Who is Amanda Staveley? The businesswoman spearheading Saudi deal

Amanda Staveley has emerged as a key player in the latest round of Newcastle United takeover talks – but who is the businesswoman?

Here’s everything you need to know about the individual spearheading the £300million bid alongside Saudi Arabian backers: fromRiponinNorthYorkshire, and has quickly gained a reputation as a deal broker and financier both in the UK and in the Middle East.

Indeed, she has previously been described as ‘Britian’s mostglamorousfinancier’having begun her business career aged just 18.

Staveley turned down a chance to study at Cambridge Universityandinsteadopened a restaurant – Stocks, near

Newmarket – with a £180,000 loan. It’s from here that she is believedtohavedevelopedher connections with the Middle East.

According to 2017 estimates,Staveleyherselfisworth around £115million. It's worth noting, though, that she will not be putting forward a great dealfinancetowardsthistakeoverdealherself–withfinance fromtheReubenBrothersand the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund providing the club with plenty of firepower.

Staveley’s business interests are diverse.

AftersellingStocksin2000, she opened conferencing centre Q.Ton in Cambridge – before selling a 49 per cent share of the business for £2million.

Thatventureultimatelycollapsed, and Staveley headed to Dubai and founded PCP Capital Partners. From there, she made her money by brokering anumberofhigh-profiledeals.

Yes. PCP Capital Partners were key players in the 2008 takeover of Manchester City – in a deal which reportedly earned Staveley around £10million in commision.

At the same time, Staveley wasalsotryingtobrokeraMiddle East takeover of Liverpool, butthatdealultimatelyfellflat.

Staveley and her PCP CapitalPartnersfirmaresettotake a 10 per cent stake in the club – with the businesswoman expected to lead on running the club on a day-to-day basis.