What is the status of the easyJet sale ?

Financial dealings regarding the sale of easyJet are entering a decisive phase as negotiations intensify between the US investment fund Castlelake—already active in the deal involving the Scandinavian airline SAS—and the shareholders of the British low-cost carrier, whose initial market valuation hovered just under €4 billion.

Deeming this initial figure paltry, the sellers rejected three successive purchase proposals before forcing Castlelake to significantly revise its offer upward to over €6 billion. This move paved the way for a clear counter-proposal from the current owners, who are now prepared to sell their stakes provided they can maximize their capital gains.

According to reports by the London-based business daily *City AM*, shareholders are now demanding a total package of around €7 billion—leaving a gap of just €600 million compared to the latest offer on the table—while major investors have told the *Financial Times* that a serious basis for discussion would start at a reference price of £7 per share. This narrow financial gap is whetting the appetite of aviation giants such as Air France-KLM and International Airlines Group (IAG), which are stepping up behind-the-scenes pressure to derail the investment fund’s bid—even though the protracted nature of such major negotiations suggests an imminent outcome and a final agreement between the parties.