TIDMKWS
RNS Number : 8651B
Keywords Studios PLC
15 June 2021
15 June 2021
Keywords Studios plc ("Keywords Studios", "Keywords", "the
Group")
Board Changes - Update regarding Andrew Day
Keywords announced on 15 March 2021 that Andrew Day, CEO, would
be taking a temporary leave of absence from the business for health
reasons. Following this health scare, Andrew has now taken the
decision to bring forward a longer term retirement plan and will
therefore be leaving his role as CEO and his position as a director
of the Board with immediate effect.
The Board fully respects his wishes and, accordingly, is
initiating a full search process to appoint a high calibre
successor with the requisite experience and expertise to lead a
fast growing and ambitious global group. Andrew will be available
to the Board for an initial period of six months in an advisory
capacity to support a smooth transition.
Keywords has a strong team in place with Jon Hauck and Sonia
Sedler continuing as joint interim CEOs. Having been heavily
involved in driving the Group's strategic development since he
joined, Jon provides clear continuity for the Group's acquisition
strategy, while Sonia has already taken responsibility for the
operational performance of the business and driving organic growth.
Jon and Sonia continue to be well supported by the Group's
exceptional service line and regional leadership team, alongside
the dedicated M&A team and the Board.
Trading Update
The Group has made a very good start to the year following the
momentum seen in the second half of 2020, with total revenue growth
of 36% for the first four months, representing 25% growth on an
organic basis which excludes the impacts of currency movements and
acquisitions. This strong revenue growth, despite some continued
operational constraints from COVID-19, has also supported good
margin delivery. Following the acquisitions of Tantalus Media and
Climax Studios earlier in the year the group continues to review a
healthy pipeline of acquisitions. This trading momentum is expected
to continue, albeit with growth rates moderating against stronger
H2 2020 comparatives, and the Board fully expects that the Group
will deliver against market expectations for the full year. As in
previous years, a further update on trading for the half year
ending 30 June 2021 will be provided in early August 2021.
Ross Graham, Chairman of Keywords Studios, commented:
"Whilst we are sad to see Andrew go, we fully support his
decision to bring his retirement plans forward and wish him a very
happy retirement.
"Over the twelve years since taking over the reins from the
founders in 2009, Andrew has led the building of Keywords into the
'go to' global video games services platform it is today and it is
a tribute to his leadership that he leaves the Group in great shape
with a strong and broad leadership team that is well equipped to
both drive the Company's strategy forward and enhance its
operational performance. On behalf of the Board, I would like to
thank him for his incredible commitment and contribution to the
Group over the last twelve years.
"Under Jon's and Sonia's direction, the Group has continued to
perform strongly whilst also continuing to add scale and reach
through the recent acquisitions of the high quality businesses,
Tantalus Media and Climax Studios.
"The Group is well placed, with a leading position in the
buoyant video games market and a strong balance sheet, to continue
to build upon its strong platform both organically and through
selective acquisitions from a healthy pipeline of
opportunities."
Andrew Day commented:
"I am deeply proud of the business that we have built together,
which over my twelve years as CEO has grown from a privately held
company with a single localisation and testing studio in Dublin
employing 50 people, to a publicly traded global technical and
creative services group with over 9,000 people in 69 studios in 22
countries working passionately with our video games publisher and
developer clients to create, adapt and support so many of the
world's leading games.
" It has been a huge honour to lead the wonderful Keywordians
around the world. Whilst my recent health scare has brought about a
reassessment of my priorities and brought forward a retirement that
I was otherwise looking forward to in the coming few years, I am
pleased to be leaving the Group in such a strong position to
continue to deliver on its proven strategy. This strategy continues
to deliver excellent momentum in organic growth and acquisition
execution, thanks to having an extremely capable leadership team in
place and a rock solid foundation of dedicated Keywordians around
the world, with unrivalled breadth and depth of talent, who are
passionate about every project entrusted to them.
"I am confident that the Group will continue its march of
delivering high quality growth both organically and from
acquisitions of the type that has taken us from IPO in 2013 with a
market capitalisation GBP50m to c. GBP2bn today."
For further information, please contact:
Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com) +353 190 22 730
Joseph Quinn, Investor Relations Mobile: +353 86 777
8974
Numis Securities
Stuart Skinner/Kevin Cruickshank/Will
Baunton +44 20 7260 1000
MHP Communications (Financial PR) +44 20 3128 8193
Katie Hunt/James Midmer/Charles keywords@mhpc.com
Hirst
This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of the market abuse regulation (EU No . 596/2014) as it forms part
of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR").
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 65 facilities in 22 countries strategically located in
Asia, the Americas and Europe, it provides integrated art creation,
marketing services, software engineering, testing, localization,
audio and customer care services across more than 50 languages and
16 games platforms to a blue-chip client base of over 950 clients
across the globe.
Keywords Studios 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, Microsoft, Riot Games, Square Enix, Supercell,
TakeTwo, Epic Games and Ubisoft. Recent titles worked on include
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Anthem, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen
Order, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Valorant, League of Legends,
Fortnite, Clash Royale and Doom Eternal. Keywords Studios is listed
on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (KWS.L).
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END
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