Press Releases
Sportradar Announces Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and TCV as New Strategic Partners
Sportradar, the global leader in analysing and leveraging the power of sports data, announced two new strategic partners: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Silicon Valley-based growth equity firm TCV.
CPPIB, through its wholly owned subsidiary, CPP Investment Board Europe S.à r.l., and TCV will together acquire a stake in Sportradar at an enterprise value of EUR 2.1Bn (~USD 2.4Bn.) from private equity firm EQT and certain minority shareholders. Carsten Koerl, Founder and CEO, will retain his entire ownership position in Sportradar and will continue to drive its future development and growth. EQT will also reinvest a portion of its sale proceeds into Sportradar. Additional existing shareholders include Revolution Growth, Ted Leonsis, Michael Jordan, and Mark Cuban.
“CPPIB and TCV are both known for extensive global tech experience and a track record for working alongside innovative management teams to help achieve their long-term vision,” said Carsten Koerl, CEO of Sportradar. “Having two new investors with a strong North American footprint is ideal given our increasing focus and expanding operations in the U.S., as the sports industry evolves to meet the expectations of today’s sports fans. Sportradar will continue to develop best-in-class, integrity and technology- driven services as we expand into new market segments, and we’re excited to have such a strong team behind us.”
Sportradar is the nexus between sports and entertainment, serving leagues, news media, consumer platforms and sports betting operators with deep insights and a suite of strategic solutions to help grow their businesses. Sportradar is the trusted partner of more than 1,000 companies in over 80 countries and serves as the official partner of the NBA, NFL, NHL and NASCAR as well as FIFA and UEFA. It is also the only provider entrusted to work with the US sports leagues in an official capacity to distribute sports data (NBA and NHL) and AV content (MLB) around the world for betting purposes. With deep industry relationships, Sportradar is not just redefining the experience of being a sports fan; it also safeguards fairness in the sports themselves through its Integrity Services team. By monitoring abnormal betting patterns or social signals around matches, Sportradar’s Integrity Services division has escalated insights to authorities that have resulted in hundreds of sporting sanctions globally.
“The sports data market, particularly real-time data, is a compelling long-term investment opportunity, with strong growth driven by rising fan engagement, opening of new markets and increasing spend on digital sports content globally,” said Ryan Selwood, Managing Director, Head of Direct Private Equity, CPPIB. “We are excited to partner with Carsten and look forward to supporting his innovative vision for Sportradar by further investing into artificial intelligence and global expansion.”
“Sportradar is a world-class sports data business that has maintained an impressive track record of delivering best-in-class technology solutions with a customer-centric approach,” said John Doran, General Partner at TCV. “We look forward to working with Carsten and the team to take advantage of the developing U.S. market and drive the evolution of how sports content will be consumed in the future.”
“Through this investment, CPPIB is able to participate in a compelling global technology growth story alongside our new partners, including Carsten and TCV,” said Alain Carrier, Senior Managing Director and
Head of International, CPPIB. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Sportradar’s management team as they drive the company forward across new customer segments and geographies.”
“We love backing great CEOs with a big vision, and Sportradar fits that profile perfectly,” said Jay Hoag, founding General Partner at TCV. “We are excited about working with Carsten, CPPIB, and existing shareholders to accelerate product innovation and drive continued growth.”
“Revolution invested in Sportradar because we know how powerful real-time data and analytics have become to the live sports business. Sportradar’s vision for how the world will use this data has made them the most influential sports data and information company in the world and they are well-positioned for expansion in the U.S. market given the recent decision by the Supreme Court to legalize sports betting,” said Ted Leonsis, Revolution Growth Cofounder and Partner.
EQT initially invested in Sportradar through its fund EQT Expansion Capital II in 2012, and subsequently invested through its fund EQT VI in 2014. During its partnership with EQT, Sportradar has seen positive organic and acquisition-based growth at approximately 40% revenue growth annually, and has grown its presence in Europe, the United States and Asia via the addition of 1,400 employees and a number of key strategic hires. The company now monitors and delivers insights from more than 400,000 matches annually across 60 sports categories, having developed the industry’s most proficient software while setting new standards for speed and accuracy.
“Sportradar has undergone an extraordinary transformation and is today a true global market leader in the sports data and digital content solutions space. The management team – led by Carsten – has done a fantastic job in driving the business towards the strategic vision that formed the basis for the partnership between Carsten and EQT,” said Dominik Stein, Partner at EQT. “We are convinced that CPPIB and TCV will be great partners to drive the strategic agenda for the future and EQT is excited to maintain a minority stake in the company.”
Closing of the transaction is expected in Q4 2018, subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and consents.
Industry News
MiFinity to Showcase Innovative iFrame at SiGMA 2024
MiFinity, a leading global payment services provider, is excited to announce its participation at SiGMA 2024, held in Malta from 12 to 14 November. Visitors can find MiFinity at Stand 2012, where the team will be showcasing its award winning PayAnyBank service, and the latest version of the MiFinity iFrame and demonstrating how it helps iGaming operators acquire and retain players with a seamless, flexible payment experience.
Paul Kavanagh, CEO of MiFinity, commented: “SiGMA is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our latest developments and engage directly with the iGaming community. The MiFinity iFrame is a game-changer for operators looking to streamline their payment processes and enhance the player experience. We look forward to demonstrating its capabilities and connecting with both existing and prospective partners.”
MiFinity’s Business Development and Account Management teams will be on-site to discuss the new iFrame features in-depth and highlight how MiFinity can optimise payments for iGaming operators. They will also be showcasing MiFinity’s innovative suite of payment solutions developed specifically for the iGaming sector, including MiFinity PayAnyBank — a powerful tool that enables operators to send payouts directly to players’ bank accounts in multiple countries and currencies, enhancing the user experience with faster, more localised transactions and reduced FX fees.
The MiFinity Affiliates team will also be available to explain the benefits of MiFinity’s affiliate program, which offers some of the highest commissions in the industry and unique promotional opportunities via the MiFinity Bonus website.
Meet the MiFinity team at Stand 2012 at SiGMA 2024 to learn more about the company’s solutions and how they are transforming the iGaming payment landscape. Pre-book a meeting with the MiFinity team or drop by the stand during the event to explore how MiFinity can support your business.
Book a meeting here > outlook.office365.com/book/[email protected]/
Latest News
ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona
The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.
Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.
“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”
Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”
January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.
Industry Awards
Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards
Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.
Award Recognition
The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.
The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask
Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.
Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.
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