From staff and wire reports

Erlanger-based regional airline Comair had the second-highest operating profit margin among the nation's regional carriers in the fourth quarter of 2003, the federal government reported Monday.

According to the Transportation Department, Comair reported an operating profit margin of 16.5 percent, based on revenue of $288.4 million and expenses of $240.8 million. Only American Eagle, at 20.5 percent, was higher.

Comair is required to report the figures to the government, and they are the only indication of its financial performance.

Meridian Bioscience sells test in Europe

Meridian Bioscience Inc. of Newtown said Monday it has begun to sell its newest test product, ImmunoCard Toxins A&B, in Europe.

The test detects toxins produced by strains of the Clostridium difficile bacterium, the major cause of colitis and diarrhea that may occur following antibiotic therapy.

In hospitals or nursing homes where the bacterium is prevalent and patients frequently receive antibiotics, the disease is common.

Trivantis Corp. makes 'Entrepreneur' list

Entrepreneur magazine has named Trivantis Corp. of Cincinnati to the Hot 100 Fastest Growing Entrepreneurial Companies in America in the June edition.

The company, which develops and sells digital publishing software and services, ranked number 96 on this year's list.

Founded in 1999 by CEO Tim Loudermilk, Trivantis is a major publishing technology company in the e-learning market and is expanding to other markets. It employs 50 in its Cincinnati and Boca Raton, Fla, offices.

"It's been a fast ride,'' Loudermilk said, "and we're still accelerating."

Source: SEC fines Lucent $25 million

WASHINGTON - Lucent Technologies Inc. is being fined $25 million by securities regulators in a settlement of civil fraud allegations because it failed to fully cooperate in an investigation of its accounting, a source said Monday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is also charging at least five former executives for alleged participation in accounting irregularities, the source said.