A group including a Taiwanese financier worth £7bn claims it has agreed to buy most of Daniel Levy’s stake in Tottenham Hotspur.
On Friday, a vehicle named Eight Sports Capital announced it had agreed terms on a deal that would see it take 24.99 per cent of the Spurs former chairman’s 29.88 holding in the club’s majority owners ENIC.
Daily Mail Sport understands that the group includes Wing Fai Ng and Brooklyn Earich, who both claimed to have failed in previous bids to take over the Premier League outfit. A third person has been added to the mix in the shape of Taiwanese businessman Richard Tsai.
Tottenham and representatives for the Lewis family, who own ENIC, have been contacted for comment, as have representatives for Levy. It is thought that officials at the club and within the Lewis family were scrambling to verify the claims which were made in a press release sent to media by global comms firm Sodali.
Daniel Levy became Tottenham chairman in 2001 and left his role last September
Within the release, a spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited stated: ‘We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC. We look forward to working with the club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success.’ It added: ‘The parties have agreed that no further public comment will be made regarding the commercial terms of the transaction.’
Last year Earich, a US-based ex-DJ and tech entrepreneur, was reported to have failed in a £4.5bn takeover with a 12-person group. He is now said to have joined forces with Ng, who reportedly led a bid from a Hong Kong-based consortium which was also rebuffed.
Some have voiced private scepticism over the move and have wondered why those involved would pay for a stake which does not include significant rights.
According to insiders, Earich is CEO of Eight Sports Capital, which is owned by Ng and Tsai.
Forbes estimate Tsai’s worth at $9.2bn (£7.2bn). He leads Fubon Financial Holding, a major player in Asia with interests in banking, insurance and securities, with his brother Daniel.
The pair are also investors in Taiwan Mobile and Momo, a teleshopping and ecommerce outfit.
The 24.99 per cent figure claimed could be viewed as of interest. In certain cases those who take a stake of 25 per cent or more are obligated to make an offer to take a majority share.
Dan LevyTottenham Hotspur
