LAKE FOREST, Ill. — CNH Capital, the global financial services business of agricultural and construction manufacturer CNH Global, last month announced a number of measures designed to help its loan, lease and credit card customers affected by Hurricane Katrina. The company is also assisting dealers throughout the region to quickly restore business operations.

“We're focused on providing our customers with immediate solutions that relieve some financial and logistical burdens,” said Mario Ferla, president of CNH Capital.

Customers in the federally declared disaster areas are being notified that CNH Capital is deferring payments, effective immediately. Customers who cannot be contacted by mail are urged to call CNH Capital's credit specialists at 800/777-0552 for more specific information about CNH Capital's disaster relief actions.

CNH Global also recently announced it will donate more than $1 million of Case and New Holland construction equipment to support ongoing relief and restoration efforts related to the hurricane, including about $200,000 of construction equipment from global alliance partner Kobelco.

CNH also said it will match individual employee contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $250,000.

CNH is based in Lake Forest, Ill.