Apollo Buys EasyJet for £5.7B in Private Equity Takeover
Apollo buys EasyJet in a £5.7bn deal at £7.15 per share, with ownership capped at 49.9% under EU rules; closing is targeted for March 2027.
Atlas Newsdesk ·
EasyJet has accepted a takeover proposal from Apollo Global Management in a transaction valued at £5.7 billion, pricing the airline at £7.15 per share. The company said its board and executive leadership support the agreement, describing it as delivering immediate value to shareholders.
The offer became the leading bid after Castlelake withdrew its competing proposal. Castlelake declined to take part in a bidding contest ahead of a regulatory deadline, leaving Apollo’s offer as the agreed path forward.
Ownership structure designed to meet EU airline rules
Apollo Global Management The deal has been set up to keep EasyJet compliant with European Union restrictions on foreign ownership of airlines. Under the proposed structure, Apollo’s stake would be limited to 49.9%. Officials involved in the transaction said an EU-based trust will hold a 5% stake. EasyJet’s founder and his family are expected to retain their existing shareholding under the agreed framework. Timeline, leadership backing, and operational commitments Completion of the acquisition is projected for the end of March 2027. Until closing, the airline is expected to operate under its existing governance and management arrangements, with the current board and executive team endorsing the deal.
As part of its rationale for supporting the As part of its rationale for supporting the transaction, EasyJet pointed to Apollo’s stated commitment to keep the company’s UK and EU head office operations in place. The airline also said it plans to continue its current strategic growth plan under the new ownership model.
Implications for shareholders and regulatory oversight
The agreed valuation and the long timetable place focus on two parallel tracks: shareholder approval and regulatory compliance. The ownership cap and the role of an EU-based trust reflect how airline control rules can shape private equity deal design.
A key unknown is the full set of conditions that may be attached through the approval process ahead of the targeted end-of-March 2027 completion date. EasyJet has not provided additional detail in the announcement beyond the ownership limits, governance support, and operational assurances described for the deal.