Virgin Atlantic said to be in talks for $540m fundraising

Virgin Atlantic Airwaysis in discussions with its shareholders about a GBP400m ($540m) capital injection, according to a person familiar with the matter. Added funding would bolster Virgin Atlantic’s balance sheet as it looks to cash-in on pent-up demand for air travel as restrictions lift, said the person, who requested not being identified because the information isn’t public.. It would also provide a buffer should new outbreaks of Covid-19 prompt further lockdowns. Sky News first reported the potential capital increase earlier on Saturday. A spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on speculation. Virgin Atlantic, controlled by founder Richard Branson, was weighing a London listing earlier in the year, but the company has since slowed plans for an initial public offering, opting to rebuild its business before making the case to investors in 2022, Bloomberg News has reported. <br/>