Owner of Loveholidays enlists financial experts for orchestrating stock market exit strategy
In the latest developments, **Loveholidays owner Livingbridge has appointed Rothschild to oversee preparations for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO)**, with the company expected to be valued at well over £1 billion [1][2][4]. The exact timing of the IPO is yet to be determined, partly due to a challenging London market for public listings, which has seen a significant downturn in IPO activity during the first half of 2025 [1].
Founded in 2012 by Alex Francis and Jonny Marsh, Loveholidays specializes in Mediterranean and Canary Islands holidays. The online travel agent has reported a robust performance after the pandemic, with pre-tax profits rising by about 20% to £67.6 million and sales reaching £284 million in the year to October 2024 [1]. This strong showing has positioned Loveholidays alongside other major UK online travel agents like OnTheBeach and TUI, benefiting from the post-pandemic surge in travel demand [1].
The proposed IPO and strong valuation reflect investor confidence in Loveholidays' growth and potential. Market analysts suggest the public listing could significantly influence the travel industry by spotlighting the resilience and rapid recovery of online travel agencies after the pandemic disruptions [3].
If the IPO goes ahead, it could increase competition and innovation among Online Travel Agents (OTAs) and potentially lead to further consolidation or investment activity in the travel sector [1][2][3]. In the past, potential bidders including CVC Capital Partners have considered offers for a controlling stake in Loveholidays [5]. However, when the process for a controlling stake was curtailed, Loveholidays reportedly explored the sale of a minority stake.
With an inventory of 35,000 hotels and coverage of 99% of all flights, Loveholidays offers 500 billion possible holiday packages, making it one of the UK's biggest OTAs [6]. If it goes public, this move could mark a significant event in the UK travel market’s recovery phase.
Sources: [1] The Telegraph [2] The Guardian [3] City A.M. [4] Sky News [5] The Times [6] Loveholidays Press Release
Finance professionals at Rothschild are overseeing preparations for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Loveholidays, a move that could significantly influence the travel industry by showcasing the resilience and rapid recovery of online travel agencies after pandemic disruptions. If successful, the IPO could increase competition and innovation among Online Travel Agents (OTAs), potentially leading to further consolidation or investment activity in the travel sector.
