EasyJet ready to accept a Castlelake bid, but investors remain wary

EasyJet’s takeover talks with Castlelake are moving forward, but uncertainty remains among investors as the airline’s shares react to the latest bid terms. EasyJet said its board is, in principle, willing to accept a £5.5bn offer from the US fund Castlelake and could recommend a sweetened price of £6.90 per share, up from an initial £5.60. The move could also enable the company to be taken off the London Stock Exchange. Even so, the stock was still trading well below the proposed level, suggesting markets doubt the deal will complete. The competitive context is a potential shift in ownership that would restructure EasyJet’s public-market status.