Persistent Systems has announced a partnership with the San Francisco Unicorns as the team's Official Re(AI)maging Partner for the 2026 Major League Cricket season. The collaboration focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence and data-driven capabilities to enhance performance sports, marking a strategic expansion for the technology company into the professional cricket landscape in the United States. This partnership places Persistent within the team's premium partnership tier, highlighting its commitment to AI-led innovation in real-time, decision-intensive environments.

Partnership Details

The key aspects of the collaboration are outlined below:

Strategic Integration and Campaign Activation

The partnership will be activated through Persistent's #GameReAIImagined campaign, which aims to make the hidden layers of the game more visible through performance insights and richer fan experiences. As part of the agreement, Persistent will secure brand visibility via on-field perimeter boards and team kit branding. The collaboration also features a dedicated branded content property known as Persistent Coaches' Corner, combining on-field presence with deeper storytelling. Additionally, a dedicated hospitality suite will facilitate connections with clients and partners in North America, offering select invite-only experiences within a high-performance setting.

Executive Perspectives

Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Persistent, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership. He stated that cricket, like business, is becoming a game of intelligence where converting data into real-time insight differentiates good from great outcomes. He noted that the partnership with the San Francisco Unicorns brings Persistent's vision of AI advantage to life in an environment where every decision matters.

David White, CEO of the San Francisco Unicorns, highlighted the evolving role of data and technology in sports. He mentioned that partnering with Persistent offers opportunities to explore new applications of these capabilities across performance and strategy, while also enhancing the fan experience as the sport grows in the United States.

Persistent Systems Limited has announced that its ESOP Trust will acquire up to 40,000 equity shares by the end of Q1FY27, specifically before June 30, 2026. This decision aims to meet the upcoming vesting commitments of eligible employees under the Persistent Employees Stock Option Scheme 2014 (PESOS 2014) and the Employee Stock Option Plan 2017 (ESOP 2017). The shares will be sourced through secondary market acquisitions to fulfill obligations to employees exercising their stock options.

The ESOP Trust manages and administers these schemes based on shareholder approval. As part of the procedure, shares acquired by the trust are transferred to eligible employees via off-market transfers to their demat accounts upon the exercise of options. The upcoming purchase plan will be executed in compliance with the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, and the company's internal Code of Conduct.

This latest initiative follows a recent transaction where the ESOP Trust purchased 107,874 shares through the secondary market between May 15, 2026, and June 11, 2026. The new acquisition of up to 40,000 shares will be carried out in multiple tranches, excluding periods when the trading window is closed. The execution of this purchase plan is scheduled to begin in the week starting Monday, June 15, 2026.

Purchase Details

The acquisition is strictly governed by the SEBI (Share Based Employee Benefits and Sweat Equity) Regulations, 2021. The trust ensures that all purchases are made in a scheduled manner, avoiding any transactions during closed trading windows to maintain regulatory compliance.