Coral Float Inevitable

Coral's chief executive Neil Gouldon has called a potential £5.5 billion flotation "inevitable" and is looking at autumn 2007 as a possible date.

"We are massively cash generative and our growth portfolio makes us attractive," he said. "We have had lots of public funds asking to see us so there's clearly appetite there."

Gouldon went on to say: "We bought Coral in October 2005, so by 2007 we will be two years in - to me that would be the optimum time. There's no doubt that our investors are feeling pretty bullish about things at the moment. My personal view is that we have lots of opportunities that we need to focus on."

Coral's immediate plans are thought to include the purchases of two more betting chains along with a number of small businesses and new licences as the company looks to add to its 1,363 existing outlets.