The Financial Times reported on 27 June that top EasyJet shareholders were holding out for a minimum valuation of about GBP 5.3bn, or GBP 7 a share, from Castlelake. The Guardian reported two days earlier that EasyJet had opened talks with Castlelake after rejecting a fourth takeover offer worth about GBP 4.9bn, or 650p a share.
That gap is the story. A bidder can argue that the market price and execution risk justify discipline. Shareholders can argue that control of a listed airline, with aircraft assets, airport positions and recovery upside, should not be bought at a price that feels opportunistic.
Table: Reported EasyJet-Castlelake valuation gap
| Step | Reported value | Per-share figure | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlelake revised offer | About GBP 4.9bn | 650p | Rejected by EasyJet, according to the Guardian |
| Minimum sought by top shareholders | About GBP 5.3bn | GBP 7 | Reported by the Financial Times |
Source: Financial Times and Guardian reporting, June 2026.
The Wall Street Journal reported that EasyJet agreed to provide limited commercial data after the board said Castlelake's revised offer still undervalued the company. That is a careful middle step. It gives Castlelake enough access to decide whether to raise its price, without signalling that the board accepts the current terms or that a firm offer is inevitable.
EasyJet's own investor-relations site frames the situation as a possible offer, which is the legally important phrase. The company is not announcing a completed deal. It is managing a process in which disclosure, deadlines and board judgement matter as much as headline valuation.