Outsourcing and localization companies ink $20 million acquisition deal

Video game outsourcing outfit Keywords, which offers translation, testing, audio, customer care, and art production services to developers and publishers, has tightened its grip on the outsourcing market with the €18 million ($20.35 million) purchase of multilingual localization group, Synthesis.

The deal is Keywords' largest to date, and comes shortly after the firm purchased video game art services studio, Liquid Development, for $9 million. 

Headquartered in Dublin, Keywords has worked on over 650 games, including entries in major franchises such as Halo, Forza, Assassin’s Creed, and Pro Evolution Soccer. 

Synthesis has an equally impressive resume, having helped heavy hitters like Activision, Bethesda, and Sony bring some of their biggest games to the global market. 

"Their culture of client and project focus and their drive for the best quality and on time deliveries are a strong fit with the culture of Keywords," said Keywords CEO Andrew Day.

"We are confident that the integration of the Synthesis Group within Keywords will lead to an even stronger services business shaped around the very best talent in the industry."

Keywords will pay an initial €10.2 million ($11.5 million) in cash for Synthesis, with the company agreeing to fork out an extra €1 million ($1.13 million) if Synthesis generates more than €15 million ($17 million) in revenue over the next 12 months. 

The remainder of the €18 million price tag will be issued in Keywords shares.