Huhtamaki (Helsinki / Finland; www.huhtamaki.com) is taking impairment charges totalling EUR 77m on goodwill and the book value of assets for the fourth quarter of 2007 in connection with the restructuring of its European rigid plastics activities. Continuing the measures introduced over the past couple of years, the company is planning to shed another 100 jobs in the near future. A spokeswoman told Plasteurope.com that the job cuts mainly affect sites in the UK, Italy and Turkey.

Huhtamaki has sold its facility in Portadown / UK but it said the unnamed buyer plans to continue production at the northern Ireland site under a leasing deal and that proceeds from the sale will cover the full cost of the planned job cuts in this segment. According to the Finnish group, the sale is only the first step in the restructuring of its British operations. It said “various strategic options” continue to be under consideration for the UK consumer goods segment.