But like the others, the new company would combine enough operations to cut the staff, in this case to 30,500 from 34,500.

The companies expect to save $890 million a year through combining operations.

He said the two companies were a good fit if they agreed to combine operations.

"It would be terribly expensive to try to combine our operations there."

He also said the company expected to realize savings by combining its operations in one location.

But combining their operations will enable the companies to move toward integration.

The companies said they expected no job cuts from combining their international operations, although some employees would move to the new venture.

The two companies are planning to combine their South American operations.

While some job cuts are expected from combining operations, the resulting company is likely to strengthen the area's economy, local officials said last week.

The merger also makes sense because it gives the two firms an opportunity to cut costs by combining operations.