Software claims settled

The Business Software Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group representing national software manufacturers, said that two Pittsburgh organizations settled claims that they had unlicensed software on their office their computers. McKeesport-based PDQ Tooling Inc. paid BSA $61,869.90 and Primary Care Health Services Inc. of Point Breeze paid $150,000 after admitting they were using unlicensed software.

Eagle boosts outlook

American Eagle Outfitters raised its quarterly earnings outlook after sales in stores open at least a year rose 17.3 percent in October. The Marshall teen retailer is now projecting earnings per share of between 45 and 46 cents, up from earlier guidance of 43 to 44 cents for the third quarter. Total sales for October rose 22.7 percent to $157 million. The retailer's shares climbed more than 7 percent in after-hours trading.

Insurance agencies join up

First National Insurance Agency LLC said it has acquired Penn Group Insurance Inc., a Pittsburgh-based life insurance and employee benefits agency. Terms of the all-cash deal were not revealed. Penn Group owner Ed Willig will join First National as vice president of employee benefits. First National, a subsidiary of F.N.B. Corp. of Hermitage, Mercer County, has 75 employees and six offices in Western Pennsylvania.

30-year bond set to debut

The new 30-year bond will debut on Feb. 9, helping the U.S. Treasury to raise an estimated record $171 billion in the January-March quarter, the government announced yesterday. The Treasury Department said the first 30-year bonds will be auctioned on Feb. 9 and the total amount of bonds that will be sold will be announced on Feb. 1. The government began selling a 30-year bond in 1977, but it was discontinued in 2001, which turned out to be the last year that the government produced a budget surplus.

Also in business ...

Nova Chemicals Corp. said it closed a private placement of $400 million senior floating rate notes due in 2013. Proceeds will be used to pay down accounts receivable securitization programs and for general corporate purposes.