The family behind Sunspot Tours could reportedly be in line for a multimillion-pound windfall after appointing advisers to work on a sale of the company.
The operator based in Sevenoaks, Kent, was working with corporate financiers from Catalyst on “strategic options”, which could lead to a sale of a stake in the business, the Sunday Times reported City sources as saying.
Any deal could mean the Bugeja family earn a multimillion-pound fortune. Chairman Martin Bugeja set up Sunspot Tours in 1980 and is one of the largest shareholders in the business.
It specialises in holidays to Malta and Cyprus and has expanded to feature long-haul sun destinations in the Caribbean, Florida, Indian Ocean, Asia and Australia.
The most recent accounts show that the business, which also trades under the name Mercury Holidays, generated £3.5 million of operating profits from £65.9 million of revenues.
However, bankers said Sunspot Tours was forecast to make operating profits of £5 million this year, so a deal could value the company at about £50 million.
The sale follows recent deals in the sector, such as Silverfleet Capital’s purchase of a stake in escorted tours specialist Riviera Travel.