Oct 29, 2007 -- Financial website CFO.com announced today that Apollo Management LP won an auction to acquire Regent Seven Seas.

Regent operates four ships that carry between 330 and 700 passengers. It competes in the luxury end of the cruise market with lines such as Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises.

It has been controlled by Carlson Cos. since 1992.

Apollo previously acquired Oceania Cruises on April 30, 2007 for $850M including assumption of debt. The private equity firm also holds 50% of the shares, and control of the Board, of Norwegian Cruise Line, which it acquired for $1Bn on August 17, 2007. (Including debt, this transaction valued NCL at $4Bn.)

According to CFO.com, DVB Bank AG has provided debt to finance the Regent transaction. Goldman Sachs advised Regent's owner, Carlson. CVC Global Capital and KSL Capital Partners are other parties who were interested in this transaction.

At this time, the deal has not closed and both Carlson and Apollo declined to comment on "market speculation."