Enterprise says the new financial year has started well

The group, which runs more than 5,000 outlets, saw its pre-tax profits before exceptionals rise to �173.2m ($294.5m).

Enterprise has an option to buy the remaining 83.2% of rival operator Unique Pubs it does not own by 31 March, 2004, at a fixed price of �608m.

The move would re-establish the firm as the country's biggest pubs group, ahead of current top company Punch Taverns.

Earlier this month, Punch bought another key player - Pubmaster - creating a sector giant with a combined estate of more than 7,400 pubs.

Enterprise said that if it decided to exercise its option during 2004 it may be possible to raise the funds without approaching the equity market.