UB likely to put 20% aviation biz on block

Mumbai: United Breweries (Holdings) is planning to sell about 20% stake in its consolidated aviation business—comprising Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan—to private equity investors. It hopes to raise around $250 million through the equity dilution. Four private equity giants, including Cerberus Capital, TPG and Blackstone, have initiated talks. Cerberus is believed to be the front-runner.
The stake, sources said, is being sold in a subsidiary of UB (Holdings), which owns 83% of Kingfisher Airlines and 100% of Kingfisher Radio. Kingfisher Radio, in turn, holds 26% in Deccan Aviation, the parent of the low-cost airline. The proposed open offer, if successful, will take Kingfisher Radio’s stake in Deccan Aviation to 46%.
The UB Group denied any immediate plan to induct a financial investor. The group insisted that “it was not in a tearing hurry” to bring in a financial investor, adding that de-leveraging could be done in 18-24-months.
Edelweiss, currently managing the open offer on behalf of Kingfisher Radio, is believed to have got the mandate for scouting for PE investors as well.
23/07/07 Anto T Joseph/Economic Times

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air Deccan Jul 2007, Kingfisher Jul 2007