Keywords Studios Share Discussion Threads

[nurdin] 07/11/2016 12:31

Thanks Riv.They omitted the key word though...'significantly' :o)

The PE is being knocked down with their every trading update.Not long before we are in high teens if this carries on !!

[bigbigdave] 07/11/2016 12:31

All sells being soaked up suggests a buyer in the background.

[rivaldo] 07/11/2016 12:10

The IC say Buy this morning as a Tip Update:

"IC TIP UPDATES:

Shares in Keywords Studios (KWS) leapt 9 per cent after the video-games services group said revenues and adjusted pre-tax profits are on track to exceed the market’s full-year expectations. The outperformance has been driven by Synthesis, a recently acquired localisation and audio business that has benefited from several large projects, as well as strong trading in other divisions. Buy."

[bamboo2] 07/11/2016 10:42

This BBC article at the weekend suggests t/o potential will help keep valuations in the sector high.

The Chinese are coming and they're hungry for games companies.

...Chinese firms have already spent more than $111bn on foreign acquisitions this year, according to Dealogic, with some of the biggest deals involving gaming companies...

[rubberbullets] 07/11/2016 07:49

Chart looks a bit extended for me. This is where PEQ and the ceo dump their stock?

[abarclay] 07/11/2016 07:46

supplier concentration ---> one big customer i suspect which could dry up suddenly

[bigbigdave] 07/11/2016 07:45

KWS never had a November trading statement before, must have to be pretty special to put one out.

[rivaldo] 07/11/2016 07:37

:o))

It's great to see supplier consolidation now happening in KWS' sector - as they say, KWS are "uniquely positioned" to win this business given their dominance and spread of activities.

[abarclay] 07/11/2016 07:32

ask them debtor concentration - they refer to day in statement

[saucepan] 07/11/2016 07:28

Over reliant on just a couple of customers??

[abarclay] 07/11/2016 07:24

Over reliant on just a couple of customers
when that dries up beware

[bigbigdave] 07/11/2016 07:21

Excellent stuff :o) Could one of the Slater experts confirm if KWS has achieved zulu status yet

[rivaldo] 07/11/2016 07:20

Beautiful :o))

Edison were going for 12.2m euros adjusted PBT - so the new minimum of 14m is at least 15% ahead...and 14m is just the minimum expected.

Plus encouraging comment looking forward:

"We, therefore, remain very confident of our strategy and, at this early stage, maintain our current, cautiously optimistic expectations for 2017."

[abarclay] 07/11/2016 07:14

made 12.7 cents ast year, so 10.2p


PE almost 40

looks like might crash

[saucepan] 07/11/2016 07:12

"Significantly Ahead of Current Market Expectations" - what a stock!

This should not be overlooked, too: we maintain a healthy pipeline of selectively chosen acquisition targets which we continue to review. I don't think it will be long before there is further earnings-enhancing news.

[bamboo2] 03/11/2016 18:15

I saw the H&S with upward neckline [orange] develop and became concerned enough to change my recent positive stance on the chart pattern.
The initial target is approx 400, there is further support around 380 and 350.

[davr0s] 03/11/2016 13:09

Maybe , maybe not. Big 80k trade gone through so let's see where price goes this afternoon

[bigbigdave] 03/11/2016 13:02

Shake. Added few.

[davr0s] 03/11/2016 12:59

What's going on ? Been stopped out so will take stock

[cfro] 26/10/2016 08:26

I agree, a very exciting acquisition and 'immediately earnings enhancing' too.

Only 8 people, but i would have thought that would be an ideal number that would fit into the group with no problems. (One could imagine the problem in taking over a larger company with, say, 100 employees for example with the added integration problems, lay-offs etc..).

[saucepan] 26/10/2016 07:57

Clearly a very strategic acquisition of typical KWS quality - should get us motoring again, I suspect.

[glaws2] 26/10/2016 07:46

Good as it is to see another acquisition let's keep this in context - it's 8 people - two PhDs & 4 MSc. See

[rivaldo] 26/10/2016 07:18

This may be a small acquisition, but it looks extremely exciting. In particular (as well as being earnings-enhancing):

"Player Research was founded in 2012 by Graham McAllister and employs a number of PhDs and MScs at its research laboratory in Brighton, with expertise in fields such as Human-Computer Interaction, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology."

This could launch KWS into all sorts of new areas.

[bigbigdave] 26/10/2016 07:04

Excellent

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



Acquisition of Player Research Ltd

Service extension into player behavioural research



Keywords Studios, the international technical services provider to the global video games industry, today announces that it has acquired Player Research Ltd ("Player Research") for a total consideration of up to £1.3 million from its founder, Graham McAllister, and others (the "Sellers"). Based in Brighton, UK, Player Research provides consulting and user testing from its state of the art play testing laboratory to mobile, console and VR game developers throughout the world, helping them to attract, retain and monetise players.



The acquisition of Player Research is in line with Keywords' strategy to extend its services, with the objective of providing end to end services to its global client base covering all aspects of game production and live operations support. Player Research's technology, methodology and knowhow can be exported to Keywords secure production facilities in locations like Montreal, Dublin, Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing providing much increased capacity, whilst also expanding the services in a way that adapts them to the varied nationalities and cultures allowing clients to better tailor their games for their targeted audiences.



Player Research was founded in 2012 by Graham McAllister and employs a number of PhDs and MScs at its research laboratory in Brighton, with expertise in fields such as Human-Computer Interaction, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology.



Under the terms of the acquisition, which is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing, Keywords is paying an initial consideration comprised of £700,000 in cash and the issue to the Sellers of 65,280 new ordinary shares in Keywords, which will be subject to a two-year lock in period. Further cash consideration of up to £300,000 may be payable subject to Player Research achieving certain targets within two years of the acquisition.



Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of 65,280 new ordinary shares to trading on AIM. Admission of the new shares is expected to take place at 8.00am on 31 October 2016. The Company's total issued share capital following admission will consist of 54,404,001 ordinary shares of one pence each with one voting right per share. The above figure of 54,404,001 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company following admission.





Giacomo Duranti, Chief Operating Officer, commented:

"Keywords and Player Research have been exploring opportunities together over the past 3 years. As both companies have expanded their services to multiple points along the games lifecycle the fit between us has become increasingly apparent. We believe that by integrating Player Research within the Group, and rolling out its services into our existing studios to provide reach into all major gaming regions, we will be able to leverage the intellectual capital, talent pool and execution capability of both organisations to significantly enhance the value we are able to bring to our clients. We are delighted to be able to welcome Player Research's highly talented team to the Keywords family and we look forward to working closely together to build upon Player Research's excellent reputation and loyal client base."