Business news in brief

Joseph Neubauer, chairman of the board and former CEO of Aramark, will receive the 2013 William Penn Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a business executive by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. The award has been given annually since 1949 and recognizes an individual for his or her contributions toward the betterment of the region, professional accomplishments, and commitment to charity as well as to the community, according to the chamber's statement. - Inquirer staff

Delaware is offering a free E-ZPass transponder to all motorists who sign up before the end of the year. A Delaware-issued E-ZPass is valid at all states' E-ZPass tolling facilities, although some state-specific discounts are available only to motorists who obtain a transponder in that state. For example, Delaware River Port Authority toll bridges offer a 50 percent discount to senior citizens who use a New Jersey-issued E-ZPass transponder. A Delaware E-ZPass transponder normally costs $15 to obtain, but requires no annual fee. New Jersey and Pennsylvania issue transponders free to motorists who link their accounts to a credit card, but charge an annual fee ($12 in New Jersey and $3 in Pennsylvania). Delaware E-ZPasses are available at toll plazas in the state, at the website www.ezpassde.com, or by calling 888-397-2773. - Paul Nussbaum

Frontier Airlines has been sold to a Phoenix private-equity firm that plans to turn it into an ultra-low-cost airline. Indigo Partners L.L.C. announced Tuesday it had completed its acquisition of Frontier from Republic Airways Holdings for $36 million in cash, plus assumed debt. Indigo invests in low-cost airlines, including Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines. Indigo cofounder William Franke, the former chairman of Spirit Airlines and former CEO of America West Airlines, said "one key element" to Frontier's future "will be operating as an ultra-low-cost carrier that offers low fares." Denver-based Frontier has made Trenton-Mercer Airport and New Castle Airport near Wilmington its focus cities on the East Coast. At the end of April, Frontier will have 55 nonstop flights a week from Trenton. - Linda Loyd

A Pennsylvania Senate committee passed a resolution calling for the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study "the current condition and future viability of gaming," including the potential impact of online gambling, in the state. Citing declining or stagnating revenues at many of Pennsylvania's dozen casinos, the resolution from the Senate's Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee asks for recommendations of potential regulatory and legislative changes that could "sustain and maximize gaming revenue" and a comparison of Pennsylvania's gambling tax structure with those of neighboring states. - Harold Brubaker

Hundreds of thousands of people who attended concerts at a New Jersey amphitheater could get free tickets and discount coupons under a preliminary court settlement with promoter Live Nation. Two New Jersey men sued the promoter in 2009, claiming it was illegal to tack on a $6 parking fee to each ticket at PNC Bank Arts Center when not all concertgoers drive. They also say Live Nation's "no-fee" promotion was deceptive. Anyone who bought tickets online through Live Nation and Ticketmaster between 2003 and 2011 would be eligible. Live Nation estimates that amounts to about 363,000 people. - Associated Press

A measure of U.S. home prices rose only modestly in October, adding to signs that prices have stabilized after experiencing big gains earlier this year. Real estate data provider CoreLogic said Tuesday that prices increased 0.2 percent in October from September. That's up from a 0.1 percent gain in September. But it is down sharply from a 0.9 percent increase in August. Prices usually decline in the fall and winter, when sales slow. Still, large gains during the previous months, along with higher mortgage rates, may be pricing some buyers out of the market. Home prices have risen 12.5 percent from a year ago. - AP

A federal appeals court in New Orleans has handed BP P.L.C. another victory in its bid to block what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement payments to Gulf Coast businesses following the company's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Monday that a judge must reconsider BP's argument that the settlement should not compensate businesses if their losses cannot be directly traced to the nation's worst offshore oil spill. - AP

Chick-fil-A says it is removing high-fructose corn syrup from its white buns and artificial dyes from its sauces and dressings as part of a push to improve its ingredients. The fast-food chicken chain says the reformulated buns are being tested in about 200 Georgia locations, while the sauces and dressings will be tested starting early next year. It says it also removed a yellow dye from its chicken soup and that the new recipe should be in all restaurants by the end of this month. - AP