Evendale-based GE Aircraft Engines won a 10-year contract valued at more than $500 million as the sole engine supplier for cargo airships being built by Germany's CargoLifter AG.

        GE Aircraft Engines will supply maintenance and its CT7-8 turboshaft engines built in Lynn, Mass., for the life of the contract, the company said.

        The ship being developed by CargoLifter is 853 feetlong and is designed to carry cargo weighing more than 160 tons, General Electric said. Engine deliveries are expected to begin in 2002, followed by the first flight of the prototype, General Electric said.

First Financial declares dividend

        First Financial Bancorp has declared a 5 percent stock dividend, payable April 2 to shareholders of record March 9.

        The Hamilton-based parent of First National Bank of Southwestern Ohio said it will issue one share for every 20 shares held by investors. The stock dividend is in addition to the company's regular cash dividend payment of 15 cents for each post-stock-dividend share, payable April 2 to investors of record March 9.

        First Financial has assets of $3.9 billion.

Software to help fight claims fraud

       & Great American Insurance Co. will use a new software program to fight claims fraud, the company said Monday.

        Great American, a unit of American Financial Group Inc., said it would use the ViewLink Manager system from Insurance Services Office Inc. to allow its fraud investigators access to claims records.

Dairy Mart to be purchased

        Dairy Mart Convenience Stores Inc. said it agreed to be bought by DM Acquisition Corp., a company controlled by Dairy Mart's chairman and chief executive, Robert Stein, for $4.50 a share in cash.

        Dairy Mart said in a statement there are 5 million shares of common stock outstanding, putting the value of the transaction at $22.5 million.

        — From staff and wire reports

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