Richard Branson Weighs Bigger Infusion to Save Wobbling Virgin Atlantic
>Funding aimed at attracting outside investors, appeasing U.K.
>Billionaire’s tax status raises backlash against state rescue
Richard Branson is considering pouring more money into teetering Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. than he originally pledged in a bid to attract outside investors and gain access to hundreds of millions of pounds of state-backed loans, according to people familiar with the matter.
Branson had earlier said he’d channel the bulk of a $250 million infusion into his Virgin-branded companies toward the U.K. airline. The pledge, linked to a request for some 500 million pounds ($618 million) in U.K. funding guarantees, has met with resistance from the government.
The talks and amounts are in flux, the people said. U.S. partner Delta Air Lines Inc. has said it won’t put in more money, and raised the possibility that Virgin Atlantic could go through insolvency proceedings.
Branson has been pursuing outside investors to strengthen the bailout application. The 69-year-old billionaire’s Virgin Group is seeking some combination of structured finance, convertible bonds or preferred debt, according to one of the people, who asked not to be named discussing a confidential matter. An injection of pure equity could also be part of the mix, though rules governing airline ownership could place limits on that option.
About 100 financial investors have been contacted with around half responding, the person said.
Branson himself “has no intention of selling out” of Virgin Atlantic, Nick Fox, a spokesman for Virgin Group, said by phone. He declined to comment on the investor search or what form support might take. Virgin previously confirmed that Houlihan Lokey had been engaged to lead the search. The future of Branson’s flagship business is on the line as airlines worldwide are roiled by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Like other European carriers, Virgin Atlantic has grounded almost all of the fleet, while slashing costs through a deal with staff to take unpaid leave. That step and question marks over Branson’s tax affairs have led to a backlash against a bailout from some U.K. politicians. His Virgin Australia was already denied a rescue and faces collapse.
Branson, who founded the airline in 1984 and owns a 51% stake, would remain a leading shareholder, the people said. Delta’s 49% stake would likely go down.
Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that Branson was seeking a buyer for Virgin Atlantic, something his spokesman disputed.
“Richard is committed to investing in Virgin Atlantic,” Fox said. “He and Virgin Group are fully supportive of the process the airline is going through in seeking prospective investors.”
With the airline industry in such dire straits, a new backer would be investing on the strength of Branson’s plans for the carrier, one person said. The tycoon last year came close to selling 30% of Virgin Atlantic to ally Air France-KLM before pulling the plan as earnings surged.
