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RNS Number : 4749H Keywords Studios PLC 04 August 2021 4 August 2021 Keywords Studios plc ( " Keywords Studios " , " Keywords " , the " Group " ) Half year trading update and notice of results 23 % organic revenue growth and strong margin performance Keywords Studios , the international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry , today provides a trading update for the six months ended 30 June 2021 , ahead of half year results which will be announced on 15 September 2021 . Trading update The Group has performed strongly during the first half , with the Board expecting to report revenues of approximately € 238m representing a c.37 % increase on the comparative period ( H1 2020 : € 173.5m , FY 2020 : € 373.5m ) . On an organic¹ basis , which excludes the impact of currency movements and acquisitions , Group revenues are expected to increase by approximately 23 % ( H1 2020 : 8.0 % , H2 2020 : 15.0 % , FY 2020 : 11.7 % ) with all service lines performing well against the comparative period during which certain service lines were held back by COVID - 19 constraints . This strong first half performance was driven by robust demand for the Group's services , continuing the momentum seen in the second half of 2020 , with the buoyant video games market focussed on developing new content to keep gamers engaged following increases in both numbers of gamers and gameplay during the pandemic . Adjusted profit before tax² is expected to be approximately € 40m , representing an increase of over 80 % from € 21.7m in the prior year , which was particularly disrupted in the earlier stages of COVID - 19 pandemic . While certain parts of the business continue to experience some COVID - 19 related operational constraints , Keywords has delivered a strong underlying margin , driven by operational leverage and good cost control , in addition to the continued short term benefit of a reduction in certain costs due to COVID - 19 , primarily resulting from a higher proportion of remote working and lower costs relating to travel , business development and marketing . Keywords Studios continues to deliver on its acquisition strategy with the acquisition of Tantalus and Climax Studios this year . These high quality acquisitions have extended the reach and scale of the Group's Game Development service line , and are performing in line with our expectations . We continue to actively review a healthy pipeline of acquisition opportunities .