Air New Zealand has acquired a substantial shareholding in Australian-based airline Virgin Blue as part of a planned acquisition of a shareholding between 10 percent and 14.99 percent.
Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe says there is no intention to make a takeover bid for Virgin Blue, something he confirmed to the Australian airline’s chief executive, John Borghetti, in a telephone call.
Air New Zealand has obtained Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approval to purchase up to 14.99 percent of Virgin Blue; a shareholding which it believes will keep the total foreign ownership of Virgin Blue within the statutory limit of 49 percent.
Virgin Group based in the UK has a 26 percent shareholding.
“The investment in Virgin Blue is part of Air New Zealand’s strategy to develop scale and reach in this region.
“The Tasman alliance with Virgin Blue was the first step in this strategy. This investment cements the emerging relationship between our two airlines and demonstrates the confidence we have in Virgin Blue both as an entity and as a partner for Air New Zealand,†said Fyfe.
