Not a rumor, Singapore is looking to sell their 49% share -
http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...r-new-ceo-may-shed-virgin-atlantic-stake.html
One rumor is Delta may buy the 49% stake and bring Virgin Atlantic into Sky Team.
Branson is on record as saying if Virgin Atlantic cannot join an alliance than it cannot survive. He is also on record as saying if he cannot control Virgin Atlantic, he will no longer be involved in it. If that is the case, it may cease to be named Virgin. If Singapore sells its stake in VA, then the restrictions on the Virgin name would also go away and airlines like V-Australia could be re-branded as Virgin, and
potentially (as in it is theoretically possible, not necessarily planned or even talked about) Virgin America could begin trans-Pacific flying as well.