Key Takeaways
- • Vista Equity Partners is preparing to sell sports data and intelligence firm Stats Perform, with investment bank Evercore retained to oversee the process, signaling potential multi-billion dollar valuation in the sports data sector.
- • Stats Perform was formed through the 2019 merger of STATS LLC and Perform Group, combining 30 years of Opta Sports Data (acquired by Perform for £40 million in 2013) with advanced AI capabilities under CEO Carl Mergele.
- • The company recently acquired Phenix Real Time Solutions' ultra-low-latency technology assets for approximately $7 million, strengthening its competitive position in real-time sports streaming and data delivery.
- • A sale would represent the latest ownership transition in a consolidating sports data market, following London-based Genius Sports' New York listing and reflecting growing institutional investor appetite for sports intelligence platforms.
- • Stats Perform operates across multiple verticals including broadcasters, sportsbooks, leagues, teams, and media platforms, positioning it as a comprehensive sports content and AI infrastructure provider.
Summary
Vista Equity Partners, the private equity firm that owns sports data company Stats Perform, is exploring a strategic sale of the asset, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Vista has engaged investment bank Evercore to manage the sales process, suggesting the firm is actively seeking buyers for the platform. While specific valuation targets have not been disclosed, the initiative underscores significant institutional interest in high-quality sports data and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Stats Perform represents a consolidated platform formed in 2019 through the merger of STATS LLC and Perform Group, creating a vertically integrated sports technology company. The combined entity operates under CEO Carl Mergele, who previously led STATS LLC. The company's data infrastructure is anchored by Opta Sports Data, which Perform acquired for £40 million in 2013 and which has accumulated three decades of sports analytics, particularly in football. This historical dataset forms the foundation for Stats Perform's proprietary AI and insights capabilities.
The company has continued to enhance its competitive position through selective acquisitions. Most recently, Stats Perform acquired the assets of Phenix Real Time Solutions—a specialized ultra-low-latency technology platform—for approximately $7 million. This acquisition strengthens Stats Perform's capability to deliver real-time data and streaming solutions to broadcasters and sportsbooks, addressing the critical latency requirements of modern sports media and gambling operations.
Stats Perform's business model spans multiple customer segments, including broadcasters and streamers, sportsbooks and betting operators, teams and leagues, media and content creators, and brand partners. The platform supplies live betting data, editorial content, performance analytics, and fan engagement tools. This diversified customer base and recurring revenue model have positioned the company as an attractive acquisition target.
The potential sale of Stats Perform reflects a broader consolidation trend within the sports data sector. Competitor Genius Sports, a London-based sports intelligence platform, has already executed a public market exit via New York listing. A successful sale of Stats Perform would represent additional validation of the multi-billion-dollar valuation potential for premium sports data assets, particularly those combining historical data, real-time infrastructure, and proprietary AI capabilities.
Stats Perform represents a consolidated platform formed in 2019 through the merger of STATS LLC and Perform Group, creating a vertically integrated sports technology company. The combined entity operates under CEO Carl Mergele, who previously led STATS LLC. The company's data infrastructure is anchored by Opta Sports Data, which Perform acquired for £40 million in 2013 and which has accumulated three decades of sports analytics, particularly in football. This historical dataset forms the foundation for Stats Perform's proprietary AI and insights capabilities.
The company has continued to enhance its competitive position through selective acquisitions. Most recently, Stats Perform acquired the assets of Phenix Real Time Solutions—a specialized ultra-low-latency technology platform—for approximately $7 million. This acquisition strengthens Stats Perform's capability to deliver real-time data and streaming solutions to broadcasters and sportsbooks, addressing the critical latency requirements of modern sports media and gambling operations.
Stats Perform's business model spans multiple customer segments, including broadcasters and streamers, sportsbooks and betting operators, teams and leagues, media and content creators, and brand partners. The platform supplies live betting data, editorial content, performance analytics, and fan engagement tools. This diversified customer base and recurring revenue model have positioned the company as an attractive acquisition target.
The potential sale of Stats Perform reflects a broader consolidation trend within the sports data sector. Competitor Genius Sports, a London-based sports intelligence platform, has already executed a public market exit via New York listing. A successful sale of Stats Perform would represent additional validation of the multi-billion-dollar valuation potential for premium sports data assets, particularly those combining historical data, real-time infrastructure, and proprietary AI capabilities.
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