Computer games services specialist Keywords Studios (LON:KWS) is to buy Quebec-based Volta Creation Inc for C$5.25mln.
The Canadian firm was founded in 2006 and supplies major games companies such as Capcom, Electronic Arts, Machine Zone and Nexon with outsourced art creation services with a particular emphasis on concept art.
Keywords' recent strategy has been to broaden its reach away from its core translation business and said Volta will take it further upstream in the cycle and into the initial stages of a game’s development where concept art is used to set its look and feel.
Volta's revenues were C$3.6m and underlying pre-tax profit of C$0.7mln in 2015 and it will fit in well with the services provided by its other art studios, Lakshya, Liquid Development and Mindwalk, Keywords added..
The C$5.25mln consideration will be met by cash of C$5mln paid to current owner Frima and the rest in shares issued to Volta’s founder Claude Bordeleau.
Andrew Day, Keywords’ chief executive, said: "Volta takes our art service line even further upstream in the game development cycle providing access to creative decision makers and game producers in the earliest phases of the game lifecycle and enabling us to create synergies with our later stage art services.”