The Press Association (PA) is buying Australia's RAS Technology Holdings. The British racing and sports data supplier gains a route into the Australian wagering market and access to RAS analytics and technology. The deal is expected to close in February 2027, subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia and the customary conditions set out in the scheme implementation deed.
PA has worked in racing for more than forty years and deals closely with rights holders. Through its Podium division it supplies data, content and products to bookmakers, broadcasters and other market participants. RAS was founded in 1999 and has traded on the ASX since 2021. It brings ties to betting operators and racing organisations in Australia and Asia, plus work in analytics, wagering technology and digital media.
The purchase joins Podium's sports API to RAS trading services and the Wagering 360 platform. The stated aim is an end-to-end offering for media, bookmakers and rights holders, with a wider product set, international coverage and faster development for clients. For betting operators this is chiefly a question of which licensed data and trading tools they buy, so the deal is worth watching when picking a partner. Podium and Racing and Sports will keep operating as separate companies until completion. Further technology investment will go towards new markets and the development of racing and sport more broadly.
The RAS board has unanimously recommended that shareholders vote in favour. Founders Gary Crispe and Robert Vilkaitis together own or control about 34% of the shares and have said publicly they intend to vote for the deal. Emily Shelley, CEO of The PA, tied the purchase to wider market reach and faster product development. Josh Sparke, managing director of Podium, points to the complementary assets of the two companies and their shared international coverage.
