Apollo Global Management to buy easyJet in £5.7bn deal FAST-MOVING
Apollo Global Management, a U.S. private‑equity firm, has agreed to acquire British low‑cost carrier easyJet for about £5.7 billion (≈€6.7 bn, $7.7 bn). The offer of £7.15 per share represents an 81 % premium over the pre‑announcement price and a 54 % premium over the February 27 price. The transaction will take easyJet private and remove it from the London Stock Exchange after more than 25 years as a listed company.
Founder Stelios Haji‑Ioannou’s family, which holds roughly 15 % of the airline, has pledged its support and will retain its stake under the new ownership structure. Apollo will be limited to a maximum of 49.9 % of the share capital to comply with EU foreign‑ownership rules, with an EU‑trust holding up to 5 % and the remainder held by the family and other investors. Castlelake, the rival bidder, withdrew its offer earlier in the process.
The deal is subject to shareholder approval, court sanction and regulatory clearances in the United Kingdom, the European Union and several other jurisdictions (Austria, Egypt, Germany). Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027. easyJet, which operates a fleet of 356 Airbus aircraft, served about 100 million passengers in the last year and generated revenue of more than £10 billion, although pre‑tax profit fell 70 % to £85 million in the most recent quarter.
Entities: Apollo Global Management · Castlelake · EasyJet plc · London Stock Exchange · Stelios Haji‑Ioannou
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] easyJet's pre‑tax profit fell 70 % to £85 million in the most recent quarter, its fleet numbers 356 Airbus aircraft, revenue exceeded £10 billion and it carried about 100 million passengers in the 202 (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Completion of the deal is conditional on shareholder approval, court sanction and regulatory clearances in the UK, EU, Austria, Egypt and Germany, and is expected by the first quarter of 2027. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The offer price is £7.15 per share, an 81 % premium over the pre‑announcement price and a 54 % premium over the February 27 price. (all articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apollo will be limited to a maximum of 49.9 % ownership under EU foreign‑ownership rules, with an EU‑trust holding up to 5 % and the remainder held by the family and other investors. (all articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Castlelake withdrew its bid and will not submit a formal offer for easyJet. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The transaction will take easyJet private and result in its delisting from the London Stock Exchange. (all articles)
- [● 11 SOURCES] Apollo Global Management agreed to acquire easyJet for approximately £5.7 billion (≈€6.7 bn, $7.7 bn). (all articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Haji‑Ioannou family, holding about 15.3 % of easyJet shares, will retain its stake and has pledged support for the transaction. (all articles)