Earnings release
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RNS Number : 1188W Keywords Studios PLC 20 December 2021 20 December 2021 Keywords Studios plc ( " Keywords Studios " , " the Group " ) Trading Update Full year performance now expected to be ahead of market expectations Keywords Studios , the international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry , today provides a trading update for the year ending 31 December 2021 . The Group has continued to perform well in the second half of the year following the strong performance in H1 , with demand for our services driven by the buoyant video games market and the industry's focus on new content creation . We have continued to benefit from a reduction in certain costs due to COVID - 19 , primarily relating to remote working , property costs , travel and business development . As a result , the Board now expects that full year revenue for 2021 will be at least € 505m ( + 35 % year - on - year growth ) and adjusted profit before tax¹ in excess of € 85m ( + 55 % year - on - year growth ) both ahead of current analysts ' consensus forecasts² . Outlook for 2022 We expect this trading momentum to continue into 2022 , giving us confidence in delivering 2022 revenue at the upper end of current analysts ' consensus forecasts³ , while we continue to expect adjusted profit before tax margins to moderate towards our historical levels of ~ 15 % , as certain costs return with the easing of restrictions and as we continue to invest in the platform and our people . The Group will provide a further update with its scheduled trading update at the end of January 2022 . Bertrand Bodson , Chief Executive Officer of Keywords Studios , commented : " Keywords continues to perform strongly , driven by high levels of demand for our services , as we grow our capabilities , reach and scale . " Having started to meet with many of our people , studios and customers , I am excited about the opportunity to capitalise on the Group's unique full service platform to deliver an ever more compelling proposition for the buoyant video games market , and adjacent content industries . I have been impressed by the ambitious team at Keywords , which is highly driven to continue to build on the Group's successful organic and acquisitive growth track record . " 1 Adjusted profit before tax comprises Profit before taxation as