CORRECTED-Malaysia's AirAsia Group adds TPG execs, Aimia as investors in $82 mln fundraising

Corrects headline to say TPG execs, not TPG. Corrects paragraph 1 to show TPG execs and Aimia are investors, not joining board.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Reuters) - AirAsia Group Bhd AIRA.KL has raised $82 million from TPG Capital executives, Aimia Inc and others through a private share placement, the Malaysian budget airline said on Wednesday as it looks to ensure liquidity in 2021.

The airline raised 336.46 million ringgit ($81.70 million) over two tranches by issuing 470.21 million new shares, representing 14.07% of the group's total issued shares.

The airline said investment firm TPG Capital's TPG.UL founder and chairman David Bonderman and TPG Asia Partners, including Tim Dattels, Ganen Sarbananthan and Zubin Irani, have invested in their personal capacity.

Hong Kong businessman Stanley Choi, chairman at Head & Shoulders Financial Group IPO-HDSH.HK and executive director at International Entertainment Corporation 1009.HK, also participated.

Choi has emerged as a substantial shareholder, raising his stake to nearly 9% last month, bourse filings showed. nL1N2KV0QS

Montreal-based investment firm Aimia Inc AIM.TO and other local and foreign institutional funds also invested, AirAsia said, but did not share details of the size of the investments.

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said the placement is a significant part of the group's fundraising plan.

"Of the gross total proceeds, AirAsia will allocate funds to support fuel hedging settlement, general working expenses, aircraft lease and maintenance payments and fund Airasia Digital business units, namely the Airasia super app and BigPay fintech platforms," he said.

Fernandes last month said the airline expects more clarity on its fundraising efforts, including a government-guaranteed loan by the end of March. nL1N2KS0JB

The airline had proposed in January a private placement of up to 20% of its total issued shares, which if exercised fully, was expected to raise about 454.5 million ringgit. nL4N2JW2XD

($1 = 4.1180 ringgit)

(Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

((liz.lee@thomsonreuters.com; Desk: +60323338039; Twitter: @livinglizly;))