The Canadian pharmaceutical group, Bovail Corporation, has sold its Clonmel Healthcare operation in Ireland to German group Stada Arnemittel for $20 million (£15.4 million). The sale covers only the manufacturing operation in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, with Bovail retaining Clonmel's research and development operation in Sandyford, Co Dublin.

Stada had sales last year of 503.8 million deutschmarks (€257.6 million), with pretax profits of DM40.3 million (€20.6 million). The group expects its 1999 sales to rise to around DM625 million (€320 million).