WINDOW company VEKA has swallowed up a larger rival in a big-money deal.

The Burnley company, which employs 150 people in East Lancashire, has taken over West Midlands-based Bowater Building Products for an ‘eight-figure sum’.

VEKA said the deal offered a ‘good synergy’ as the two firms operate in different parts of the window manufacturing sector.

But bosses have admitted that some jobs could go following a review of the £80million combined business.

VEKA managing director Dave Jones said: “We are undertaking a review and at this stage it is difficult for me to say there will not be any job losses.

“We cannot say there will not be any, but equally there will not be hundreds.”

Mr Jones said the review could take several months but sought to reassure workers at VEKA’s Burnley site in Billington Road, which makes uPVC materials for windows and doors.

He said: “We have been in Burnley for 25 years. We have invested heavily in the area and we continue to invest every year.

“It is a bespoke site and it is a good manufacturing site with a good workforce.”

Bowater, whose head office is in Sutton Coldfield, is made up of four divisions, including ones specialising in working with councils and housing associations, and an architectural section.

The company was swallowed up by smaller VEKA after several months’ due diligence.

The combined business, which will have 400 staff and a turnover of about £80million, will be one of the largest window systems companies in the UK.