REG - Keywords Studios PLC - Acquisition of Certain Affinity, Inc.

Keywords StudiosAnnouncement

18/10/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 7488I  Keywords Studios PLC  18 October 2024

18 October 2024

 

Keywords Studios plc ("Keywords Studios", "Keywords", the "Group")

 

Acquisition of Certain Affinity, Inc. ("Certain Affinity")

Renowned AAA game development studio adds scale and action genre expertise to
Keywords' Create division

Keywords Studios, the international provider of creative and
technology-enabled solutions to the global video games and entertainment
industries, is delighted to announce that it has entered into an agreement to
acquire Certain Affinity, Inc., a leading US-based game development studio.

Certain Affinity was founded in 2006, focused primarily on providing high-end
co-development services on AAA multiplayer titles. It has established an
excellent reputation and supports some of the best-known studios and
publishers on their biggest franchises. Notable projects include nearly 20
engagements supporting the Halo and Call of Duty franchises, as well as
Hogwarts Legacy, DOOM, and many more.

Certain Affinity employs over 180 people in the US and Canada, anchored out of
their offices in Austin, Texas, and Toronto, Ontario. This encompasses
multiple teams working closely with clients on a range of announced and
unannounced projects, including the highly anticipated upcoming game EXODUS
from Archetype Entertainment, a division of game developer and publisher
Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro.

Certain Affinity's Founder and CEO Max Hoberman and his management team,
including President & COO Paul Sams, will continue to lead the business
post-acquisition, with expected growth underpinned by a strong pipeline of
high-quality projects.

Under the terms of the acquisition, which is subject to certain closing
conditions, consideration will comprise an upfront and earn-out component and
is expected to fall within the Group's targeted valuation range. The upfront
consideration will be paid in cash and funded from the Group's existing
revolving credit facility.

"We are thrilled to welcome Certain Affinity to the Keywords Group," said
Keywords CEO Bertrand Bodson. "We have enormous respect for their business and
reputation. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to our
Create division, complementing our existing skills and expanding our presence
notably in the US and Canada. We look forward to partnering with Max, Paul,
and their team over the coming years to continue to drive growth in our Create
division and overall business."

Max Hoberman, Founder of Certain Affinity, also commented: "At this most
difficult time in the market, we're thrilled to be able to provide stability
and a supportive home for our team. The respect for our talent and culture
that Keywords has shown, along with a willingness to invest in our growth, is
unparalleled. Paul and I look forward to partnering with them to chart a
course for careful expansion of our core co-development activities, refinement
of our lead development capabilities, as well as championing the growth of the
Create division."

Certain Affinity was represented in the transaction by Juno Capital Partners.

 

 For further information, please contact:

Keywords Studios                                                       Deutsche Numis

 Giles Blackham                                                         Nomad & Joint Corporate Broker

 Director of Investor Relations                                         Stuart Skinner / Will Baunton

 +44 7714 134 681                                                       +44 20 7260 1000

 gblackham@keywordsstudios.com (mailto:gblackham@keywordsstudios.com)

 MHP Group                                                              Barclays

 Financial Communications                                               Joint Corporate Broker

 Katie Hunt / Eleni Menikou / Charles Hirst                             Tom Macdonald / Stuart Jempson

 +44 7884 494 112 / +44 20 3128 8100                                    +44 20 7029 8000

 keywords@mhpgroup.com (mailto:keywords@mhpgroup.com)

 

 

 

 

About Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___http:/www.keywordsstudios.com/___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzpjMDA2Nzc2YzljNWFhYmE4ZTcyZTEzOWU1NTA1N2JkMTo2OjRlN2I6MmJkOGY0MjM5NjI1YjY5ZDVhNzQwZjUyNGE3NTdlOWNmMjc2NjI3ZmY0MjY2YTcwOTdhZWZkZDgyNjUyYTZhMzpwOkY6Tg)
)

Keywords Studios is a global provider of creative and technology-enabled
solutions to the video games and entertainment industries. Established in
1998, and now with over 70 facilities in 26 countries strategically located in
Asia, Australia, the Americas, and Europe, it provides services across the
entire content development life cycle through its Create, Globalize and Engage
Divisions to a large blue-chip client base across the globe.

Keywords Studios has a strong market position, providing services to 24 of the
top 25 most prominent games companies and contributing to over 70% of the 2023
Game Awards winners. Across the games and entertainment industry, clients
include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Epic
Games, Konami, Microsoft, Netflix, Riot Games, Square Enix, Supercell,
Take-Two, Tencent and Ubisoft. Recent titles worked on include Starfield,
Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy, Elden Ring, Fortnite, Valorant,
League of Legends and Clash Royale. Keywords Studios is listed on AIM, the
London Stock Exchange regulated market (KWS.L).

About Certain Affinity (www.certainaffinity.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https:/keywordsstudios-my.sharepoint.com/personal/gblackham_keywordsstudios_com/Documents/www.certainaffinity.com___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzpjNWFhZGFlYWU4NjQwOWFmODEwYzRkNjgzMDE1NTBlZDo2OjhhMDY6N2MzMWRhNzQ1MWZmYjM5NzNkMmRhNTMxNGRhYWRlMmQ0MWY4M2U0MjVlZGY3ZGMwZjJhYzhlMzYwMTlhZTk2MjpwOkY6Tg)
)

Certain Affinity was founded in 2006 with a goal of creating innovative,
top-quality action games. It brings together an exceptionally experienced,
unusually talented group to form one of the largest independent video game
developers in North America. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas,
with a second, award-winning studio in Toronto, Canada. Certain Affinity is
credited in over 40 titles across more than 17 world-class franchises, with
180+ full-time employees including veterans from dozens of successful game
studios.

©2024 Certain Affinity. Certain Affinity is a trademark or registered
trademark of Certain Affinity, Inc. in the US and/or other countries. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights
reserved.

For Certain Affinity press inquiries: Email press@certainaffinity.com
(https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https:/keywordsstudios-my.sharepoint.com/personal/gblackham_keywordsstudios_com/Documents/press@certainaffinity.com___.bXQtcHJvZC1jcC1ldXcyLTE6bmV4dDE1OmM6bzpjNWFhZGFlYWU4NjQwOWFmODEwYzRkNjgzMDE1NTBlZDo2OjBhZjc6Y2RiZGJlNDc3ZjI3NjcwMThiNDRmNWRkYTgxNzVhYjgyZjI2YTliNzJjMzYzMjViYTAyNWFlNTMzNTE1YjEzNDpwOkY6Tg)

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