Almost 1,400 jobs have been saved after a New York investment group nailed down a deal to buy struggling crystal and china firm Waterford Wedgwood, it was revealed tonight.

Two members of the Wedgwood family are mulling over a bid for the ceramics business which bears their famous name.

Two members of the Wedgwood family said today they were considering a bid for the ceramics business which bears their famous name.

China and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood has received a “substantial” rescue bid from a US private equity firm, it was reported today.

WATERFORD Crystal workers have appealed directly to the Tánaiste to safeguard their pensions amid fears they will be left penniless if their jobs go.

Union officials at collapsed Waterford Wedgwood are to hold further talks about safeguarding their pensions with Government ministers later this week.

The Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is due to meet trade unions representing workers at Waterford Wedgwood this afternoon.

PRAISE for Tony O’Reilly is in short supply in Waterford these days but the workers at the city’s near-doomed crystal manufacturer should be inclined to offer a word or two of thanks to their former chairman for his efforts to save the company.

Parts of failed china and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood could be sold to private equity after buyout group KPS Capital Partners signed a letter of intent, administrators announced today.

HOTELIERS have warned that tourism will suffer if the Waterford Crystal brand is not preserved as a uniquely Irish product.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan has indicated the Government would get involved in a rescue attempt for Waterford Wedgwood — if this was possible.

Three potential buyers were said today to be eyeing up parts of the collapsed crystal and china maker Waterford Wedgwood.

World-renowned company Waterford Crystal is too important to be allowed to shut down, union leaders warned today.

Waterford Wedgwood this morning requested that its shares be suspended from trading on the Irish stock exchange following the appointment of a receiver.

A US private equity fund is understood to be in talks to take a controlling stake in Waterford Wedgwood for €600 million.

A US private equity fund is in talks to take a controlling stake in struggling crystal and ceramics manufacturer Waterford Wedgwood for €600m, according to sources briefed on the negotiations.

Glass making at Ireland’s world renowned Waterford Crystal factory is being brought to a virtual standstill, it emerged tonight.

THE Government’s refusal to guarantee a €39m loan for Waterford Crystal was “unimaginative and potentially devastating to the Waterford area”, the Dáil has heard.

WATERFORD WEDGEWOOD yesterday announced the appointment of Anthony Jones to its board of directors and as chief financial officer with immediate effect.

WATERFORD Wedgwood has agreed a joint venture with Ballymore Properties to redevelop land at its Kilbarry crystal manufacturing site.

JUST over half of Waterford Wedgwood shareholders have agreed to back the company’s latest fundraising drive.

WATERFORD Wedgwood’s top management team has been granted share options worth almost €16.5 million.

SEVEN executives in Waterford Wedgwood pocketed €10.2 million in salaries and bonuses last year while close to 2,000 staff got the axe worldwide - including 500 people in Waterford.

INCOMING Waterford Wedgwood chief executive Peter Cameron has splashed out €780,000 on shares in the troubled group.

THE troubled luxury goods group Waterford Wedgwood came a step closer to shedding 1,800 jobs yesterday as shareholders gave the go-ahead for a €100 million rights issue to fund its restructuring.

Waterford Crystal’s flagship factory in Dungarvan is to close with the loss of almost 500 jobs, it was confirmed today.

In a wealthier Ireland there is increasing interest in purchasing antiques. Auctioneers and antique dealers have noticed in recent times that sales are bringing new buyers, people not previously known in the salesroom or shop.

SHARES in Waterford Wedgwood fell 33% yesterday after the crystal and ceramics manufacturer twice surprised the markets - with a profit warning and with plans to buy a troubled British rival.

SENIOR management at troubled luxury goods firm Waterford Wedgwood saw their pay fall by 15%.

Luxury goods company Waterford Wedgwood and three other companies will have to pay out $2.9m in civil penalties in a settlement with New York’s Attorney General.

Astron has signed a multi-million euro deal to procure the print management requirements of Waterford Wedgwood.

‘The Glass’ needs a dollar recovery to see fortunes improve, says CONOR KEANE.

Luxury goods group Waterford Wedgwood today issued a profits warning after feeling the pressure from tough trading conditions in Germany.

Waterford Wedgwood chief executive Redmond O'Donoghue has bought 1.2 millon shares in the company for €240,000.

WATERFORD Wedgwood suffered a pre-tax loss of more than €12 million in the first half of its financial year.

A NEW radio station targeting the youth market in the south east has teamed up with fellow stations in Dublin and Cork to ensure it reaches the broadest market.

A DIP of 4.6% in annual sales to €951.3m, a modest rise in profits before tax, a cut in its dividend and the loss of more than 1,000 jobs in Britain has been reported by the Waterford Wedgwood group.

Pottery giant Wedgwood Group today announced plans to close two of its UK factories with the loss of more than 1,050 jobs.

TWO businessmen who ran a major mail order business from Ireland serving the US market have become multi-millionaires.

THE profits of Irish public companies with defined benefit pension schemes could take a big hit from the €2bn plus fall in the value of their pension assets this year, according to stockbrokers Merrion Capital.

WATERFORD WEDGWOOD annual meetings are glossy, high quality affairs when the faithful who have weathered the company's fortunes from the bad times of a decade ago to the good times of the past few years and are staying with it through the rocky road ahead.