Tui has moved a step closer to selling off its bed bank arm with reports emerging of significant interest from a Swedish investment firm.
EQT partners, which also looks set to take control of Kuoni Group, has put together plans to merge the two companies, according to The Sunday Times.
Tui Group announced plans to offload Hotelbeds Group last year. The decision followed the sale of B2C brand LateRooms to Cox & Kings for £8.5m and the closure of AsiaRooms and Malapronta.
The division reported an annual profit before interest, taxes, and amortisation of €82.3 million in 2015 - up from €29.1 million.
EQT’s bid for Kuoni has put it in pole position, The Sunday Times said, but Tui looks set to invite further bids in an attempt to push the price over €1 billion.