Thomas Cook would have received offers for firm orders

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Travel agency Thomas Cook has received information about parts of its business and the company as a whole, according to reports.

The company put its airline on sale in February and announced last month close 21 stores across the country and remove more than 300 jobs.

Chinese investment company Fosun International could be a bidder for the company's tourism operations, reported Sky News.

Thomas Cook declined to comment.

Fosun International, which operates a joint venture with Thomas Cook in China, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Insiders told Sky that it could take months before a formal offer is made, and there is no guarantee that it will be made.

Heatstroke

The oldest tour operator in the world, Thomas Cook was founded at Market Harborough in 1841 by businessman Thomas Cook. It started with organized train trips for members of the local temperance movement.

It now has an annual turnover of £ 9 billion, 19 million customers a year and 22,000 employees in 16 countries.

In September, Thomas Cook said the profits would be affected after the summer heat wave that saw many taking their holidays in the UK.

He issued a second warning regarding his profits in November, when he said that bookings for the winter were also down.

Store closures will bring the number of Thomas Cook outlets to 566.

He said that a consultation with staff and unions had started.