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Dozens of angel investors, including some big City names, were celebrating today after sports data firm Opta was sold for up to £47 million to Perform Group.
Sporting Index founder Compton Hellyer, Black Rock investment manager Evy Hambro, City grandee Sir Brian Williamson and Oliver Pawle, the chairman of headhunters Korn/Ferry, were all small shareholders in Opta, according to a Companies House filing.
Former Daily Telegraph managing director Jeremy Deedes, betting commentator Angus Loughran and Ed van Cutsem, a godson of Prince Charles, were also among the nearly 100 investors in the company, which collects data for, among others, the Premier League.
Opta boss Aidan Cooney, who founded the company in 2000, said: “Setting up a company as a 28-year-old with zero track record, you have to beg, borrow and steal from family and friends.”
BSkyB, which helped to set up Opta, and investment firm Albion Ventures were significant minority shareholders.
Perform, which supplies online data and video to sports and betting clients, is paying £40 million upfront, with a potential £7 million for management based on performance.
