TUI launches sale of Travelopia arm

By Arno Schuetze and Victoria Bryan

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Europe's biggest tour operator TUI (TUIT.L) has picked advisers to launch the sale of specialist holiday arm Travelopia in a deal potentially worth 500-600 million euros (428.73-514.48 million pounds).

TUI has asked Citigroup (C.N) to find a buyer for Travelopia, which comprises over 50 brands offering specialist luxury, adventure and education holidays, people close to the matter told Reuters.

TUI confirmed the mandate, while Citi declined to comment.

The auction, in which the business will be marketed to private equity groups as well as some other specialist travel groups, is set to start in the coming weeks, the people added.

TUI previously said it planned to start marketing Travelopia in the autumn and the unit's head was quoted last week by Travel Weekly as saying he hoped to close a deal in early 2017. The unit has annual revenue of 1.5 billion euros and earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of 48 million euros.

TUI is expected to ask for bids valuing the business at 10-12 times forecast core earnings of about 50 million euros, the people said.

The sale of luxury travel specialist Scott Dunn to private equity company Inflexion in 2015 reportedly achieved a price multiple of 12.5 to 13 times.

Travelopia contains brands such as Hayes & Jarvis, which focuses on luxury holidays, adventure company Exodus and polar expeditions company Quark.

TUI Group CEO Fritz Joussen has said the group is selling because the specialist brands don't use the TUI brand, IT, hotels, cruise ships or planes, meaning the opportunities for mutual savings and benefits are limited.

However, TUI will keep hold of the Crystal Ski and Thomson Lakes & Mountains brands, which help to fill its planes in the winter season.

Earlier this year, TUI agreed to sell its Hotelbeds unit, which sells hotels rooms to wholesale customers such as travel agencies and tour operators, to private equity group Cinven [CINV.UL] and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in a deal worth 1.17 billion euros.

(Reporting by Arno Schuetze and Victoria Bryan; Editing by Tina Bellon and Mark Potter)