Maccabi Haifa Football Club Seeks New Ownership

Maccabi Haifa, the prominent Israeli football club, is officially up for sale. Club President Yaakov Shahar confirmed on Wednesday that the team has hired the Raine Group, a major global investment bank, to manage the sale process. Shahar stated that he has received interest from various parties and is seeking a serious entity capable of advancing the club and continuing its legacy of achievements. He emphasized that the club will only transfer to owners who can lead it to further success.

The Raine Group has a significant track record in facilitating high-profile sports transactions, including the sale of Chelsea to Todd Boehly, a partial sale of Manchester United to Jim Ratcliffe, and is reportedly involved in the potential sale of Crystal Palace. The bank's commission structure, as seen in the Manchester United deal where it earned 1.9% of the transaction value, suggests it could receive approximately $2 million if Maccabi Haifa is sold for $100 million.

Businessman David Chisick, known for his past role as vice-chairman of Portsmouth and connections to Sasha Gaydamak, is also mentioned in relation to the deal, described as having ties to football and being close to agent Pini Zahavi. The Raine Group's role is to act as a matchmaker, identifying potential buyers and managing negotiations, similar to a real estate agent, while Maccabi Haifa handles the sale process and documentation.

Shahar indicated that the club is looking for a controlling owner to hold 51% of the shares, with a group of businessmen acquiring the remaining 49%. This suggests the sale process is beyond an initial exploratory phase, with inquiries already made to potential investors. The club's approach differs from a previous failed negotiation with American investors led by Adam Fried, where the pace of discussions was a point of contention. By engaging the Raine Group to manage the process, Maccabi Haifa aims to streamline negotiations and potentially create a more competitive bidding environment, a lesson learned from past experiences.

The sale process is expected to involve due diligence by both parties, which could take several months, similar to the timeline observed in the sale of Hapoel Tel Aviv. The current stage is considered early, with the finalization of the deal dependent on buyer interest and negotiations with Yaakov Shahar.