Castlelake's $6.3bn EasyJet bid rejected; Investcorp acquires Smart Managed Solutions
Castlelake's $6.3bn offer for UK budget carrier EasyJet was rejected. Investcorp agreed to acquire Smart Managed Solutions, and Oaktree-backed Aqseptence Group agreed to sell Diemme Filtration to Sandvik Group. No details on rejection rationale, deal values, or closing timelines were disclosed.
Castlelake's $6.3bn takeover proposal for EasyJet was rejected by the UK budget carrier, marking a high-profile failed attempt by private equity to consolidate European travel assets. No further detail on the bid structure, timing, or EasyJet's stated rationale for rejection was disclosed in the materials.
Separately, Investcorp agreed to acquire Smart Managed Solutions, an IT services company, though transaction value, deal structure, and closing timeline were not specified. The acquisition represents continued private equity deployment into software and managed services despite elevated valuations across the sector.
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