EasyJet agrees to be bought by US private equity firm Apollo Global Management in a £5.7bn deal after a competing bid ends. Multiple outlets report that EasyJet formally accepts Apollo’s firm offer following Castlelake’s decision to stop pursuing its own attempted acquisition. The agreement follows months of uncertainty over who would acquire one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines, with two US private capital groups actively vying for the company. EasyJet’s announcement indicates that the process moves forward with Apollo after Castlelake exits the race. The reported price and transaction value are consistent across coverage: £5.7bn for the Apollo takeover. With the rival bidder no longer in play, EasyJet’s shareholders and regulators now face the next steps required to complete the transaction, including the standard approvals typically associated with a change of control in a public company. The news coverage frames the announcement as ending the prolonged competition for EasyJet and clarifying the identity of the preferred buyer.