18 january 2002 (from flight international latest)
Virgin Atlantic Group has conditionally offered to invest €24.7 million ($21.7 million) in Sabena successor Delta Air Transport (DAT).
A Virgin spokesman says: "Sir Richard Branson has committed to invest in the holding group of DAT [Airholding]." He confirms that Branson has been directly involved in discussions with the group of investors led by Maurice Lippen and Etienne Davignon as well as merger talks between DAT and Virgin Express.
The spokesman says: "He has been personally involved in the process. He has been over to Brussels a number of times. [Merger] talks are being led by the two principals at Virgin Express - David Hoare and Neil Burrows, executive chairman and CEO, but Richard is clearly involved."
He stresses that Virgin Atlantic is "just one of several potential investors" and that the investment depends on a number of factors but declines to give details.
DAT management stated earlier this week that the airline was investigating the possibilities for a merger with Virgin Express and that more details regarding the merger would be available at the end of January, beginning of February.