Firm led by America’s richest Black man set to reap billions from Stats Perform sale

In a strategic move that could fetch billions of dollars, Vista Equity Partners, the global technology investment firm led by America’s richest Black billionaire Robert F. Smith, is gearing up to sell Stats Perform, a prominent sports intelligence and data specialist.

Stats Perform, led by Carl Mergele, is renowned for providing cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions and data services to a wide spectrum of clients, including betting platforms, technology companies, and prestigious sports leagues such as the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.

The impending deal, which comes hot on the heels of Vista’s impressive $4.6-billion windfall from the sale of Apptio, is poised to make waves in the business world, as it follows the trail of market benchmarks set by competitors Genius Sports and Sportradar, boasting market values of $1.25 billion and $3.20 billion, respectively.

Although a formal sale process has yet to commence, Vista Equity is actively engaged in discussions with strategic advisers to explore options for the transaction. This move aligns with its commitment to fostering innovation in sports data utilization and dissemination, a mission it embarked on following its acquisition of Stats in 2014.

Since that acquisition, Stats has undergone substantial expansion, including a pivotal merger with Perform, formerly a part of the DAZN Group. The strategic move gave birth to Stats Perform, and solidified the firm’s status as a pioneering force in the realm of sports data innovation.

Vista Equity Partners has been on an impressive spree within the technology sector, tallying up an astonishing 18 monetization events since Nov. 30, 2021. These events encompass diverse strategies, such as full and partial exits, recapitalization, block sales, and follow-on offerings, collectively generating a staggering value of $18 billion.

Under Robert F. Smith, who ranks as America’s richest Black Billionaire, Vista Equity has realized remarkable gains, totaling a substantial $14.3 billion through monetization activities since 2021. Notably, an unrealized value of $3.7 billion remains untapped, underscoring the firm’s growth potential.

This latest move follows Vista Equity’s recent sale of software company Apptio to IBM for a substantial $4.6 billion. IBM’s significant investment in Apptio has further solidified the company’s pivotal role in the ever-evolving technology sector.

The impending sale of Stats Perform promises to be another landmark transaction for Vista Equity Partners, reaffirming its position as a formidable player in the global technology investment landscape.