SDL plc (“SDL” or “the Group”), the localization and translation solutions company, is pleased to announce its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003.

 Highlights:

- Turnover up over 11% to £64.4m (2002: £58.0m). Organic growth continues.

- Pre tax profit (before amortisation of goodwill and intangibles) of £4.1 m (2002: profit of £1.2m)

- EBITDA profit of £5.7m (2002: profit of £3.0m) after software development costs of £2.6m (2002: £3.0m), which are written-off as incurred

- Loss on ordinary activities before taxation of £0.8m (2002: loss of £3.5m)

- Loss per share of 3.30p per share (2002: loss of 7.10p per share)

- Net funds of £7.2m (2002: £4.6m)

Commenting on the preliminary results Mark Lancaster, Chairman and Chief Executive of SDL, said:


“SDL is now an established global leader in the localization and translation market, with a significant global infrastructure to build on, and the technology to support that infrastructure. Having completed the majority of  this necessary investment, we are able to address the broad spectrum of translation needs of the global market.  We have completed the development of our Knowledge-based Translation System (KbTS), a combination of our technology investment and service offering. KbTS extracts significant efficiencies through technology and thereby de-couples increases in revenue from headcount requirements.”

“SDL is the only translation company to own significant technological intellectual property in the translation and localization industry, and this, combined with our global services infrastructure, will position us well to meet the evolving market needs. The acceptance of our new KbTS products in the latter half of 2004, will strengthen SDL’s position in serving global market growth.”