TIDMKWS
RNS Number : 0409B
Keywords Studios PLC
18 September 2018
18 September 2018
Keywords Studios plc ("Keywords", "the Group")
Leading sound production team, known as Sound Lab, joins
Keywords Studios in Los Angeles
and
Acquisition of The TrailerFarm Ltd ("TrailerFarm") in Brighton
to complement the Group's marketing services and games trailer
production capability
Keywords Studios, the international services provider to the
global video games industry, today announces that renowned
Hollywood sound designer, Scott Gershin and his Sound Lab team in
Burbank, California, have joined Keywords Studios from Technicolor.
Sound Lab at Keywords is a leader in the video game and immersive
entertainment market (VR / AR) and provides sound services for
movies and streaming (over the top - OTT content). In support of
the Sound Lab team joining The Group, Keywords is investing in new,
state of the art production equipment to fit out a sound design
studio in Burbank already occupied by Sound Lab.
With more than 30 years' experience in sound design, Scott
Gershin and his team have been credited on an extensive list of
bestselling video games including the likes of Final Fantasy XV,
Resident Evil, Gears of War, Fable and Epic Mickey, and worked on
projects for Riot, Capcom, Activision, Infinity Ward, Amazon and a
host of others.
At Keywords, Gershin will also be continuing his work in the
film and broadcast industry having worked on such titles as
Nightcrawler, Pacific Rim, American Beauty, Hellboy 2, Chronicles
of Riddick, Team America, Blade II, The Strain, Shrek and The Book
of Life. Joining Keywords alongside Gershin is a team of five
passionate audio professionals, sound designers, mixers, musicians
and creative managers.
Separately, Keywords is also announcing the acquisition of The
TrailerFarm Ltd. Based in Brighton, UK, TrailerFarm produces
trailers for the marketing and support of video games, and will
complement Keywords' recently acquired Fire Without Smoke marketing
services business in producing high impact, cost-effective trailers
for a broad range of games.
Founded in 2011 by brothers Tony and Dan Porter, TrailerFarm's
team of 12 creative directors, video game artists, project managers
and motion graphic designers produce trailers for both mobile and
console/PC games for use in game launches and ongoing promotional
events.
In the year ending 30 June 2018, TrailerFarm posted revenues of
GBP1.0m and adjusted EBITDA of GBP165k. Under the terms of the
acquisition, Keywords is paying a total consideration of up to
GBP2m. The initial consideration of GBP1.0m is being satisfied by
the payment of GBP790k in cash and 11,070 new ordinary shares in
Keywords, which are to be issued to the sellers on the first
anniversary of the acquisition. The remaining consideration of up
to GBP1m is payable in cash, subject to the increase in profit
before tax of TrailerFarm over the 12 month period post
acquisition.
Andrew Day, CEO of Keywords Studios commented:
"I'm delighted to welcome Scott and his team into the Keywords
family. As games become ever more immersive, sound design quality
is getting ever closer to that of movies. Our new Sound Lab studio,
created around Scott and his team, will be integrated within the
Keywords Audio Services Line and will benefit accordingly from our
global network of studios and our extensive video game client base
around the world.
"Our presence in audio services continues to grow. In Los
Angeles, with our long-established voice-over studio in Burbank,
the recently acquired Blindlight LLC, which focuses on Hollywood
voice-over production and writing services, and our specialist
music services through recent Keywords joiners, Cord and Laced. The
sound design services we are adding with this investment help round
out the full suite of audio services we are now able to offer to
clients in interactive and linear media.
"Trailers are the primary marketing asset for video games and
Keywords' ability to produce trailers across the spectrum from cost
effective small productions to the very high end trailers for AAA
games positions us well in this interesting segment of the games
services market. Bringing together art, animation, sound effect,
music and voiced audio, trailers can further act as a showcase for
our range of services and creative abilities."
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com)
Andrew Day, Chief Executive Officer
David Broderick, Chief Financial Officer
Giacomo Duranti, Chief Operating Officer +353 190 22 730
Numis (Financial Adviser)
Stuart Skinner / Kevin Cruickshank
(Nominated Adviser)
James Black / Tom Ballard (Corporate
Broker) 020 7260 1000
MHP Communications (Financial PR) 020 3128 8100
Katie Hunt / Ollie Hoare keywords@mhpc.com
About Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com)
Keywords Studios is an international technical services provider
to the global video games industry. Established in 1998, and now
with over 50 facilities in 20 countries strategically located in
Asia, the Americas and Europe, it provides integrated art creation,
software engineering, testing, localisation, audio and customer
care services across more than 50 languages and 16 games platforms
to a blue-chip client base of approximately 650 clients across the
globe. It has a strong market position, providing services to 23 of
the top 25 most prominent games companies, including Activision
Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Konami, Riot
Games, Sony, Square Enix, Supercell, TakeTwo, Epic Games and
Ubisoft. Recent titles worked on include Uncharted 4: A Thief's
End, Call of Duty: WWII, Mortal Combat X, Assassin's Creed Origins,
Battlefield 1, League of Legends, Fortnite, Clash Royale and
Rainbow Six Siege. Keywords Studios is listed on AIM, the London
Stock Exchange regulated market (KWS.L).
About TrailerFarm (thetrailerfarm.com)
The TrailerFarm is a creative agency and production house that
delivers marketing and development services for video game
developers and publishers of all sizes, from indie to AAA. Founded
in 2011 by former game developers, The TrailerFarm's global
portfolio of clients includes Rovio, SEGA, ITV, Sony, Namco Bandai,
THQ Nordic and Bluehole, the publishers of PlayerUnknown's
Battlegrounds. The studio is passionate about high quality,
authentic storytelling and delighting clients and gamers with the
content it produces.
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END
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