EasyJet shares rally 10% on potential $7.3 billion acquisition by Castlelake

Shares of British budget airline easyJet rallied around 10 percent after the company said it was prepared to accept a revised bid of 6.90 pounds per share from US-based investment firm Castlelake, valuing the potential deal at about 7.3 billion dollars. The offer represents a nearly 24 percent premium to Friday's closing price, though the take-private transaction still needs regulatory and shareholder approvals, with British takeover rules requiring formalisation by August 3, 2026. Castlelake would hold 49 percent in the bidding vehicle, with the remaining 51 percent to be held by EU nationals to comply with bloc ownership requirements.