EasyJet agrees to £5.7bn take over deal, Hays FY earnings seen at top end of consensus

EasyJet agrees to £5.7bn take over deal, Hays FY earnings seen at top end of consensus reflects multiple UK-listed developments ahead of the close of trading on Friday. The FTSE 100 was expected to open 22.8 points higher after ending the previous session down 0.16% at 10,472.45. EasyJet said it agreed to a £5.7bn takeover by private equity firm Apollo, which takes Castlelake out of the running. EasyJet had previously been ready to accept a sweetened £5.5bn offer from Castlelake at 690p per share, but agreed in principle to Apollo’s cash offer at 715p per share. Recruiter Hays expected full-year earnings at the top end of consensus, with FY26 pre-exceptional operating profits forecast to fall within the top of a £37m to £46m range. Elsewhere, Johnson Service Group maintained its FY26 progress outlook despite a first-half drop in HORECA revenues, reporting six-month revenues broadly unchanged at £258m. The newspaper roundup also referenced a proposed City “skills compact” and related UK political and market updates.