Family affair in Waterford share sale

Dan Weeks, Bloomberg

The company said yesterday it had completed the sale of stock worth 100m to current investors, who had the right to purchase five new shares for every three held. Waterford is raising the money to fund its acquisition of Royal Doulton.

Mr O’Donoghue bought 648,756 shares, and his wife bought 3,271 shares. The O’Donoghues also bought 2.19 million shares through a joint account.

David Sculley, co-vice chairman of Ranch *1 Inc and a member of HJ Heinz board, bought 1.03 million shares. Waterford Crystal chief executive John Foley purchased 77,640 shares and a further 142,008 shares through a joint account with his spouse.

Fitzwilton and Waterford Crystal chairman Kevin McGoran bought 148,476 shares. Waterford secretary Patrick Dowling purchased 512,516 shares.

CRH chairman Pat Molloy bought 212,116 shares. NABCO chairman Sam Michaels purchased 424,255 shares.

Wedgwood chief executive Tony O’Reilly Jnr bought 113,905 shares.

F Alan Wedgwood purchased 959,915 shares.

The company sold about 1.66 billion shares in the rights offer for six cent each.

The transactions took place on January 7, according to the statement.