SQ to sell its 49% share in VS?

I was reading a newspaper over someone's shoulder today - I think it was the Guardian. It had a large feature on VS, with pics of aircraft; the gist was that SQ are feeling ther lack of much benefit in the part-ownership of VS, and are offering it up for sale to anyone who's interested.

Surely this could have implications for all aspects of VS?

[Nottingham Nick]

Link to story in Daily Telegraph online.

Nick

Thanks Nick.

I'm not a businessman, so I don't know the financial or business implications of this, but would assume it could involved some restructuring.
Also, will it mean an end to generous TPs on SQ?!

[preiffer]

I wonder if there's no way Mr B would consider buying it back?

He said an agreement with Sir Richard to undertake an IPO of its Virgin Atlantic shareholding within three to five years of the stake purchase had been interrupted by external events. But he added: "We are still naturally interested in building shareholder value further, still with the aim of eventually taking it to a public listing."

Having read his biography I would have thought public ownership in VS would be the last thing on his mind after Virgin Group plc in the 1980's. Having said that a great deal more recent successful IPO's may have altered the viewpoint slightly.

Matthew

I'd wonder if the sale of Virgin Media goes ahead that would be on SRB's wish list.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Denzil
I'd wonder if the sale of Virgin Media goes ahead that would be on SRB's wish list.

I'm not so sure. He likes to have money to invest in emerging businesses or where he can make a good return. Taking VS back in full would not fulfill either of those. £40m profit last year. SRB will want a much better rate of return, and would rather spend £1bn elsewhere wher ehe is likely to get a lot more for his money.

Will be interesting to see what investment banks are interested, and they will do a thorough look through the business before investing.

Thanks,
Richard

Sir Michael Bishop[}:)]

45.

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by Denzil
I'd wonder if the sale of Virgin Media goes ahead that would be on SRB's wish list.

and would rather spend £1bn elsewhere wher ehe is likely to get a lot more for his money.



Thanks,
Richard

Richard did you not use your spell checker before posting[:w]

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by jerseyboy

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by Denzil
I'd wonder if the sale of Virgin Media goes ahead that would be on SRB's wish list.

and would rather spend £1bn elsewhere wher ehe is likely to get a lot more for his money.



Thanks,
Richard

Richard did you not use your spell checker before posting[:w]

Obviously not.

Now that would be funny after all the stuff about VS buying BD, if SMB was to buy 49% of VS!!!!!!

There might also be a group of people in DXB that might wish to invest?????

PS, Glad i'm not the only one with keyboard unfriendly fingers!!!

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Denzil
Now that would be funny after all the stuff about VS buying BD, if SMB was to buy 49% of VS!!!!!!

There might also be a group of people in DXB that might wish to invest?????

PS, Glad i'm not the only one with keyboard unfriendly fingers!!!

Oh, now that would make life interesting..EK/VS alliance...there is a post somewhere where a very wise member here [:w] made a comment about EK/VS/ someone else who I can't remember forming their own alliance to fight the big boys.

Anyways first of all SQ would have to find someone willing to spend the $$$ which as pointed out, at the rate of return VS is not that good of an investment.

Here'a another twist to the tail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.j ... gin110.xml

What a tangled web they weave.

David

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by David
Here'a another twist to the tail

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.j ... gin110.xml

What a tangled web they weave.

David

Wow, amazingly a pretty accurate piece of journalism [:0]

Latest is that Branson is consdering regaining full control of VS if the price for SQ's 49% is right.

Yahoo News Article

I wonder if this is SRB being "re-interested" in the fortunes of the airline, and we could expect more involvement from him in the future?

Mike

I don't see why SRB would be interested in the 49% as he already has the controlling stake and, as already said, the returns from the airline iteslf aren't that great.

45.