Maccabi Haifa Owners Seek $100 Million Sale Amidst Idan Ofer Interest
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Maccabi Haifa's owners are officially seeking to sell the club for an estimated $100 million, hiring Raine Group to manage the deal. Businessman Idan Ofer was reportedly interested but later denied plans to purchase the team. The sale would conclude Yaakov Shahar's 35-year tenure, during which the club achieved significant success.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Haifa owners are seeking to sell 100% of the club for approximately $100 million.
- Investment bank Raine Group has been hired to manage the potential sale of the football club.
- Idan Ofer, Israel's second-richest person, was considered a potential buyer but denied interest.
- David Fattal has decided against purchasing the club, while Udi Angel's decision is pending.
- Yaakov Shahar has owned or managed the club for approximately 35 years.
The current owners of Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa, led by President Yaakov Shahar and the heirs of Yisrael Kaz, are officially seeking to sell 100% of the club's shares in a deal estimated at approximately $100 million. To facilitate the transaction, they have hired the international investment bank Raine Group, which specializes in global sports and technology deals.
The proposed business model involves assembling a group of buyers, with a primary investor, a Jewish billionaire, expected to hold a 51% stake. A secondary group of investors, holding the remaining 49%, is anticipated to come from leading business figures, particularly from the "Greentech" forum, an association of senior high-tech executives who are fans of the club. Each of these secondary investors is expected to contribute between $5 million and $10 million.
Recently, Idan Ofer, identified as the second-richest person in Israel by Forbes magazine, has emerged as a potential buyer. Journalist Golan Hazani reported that Ofer did not rule out the possibility of purchasing Maccabi Haifa from Shahar, noting Ofer's successful investment in Atlético Madrid, where his stake's value reportedly doubled. However, Ofer later stated he is "not interested in buying Maccabi Haifa" and confirmed receiving an offer but deciding against it for now.
Other potential buyers have also been considered. Businessman David Fattal has decided against acquiring the club, and Udi Angel is also likely to pass on the opportunity, though his decision is not yet final. If the sale proceeds, it will mark the end of a significant era for the club, with Yaakov Shahar having been involved since the 1980s and holding full management rights since 1992, a period of about 35 years. Under his ownership, Maccabi Haifa transformed into a major sporting and business entity, achieving numerous titles, including historic league championships and two unprecedented qualifications for the Champions League group stage, alongside developing advanced training facilities and a strong organizational culture.
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