Desperate times = desperate measures ..... there is always someone willing to buy ... its always a matter of price .
Branson could easily get investors on board , not the best time after a 30% drop in the mkts but it will get a lot worse over the coming year so Now is a relatively good time for VS to go to find the money it needs.
If the UK tax payer stumps up and takes a share or in fact private investors, then they will want proper accountability from the company and its management.
You think Branson wants that level of transparency ?? In which case he will have to put his Billions on the line .... just for his share in an airline .... I wonder ???
Probably not , but it could be the difference between survival or shrinking to a size that cannot operate successfully and ultimately its demise.