Melbourne Storm could be about to go international with bosses exploring a huge $160 million investment in the NRL side.
The Storm currently have five owners, Matt Tripp who owns a 33 percent stake, alongside Bart Campbell, Tom Carroll, Gerry Ryan and Brett Ralph.
And now it appears they are at the sharp end of a negotiation process that could deliver a huge windfall.
Among the prospective investors is a Hong Kong hedge-fund firm, who have expressed interest to capitalise on the NRL’s huge $5.3 billion TV rights deal.
Another consortium is believed to be interested in purchasing a majority stake of around 80 percent in the club.
Should any sale go through, it could see the Storm’s value skyrocket to over $200 million, putting them alongside the Broncos and Collingwood as one of the most powerful teams in Australian sport.
Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp has confirmed there is interest from a number of parties in purchasing the club
Any deal to sell the club could reach up around $160 million
If a sale was to go through it would take the Storm’s value rise to over $200 million making them the most lucrative side in the NRL
Tripp, who is the Storm’s chairman, confirmed the interest to the Daily Telegraph, but stressed he is determined to remain as chairman even if there is a change to Melbourne’s shareholding.
‘We are in negotiations with a number of parties in acquiring a stake in the Storm,’ he told the publication.
‘There is no world in which we would sell out of the Storm completely.
‘We have maintained for some time we have been looking for the right strategic partner to help us drive the club forward.
‘There are several parties left we’re speaking to. They are all really well credentialled and would all add enormous value. We will either choose to partner with one of them or we will continue on with our current shareholder structure.
‘Nothing will change within the club. No one wants to exit from the existing shareholding group.ย
‘A few years ago we took on three new investors and this time we are looking at taking on one more.
‘We don’t know who that will be and we don’t know how big the stake will be.’
It is believed that if, or in fact, when a sale does go through it will take up to four months to finalise.
And amid all that suggested upheaval, Tripp would be a figurehead of consistency maintaining his position for five years.ย
‘One thing I want to make clear is I’m committed to the Storm and my role as chair,’ he said.
‘With the new TV rights deal, there is a view the NRL clubs should get stronger, so there is a bit for us to think about. But it is great there’s interest and it’s great they are keen on our game and Australian sport more broadly.
‘We’re now in a bomb-proof competition compared to others around the world off the back of the brilliant broadcast deal done by Peter (V’landys) and Andrew (Abdo).
‘By the end of this week, we hope to have a clearer view on which direction we’ll go in.’
Further complicating matters is the Storm’s licensing agreement that requires any sale would require written consent from the ARL commission.
The clause in their agreement though, states approval cannot be unreasonably withheld.
Melbourne’s NRL side now seem poised to send shockwaves through the league with a massive deal.
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