KPS Capital Partners, a US private equity company, has signed a letter of intent to buy the “major assets” of Waterford Wedgwood from the administrators of the Ireland-based luxury tableware manufacturer.

Deloitte, appointed receivers in Ireland and administrators to the UK operations, issued a statement last night confirming that talks were under way over a deal that would include “certain assets of Waterford, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton, amongst others”.