高級食器Ｗｅｄｇｗｏｏｄ破綻

先日はウィタードが経営破たんしたというニュースがありましたが、今度はウェッジウッドが破綻したようです。今回の金融危機で、一体どれだけの企業が破綻していくのでしょうか。
Stoke-on-Trentにあるウェッジウッドビジターセンターには1年ちょっと前に見学に行き、陶芸体験をやってきました。それゆえ、ちょっとだけ身近に感じていたブランドだっただけに残念です。
長年にわたってかなり経営不振に陥っていたようですが、ブランド力はあると思いますので、スポンサーが現れて、なんとか再建して欲しいですね。

高級食器Ｗｅｄｇｗｏｏｄ破綻
2009/01/06 00:20
英国の高級洋食器「ウェッジウッド」などのブランドで知られる大手陶磁器メーカー、ウォーターフォード・ウェッジウッド（本社アイルランド）は５日、英国事業が近く管財人の管理下に入る見通しになったと発表、事実上経営破（は）綻（たん）した。
金融危機をきっかけとした世界的な景気悪化で販売不振に陥ったのが原因。安価な陶器に顧客を奪われたことも経営の重しとなった。アイルランドの事業も行き詰まり、アイルランドの証券取引所で株式取引が一時停止された。今後、管財人の下でスポンサー企業探しを急ぐ。
　ウォーターフォード・ウェッジウッドは主力市場である日米英で販売が落ち込み、経営不振が続いていた。昨年１２月に主要取引銀行が融資継続で支援したが、立て直せなかった。
　ウェッジウッドは１７５９年に英国で創業。中国製品との価格競争に追われ、主要な生産拠点を英国からインドネシアに移していた。（共同）

http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/business/manufacturer/209963
以下は、Times より。

January 5, 2009
Waterford Wedgwood collapses over debt pile
Up to 1,900 UK jobs were under threat today after Waterford Wedgwood, the 250-year-old fine china and glassware maker, collapsed into receivership.
The company, whose brands include Royal Doulton, announced this morning that the Irish-listed company had been placed into receivership and that the bulk of its 10 UK subsidiaries would go into administration later today.
The collapse leaves Sir Anthony O’Reilly, the media tycoon and the company’s non-executive chairman, facing millions of pounds worth of losses.
Waterford Wedgwood has been forced to appoint a receiver, which it named as David Carson from Deloitte, the accountancy firm, after it missed a January 2 deadline to meet loan repayments.
The company, which has net debts of €449 million, had been unable to raise €150 million of new equity it had sought in August.
It will also appoint administrators to the UK business later today, including Neville Kahn, the Deloitte partner charged with finding a buyer for Woolworths, which will see its remaining 200 stores close tomorrow after nearly 100 years of trading.
Waterford Wedgwood employs 1,900 people in the UK, chiefly at its manufacturing operation at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, at retail stores and other offices as well as 800 staff in Ireland.
The possible closure of one of Ireland’s most well-known brands would be a major blow for the country that was one of the first in the European Union to officially fall into recession.
A spokesman said that a further 5,000 staff around the world at subsidiaries in Germany, the US, Canada, Australia and at a manufacturing plant Indonesia were not directly affected by today’s announcement.
David Sculley, chief executive at Waterford Wedgwood, said he was “disappointed” but insisted he remained optimistic that ongoing discussions would result in a buyer being found for the businesses. However, a spokesman said that even if a buyer is found there is no guarantee that all jobs will be saved.
Sir Anthony, who is also grappling with €1.4 billion of debts at Independent News & Media, his media group, said today: “We are consoled only by the fact that everything that could have been done, by management and by the board, to preserve the group, was done.”
Unless a buyer can be found for the business Sir Anthony and his brother-in-law, Peter Goulandris, are facing big losses after bailing out Waterford Wedgwood, leaving them with a combined stake of nearly 60 per cent.
Waterford Wedgwood has been in talks with a US private equity fund about a possible €600 million rescue deal.
The company had posted nearly six years of operating losses and had struggled to raise fresh cash during last year’s credit squeeze. The January 2 deadline represented the third postponement by its lenders.
The group posted a widening loss of €63 million during the six months to October 4, 2008 – the latest period for which figures are available.
As well as its own-brand products, the company also produces goods for a range of designers and celebrities including Versace, Terence Conran, his son, Jasper Conran, Gordon Ramsay and the Andy Warhol Foundation.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article5449313.ece