With serious corporate finance work a bit thin on the ground, expect an almighty scramble to get aboard C&C's planned flotation next year.

Whether the company does float will obviously depend on the markets. However, if C&C - which this week appointed Maurice Pratt as group managing director from January - can be floated at a proposed capitalisation of €1.3 billion (£1 million), then it will be the largest corporate event since the Eircom float.

Three years ago, when a C&C float was pulled after Asian markets collapsed, Davy and IBI had tied up the Irish end of the float. Now it seems a brand new beauty parade will be held for advisers to a spring/ summer flotation.

Smarten up those suits, boys and girls!