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A&O Shearman represents the underwriters on the financing for Apollo Funds’ GBP5.7 billion offer for easyJet plc

A&O Shearman represents the underwriters on the financing for Apollo Funds’ GBP5.7 billion offer for easyJet plc
Published Date
Aug 6 2026
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Image of Nicholas Clark
Nicholas ClarkPartner, London
Image of John Kicken
John KickenPartner, London
Image of Filippo Crosara
Filippo CrosaraPartner, London
Image of Paul Nelson
Paul NelsonPartner, London
Image of Claire Coppel
Claire CoppelPartner, London
Image of Sophie Buchanan-Brown
Sophie Buchanan-BrownSenior Associate, London
Image of Odysseas Theofanis
Odysseas TheofanisSenior Associate, London
Image of Sampada Bannurmath
Sampada BannurmathSenior Associate, London
Chloe BowskillSenior Associate, London
Julia SzinovatzAssociate, London
Image of Kabir Singh Randeva
Kabir Singh RandevaAssociate, London
A&O Shearman has advised the underwriters on the committed financing supporting Apollo Funds' recommended cash offer (with equity alternative) for easyJet plc, one of Europe's leading airlines with a fast-growing holidays business. 

The deal values easyJet plc at GBP5.7bn, equivalent to GBP7.15 per share. 

“Navigating the complexities involved in a takeover of a European airline.”

Nicholas Clark, global co-head of debt finance at A&O Shearman, said: “Supporting Apollo Funds’ lenders in their financing of the bid for easyJet plc - and navigating the complexities involved in a takeover of a European airline - played to the strengths of our integrated finance, regulatory and M&A practices.”

“Significant appetite among underwriters to deliver both certainty of funding and strategic long-term financing flexibility.”

John Kicken, head of high yield at A&O Shearman, added: “This standout transaction demonstrates the significant appetite among underwriters to deliver both certainty of funding and strategic long-term financing flexibility on complex, cross-border acquisitions of this scale.”

“Our global integrated platform combined with our deep sector expertise delivers significant added value for our clients.”

Filippo Crosara, debt finance partner at A&O Shearman, said: “This deal is exactly the kind of high-profile mandate where our global integrated platform combined with our deep sector expertise delivers significant added value for our clients.”

The A&O Shearman cross-practice team was led by debt finance partners Filippo Crosara, John Kicken and Nicholas Clark, with support from senior associates Sophie Buchanan-Brown, Odysseas Theofanis and Sampada Bannurmath, associates Georgia Slade and Julia Szinovatz, and trainee Michael McLaughlin.

Partner Paul Nelson led on aviation finance aspects and partner Claire Coppel advised on Takeover Code aspects, assisted by senior associate Chloe Bowskill and associate Kabir Singh Randeva.

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