[BNM] SEO/Domain name advice

[James Bates]

Guys,

I know a few of you out there are SEO people, and wondered if you wouldn't
mind giving me some advice...

I'm currently working with a client repositioning their brand. This includes
a new website, to replace the 3 individual 'sector specific' sites they have
at the moment! My question is this...

Their current domain is a .co.uk, and as they want to launch a more global
proposition, we're suggesting they get a new .com domain. So their URL will
change from something like...
 
www.company.co.uk

to...
www.companyglobal.com

Currently their domain ranks quite highly for a few of it's chosen keywords
and the client is quite (understandably) anxious that we don't lose it's
current ranking by creating one single site (now a .com). What can we do to
minimise this?

If the old URL redirects to the new one, how will that affect it's page
rank?

Any help/thoughts/suggestions appreciated.


James