The PA agrees acquisition of RAS Technology to expand betting data

The PA has agreed a binding implementation agreement to acquire RAS Technology Holdings, the Australia-based owner of Racing and Sports, the company said. The transaction is to proceed through an Australian court-approved scheme of arrangement, and The PA would acquire 100% of RAS's issued shares. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal places Racing and Sports alongside Podium, which is already The PA's sports data division. According to The PA, customers of the combined operation stand to gain a broader selection of racing and sports data, and the group will move into Australia's betting and wagering sector. The PA added that pairing Podium's sports API with RAS's trading services and Wagering 360 platform would create what it called a "complete solution" for media, bookmakers and rightsholders in the country.

Racing and Sports dates back to 1999, and its ties extend to wagering operators and racing bodies in both Australia and Asia. Beyond data on racing and sports, the business offers analytics, wagering technology and digital media. Podium, for its part, already provides racing and sports data, content and products to bookmakers and broadcasters elsewhere. The Press Association, the national news agency serving the UK and Ireland, sits within The PA's broader portfolio.

Directors of RAS have backed the proposal without dissent and urged shareholders to do the same. The founders, Gary Crispe and Robert Vilkaitis, whose combined holding or control covers roughly 34% of RAS's issued shares, have indicated they will also back the acquisition. Closing is anticipated in February 2027, provided shareholders approve and other usual conditions are met, among them clearance from the Federal Court in Australia. Podium and Racing and Sports will keep operating independently until the deal completes.

Emily Shelley, CEO of The PA, said: "The PA and RAS share a commitment to trust and integrity." She said the businesses' complementary strengths and global reach would offer customers a wider range of data, wagering knowledge and coverage across more markets, and that combining The PA's heritage with Podium's technology would allow new products to be developed faster.

RAS CEO Stephen Crispe said the agreement was an important step for RAS, its customers, people and legacy. He said The PA shares RAS's commitment to integrity, quality and accurate, trusted live data for the global racing industry, and that the combined business would offer a broader range of existing and new products, more data options, technology and services while retaining the expertise, relationships and industry knowledge of both businesses.