AirAsia major shareholders says no plans to take private

AirAsia Chief Executive Tan Sri Tony Fernandes

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd says its major shareholders have not reached a decision as yet on whether to take the low-cost carrier private.

It said the major shareholders do evaluate all strategic options with regards to its various investments and they have been “approached by several parties from time to time with various proposals including to explore the possibility of increasing their stake in the company”. 

“However, the major shareholders have not reached any decision at this stage as there are many factors to carefully consider and this may or may not lead to any transaction.”

It was clarifying a news report on the reasons why AirAsia founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had started talks with bankers to take Asia’s No. 1 budget airline private.

It also said that after having made due enquiries with the board of directors, the board had not received any offers to take it private. 

On the report that AirAsia had also been in talks with lessors, including cash-rich Chinese companies, to sell a stake in its leasing subsidiary, it said that over the years it had been receiving enquiries.

These enquiries were from aircraft leasing companies and investors from all over the world, it said.

“These are parties who are interested in acquiring aircraft to expand their existing portfolio. 

“And since the incorporation of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Asia Aviation Capital Ltd (AACL), we have received approaches from investors who are keen on co-investing in AACL as an indirect means of owning the aircraft in our fleet,” it said.