The Leeds-based company is understood to be up for sale for a figure in the region of £150 million and an "interested party" is already circling.

CAP is owned by Guardian Media Group and private equity company Apax Partners. According to reports, the company is set to appoint bank Moelis to handle any potential sale.

The news coincides with a name change for CAP’s parent company, from Emap to Top Right Group.

CAP communication manager, Mike Hind said: ‘Under private equity ownership, a business is technically ‘up for sale’ if the right price is offered at almost any point.

‘We’re used to stories like this and they never divert us from the job in hand.’

Hind added that CAP is a month away from bringing Black Book Live to market as part of the biggest single investment ever made in the vehicle data provider.

He added: ‘The strategic restructure of the old Emap to form Top Right Group and the rebranding of our division from EMAP Insight to ‘'4C’'means our customers will certainly start to see some branding changes, but day-to-day operations will not be affected.’