BCA is preparing to float on the stock market, according to Sky News.

While BCA is declining to comment, it's being reported that private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CDR) has appointed Rothschild to prepare BCA to make its debut on the public markets later this year.

BCA is expected to be worth well over £500 million, said the report.

The company has been owned by CDR since early 2010, when it was bought from Montagu, another private equity firm.

A sale of BCA remains a possibility, although a flotation is the preferred option and further banks are expected to be appointed to work on the listing by the summer, an insider is quoted as telling Sky News.

CDR declined to comment.

In the 2012 financial year BCA had a turnover of £165 million, PBT of £34.4m and return on capital employed of 22.95%.