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Castlelake walks away from easyJet pursuit - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
Finance

Castlelake walks away from easyJet pursuit

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 6, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: August 6, 2026

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Castlelake walks away from easyJet pursuit amid bidding war

Castlelake ends takeover attempt of easyJet

(Corrects paragraph 4 to say shares were down, not up, 4.8%)

Background of the takeover attempt

Aug 6 (Reuters) - Castlelake said on Thursday it was no longer pursuing a takeover of easyJet, ending its months-long buyout attempt of one of Europe's biggest budget airlines weeks after a higher bid from rival suitor Apollo Global.    

Castlelake's role and statement

The Minneapolis-based firm, which is a major aviation investor, did not specify why it bowed out of the race, but said it was "very appreciative of the constructive engagement with the easyJet Board and management team."

Details of the proposals and valuation

Castlelake's decision ends a pursuit that saw the investment firm make five proposals for easyJet, including a £6.90 per share bid made public on July 5 that valued the airline at £5.5 billion ($7.41 billion).

Market reaction

EasyJet shares were down 4.8%.

Exchange rate information

($1 = 0.7424 pounds)

Reporting credits

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia and Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Jonathan Ananda)

Key Takeaways

  • Castlelake had made multiple escalating offers—£6.25, then £6.50, and finally £6.90 per share—but was consistently seen as undervaluing easyJet by its board and shareholders (lse.co.uk).
  • Apollo entered the bidding with a higher £7.15 per share cash offer, which easyJet’s board agreed in principle with on July 10, 2026, making Apollo the preferred suitor over Castlelake (easyjet.com).
  • Castlelake officially walked away on August 6, 2026, marking the end of its takeover attempt amid stronger competition and shareholder alignment behind the higher bid (marketscreener.com).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Castlelake withdraw its takeover bid for easyJet?
Castlelake withdrew its takeover bid for easyJet after a higher offer from rival Apollo.
Who made a higher bid for easyJet?
Apollo made a higher bid for easyJet, prompting Castlelake to end its pursuit.
How long did Castlelake's buyout attempt of easyJet last?
Castlelake's buyout attempt of easyJet spanned several months before being withdrawn.

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