The brewing business of the Bass group which includes Bass Ireland will be acquired by Belgian combine Interbrew in a £2.3 billion (€2.9 billion) deal. Its purchase of Bass Brewers follows its £400 million acquisition last month of the brewing business of the Whitbread group which brews Murphy's Irish Ales in Magor, North Wales, for distribution in the UK.

Bass Ireland owns the Ulster Brewery which employs 400 in Belfast and has depots in Ballymoney, Co Antrim and Omagh, Co Tyrone. Its wholesale business, employing 40 in Dublin, distributes Bass products in the Republic.