Waterford Wedgwood is to acquire 86.5 per cent of US-based table and bed linen company Ashling Corporation for $9.5 million (#11.2 million). Waterford Wedgwood is purchasing the company from Fitzwilton, the company controlled by its chairman, Sir Anthony O'Reilly. Ashling designs, sources and markets table and bed linens under the trading name W-C Designs. It has had a licence from Waterford Wedgwood to sell Waterford Linens since 1995 and Wedgwood Linens since early this year.

Announcing the acquisition, Waterford Wedgwood president and chief operations officer, Mr Redmond O'Donoghue (above), said Ashling would give the group an even more meaningful position in the world of linens and textiles.