Originally Posted by
Aerlingus231
Is that what they're saying? When I read it I understood it to mean that they'd sell it to anyone who was able to get 21.1% in addition to Ryanair's 29% stake to make it 50.1% . No?
They're saying, "if you're an EU airline [b*gger off, Etihad] and you get acceptances from 50.1% of other EI shareholders,
then we'll sell you our 29.8%").
As
Shamrock350 says, this is much sound and fury, signifying nothing. Remember it doesn't come in a vacuum - the UK Competition Commission is firming up its findings, so Ryanair is in negotiation mode (just like its previous high-profile commitments for what it was going to do with Aer Lingus, made in response to EC mergers enquiries).
Yes, the UKCC was concerned about how Ryanair's shareholding might prevent a takeover of EI by an EU carrier, but it was also concerned about how it might prevent EI getting into JVs and other commercial relationships with other carriers, and Ryanair's offer today does nothing to address that.