Key Notes
- At the court meeting, 97.07% of easyJet shares voted supported the Apollo-backed acquisition.
- The agreed cash offer is 715p per share, valuing easyJet at approximately £5.7 billion.
- Court sanction and regulatory approvals remain outstanding, with completion expected before the end of March 2027.
easyJet shareholders have approved Apollo’s proposed £5.7 billion takeover, moving one of Europe’s best-known budget airlines closer to private ownership. The November 11 votes clear an important stage in the deal, with completion still expected before the end of March 2027.
The airline’s voting results show that 97.07% of the shares voted at the court meeting supported the acquisition. At a separate general meeting, 96.67% of votes cast backed the resolution needed to implement it. The percentages measure votes cast, rather than every share in issue.
What Shareholders Approved
Apollo is pursuing the acquisition through Eagle Bidco, a company indirectly owned by funds managed by the US investment firm. The agreed cash offer is 715p per share. Eligible shareholders also have an alternative that would let them retain an interest through unlisted shares in the new ownership structure.
The vote follows the takeover agreement we covered in August, when easyJet’s board recommended Apollo’s offer and rival bidder Castlelake withdrew. This week’s development is shareholder approval of that transaction, bringing the deal closer to its next legal and regulatory stages.
The Deal Still Has Conditions to Meet
The acquisition requires sanction by the High Court as well as outstanding regulatory approvals. If completed, it would end easyJet’s 26 years as a publicly listed company, with its shares removed from the London Stock Exchange. Travel Weekly reports that the airline considers two conditions of the acquisition satisfied by the shareholder votes.
European airline ownership rules remain central to the proposed structure. BTN Europe reports that Apollo’s holding would be capped at 49.9%, alongside continuing shareholders and an EU trust arrangement. Founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family plan to remain invested.
The Focus for Travelers
The immediate significance is a change in the airline’s ownership process. For passengers planning European holidays, the longer-term question is how the new investor supports the carrier’s fleet, onboard product and package-holiday business.
Apollo has indicated support for easyJet’s existing strategy, including fleet modernisation, ancillary and loyalty offerings, and further growth of easyJet holidays. It has also said it intends to retain the brand, headquarters and operating licences. Those commitments set out the buyer’s plans while the acquisition awaits completion.
The airline is already developing its passenger product. We recently covered its Starlink rollout, scheduled to begin in 2027 and run into early 2028. That programme is separate from the November takeover vote and remains a phased introduction.
For now, March 2027 is the expected completion horizon. The next milestones are the remaining approvals and the court process, which will determine when the proposed ownership change can take effect.
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