Ryanair fights against OFT’s probe into takeover bid

Ryanair is appealing directly to the UK Supreme Court to try to stop the Office of Fair Trading from investigating the airline’s shareholding and attempted takeover of Aer Lingus six years ago.

The OFT has won a court of appeal judgment that ruled it was “in time” to investigate Ryanair’s acquisition of a minority stake. Ryanair has taken the challenge to a higher court in an attempt to halt any investigation.

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “The EU Commission prohibited Ryanair’s takeover offer for Aer Lingus in June 2007. The Commission confirmed that Ryanair could not be forced to sell its 29% minority stake, since Ryanair did not have de facto or de jure control of Aer Lingus.”