Amanda Staveley’s £500m Tottenham part-takeover masterplan hits major hurdle
Amanda Staveley has shown interest in acquiring a significant stake in Tottenham Hotspur from Daniel Levy and ENIC, but recent developments in her investment empire could complicate this pursuit.
Since April, Tottenham has officially been open to minority investment, though Levy and ENIC have been quietly seeking potential buyers for much longer.
To facilitate this process, the club has enlisted Rothschild bank to help identify new partners, with the goal of bolstering their capital base.
Levy has indicated that any proceeds from a sale would be reinvested in Tottenham’s infrastructure projects, likely including the planned on-site hotel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, when football finance expert Kieran Maguire spoke to TBR Football, he suggested that Levy and ENIC might simply keep the cash from a minority sale for themselves. The exact percentage of the club for sale remains unclear, as it likely isn’t a fixed number, but it’s understood that Tottenham is valued at £3.75 billion.
A minority stake could potentially fetch at least £500 million.Staveley, having raised a reported £500 million after her departure from Newcastle United, is believed to be eyeing Spurs as her next football investment. However, recent financial news suggests her plans may not unfold as smoothly as hoped.
In October 2021, Staveley was instrumental in orchestrating the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United, with her investment company, PCP Capital Partners, playing a key role. The company also involved investment from the Reuben Brothers and Staveley’s husband, Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
Since then, PCP Capital Partners has been renamed Apollo Belvedere Services. Unfortunately, Apollo Belvedere Services now faces a winding-up petition, essentially signaling that the company is being liquidated.
This development is tied to Staveley’s loss in a legal battle with a former business associate, requiring her to cover substantial legal costs.This liquidation has significant implications for her interest in Tottenham. Bloomberg previously reported that the funds Staveley raised from Middle Eastern investors were tied to PCP Capital Partners.
If that company is now insolvent, questions arise regarding the whereabouts of the capital. One potential explanation is that the funds may have been redirected into one of Staveley and Ghodoussi’s other businesses.
Notably, Cantervale, the entity used to facilitate the Newcastle investment, has been rebranded as Redstart Leisure, signaling that it remains active and not dormant, as some had speculated.
From a broader perspective, Tottenham’s valuation and desirability as a football investment can largely be attributed to the transformative move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019.
Levy and ENIC secured loan deals with financial institutions at fixed rates, which would be nearly impossible to achieve in the current economic climate. Although this has left the club with significant debt, the structure of these agreements all but guarantees long-term profitability.
The stadium has not only boosted the club’s financial standing but also revitalized the Tottenham brand, making it highly appealing to sponsors.
Since 2019, the club’s commercial income has tripled, driven by a mix of sponsorship deals and matchday revenue. The events hosted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, such as the NFL London Games, are also contributing to the club’s financial success.
This year alone, the NFL games are projected to generate £8 million in revenue for Tottenham. These revenue streams, largely insulated from the club’s on-pitch performance, make Tottenham an attractive proposition for potential investors like Amanda Staveley.
However, the club’s high valuation, set at £3.75 billion, could be a sticking point. While Staveley may be interested, Daniel Levy’s reputation for tough negotiations could deter some potential buyers from meeting his lofty asking price.
Staveley’s current financial challenges may further complicate her pursuit of a stake in Spurs, leaving the outcome of this potential investment uncertain. Nonetheless, Tottenham’s strong commercial foundation and lucrative stadium infrastructure ensure that the club remains an appealing target for investors seeking long-term growth in football.
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