Etihad wants Branson's share of VA

[openseat]

Etihad chasing Virgin stake, no buts about it

ETIHAD chief executive James Hogan says he has made clear to Sir Richard Branson that his airline is interested in his cornerstone stake in Virgin Australia.The Abu Dhabi airline is pursuing equity stakes in ''one or two'' more groups after building large holdings in Europe's sixth-largest airline, Air Berlin, and Air Seychelles in recent months.
Etihad has been stymied from taking a cornerstone stake in Virgin because Australia's second-largest airline is close to hitting its 49 per cent foreign ownership limit.


Read more: Etihad chasing Virgin stake, no buts about it

Interesting play!

The story also talks of the future Etihad lounge in Sydney.​

 

[docjames]

Interesting Etihad has gone public - gauging public reaction perhaps?

 

[Simo]

Woud this be good for VA?

A partnership like this could make VA an even better airline with huge amount of capacity when needed and could also add some new international routes from Aust.

 

[The Rok]

I.e routes out of Perth to Abu Dhabi?

 

[Danger]

At the Qantas informal function at Parliament House in Canberra tonight, Joyce mentioned his belief that Etihad is eyeing off a stake in Virgin Australia.

 

[docjames]

At the Qantas informal function at Parliament House in Canberra tonight, Joyce mentioned his belief that Etihad is eyeing off a stake in Virgin Australia.

Uh, I dont think that's any great secret.....

 

[Danger]

Uh, I dont think that's any great secret.....

Really? Did you know that was Joyce's belief?

 

[777]

Has been widely publicised but doesn't mean it's true. Of course now that Virgin have split their ownership structure EY can by *any* shares in VA and not just Branson's.

 

[moa999]

And following the split of Virgin International from Virgin Australia, Etihad can quite happily buy those shares on market - the 49% rule does not apply to a Domestic Airline.
Much like Tiger Australia is 100% Singapore owned, Rex is mostly Singapore owned.

 

[docjames]

Really? Did you know that was Joyce's belief?

I would be fairly certain. It's been well publicised that Eithad were considering an investment in Virgin Aus.

 

[Fruitcake]

Along similar lines, NZ lifted its DJ holdings slightly yesterday, from 14.99% to 19.99%
Air NZ confirms it has lifted its stake in Virgin Australia

 

[Danger]

Etihad gets nod to raise stake in VAH | Travel Weekly

 

[SeatBackForward]

The sharks are circling..they know the value of DJ is going to improve significantly and dont wantt to miss out.

 

[Paddy55]

Along similar lines, NZ lifted its DJ holdings slightly yesterday, from 14.99% to 19.99%
Air NZ confirms it has lifted its stake in Virgin Australia

That's not a 'slight' increase

 

[pauly7]

Wow I never really did the math, but now with Ethiad going to 10%, air NZ and Virgin Group - DJ is much more foreign owned than I really thought... Is that about 60% now?!? Just from the big 3?

 

[markis10]

Wow I never really did the math, but now with Ethiad going to 10%, air NZ and Virgin Group - DJ is much more foreign owned than I really thought... Is that about 60% now?!? Just from the big 3?

Looks like your still not doing the math, 25 + 20 + 10 = 55%

 

[jakeseven7]

Etihad looking for 10pc of Virgin ...

MIDDLE Eastern carrier Etihad Airways has increased its stake in Virgin Australia to 6.1 per cent after spending more than $10 million on share purchases over the past three weeks.

A disclosure to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday revealed Etihad paid between 38.6c and 45.3c a share between July 24 and last Friday to increase its interest from the 5.01 per cent it first disclosed last month.

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian


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Another sliver of Virgin heads overseas. Of course if this was Qantas it would be front page news with wailing and screeching!
I personally don't really rate Etihad (as an airline) I hope DJ don't take too many pointers from their parent!!

 

[JohnK]

re: Etihad looking for 10pc of Virgin ...

And still climbing.

Etihad increases stake in Virgin

Etihad has increased its stake in Virgin Australia to 7.27% after spending almost $12 million on shares since August 20.

Personally I do not rate Etihad highly either....

 

[markis10]

re: Etihad looking for 10pc of Virgin ...

What's the news given they have flagged and been approved for a 10% holding :shock:?

 

[JohnK]

re: Etihad looking for 10pc of Virgin ...

It is news to me as I only found out about that today....