M&A Deal Summary

Keywords Studios Acquires Babel Media

On February 18, 2014, Keywords Studios acquired digital media company Babel Media from QBSS and D. E. Shaw for 5M GBP

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Keywords Studios’ 1st transaction in the Digital Media sector.
  • This is Keywords Studios’ 7th largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Keywords Studios’ 2nd transaction in the United Kingdom.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2014-02-18
Target Babel Media
Sector Digital Media
Buyer(s) Keywords Studios
Sellers(s) QBSS
D. E. Shaw
Deal Type Divestiture
Deal Value 5M GBP

Target

Babel Media

Brighton, United Kingdom
Babel Media Ltd. is a provider of outsourced video games services with operations in the UK, Canada and India. Babel Media is one of the most recognised technical services brands in the video games industry.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Keywords Studios

Dublin, Ireland
Category Company
Founded 1998
Sector Digital Media
Revenue 780M EUR (2023)
DESCRIPTION

Keywords Studios is an international technical services provider to the global video games industry. The company provides integrated art creation, localization, testing, audio, and customer care services across 50 languages and 14 game platforms to a blue-chip client base in more than 15 countries. It has a strong market position, providing services to 20 of the top 25 most prominent game companies, including Microsoft, Supercell, King, Bandai Namco, Sony, Konami, Electronic Arts, 2K, and Square Enix. Recent titles worked on include Tom Clancy's The Division, Halo 5: Guardians, Batman: Arkham Knight, Street Fighter V, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Clash Royale, and Mobile Strike. Keywords Studios was founded in 1998 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 2 of 40
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 26
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 5
Country (United Kingdom) 2 of 11
Year (2014) 2 of 4
Size (of disclosed) 7 of 23
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2014-01-15 Liquid Violet

London, United Kingdom

Liquid Violet Ltd. is a provider of voice production services. Liquid Violet works on behalf of major game development studios managing voice ‘localisation’ in both pre and post production.

Buy £2M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2014-05-09 Binari Sonori S.R.L.

Cinisello Balsamo, Italy

Binari Sonori S.R.L. is a provider of outsourced voice-over and translation services to the international video games market with operations in Milan, Italy and Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1994, Binari Sonori focusses on high quality voice recording production (both original language and localised languages) and text translation and adaptation for leading video game publishers and developers. Clients of Binari Sonori include Bandai Namco, Capcom, Fisher-Price, Microsoft Game Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment, Square Enix, Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Buy £13M

Seller(S) 2

SELLER

QBSS

Marietta, Georgia, United States
Category Company
Founded 2008
Sector Business Services
DESCRIPTION

QBSS serves small and medium-sized businesses across North America and global enterprise customers across North America and Europe. The Company provides an integrated portfolio of BPO services, including accounting, finance, billing, human resources, payroll, tax, IT help desk, technical support, and other back-office services to a wide range of industries. QBSS’s unique capabilities have enabled its customers to experience excellent process and operational improvements in their businesses, while reducing operating costs. The Company has significant experience supporting multi-unit restaurant and retail operations for franchise operators, as well as non-profit organizations, hospitals and other businesses. QBSS’s customers are supported by over 750 dedicated employees and delivery centers and offices across Atlanta, Chicago, Illinois, St. Paul, Minnesota, and India.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 1
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 1
Country (United Kingdom) 1 of 1
Year (2014) 1 of 1
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2020-02-13 Vanderloo Financial Services

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Vanderloo Financial Services is a provider of financial and accounting solutions for the non-profit sector. VFS’ financial and accounting solutions are designed to enable non-profits to meet strict financial reporting requirements, improve operations and better manage their fiscal growth challenges in today’s fast-evolving business environment.

Buy -
SELLER

D. E. Shaw

New York, New York,
Category Company
Founded 1988
Sector Financial Services
DESCRIPTION

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., an investment and technology development company, engages in investing in companies and financial instruments in industrialized nations and emerging markets.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 2
Sector (Digital Media) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 2
Country (United Kingdom) 1 of 1
Year (2014) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-06-12 James River Group

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

James River Group, Inc. is an insurance holding company. James River Group’s two operating companies – the Richmond, Virginia-based James River Insurance Company and the Raleigh, North Carolina-based Stonewood Insurance Company – underwrite in two specialty areas: excess and surplus lines in 49 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and workers’ compensation, primarily for the residential construction industry in North Carolina and Virginia.

Buy $575M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2017-01-30 Coronal Energy - Fusion Solar Center

Connecticut, United States

Coronal Energy - Fusion Solar Center is a 20 MW-ac facility located in the town of Sprague, Connecticut.

Buy -
Mergr

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