Standard Brands Paint said it agreed in...

Standard Brands Paint said it agreed in principle to acquire Howells, a closely held Salt Lake City, Utah-based paint maker, and certain related real estate for about $6 million in stock and cash . . . Fairchild Industries’ Fairchild Aircraft unit said Gull Air of Hyannis, Mass., agreed to buy seven turboprop aircraft for $27 million . . . NCNB said it completed its previously announced sale of its consumer finance unit for $85 million to First Nationwide Financial . . . Zycom of San Jose signed a letter of intent to acquire the stock of Magnetic Technologies, a privately held firm in Eden Prairie, Minn., for Zycom common stock valued at more than $5.5 million . . . Tactron, in an SEC filing, said it lowered its stake in KDI to 11.9% of the common shares outstanding after selling 76,900 shares.