Business news digest

NATION

HP plans to cut jobs as it combines forces

SAN FRANCISCO — Hewlett-Packard Co. said Monday it plans to slash 24,600 jobs over the next three years, nearly 8 percent of its work force, as it combines operations with Electronic Data Systems Corp., the technology-services company it recently acquired.

Most of the cuts will come from within EDS’s ranks, and nearly half will hit jobs in the U.S., HP said Monday after the markets closed.

HP had not previously detailed how many employees of the combined company would lose their jobs. Before the acquisition, HP had 178,000 people and EDS had 142,000, a total of 320,000.

Wendy’s to be part of Arby’s chain

NEW YORK — Shareholders of Wendy’s and Triarc approved a $2.34 billion deal on Monday that will make the nation’s No. 3 hamburger chain a part of billionaire investor Nelson Peltz’s empire.

Triarc Cos. Inc. shareholders voted from New York while shareholders of Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy’s International Inc. approved the deal from the company’s headquarters. Directors of both companies had already OK’d the transaction. Atlanta-based Triarc operates the Arby’s fast food chain and is owned by Peltz.

GM employee pricing won’t be extended past Sept.

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. says it won’t extend its offer of employee pricing for everyone after the deal ends this month. Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said the incentive won’t be prolonged past Sept. 30.

GM announced the offer Aug. 19, then extended it early this month after seeing it boost slumping U.S. sales. GM’s August sales still fell 20 percent from a year ago, but that was a smaller drop than Ford or Chrysler had.

Associated Press