V Sports' Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris
V Sports' Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris with Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa’s holding company, V Sports, could reacquire an almost 50 percent stake in another football club this month.
Portuguese top flight club Vitoria Guimaraes have confirmed an extraordinary general meeting will be held on October 30 to vote on a proposal to transfer a 17 percent stake in the club back to V Sports to restore their total stake to 46 percent.
V Sports, owned by Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, had reduced their stake in Vitoria Guimaraes by 17 percent in June 2023, transferring shares back to the club.
A Villa statement at the time said: "V Sports has today announced that it has reduced its stake in Vitoria Sport Clube – Futebol, SAD to 29% by transferring shares equalling 17% of the club’s total equity back to Vitoria SC.
"It also no longer has any representation on the board of directors of Vitoria Sport Clube – Futebol, SAD in order to comply with all Uefa regulations and ensure the independence of both Vitoria Sport Clube – Futebol, SAD and Aston Villa FC."
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Get more news and AVFC analysis via our Aston Villa FB page
The move by V Sports three years ago was in order to comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, with both Villa and Vitoria having qualified for the 2023/24 Europa Conference League.
Villa had qualified via the Premier League while Vitoria earned a spot in a qualifying round for the group stage.
Make sure you never miss the latest Villa news by making Birmingham Live one of your Google preferred sources.
A proposal to reverse the transfer of shares is now on the table, a statement from Vitoria has confirmed.
“At the extraordinary General Meeting of October 30, 2026, requested by the Board of Directors, the proposal for the transfer, by Vitória Sport Clube to V Sports, of shares held by the Club and representing 17% of the share capital of Vitória Sport Clube – Futebol, SAD, will be discussed and voted on, with a view to restoring the 46% stake approved by the members on March 3, 2023,” it read.
Get YOUR Aston Villa Newsletter