{
  "id": 2099157,
  "title": "EQT takes majority stake in Melbourne Storm",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/eqt-takes-majority-stake-in-melbourne-storm",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-20T08:20:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Private Equity Wire",
    "slug": "private-equity-wire",
    "url": "https://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/eqt-takes-majority-stake-in-melbourne-storm/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Swedish private equity firm EQT has acquired a majority stake in Australian rugby league club Melbourne Storm, according to the Financial Times. The investment values the NRL club at approximately AUD150m ($106m). This marks EQT's first direct investment in a professional sports team. The transaction expands EQT's sports-related portfolio, which includes its $1.25bn acquisition of IMG Academy in 2023. The investment also comes at a time when Australian sport is benefiting from a surge in media rights values, with the NRL recently securing a record AUD5.3bn, seven-year broadcast package. Melbourne Storm, founded in 1998, is the only NRL club based in Victoria and has become one of the strongest clubs in rugby league.",
  "summary": "Swedish private equity firm EQT has acquired a majority interest in Australian rugby league club Melbourne Storm, marking its first direct investment in a professional sports team according to a report by the Financial Times.",
  "key_points": [
    "EQT acquires majority stake in Melbourne Storm for AUD150m.",
    "First direct sports investment by EQT.",
    "NRL club benefits from record media rights deal."
  ],
  "editors_take": "EQT's majority stake in Melbourne Storm signals a deeper push into professional sports investments, riding a wave of surging media rights values in Australia, particularly in rugby league.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}