Spotlight Solutions, a Cincinnati developer of retailing software, Monday said a Stamford, Conn., venture capital firm will be participating in Spotlight's $13 million round of financing.

        Brand Equity Ventures has more than $200 million invested in companies such as Buca di Beppo restaurants and Alloy Inc., a teen-focused media and marketing company. It joins Blue Chip Venture Co., Summer Hill Partners and Brennan Group in the latest round of equity financing for Spotlight.

        Spotlight makes software that retailers use to price products.
       

Fifth Third adds 15 funds

               Fifth Third Bank's mutual fund selection almost doubled over the weekend as it merged its 16-fund family with the 15 funds that had been offered by Old Kent Bank, which Fifth Third bought in April for $5 billion.

        “We ended up with 31 funds, with all investment styles available,” said Rick Ille, vice president and director of pooled investments. “We can now build a portfolio for any investor in any investment cycle.”

        Fifth Third funds started with one in 1988 and grew to 15 by 1998 through other acquisitions and new fund starts. The Fifth Third Funds now have $12 billion in assets.
       

Omnicare up for quarter

               Covington-based Omnicare Inc. Monday said its earnings grew for the fifth straight quarter both sequentially and compared with the same period of the previous year.

        For the third quarter, the institutional prescription management company posted net income of $13.6 million, or 15 cents a share.

        Revenues totaled $541.2 million versus $491.3 in the third quarter a year ago.

        But this year's figures include $15.4 million in pretax special charges for a company restructuring that Omnicare officials say will save it $17 million a year. Discounting the special charges, the company's net income grew almost 43 percent over the same period last year.

        — From staff reports

P&G earnings out today
P&G to spend more with minorities, women
Ford dumps CEO
Natural gas prices plummet
Insurer Anthem goes public
Lack of regional plan rapped
Morning Memo
Tristate Summary
What's the Buzz?
900-mile rail line decision near
Cooper offers settlement of free replacement tires
EchoStar: DirecTV takeover no monopoly