Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Faces Ownership Shift with Potential New American Investor

Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club is approaching a significant change in its ownership structure as the Recanati family, which currently holds 58 percent of the team, announced plans to sell half of its shares. The 29 percent stake up for sale was previously owned by the Federman family through their company Fadenco Sport but transferred to the Recanati family after they exercised their right of first refusal to prevent dilution and brought in Eric Stillman, founder of fintech company Rapid, as a new owner.

The prospective buyer of the 29 percent stake is Jewish-American businessman Jason Levin, a 52-year-old sports executive and investor with a background as former CEO of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. Levin has extensive experience in sports management and player representation, specializing in basketball and soccer teams. If no other shareholders exercise their right of first refusal within 30 days, Levin will become one of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s owners.

Other current shareholders include Shimon Mizrahi with 14.5 percent, Richard Deitsch with 17.5 percent, and Ben Ashkenazi holding 10 percent. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv is reportedly close to signing veteran German center Daniel Theis, 34, who stands 2.06 meters tall, potentially strengthening the team’s frontline.

This ownership transition marks a notable development for the club, potentially bringing new investment and management perspectives from the American sports market. The next steps depend on the other shareholders’ decisions regarding the right of first refusal and the formalization of Levin’s entry as a co-owner.