Virgin Australia says IPO planning advanced, finalising capital return

Planning for Virgin Australia's upcoming initial public offering (IPO) is "well advanced", Chairman Ryan Cotton said on Wednesday in an internal email that also outlined bonus payments to the airline's shareholders and staff after a return to profit. Cotton said Australia's second-biggest airline was days away from finalising a capital return. Investors led by US private equity firm Bain Capital will share a A$730m ($495.16m) payment, according to a source who was not authorised to speak publicly. It will be structured as a capital reduction rather than a dividend, with Bain Capital taking around 90% followed by Richard Branson's Virgin Group with 5% and the rest going to the remaining shareholders, the source added. A Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed the contents of the internal email. A Bain Capital spokesperson declined to comment. The airline had sought up to A$450m of loans for the capital return, Reuters reported in March. The rewards to staff and shareholders come as Virgin Australia, the key domestic rival to Qantas, prepares for what is likely to be one of the country's biggest listings this year. "I can also confirm the IPO planning is well advanced," Cotton said in the email to staff seen by Reuters. "While there is still no date set and our ultimate window of opportunity will depend on market conditions, we are hopeful this process will progress over the coming quarters," he added. Virgin Australia CE Jayne Hrdlicka said on Monday that she would take several weeks of leave to spend time with family after the death of her husband from cancer.<br/>