were $14.1 million and $0.20, respectively, compared with net income of $22.8 million and earnings per share of $0.32 for the same period in 2005.

Those numbers could improve now that Nu Skin has received a direct-selling license for mainland China, considered a lucrative market for cosmetics and other personal care products.

Nu Skin Enterprises is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NUS.

- Linda Fantin

Applied Financial acquired

Minneapolis-based Marquette Financial Companies has acquired Applied Financial, LLC, a Salt Lake City equipment financing company.

Terms of the deal, including the purchase price, were not disclosed.

Founded in 2000, Applied Financial specializes in leases on business equipment valued at $100,000 to $5 million.

Applied Financial will continue to be based in Salt Lake City, and all of its 75 employees, including its senior management team, have been retained, Marquette said.

Marquette is a privately held financial services company with a portfolio of operating companies focused on providing financial services to businesses.

- Lesley Mitchell