Representatives from KPS Capital Partners, an American private equity company, which has signed a letter of intent to acquire certain of Waterford Wedgwood“s Irish and UK assets, will travel to Irela…
Representatives from KPS Capital Partners, an American private equity company, which has signed a letter of intent to acquire certain of Waterford Wedgwood“s Irish and UK assets, will travel to Ireland during the week commencing 12 January 2009 to meet union representatives and Martin Cullen, the minister for arts, sport and tourism, who is also a Waterford MP. At these meetings, unions and the government will raise concerns with KPS regarding Waterford“s huge pension deficit and its plans for the Waterford plant. If KPS agrees to buy the Waterford Crystal brand, but not the Irish operations as a going concern, it has no obligation to take on the company“s pension liabilities. Accounts for Waterford Crystal show it had a pension deficit of EUR 68 million as of April 2008. The company employs 800 workers.