BIG Acquires ISI Language Solutions

ISI Language Solutions will offer BIG specialization in healthcare and insurance translation and localization solutions.

In an already-busy season for acquisitions, Atlanta-based BIG Language Solutions (BIG) has announced the acquisition of healthcare and insurance specialist ISI Language Solutions, a provider of industry specific language access and localization solutions, for an undisclosed sum. ISI Language Solutions provides services like translation and localization, onsite interpreting, over-the-phone interpreting, video remote interpreting, alternative formats (large print, Braille, audio), multimedia localization, and linguistic quality assurance technologies.

Advised by Nimdzi in the acquisition, ISI had been listed on the Nimdzi Top 100 largest language service providers in the world several years in a row. Nimdzi Insights M&A advisor Jonathan Otis said, “Nimdzi has enjoyed working with ISI on many projects over the years, culminating with this successful transaction. We think ISI fits well with BIG and will thrive with the additional resources now available.”

BIG was founded by CEO Jeff Brink in partnership with MSouth Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, in order to assemble a portfolio of high-performing and complementary language service providers, of which ProTranslating was the first. Brink heard about ISI via boutique advisory firm JSquare Conseil, which advised on Acolad’s Telelingua and HL Trad deals.

The acquisition fits well with BIG’s regulated-industry growth strategy, which involves investing in technology and growth, according to Brink.

ISI was founded in 1982 by George Rimalower — the son of Holocaust survivors who fled Nazi Germany. ISI owners Emilie Villeneuve and Michael Bearden were long-term employees for ISI before purchasing it from Rimalower in 2012. Villeneuve, who began as an assistant, stepped into the role of CEO at the time, while Bearden, who started as a project manager, became president.

As part of BIG’s acquisition of ISI, around 70 ISI employees will join the BIG and ProTranslating organizations. In the COVID-19 environment, nearly all of the due diligence and advising were conducted remotely, via video conferencing and daily calls — and in the end, the remote work paid off.

MultiLingual Staff
MultiLingual creates go-to news and resources for language industry professionals.

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