EasyJet has agreed in principle to be acquired by US investment firm Castlelake in a transaction valued at approximately £5 billion.
The agreement, confirmed by Dutch outlet Nu.nl and corroborated by earlier reports from the Guardian, sees the UK’s biggest low-cost carrier taken private.
Castlelake’s fifth offer stands at £6.90 per share, a significant premium that finally persuaded the board to accept the terms after previous attempts to secure the airline failed.
The deal represents a major shift in the European aviation landscape, removing one of the sector’s most prominent publicly traded names from the market.
For investors, the acceptance of the bid caps a volatile period of speculation and multiple rejected offers, providing clarity on the valuation of the carrier’s assets and route network.
The transaction is expected to conclude later this year, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.