The food-service company Brakes is the latest private equity-backed business to examine a stock market listing, which could see it valued at up to £2.5bn, according to Sky News.
It is understood that Bain Capital, the private equity group which bought Brakes in 2007, has appointed investment bankers at Lazard to advise on a public share offering.
A listing, which would not take place until next year, would be likely to catapult Brakes straight into the FTSE-250 share index.
Employing more than 10,000 people, the company operates in a number of European markets, including France and Sweden.
Brakes describes itself as “a one-stop shop for caterers” and counts some of the UK’s biggest pub operators and restaurant operators among its clients.
Results for 2014 saw EBITDA increase by 7% to just over £150m on turnover of £3.1bn.
