Catapult Boosts Soccer Analytics with A$150M IMPECT Acquisition—What’s Next?
Catapult Sports is set to acquire German soccer analytics innovator IMPECT, backed by a A$150 million equity raise, enhancing its global sports technology platform with proprietary scouting insights.
- Acquisition of IMPECT for up to €78 million enhances Catapult’s soccer analytics capabilities
- A$130 million fully underwritten institutional placement and A$20 million Share Purchase Plan launched
- IMPECT’s proprietary Packing™ metrics integrate with Catapult’s athlete performance and video analysis suites
- Preliminary 1H FY26 results show 19% ACV growth and 15-16% revenue increase
- Transaction expected to complete within 15 business days with IMPECT founders joining Catapult
Strategic Acquisition to Boost Soccer Analytics
Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX, CAT), a global leader in sports technology, has announced a binding agreement to acquire IMPECT GmbH, a German innovator in soccer scouting analytics. The deal, valued at up to €78 million (approximately A$130 million), is poised to significantly enhance Catapult’s product suite by integrating IMPECT’s unique Packing™ metrics, proprietary data that offers deep tactical insights into player performance and team dynamics.
This acquisition marks a strategic expansion for Catapult, combining its existing athlete performance and video analysis technologies with IMPECT’s advanced scouting software. The integration aims to create a unified intelligence platform that delivers comprehensive, data-driven decision-making tools for professional soccer teams worldwide.
Funding the Future, Equity Raising Details
To finance the acquisition, Catapult has launched a fully underwritten institutional placement targeting A$130 million, alongside a non-underwritten Share Purchase Plan (SPP) aiming to raise an additional A$20 million. The placement price is set at A$6.68 per new share, representing a discount to recent trading prices, and will issue approximately 19.5 million new shares, diluting existing capital by about 6.9%. The SPP will offer eligible retail shareholders in Australia and New Zealand the opportunity to participate, with shares priced at the lower of the placement price or a 2% discount to the five-day volume weighted average price.
Proceeds from these equity raises will not only fund the upfront cash consideration of €40 million but also strengthen Catapult’s balance sheet, providing capacity for future strategic acquisitions.
Robust Growth and Market Position
IMPECT operates a scalable, cloud-based SaaS platform covering nearly 150 soccer leagues across 25 countries, analyzing 40,000 matches annually. Its proprietary Packing™ data offers a category-defining tactical layer that complements Catapult’s existing offerings, enabling cross-team benchmarking and richer tactical insights.
Preliminary results for Catapult’s first half of FY26 reveal strong momentum, with Annualized Contract Value (ACV) growing by 19% on a constant currency basis and revenue increasing by 15-16%. Management EBITDA improved by up to 53%, reflecting operational leverage despite a one-time payroll tax expense. Free cash flow, excluding transaction costs, also expanded, underscoring the company’s improving financial health.
Integration and Outlook
The transaction is expected to close within 15 business days, subject to customary conditions. All four IMPECT founders and employees will join Catapult, reinforcing the company’s culture of innovation and accelerating the development of an integrated sports intelligence platform.
Catapult’s CEO, Will Lopes, highlighted the transformative shift in professional soccer towards data-driven decision-making, emphasizing that IMPECT’s tactical insights will provide teams with a competitive edge. The company reaffirmed its FY26 guidance, anticipating continued strong ACV growth, improved cost margins, and higher free cash flow as the business scales.
Bottom Line?
Catapult’s acquisition of IMPECT signals a bold step in sports analytics, setting the stage for accelerated growth and innovation in professional soccer technology.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Catapult integrate IMPECT’s Packing™ metrics with its existing platforms operationally?
- What are the specific performance hurdles tied to the deferred and contingent consideration?
- How will the equity dilution from the placement and SPP impact shareholder value in the near term?
