PPG wins Boeing contract

PPG Aerospace won a contract from Boeing Co. to supply window systems that allow passengers to adjust the light electronically for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The contract is valued at $50 million over the first five years. PPG entered an agreement with Gentex Corp. of Zeeland, Mich., to produce the window systems.

Nova's building blocks

Nova Chemicals Corp. is transporting several massive building modules from Charleston, S.C., to its Monaca, Beaver Valley, plant this week. The modules will be connected to create a facility Nova will use to manufacture Arcel, a high-performance foam resin. The modules, which arrived on river barges, are already equipped with steel frames, piping, wiring and other components.

Magazine rates banks

S&T Bancorp of Indiana, Pa., finished second in Bank Director magazine's Bank Performance Scorecard, which compares the 150 largest publicly owned banks and thrifts in the nation based on profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality. The winner was Honolulu-based Bank of Hawaii Corp. Mellon Financial Corp. finished ninth overall. PNC Financial Services Group finished 48th.

Auto sales drop

U.S. auto sales for General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler fell more than 15 percent in early December, according to report from J.D. Power and Associates. The report also had bad news for Asian automakers: Sales for Toyota Motor Corp. dropped 6 percent, Honda Motor Co. fell 3 percent, Nissan Motor Co. 14 percent, and Hyundai Motor Co. 20 percent.

Powerhouse merger

The parent of Florida Power and Light agreed to acquire the Constellation Energy Group for about $11 billion, the companies said yesterday. According to the New York Times, the deal marks the first interstate merger between two power companies since Congress passed a bill this summer repealing a Depression-era law that limited such deals. Analysts expect a wave of similar mergers in 2006.

Also in business ...

Mylan Laboratories received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for Bisoprolol Fumarate tablets used to treat high blood pressure. The drug is the generic version of Duramed Pharmaceuticals' Zebeta. ... William H. Gray III, senior adviser of public policy and business diversity for law firm Buchanan Ingersoll, was named co-chair of the Interfaith Fund, a $20 million fund that will provide assistance to the region severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Gray is a native of Baton Rouge, La. ... Toyo Tire North America selected Lanxess to supply polybutadiene rubber products for its Toyo Nitto tire manufacturing plant in Bartow County, Ga.