Jobs risk in New Holland takeover

Jobs risk in New Holland takeover

HUNDREDS OF UK jobs were at risk last night after New Holland announced the $4.3bn takeover of Case, creating one of the world's biggest farm and construction vehicle manufacturers.

New Holland, which is 72 per cent owned by Fiat of Italy, has a tractor plant in Basildon, Essex, employing 2,200, while Case also has a tractor plant in Doncaster and has factories in Manchester and Lincoln which make excavators and sprayers.

A spokesman would not comment on specific job losses, but said that consolidation was inevitable in a merger of this size. The combined group will have revenues of $12bn, putting it just behind the market leader, John Deere, but it is likely to have to dispose of some businesses to gain regulatory approval.