Key Takeaways
- • City advisers are set to share approximately £334.5m in fees from the sale of easyJet to Apollo Global Management in a £5.7bn deal, according to takeover documents reported by This is Money.
- • Apollo will pay £190.6m for financing arrangements and £22.5m to brokers and advisers, with lawyers set for £39.2m, PR teams £3m and tax advisers £25.1m.
- • On easyJet's side, bankers will receive £32m, lawyers £17.9m and PR advisers £2.3m, with other professional services and expenses costing £2m.
- • The transaction will take easyJet off the London stock market, subject to shareholder approval on November 9.
- • Founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's family, which owns 15.3% of easyJet, has backed the sale, while pilots' union Balpa has raised concerns over job security after Apollo's commitment to protect jobs for only one year.
Summary
City advisers are set to earn a fees bonanza of £334.5m from the proposed £5.7bn sale of easyJet to US private equity firm Apollo Global Management, according to takeover documents reported by This is Money on 15 October 2026. The budget airline would leave the London stock market if the deal is approved by investors at a vote scheduled for November 9. If completed, easyJet would be the latest major British company to move into US ownership.
The breakdown of fees shows Apollo bearing the largest share. The buyer will pay £190.6m for financing arrangements, £22.5m to brokers and advisers, £39.2m to lawyers, £3m to PR teams and £25.1m to tax advisers. On the easyJet side, bankers are due £32m, lawyers £17.9m and PR advisers £2.3m. Other professional services and expenses are expected to cost £2m.
The sale has been backed by airline founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, whose family owns 15.3% of the company. Labour-side concerns were also raised in the 320-page court document. The British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa), which represents around 4,000 easyJet pilots, said staff require greater clarity on workforce plans, pensions, operational strategy and productivity initiatives. Pilots have warned that their jobs are guaranteed only for a year after the takeover. Separate coverage notes that Apollo has promised not to cut jobs for at least a year.
The breakdown of fees shows Apollo bearing the largest share. The buyer will pay £190.6m for financing arrangements, £22.5m to brokers and advisers, £39.2m to lawyers, £3m to PR teams and £25.1m to tax advisers. On the easyJet side, bankers are due £32m, lawyers £17.9m and PR advisers £2.3m. Other professional services and expenses are expected to cost £2m.
The sale has been backed by airline founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, whose family owns 15.3% of the company. Labour-side concerns were also raised in the 320-page court document. The British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa), which represents around 4,000 easyJet pilots, said staff require greater clarity on workforce plans, pensions, operational strategy and productivity initiatives. Pilots have warned that their jobs are guaranteed only for a year after the takeover. Separate coverage notes that Apollo has promised not to cut jobs for at least a year.
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