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BA owner's Aer Lingus bid "not persuasive enough" says Irish minister

Last updated: 22:48 20 Feb 2015 AEDT, First published: 23:48 20 Feb 2015 AEDT

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Shares in British Airways owner IAG (LON:IAG) lost altitude today after an Irish government minister seemingly slapped down its latest takeover bid for Aer Lingus (LON:AERL).

IAG boss Willie Walsh has been pursuing the Dublin-based carrier for months and had a third takeover bid, valuing Aer Lingus at €1.36bn (£1bn), accepted by the airline in January.

However, Walsh, a former Aer Lingus chief executive, still has to persuade main shareholders Ryanair (LON:RYA), which owns 30%, and the Irish government, which has a 25% stake, to back the deal.

Today, though, agriculture minister Simon Coveney said IAG’s latest bid wasn’t persuasive enough.

"It is up to IAG to make an offer that is persuasive in relation to the public interest here, and as of yet we don't have an offer that is persuasive enough," he said.

Ireland’s government is likely to examine how a takeover would affect Aer Lingus workers, its 79-year-old brand and competition on routes to and from Ireland.

IAG is said to be eyeing Aer Lingus’s slots at Heathrow as the Dublin-based carrier is the third biggest airline at the airport.

The parent company of British Airways, which also owns Spain’s Iberia, has said it intends to operate Aer Lingus as a separate business with its own brand and management.

Aer Lingus is due to release its financial results for 2014 next Tuesday.

Shares in IAG fell 1.6% to 555p.

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