Shari Arison, the largest shareholder in Bank Hapoalim (LSE: BKHD; TASE: POLI), and considered the wealthiest woman in Israel, announced this evening that she and her husband were divorcing.
In recent days, Glazer has been seen house hunting in Savyon.
Sources close to the couple said, "Arison and Glazer have a finance agreement." Arison's wealth is estimated at some $5 billion, while Glazer, a businessman in his own right, is estimated to have a net worth of some $50 million.
Glazer is Arison's third husband. There have been persistent rumors of a breakup in the past couple of years. A spokesperson for the couple said, "They wish each other well, and seek to maintain their privacy."
Arison's name has been constantly in the headlines recently because of the Bank of Israel's demand for the replacement of Bank Hapoalim chairman Dan Dankner. So far, Arison has given Dankner full backing. She has come under criticism for the way she has conducted her affairs in relation to the bank, for example for the appointment of Iris Dror as her representative on the Hapoalim board, despite Dror's apparent lack of qualifications to be a director of a bank.
In 2005, Glazer was convicted on charges of sexual molestation and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Two years later, he lost his appeal against the sentence, and was released from prison in June 2007 after serving four months. Arison stood by Glazer throughout the period of the trial.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 6, 2009
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