The rumours linking Amanda Staveley with an investment in Tottenham Hotspur simply will not go away, and now, finance expert Kieran Maguire has given some insight into how the deal could work between Staveley and Daniel Levy.
Capital gains tax hike won’t be an issue
Over the last couple of weeks, there have been surprising developments behind the scenes for Amanda Staveley that have caused some Spurs fans to question her ability to lead a takeover of the club.
Two of Staveley’s firms, most notably Apollo Belvedere, the business she was expected to use to invest in Tottenham, were shut down via Companies House.
It is said Staveley took this action as a precursor to the Labour government’s planned capital gains tax hikes, but Maguire told TBRFootball that none of this will be an issue for Staveley and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
He said: “I am sure Levy has trusts through which the sale would go through that would minimise the impact… I don’t think Staveley or Levy would see this as an issue because the majority of the shares are owned by ENIC, who would pay corporation tax as opposed to capital gains.
“As far as Levy’s personal shares are concerned, he will have vehicles through which he can plan and arrange his tax affairs to minimise any potential impact.”
What does Amanda Staveley want from Spurs?
As for how Staveley herself could make any potential deal work, given her own financial situation — Staveley herself doesn’t have the cash needed to make any significant move for Tottenham — Maguire has explained what he believes she will do and what she wants from a prospective deal.
“Amanda Staveley is an amazing networker rather than being cash-rich,” Maguire added. “She backs her belief in individual projects by taking a minority stake, but she doesn’t necessarily have the cash resources to do so.
“She will therefore manage her finances by finding support to take an equity stake with a view to getting an earn-out at the sale point.”
A win-win for all parties
If Staveley does indeed spearhead a minority takeover at Tottenham, it would almost certainly be a great situation for all involved. Staveley will be buying into a club that continues to thrive commercially and she would very likely make a big return on her investment.
Meanwhile, Daniel Levy and the Spurs board would get a fairly low-risk investor to help boost the club’s finances, while still retaining a majority share in the club. And, as long as the influx of cash is spent wisely, the fans and the team should benefit massively, too.