The latest name of American investors who may approach [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/us-looking-to-takeover-more-than-just-little-old-west-ham/) is believed to be Guggenheim Partners, a global investment firm with over £260 billion in assets. The firm is well known to existing West Ham shareholder Tripp Smith, who owns 8%. He was previously reported to have met with Guggenheim partners in Doha, Qatar, in January 2020 about potential investment in the Hammers.
It is rumoured that Smith is looking again to form a potential American consortium, of which Guggenheim could be part. The Gold family could sell all of their 25.1% holding now that the probate of their father has been settled, potentially giving a Smith US consortium 33.1%, making them the second largest shareholder after David Sullivan with 38.8%.
Daniel Kretinsky could probably be persuaded to sell his 27% of West Ham if someone doubles the £168.75m he invested in 2021. A bid of £338m could be enough to seal the deal.
That could potentially give the US consortium a controlling 60.1% share of West Ham to outvote the remaining shareholders.
Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter co-owns Chelsea in another US consortium, he is claimed to personally own just under 13% of the West London club with Todd Boehly, a former president of Guggenheim Partners.
Walter is best known for his extensive investments in professional sports. He is the primary owner and chairman of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers, which have won two World Series under his leadership.
Los Angeles Dodgers stadium
He is also the primary owner of auto racing organization Andretti Global, which operates the Cadillac Formula 1 team, and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Sparks. In addition, he owns 20% of the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers and 12.7% of BlueCo, a holding company that controls Premier League club Chelsea and Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg.
Premier League rules restrict ownership of more 9.9% of any one club meaning Water could be forced to sell 2.8% of Chelsea to meet that requirement.