BASS struck a £2.3 billion deal on Wednesday to sell its brewing arm to Interbrew of Belgium, bringing to an end its 21-year brewing history in Alton.
The deal, which leaves Interbrew with 32 per cent of the British brewing market, is conditional on clearance by competition authorities, who are concerned about the Belgian company's possible monopoly of the market. Interbrew would not comment on potential job losses.
A full version of this story will be found in the Alton Herald of June 16,2000.