Tech Entrepreneur Tom Livne Confirms Talks to Acquire Maccabi Haifa
Tech entrepreneur Tom Livne confirms he is leading an investor group in official talks to acquire Maccabi Haifa F.C. from longtime owner Yaakov Shahar, with negotiations advancing past initial stages.
Tom Livne, CEO and founder of Spark, has confirmed that he is leading an investor group in official talks to acquire Maccabi Haifa F.C. from longtime owner Yaakov Shahar. Shahar, who has controlled the Carmel club for over three decades, is looking to sell 100% of his stake.
Speaking to the press, Livne revealed that negotiations have moved past preliminary stages. He has already signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and reviewed internal financial documents. "Our purchasing group is worth about one billion shekels," Livne stated, adding that acquiring full ownership is "definitely something that could happen" and describing it as a childhood dream.
Livne, a 35-year season ticket holder, praised Shahar's immense contribution to the club, estimating his financial investment at over 100 million dollars and asserting that Shahar deserves a statue at the stadium. While Shahar is reportedly targeting a valuation of around 100 million dollars, Livne considers this figure excessive, pointing to a previous bid of 70 to 80 million dollars led by Adam Fried as a more realistic baseline.
Valuation factors include ticket sales at Sammy Ofer Stadium, broadcasting rights, player market value, merchandise, European competition revenues, and player sales abroad, such as Anan Khalaili. Livne also acknowledged that the current security situation and geopolitical tensions impact club valuations, with upcoming weeks expected to determine the fate of the historic takeover.
