David Beckham set to net millions from DB Ventures stake sale

David Beckham is in talks to sell about half of his management business to an American branding company, leaving the former footballer in line for a substantial payout.

A deal is being discussed with Authentic Brands Group, which owns rands including Reebok and Juicy Couture, as well as the image rights for historical figures including Muhammad Ali and Marilyn Monroe.

The former England captain, 46, could receive an investment of about £200 million from the sale of a 55 per cent stake in DB Ventures.

Since he stopped playing football in 2013, Beckham has built a portfolio of commercial interests. DB Ventures receives payments from Beckham’s brand tie-ups, which include adidas, AIA, the life insurer, and Tudor, the watch brand.

The company, which is owned by Beckham and his wife Victoria, paid a dividend of £14.5 million in 2019, according to its accounts, up from £11.1 million the year before. They could be in line for tens of millions of pounds from a deal with Authentic Brands, which was first reported by The Mail on Sunday. They are already worth £380 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.

Victoria Beckham’s fashion and beauty business failed to pay a dividend in 2020. Victoria Beckham Holdings, which owns her fashion label and a majority stake in her beauty business, has made more than £30 million of losses over the past three years.

It is understood that DB Ventures has been seeking a partner in recent months for the next stage of its growth. The company previously had a long-standing partnership with XIX Entertainment, the talent management firm run by Simon Fuller, 61, who created Pop Idol. However, Beckham paid a reported $50 million in 2019 to buy out XIX’s stake in the brand company