St. Clair Software Unit Sold

St. Clair Health Corp. has sold software engineering subsidiary Sculptor Developmental Technologies Inc. to Fortune 1000 company Hospira Inc. Sculptor will remain at its Southpointe headquarters in Cecil, Washington County. Hospira said it plans to expand the 10- member work force. Hospira’s main products are pharmaceuticals and devices such as intravenous medication infusion pumps. The deal is expected to boost Hospira’s medication management business, representing 25 percent of its $3.4 billion in sales last year. 2007. Sculptor was founded in 1993, and a decade later it developed VeriScan Rx, software that supports medication administration using bar codes. Hospira, of Lake Forest, Ill., also will develop and test products at St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon under the deal.

Highmark ranks at top

Highmark Inc. ranked highest in customer satisfaction among major insurers in the Pennsylvania-Delaware region, with its point total besting all insurers in the J.D. Power and Associates’ nationwide study. Highmark’s point total of 784 out of 1,000 possible points outdistanced its own Highmark Blue Shield unit, ranked second with 773 points, and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which ranked third with 771 points. The three were the only insurers to rank above the Pennsylvania-Delaware average of 753 points in the survey. The study measured member satisfaction among 107 health plans in 17 regions nationwide by examining seven factors, including choice of physicians, hospitals and pharmacies, information and communication, approval processes, claims processing, insurance statements and customer service. Some 37,060 health insurer members were surveyed online last November and December.

AMR-British Air alliance may grow

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and British Airways Plc may expand their marketing alliance and include Continental Airlines Inc. as the carriers seek to boost sales without a merger. American, the world’s largest airline, is “exploring opportunities” with the other two, spokesman Charley Wilson said Wednesday. British Airways said it was studying cooperating with the U.S. carriers, while Continental declined comment. Closer ties between American and British Airways, Europe’s third-biggest airline, might build on the Oneworld alliance they now lead. Continental said Sunday it would forego a merger and is considering alternatives to its membership in the SkyTeam group of airlines.

American steel requirement proposed

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, reacting to the purchase of Chinese-made steel pipes for a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border, proposed extending Buy America provisions to federal security projects. Government rules require the use of U.S.-made steel in federal highway construction. Indiana Democratic Rep. Peter Visclosky and Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Phil English of Erie, who lead the 108-member Steel Caucus in the House, said their bill would extend that to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense. The lawmakers said Chinese steel benefits from unfair subsidies and doesn’t meet U.S. safety standards.

Time Warner will sever cable

Time Warner Inc. CEO Jeffrey Bewkes said he will separate the cable-systems unit from the film and television businesses, bringing him a step closer to breaking up the world’s biggest media company. Time Warner also reported first-quarter net income fell 36 percent to $771 million, or 21 cents a share, from $1.2 billion, or 31 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 2.1 percent to $11.4 billion, the New York-based company said. By disposing of the 84 percent stake in Time Warner Cable Inc., Bewkes is responding to pressure from investors to focus on the company’s entertainment businesses and a turnaround at the AOL Internet unit. Profit at AOL plunged 73 percent in the quarter.

AT&T offers cell phone TV

AT&T Inc., with the nation’s largest wireless network, said Wednesday it’s expanding its TV-via-cell phone product from a service that offers short clips, to one with full, live programs. Mobile TV debuts Sunday in 58 markets, including Pittsburgh. AT&T and MediaFLO USA Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., will provide CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV and other programming. Basic service costs $15 a month, and a “plus” package for $30 includes Web browsing. AT&T also is selling two new phones for the service, the LG Vu, for $300 with a two-year contract, and Samsung Access, for $200; $100 rebates are available for both. Verizon Wireless also offers a Mobile TV product.

Earnings

First quarter 2008 earnings for Allegheny Energy Inc. jumped about 24 percent to $136 million, or 80 cents a share, from $109.7 million, or 65 cents per share, the company said Wednesday. The electric utility, which is based in Greensburg, posted revenue of $875 million, a 3.2 percent increase. Higher power-generation rates, increased market prices and lower income taxes more than offset higher fuel costs and higher operations and maintenance expenses generally.

Other business news

– Rail and transit equipment manufacturer Wabtec Corp. has signed a $30 million contract with train operator XC Trains Ltd. to refurbish 40 passengers cars for high-speed train usage in the United Kingdom. Wabtec’s Doncaster, England, facility will install new seating, luggage racks and lighting. paint the cars’ exteriors and prepare the cars for high-speed operation.

– Merrill Lynch & Co. is in talks with former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive Peter Kraus about a job overseeing the brokerage firm’s strategy, said a person familiar with the matter. Kraus, who left Goldman in March after almost 22 years at the company, was most recently co-head of its asset management division. A spokeswoman for Merrill, declined comment. Kraus couldn’t be reached for comment.

– State College-based independent oil and gas company Rex Energy Corp. priced its 8.5-million-share public offering at $20.75 per share, with the offering closing this Monday. Net proceeds of some $87 million will be used to partially fund the company’s 2008 capital expenditure program, and for other purposes.

– The Pittsburgh division of Czarnowski, which produces and manages national exhibits and events, received from Event Design magazine a top award for its exhibit designed for the MINI at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

– Mylan Inc. has named Michael J. Monroe as its senior vice president-global public affairs, responsible for all executive, financial and employee communications, corporate branding and marketing. Previously, he was public affairs and communications chief for Cleveland-based banking organization KeyCorp.

– About two-thirds of US Airways’ 40, maintenance-training specialists voted to ratify a tentative agreement negotiated by their union, the International Association of Machinists said late Wednesday.

Originally published by staff and wire reports.

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