AirAsia sounds out investors about taking firm private: sources

Singapore

THE founders of Asia's largest budget carrier, AirAsia, are sounding out investors to take the company private in a management-led buyout, after a critical research report knocked its shares to a seven-year low, people familiar with the matter said.

They added that AirAsia Bhd co-founder Tony Fernandes is talking to banks to secure financing for the transaction, which could be launched over the next few months.

At Tuesday's closing level of RM1.25 - exactly the price at which its shares were sold to institutional investors in an initial public offering …