Carlyle Group, along with co-investors King Street Capital Management and Davidson Kempner Capital Management, is reportedly considering a renewed sale of Trans Maldivian Airways Pvt (TMA), the world’s largest seaplane operator, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The report cites unnamed sources familiar with the matter as revealing that the move comes as the Maldives experiences a resurgence in tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The investment group has engaged a financial adviser to explore the potential sale, with early discussions underway to gauge interest from potential buyers. Prospective bidders could include industry players and private investment funds, according to the sources.
TMA’s financial performance has improved significantly amid a revival in global travel, potentially enabling the seaplane operator to achieve a higher valuation than during its last attempted sale over two years ago. At that time, the company was estimated to be worth between $500m and $700m, though a deal never materialised.
Representatives for Carlyle, King Street, and Davidson Kempner declined to comment.
TMA operates the largest fleet of seaplanes globally, comprising 65 DHC-6 Twin Otters, which includes 13 resort-branded aircraft and two VIP-configured planes.
