A SMALL number of job losses could be made at Amersham plc following the multi-billion pound sale of the health and life sciences specialist to American giant General Electric.

The £5.7 billion all-share deal was announced last Friday and, under the terms of the deal, Amersham plc's chief executive Sir Bill Castell will become a vice-chairman of GE and sit on the GE board.

Jeffrey Immelt, chairman of General Electric (GE) said: "Amersham will be an exciting combination of talents, business and technologies."

Sir Bill said: "Locally there may be some staff who will not find a role in the new management organisation but it is too early yet to be clear on this. The bulk of our employees in the Amersham area are employed in manufacturing, research and development and in the commercial activities of our businesses and there will be little change in this."

Amersham plc currently employs 1,650 staff in the area, of which 220 are at the head office at Amersham Place, in Little Chalfont, and about 1,000 at the Grove Centre in White Lion Road, Amersham. The remainder are at Pollards Wood, Link House, Chesham, and smaller satellite offices.

The company has had close links with schools and community groups in the area for a number of years and Sir Bill said he would like this to continue and be strengthened through the recently-launched Amersham In The Community scheme.

At its charity fun day last month, more than £4,000 was raised for the PACE Centre in Aylesbury.

Amersham has won 14 Queen's Awards between 1967 and 2000, for both technology and export.