Majority owners may lose €400m

WATERFORD Wedgwood majority owners Anthony O’Reilly and Peter John Goulandris are set to lose close to €400 million following the collapse of the firm, with a buyer unlikely to be found.

O’Reilly and his brother-in-law own about 51% of Waterford Wedgwood through their investment vehicles, Birchfield Holdings and Stoneworth Investment.

Analysts said yesterday that in this climate it will be very hard find a buyer, meaning this investment would most likely be written off.