Billionaire Morris Wilner Becomes Significant Stakeholder in Israeli Real Estate Firm Heftsheret HaYeshuv
Morris Wilner has emerged as a new significant stakeholder in the Israeli real estate company Heftsheret HaYeshuv, controlled by Ofer Nimrodi. Wilner recently completed two major stock purchases totaling approximately 118 million shekels. The first transaction occurred about two weeks ago, when he bought shares from Phoenix for around 73 million shekels, followed by a second purchase today worth about 45 million shekels. In both deals, Wilner paid 40 shekels per share, resulting in him holding roughly 7% of the company and officially becoming an interested party. Wilner emphasized that his investment is purely financial and that he does not intend to interfere with the company’s management.
Heftsheret HaYeshuv owns and develops income-generating properties in Israel and Poland, including shopping centers, logistics assets, and urban renewal projects. The company’s current market value stands at about 1.64 billion shekels, with its stock rising approximately 17% since the start of the year. Wilner’s primary business activities are based in the United States, where he has built a substantial commercial real estate and multifamily housing portfolio. He resides in Florida and co-owns the Arco gas station company with CEO Aryeh Kotler. Wilner also holds shares in Amot and a larger stake of 5.7% in the Israeli real estate firm Gav-Yam, valued at around 460 million shekels.
Wilner acquired most of his Gav-Yam shares in July 2020 when the company was controlled by Eduardo Elsztain through the Delek Group. At that time, Delek was required to reduce its holdings in Gav-Yam due to Israeli antitrust laws. Wilner’s identity as the buyer of a 4.99% stake was initially undisclosed but later revealed. Wilner and Elsztain first met as neighbors in a luxury Jerusalem apartment building. Although Elsztain has since lost control of Delek and is no longer active in Israeli business, the two maintain contact. Recently, Wilner has considered selling his Gav-Yam shares after the company’s market value surged to about 8.1 billion shekels.
