Eight join €8m hunt for WLR radio station

IT is estimated that there are eight interested parties vying to buy regional radio station, Waterford Local Radio (WLR), which is valued at close to €8 million.

UTV, the Denis O’Brien-led Communicorp Group, EMAP, Thomas Crosbie Holdings and Alpha Newspapers — which is owned by former Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader John Taylor (Lord Kilclooney), — are all believed to be interested.

WLR’s main shareholders — including Gerry Sheridan of Sheridan Motors, Peter Queally of Dawn Meats and radio engineer Egidio Giani — have wanted to sell up for some time. At first, the station’s main single shareholder Des Whelan wasn’t keen to sell his 25% holding.