Thomas Cook is being tipped to offload ski brand Neilson for £7 million to former Pizza Express boss Luke Johnson.
Neither party would comment on the speculation in the Mail on Sunday which claimed sources were suggesting that Johnson’s private equity firm Risk Capital Partners was set to acquire the winter sports and activities operator.
However, a deal is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.
Neilson had sales of £84 million last year but posted a loss of £10.1 million, the newspaper reported.
Risk acquired a stake in cruise website Cruise.co.uk in August as Johnson’s first investment in the travel sector.
The firm also owns companies such as Patisserie Valerie, artisan bakery The Bread Factory and DIY business The Depot.