MUMBAI: Kingfisher Airlines is close to taking on board a slew of leading private equity investors to fund its ambitious growth plans.

ICICI Ventures, Temasek and NewBridge are said to be among those in the race for an equity stake in the seven-month-old airline.

Vijay Mallya, the promoter of Kingfisher Airlines, is believed to be conducting the beauty parade to enlist long term investors.

“We are in talks with many private equity firms and venture capitalists, but nothing has been finalised as yet,” said Mallya.

When asked whether the three investment firms were among those he is in talks with he said, “Some are. Some aren’t.”

About $200 million is the size of the investment the airline is looking at from the equity investors, with the minimum deal size pegged at $30 million. The airline is eyeing a rapid increase in market share by bidding for Air Sahara, which has the license to fly abroad.

It is learnt that Mallya may give 26% to the private equity partners. Unlike, other airlines Kingfisher boasts of being the highest capitalised airline with about Rs 197 crore as paid-up equity capital.

The entire sum was raised through the UB group’s holding companies.