Trintech signed a 25-year lease on the building at an annual rent of over 500,000 in 1998, but has exercised a break clause allowing it to terminate the lease and vacate the building by 1 September.

The company will pay 240,000 to the two brothers for exercising the break clause.

At the height of the company's powers, following its flotation on the Nasdaq in 1999, the Sandyford site housed over 300 Trintech staff. It now employs just over 100 people at its Dublin office and has sublet the rest of the space to other companies.

TV3 SELLS FOR /265M DOUGHTYHanson will have to sweat TV3 to reap value from its decision to buy the station last week for 265m, in a deal backed by Anglo Irish Bank. In a competitive TV market, Doughty Hanson has said it will work hard to improve TV3's ratings. TV3's valuation is about 40m higher than previous estimates.