A-League side Melbourne Victory is the "second-most valuable privately held sports club in Australia" after a recent share transaction valued it at A$40M ($28.5M), according to John Stensholt of THE AUSTRALIAN. The deal puts Victory behind only ASX-listed National Rugby League side Brisbane Broncos, which has market capitalization of about A$47M ($33.5M) and is 67% owned by News Corp, and "ahead of all other privately owned NRL clubs, National Basketball League sides and the other nine A-League clubs." Victory's new valuation comes as the owners of NRL runner-up Melbourne Storm prepare to "potentially sell some" of their shares to club fans and members "in what may value" the Storm at more than A$30M ($21.4M). Victory Chair Anthony Di Pietro revealed that the "owners of one of the club's big sponsors," poultry company La Ionica Founder Sam Cuteri and his wife, Maria, "recently invested in a new parcel of shares in the club as part of a capital raising." Di Pietro said, "The Cuteri family have been strong supporters of Melbourne Victory since day one and this investment both strengthens our connection and strengthens our club" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/10).
