Maccabi Haifa Owner Seeks $100 Million Sale, Tech Moguls Eyed

By רעי שני

Translated & summarized from Ice by baba

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Maccabi Haifa President Yaakov Shahar and his partners are selling 100% of the club's shares for an estimated $100 million, hiring Raine Group to manage the deal. The plan is to find a Jewish billionaire to buy 51% and a group of investors, including prominent Israeli tech entrepreneurs, for the remaining 49%. This sale signifies the end of Shahar's 35-year ownership, during which the club achieved significant success.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Maccabi Haifa is officially for sale, with current owners seeking approximately $100 million for 100% of the club's shares.
Investment bank Raine Group has been hired to manage the sale process and assemble a buyer group.
The proposed ownership structure involves a lead Jewish billionaire investor and a secondary group of investors.
Prominent Israeli tech entrepreneurs and business figures are being considered as potential buyers.
The sale marks the end of Yaakov Shahar's 35-year tenure as owner, a period of significant success for the club.
Shahar's family was involved in the decision, and the sale will prioritize stability and continuity over price.

Maccabi Haifa Owner Seeks $100 Million Sale, Tech Moguls Eyed — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Maccabi Haifa President Yaakov Shahar and his partners are officially seeking to sell 100% of the club's shares in a deal estimated at around $100 million. To facilitate the transaction, the owners have hired the international investment bank Raine Group, which specializes in global sports and technology deals.

The proposed business model involves assembling a purchasing group led by a primary investor, a Jewish billionaire who would hold 51% of the club, and a secondary group of investors holding the remaining 49%. The secondary investors are expected to include leading business figures, particularly from the "Greentech" forum, an association of senior high-tech professionals who are fans of the team, with each investing between $5 million and $10 million.

Several prominent Israeli entrepreneurs and business figures are being considered for the future ownership group. These include Tom Livne, founder of the unicorn company Verbit and head of Nasdaq-listed Iron Dome Acquisition; Ofer Ben-Nun, a serial cyber entrepreneur behind successful exits like Argus and Talon; Ziv Paz, co-founder of fintech company Melio; Tamar Bar-Ilan, CTO and co-founder of cybersecurity firm Cyera; Shimon Elkabetz, CEO and co-founder of weather intelligence company Tomorrow.io; Tal Slobodkin, managing partner at StageOne Ventures; Ami Sirkis, co-founder of sports app 365Scores; Guy Nitzan, CEO of sports content platform Recapp; David Fattal, founder of Fattal Holdings; and Uri Angel, a businessman and former CEO of Ofer Shipping.

The potential sale marks the end of a significant era for Israeli sports, with Shahar, 84, having been involved with the club since the 1980s and holding full management control since 1992. Under his 35-year tenure, Maccabi Haifa transformed into a sporting and business powerhouse, achieving numerous titles, including historic championships and cups, and reaching the Champions League group stage twice. Shahar's leadership also saw the development of advanced training facilities and a strong organizational culture.

Sources close to Shahar emphasize that the decision to sell was made thoughtfully with his family. The transfer of ownership will prioritize stability, continuity, and the preservation of the club's top-tier status in Israeli football, rather than solely focusing on the highest bid.