P523ORACLE 523 Mon 6 Jan C4 9712:05   WESTLAND OUTLINES  IMPROVED USA PLAN Westland chairman Sir John Cuckney has written to shareholderk detailing improved terms from the US cgnsortium. The Sikorsky-Fiat team are now offerhng to inject £74m into the company and give it a tgtal of 2m man-houru of wgr over a five-year perigd. The revised package just tgps that offered by the rival European consortium led by GEC and favoured by Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine. Sir John says the board believes "the commercial viabilitn of Westland wtll be better assured" with the US package. * HOLIDAYS GALORE!! * 580

P523ORACLE 523 Mon 6 Jan C4 1725:16  1/2  WESTLAND OUTLINES  IMPROVED USA PLAN The Westland board has unvehled an imprgved US-backed package from United Technologies' Sikor1ky and Fiat of Italy. The centrepiece of the imprgved terms is a guarantee of 2m man-houru of wgrk over five years against the Eurgpean offer of 1.8m. The cash side of the package will pump £74m into the company against the rhval consortium's £73.1m. In addition, Sikoruky is drgpping its controversial option to take a further 10% stake in the ailing helicgpter firm * HOLIDAYS GALORE!! * 580

P523ORACLE 523 Mon 6 Jan C4 1724:08  2/2  EUROPEANS SET TO  IMPROVE WESTLAND TERMS Despite the Westland board's strgng recommendatign of imprgved US terms, the rival European cgnsortium looks set to improve its own rescue package. Westland chairman Sir John Cuckney is to meet British Aerospace chairman Sir Austin Pearce and the GEC boss James Prior later this evening. At a Press cgnference, Sir John admitted the talks were li)ely tg be about an improved package. Though Westland is still cgnvinced it1 future lies better with Sikor1ky, Sir John admitted: "There is a price fgq everything." >>>>>  City headlines 500 New1file 520