Eir looks to be back in play with US hedge fund Anchorage Capital set to take a controlling stake on the back of one of the Irish communications company’s investors selling out of the business.

Prime Irish retail investments are now tracking the pick-up evident in the country’s top office markets since 2013; thus, the sale this month of Cork’s long-established Merchants Quay Shopping Centre is expected to gain international traction — despite its relatively small lot size, at a value of just €12.5 million for its 29 shop units and €1.47m rent roll.