Heineken is in advanced talks to buy Punch Taverns for £386m (€460m), competing with one of the chain’s founders to expand its network of British taverns.

Dublin was yesterday handed a double boost with the announcement of 290 jobs and €100m in funding for the development of Dublin Port.

One of the country’s leading nursing home groups, CareChoice, has been acquired by a leading UK investment firm in a multi-million euro deal. Emerald Investment Partners Ltd closed the €33m deal for the Cork-headquartered firm on Wednesday, market sources said.