Ascend, the US computer networking company, has announced international and US regulators have cleared its proposed $822 million (£544 million) acquisition of Stratus Computer, which employs 350 people at its manufacturing plant in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin. Ascend said that it was negotiating to divest all non-telecommunications businesses of Stratus following the expected completion of the deal on October 19th, when Stratus shareholders will vote on the acquisition.