|
| foundation = 1992
| ___location = [[Maidenhead]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| key_people = Adolfo Hernandez ([[Chiefchief Executiveexecutive Officerofficer]])
| industry = [[Computer Softwaresoftware]]<br/>[[Professional Servicesservices]]<br />[[Language localization]]<br/>[[Component content management]]<br/>[[Digital asset management]]
| products =
| revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]376.3 million (2019)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=https://webassets.sdl.com/images/SDL-Annual-Report-2019_tcm228-167880.pdf?_ga=2.263880396.1911013791.1599073800-684514360.1599073798|title=Annual Report 2019|publisher=SDL plc|accessdate=2 September 2020}}</ref>
}}
'''SDL plc''' iswas a multinational professional services company headquartered in [[Maidenhead]], [[United Kingdom]]. SDL specializesspecialized in [[language translation]] software and services (including [[language interpretation|interpretation]] services). It was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] until it was acquired by [[RWS Group]] in November 2020.
==Name==
SDL is an [[Acronym|abbreviation]] for "'''S'''oftwareSoftware and '''D'''ocumentationDocumentation '''L'''ocalizationLocalization".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tridion.stackexchange.com/questions/3330/what-is-the-acronym-of-sdl-in-sdl-tridion|title=What is the acronym of "SDL" in SDL Tridion|accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = SDL's Acquisitions Build Marketing Tech Stack of the Future|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2013/11/22/sdls-acquisitions-build-marketing-tech-stack-of-the-future/|accessdate = 2015-08-23|first = Bruce|last = Rogers| website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> It was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] until it was acquired by [[RWS Group]] in November 2020.
== History ==
The Companycompany was founded by Mark Lancaster with nine employees in 1992. It opened its first overseas office in [[France]] in 1996<ref name=history>[http://www.sdl.com/en/company/company/history.asp SDL International: History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210113704/http://www.sdl.com/en/company/company/history.asp |date=10 December 10, 2008 }}</ref> and was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1999.<ref name=history/> The company has growngrew organically and via acquisitions. SDL acquired Polylang Multimedia in 1998, International Translation & Publishing (ITP) in 2000, Alpnet in 2001, and the [[machine translation]] (MT) assets of [[Transparent Language]] in 2001. It bought [[Trados]], a rival [[translation memory]] (TM) developer, in 2005.<ref>[http://www.columbustranslations.co.uk/sdl-buys-trados/ SDL buys Trados] Columbus Translation Blog, 20 June 2015</ref> In 2007, the company acquired [[Tridion]], a content management system vendor,<ref>[https://archive.istoday/20130410171253/http://www.cmswatch.com/Trends/891-SDL-acquired-Tridion Real Story Group: SDL acquires Tridion] Real Story Group, 24 April 2007</ref> and PASS Engineering, developers of ''the [[SDL Passolo|PASSOLOPassolo]]'' software.<ref>[https://archive.istoday/20130412094250/http://www.tekom.de/index_neu.jsp?url=/servlet/ControllerGUI%3Faction=voll&id=2232 PASSOLO goes SDL] Tekom, May 2007</ref>
In 2008, it bought Idiom Technologies, a global information system management business.<ref>[http://www.cmswatch.com/Trends/1147-SDL-buys-again,-picking-up-Idiom SDL buys again picking up Idiom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214025826/http://www.cmswatch.com/Trends/1147-SDL-buys-again,-picking-up-Idiom |date=2009-12-14 }} Real Story Group, 11 February 2008</ref> In July 2009 SDL acquired XyEnterprise in an all -cash transaction to add [[XML Professional Publisher]] as well as Contenta content management software and LiveContent to manage and deliver [[XML]]. This unit combined with Trisoft formerly Infoshare.<ref>[https://www.kmworld.com/Articles/News/News/SDL-acquires-XyEnterprise-54989.aspx/ SDL acquires XyEnterprise], KMWorld 2009</ref> In December 2009, SDL acquired [[Fredhopper]], a Dutch eCommerce onsite search and navigation, onsite targeting and targeted advertising software vendor.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130410163611/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=106487430 Company Overview of Fredhopper Ltd.], Businessweek</ref> Later that same year, it bought Xopus, another Dutch company and the leader in online [[XML]] editing.<ref>[http://www.realstorygroup.com/Blog/1944-SDL-acquires-XML-editor-Xopus SDL acquires XML editor Xopus] Real Story Group, 6 July 2010</ref> In May 2011 SDL acquired Dutch-based Media Asset Management company, [[Calamares]],<ref>[http://digitalassetmanagementnews.org/vendors/sdl-acquires-dam-vendor-calamares-start-of-the-convergence-of-wcm-dam/ SDL Acquires DAM Vendor Calamares: Start Of The Convergence Of WCM & DAM?] DAM News, 5 May 2011</ref> in 2012 the campaign management and social media analytics company, [[Alterian]],<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/sdl-to-buy-alterian-after-raising-bid-6271518.html SDL to buy Alterian after raising bid] ''The Independent'', 3 December 2011</ref> and in 2013, Bemokobemoko, a supplier of internet software for mobile devices.<ref>[http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/11509207.html SDL plc Acquisition of bemoko] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224231435/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/11509207.html |date=24 February 24, 2015 }}</ref>
In January 2016, having undertaken a strategic review, SDL announced the divestment of Fredhopper and Alterian as non-complementary to its new strategy having undertaken a strategic review.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slator.com/financial-results/sdl-announces-major-strategy-shift-puts-units-up-for-sale/|title=SDL Announces Major Strategy Shift, Puts Units Up For Sale|website=|accessdate=2016-01-21|date=21 January 2016}}</ref>
In August 2020 [[RWS Group]] announced a proposed takeover of the company for £809 million.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.ft.com/content/86d620cf-b718-4966-ac65-28e46b8f05c5|title=RWS adds translation software to the portfolio with £809m SDL deal|newspaper=Financial Times |date=27 August 2020}}</ref> The transaction was completed on 4 November 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wp-rws-2020.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/media/2020/11/02155110/Update-on-All-Share-Combination.pdf|title=Update on All-Share Combination|publisher=RWS|date=2020-11-04|accessdate=2020-11-04}}</ref>
==Operations==
SDL providesprovided software for language translation purposes.<ref>[http://www.sdl.com/aboutus/aboutsdl/offices.html SDL offices around the globe]</ref>
==See also==
*[[SDL Trados]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Companies based in Maidenhead]]
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