CNH 1st Qtr Results

CNH Global has announced net sales increased 22% to $4.6 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The breakdown of net equipment sales in the quarter was 78% agricultural equipment and 22% construction equipment. The geographical distribution of net sales in the quarter was 45% North America, 31% EAME & CIS, 15% Latin America, and 9% APAC markets.

Reuters reports that talks about a possible merger with parent Fiat Industrial have intensified over the past several weeks. Fiat Industrial Chairman Sergio Marchionne said earlier this month that he would assess buying out the remaining stake in CNH, adding, “technically we don’t need two listed companies.”

Rival AGCO Corp. had expressed interest in buying CNH last year, but Marchionne said he had no intentions to sell the Italian engineering group’s almost 90% stake in CNH.

William Blair analyst De Maria said he firmly believes that a full merger of Fiat Industrial and CNH will happen by this summer.