China maker Waterford Wedgwood calls in receivers
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's Waterford Wedgwood, whose luxury tableware was once a mainstay of wedding gift lists worldwide, has called in receivers and placed two of Britain's most venerable china makers into administration.
The heavily indebted maker of Waterford crystal, one of Ireland's most famous brands, also asked on Monday that its shares be suspended from trading on the Irish Stock Exchange after failing to buy more time from creditors.
The owner of British potter Wedgwood, founded 250 years ago by Josiah Wedgwood -- one of the fathers of the industrial revolution -- and whose tea and dinner services have graced royal tables ever since, had warned in December that it would not be able to pay interest to bondholders.
The global financial crisis and ensuing economic slowdown has already claimed a raft of casualties in the British retail sector, including Woolworths, which is set to close this week with the loss of 27,000 jobs.
Administrators for children's wear chain Adams said on Monday they would close 111 UK stores and make 850 staff redundant while administrators at Passion for Perfume said they had cut 194 jobs as they seek a buyer for the fragrance retailer.
Waterford Wedgwood said a grace period given by its lenders had expired and not been renewed, but it remained optimistic an investor would save the group, whose stable of brands also includes Royal Doulton, known for its fine china tableware and figurines.
The group has some 8,000 employees worldwide, including 1,900 working in manufacturing and retail in the United Kingdom and 800 in Ireland. It also employs 1,000 workers at Germany-based porcelain maker Rosenthal.
The company, which last year unsuccessfully sought a loan from the Irish government, has already cut or moved a lot of production to Asia, leaving 1,500 manufacturing jobs in Indonesia, 600 in the United Kingdom and 450 in Ireland.
The group's receiver Deloitte said a number of subsidiaries, including Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd and Royal Doulton Ltd, had been placed into administration, meaning they would continue to trade while buyers are sought.
One Dublin-based analyst said it would be very tough to find a buyer for the company, however.
"Even if there is a resurgence in the economy any time soon it's difficult to say Waterford Wedgwood will benefit massively from it," said Killian Murphy, analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers.
IN STEADY DECLINE
Waterford Wedgwood was trying to modernize its product range just as the economic downturn in its main markets -- Britain and the United States -- and the strength of the euro hit earnings, while the credit crisis made talks with lenders more difficult.
Top shareholders led by Anthony O'Reilly, whose media interests make him one of Ireland's richest men, have repeatedly pumped extra funds into Waterford Wedgwood.
The company said later on Monday that O'Reilly and three other non-executive board members had resigned with immediate effect, without giving further details. Continued...
