Leading media localization providers – Singapore-headquartered IYUNO Media Group and London-based BTI Studios announced the news of their grand merger on September 12, 2019. Both these companies are counted among the top five players of the localization industry and are joining forces to better address the needs of the growing demand for localized content for consumers around the globe.
About IYUNO Media Group
IYUNO was founded in 2002 by the company’s current CEO David Lee, and currently has over 600 employees working for them. The company provides the highest quality in end-to-end localization, media, and creative post-production services making them the industry leader.
With established facilities in 15 countries and counting and a network of global studio partners, the Group generated revenues of USD 58.3m in 2018.
About BTI Studios
Founded in 1995, BTI Studios is one of the world’s leading localization companies providing subtitling, dubbing and access services. With over 24 years of experience, 25 facilities across Asia, Europe and the US, the company serves a dozen international broadcasters and more than 50 local VOD/OTT providers, broadcasters, production companies and video distributors with dubbing, subtitling and access services in more than 80 language combinations.
BTI Studios is the larger of the two companies generating revenues of USD 114.5m in 2018.
The combined organization will be known as ‘IYUNO Media Group’ and will be headquartered in London. The Founder and former CEO of IYUNO, David Lee will be stepping into the role of Executive Chairman, while former BTI CEO, Shaun Gregory will be heading the new company as its Chief Executive.
Chris Carey (CRO and MD of the Americas – BTI Studios) confirmed that all three existing investors Shamrock Capital, Altor and SoftBank Ventures Asia will be backing the new entity, providing financial support, experience and knowledge in the media industry for global growth. The combined organization will have over 1,000 employees, he said.
“Clients need a better solution. The current media localization industry fragmented, manual and non-systematic approaches are outdated and inefficient. Our combined experience and long-standing commitment to diverse global markets make our products and services second-to-none,” explains David Lee, founder of IYUNO Media Group, and executive chairman of the new company.
Carey explained that the merger would be a success because both these companies offered complementary locations without much overlap and also, they shared a number of common clients. He, however, declined to provide any revenue forecasts for the new combined organization for 2019 but claimed that IYUNO Media Group will be “the largest player in the industry with the ability to take on all projects, big and small.”