Iowa Heart Center P.C. and Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines officials said yesterday that they have reached an agreement to formally explore integrating their cardiovascular services. The two organizations signed a letter of intent on Tuesday to “consider options which make the most sense and are in the best interests of our patients, staff and physicians.” Mercy spokeswoman Laura Wenman said if a final agreement is reached, Iowa Heart Center’s 54 physicians and nearly 500 other staff members would become Mercy employees, but that the transition would be seamless for patients. For the past 10 years, Iowa Heart Center has co-managed the Iowa Heart Hospital at Mercy’s downtown hospital campus; it also operates eight full-time clinics in Central Iowa. “We’ve been recognized as one of the best cardiovascular programs in the country, and I think that’s because we’ve worked together with closely aligned goals,” Wenman said. “This is just a natural extension of that.” Officials have not set a timetable for the potential integration, she said.

The cost of imported goods increased 0.5 percent in March, driven by an increase in petroleum product prices that offset an overall decline in other prices, the U.S. Labor Department reported today. The cost of foods, feeds and beverages decreased 1 percent in March, following a 3.2 percent decline in February. Export prices decreased 0.6 percent in March, with lower prices for both agricultural and nonagricultural exports. Export prices have fallen 9.8 percent during the past eight months and 6.7 percent for the year ended in March. Agricultural prices fell 3.5 percent in March, led by declines for soybeans, corn and wheat. Agricultural export prices decreased 21.8 percent over the past year, the largest annual decrease since the index was first published in March 1985. Nonagricultural prices edged down 0.3 percent in March and fell 5 percent over the past year.

Principal Financial Group Inc. CEO Larry Zimpleman’s compensation package had a total value of $4.8 million last year, but he did not receive a bonus, the Associated Press reported. According to a regulatory filling, Zimpleman’s compensation included a salary of $737,475, up 18.9 percent from 2007, and stock options and restricted stock valued at $4 million when they were granted in February 2008. Zimpleman became CEO in May 2008. Former CEO J. Barry Griswell, who remains with the company as board chairman, received a total compensation of $7.5 million, down 13.5 percent from 2007, and also was denied a bonus. Last year, Principal’s profit after paying preferred dividends was $425.1 million, or $1.63 per share, compared with $827.3 million, or $3.09 per share, in 2007.

Monaco Coach Corp. said it has an offer from a “major public company” to purchase its core recreational vehicle manufacturing business for $50 million, according to court documents related to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the Associated Press reported. Publicly traded RV companies include Forest City-based Winnebago Industries Inc., Thor Industries Inc., Coachman Industries Inc. and Forest River Inc., which is held by Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a public firm controlled by Warren Buffett. Monaco attorney Tim Cairns would not name the potential buyer but said Monaco received a letter of intent offering cash or stock for that portion of the company earlier this week. The company is working to get support for the offer from its main lenders, but has not received any commitments so far. Monaco is one of two major RV makers to file for bankruptcy in recent weeks after RV shipments plunged 33 percent last year.

The third annual Money Smart Week will feature a week full of events designed to help Central Iowans better manage their finances. For a complete list, click here.

HNI Corp. will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2009 results on April 23 at 10 a.m. Iowa time. To participate in the call, dial (800) 230-1951. A live webcast also will be available at www.hnicorp.com under the investor information section.

Meredith Corp. will report its fiscal 2009 third quarter results on April 29 prior to the open of U.S. stock markets. A conference call will be held at 8:30 a.m. Iowa time to discuss the results. For more information or to access the call, go to the investor information section at www.meredith.com.

Liberty Bank has donated $40,000 to the Embrace Iowa: 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund to assist families who were affected by the tornadoes and flooding last year. Last year, the company donated 500 backpacks with school supplies to the children impacted by the weather disasters as part of the Meals From the Heartland event.