Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo of a nervous Aer Lingus shareholder. nervous via Shutterstock
Fall

Aer Lingus shareholders are nervous IAG's takeover bid has failed

The airline’s stocks took a hit today following a Bloomberg report.

REPORTS THAT THE Government is close to rejecting IAG’s takeover offer for Aer Lingus has spooked shareholders.

Quoting a ‘person familiar with the situation’, Bloomberg reported that a final decision has yet to be made, but IAG’s bid to takeover the airline looks to have fallen through.

The unconfirmed reports prompted Aer Lingus stock to fall by almost 10%.

After hovering around €2.22 per share for most of today, the stock tumbled to €2.00 over ten minutes just after 3pm Irish time today.

It has recovered slightly to €2.11.

Negotiations between the Department of Transport and IAG are set to continue this week.

RTÉ News reports that a senior Labour source said the Bloomberg report was ‘premature’.

PastedImage-68915 Bloomberg Bloomberg

IAG has made a provisional offer to buy Aer Lingus for €2.55 a share – valuing the Irish airline at about €1.35 billion.

The government owns a 25% stake in the carrier and any sale of its share needs to be passed through the Dáil, where the deal has run into opposition from most of the main political parties.

In response to the political roadblocks, IAG yesterday offered several commitments, including that it wouldn’t sell Aer Lingus’s 23 valuable Heathrow slots without the government’s agreement.

Read: IAG’s promises on Aer Lingus regional routes are ‘entirely unacceptable’ >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
46
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.