Media firm Wiggin and Guilford's Stevens & Bolton have both scored roles on the £40m purchase of sports data company Opta by digital rights business Perform Group.

The acquisition of Opta, well-known as a statistics provider for the Barclays Premier League, will see Perform strengthen its position as a provider of sports content to the media and betting sectors.

Perform's assets also include global football website Goal.com and real-time data firm RunningBall. The purchase has been funded by a share placing which is set to raise around £120m.

Wiggin advised long-term client Perform on the deal with a team led by partner Michael Brader, the co-head of Wiggin's corporate group and head of its sports group.

Meanwhile, Opta took advice from a Stevens & Bolton team led by corporate partner James Waddell.

Opta, which was founded in 1996, is a leading brand in collating, analysing and distributing sports data and has long-term deals with the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, the European Rugby Cup and the England and Wales Cricket Board, among others.

Waddell commented: "Opta's broad shareholder base and the tight timetable made for an interesting and challenging process. It is extremely satisfying to have been able to advise such an entrepreneurial business from start-up through to successful exit and we congratulate Aidan and the Opta investors on a terrific deal."

Wiggin has previously advised Perform on a number of matters including the purchase of both Goal.com for an undisclosed fee and RunningBall for £95m, as well as its listing on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.