CARLSON COS. will sell Regent Seven Seas to private equity firm Apollo Management. Mark Conroy, president of Regent, sent a letter to travel agents on Dec. 10, saying the deal would put Regent and Oceania Cruises under the ownership of Prestige Cruise Holdings, a corporation controlled by Apollo Management. Conroy and Bob Binder, president of Oceania, will report to Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige. Rumors about the deal swirled around the industry recently, as Apollo, which earlier this year acquired Oceania and is in the process of taking a 50% stake in NCL Corp., was said to be looking for a luxury cruise brand. Conroy said in the letter that Regent would remain a wholly independent brand. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Travel Weekly)