Easyjet's private equity suitors have until Friday to make a formal takeover bid for the firm, after the airline extended Castlelake's deadline to match rival bidder Apollo. The airline today reiterated its recommendation to shareholders to accept the Apollo deal, which values the firm at £7.15 per share. However, Castlelake now has until Friday to submit an improved bid, as Easyjet extended the 'put up or shut up' deadline from 5pm today. Last month, the airline said it had agreed to a £5.5billion takeover by Castlelake after rejecting four of its previous bids, branding them 'highly opportunistic'. A takeover would mark another blow to the London stock market, which has seen a frenzy of takeover activity from foreign buyers.