Stelios makes series of demands to EasyJet board as fight rolls on
SIR STELIOS Haji-Ioannou has upped the ante in his long-running battle with the board of EasyJet, the airline he founded, issuing a string of demands and claiming the firm had tried to turn his brother against him.
The colourful businessman, who still owns 38 per cent of EasyJet, demanded a doubling of the firm’s dividend, changes to the way it publishes information about its earnings and more voting rights for shareholders over commercial issues.
He said he specifically wants information about the profitability of individual routes and a shareholder vote orders of new aircraft.
Stelios also said Sir Mike Rake had tried to pit his brother and fellow shareholder Polys Haji Ioannou against him in order to lessen his influence over the company.
In September Stelios told the airline he is planning to launch a rival airline called Fastjet, prompting EasyJet to vow to take “necessary action” if the new venture infringes on the rights of the airline and its investors.
The shock move reignited a row that appeared to have cooled after EasyJet’s management promised to pay out a special dividend of £190m to shareholders.