SDL plc ("SDL International" or "the Company"), a leading provider of globalization solutions, today announces that the results in terms of profitability for the year ended 31 December 2000 will be substantially ahead of market forecasts

 As outlined in the Company Interim results statement published on 4th September 2000, the acquired businesses of ITP (completed in May 2000) have been restructured and fully integrated ahead of schedule. Subsequently, ITP will make a positive contribution to the profitability of SDL International in the current financial year. This strong performance was further enhanced by a reduction in costs, the successful and rapid integration of ITP's technology with SDL International's existing software products, and negligible disruption to sales, which had previously been anticipated during the restructuring process.

Sales of SDLWebFlow, the multilingual content management work flow system, have continued to exceed management forecasts with 10 corporate client account wins during the first 8 months following its launch, including Dun & Bradstreet, Novartis, Silicon.com and Saba.

Though most of the growth during the year has been through higher profitability from the Services Division, recently launched updates of software products including SDLX 2.1, SDLX 3.2, and HTMLQA applications have shown modest but encouraging sales above internal budgets. In addition, the adoption of the upgraded SDLWebFlow 2.0 product has been well received by clients. With the verification and testing process of these new software products and the SDLWebFlow systems now completed, SDL International will launch in 2001 a high profile sales and marketing campaign in all of the Company's key international markets.

Commenting on current trading, Mark Lancaster, Chief Executive of SDL International, said:

"Since our successful flotation last year, SDL International has enjoyed unprecedented success in providing clients with a complete globalization solution. Our offer of cutting edge technology with a strong service back up, further strengthened by the acquisition and turnaround of ITP in particular, has translated into profitability exceeding our forecasts for the year. Additionally, the response to the SDLWebFlow product line has been particularly pleasing, with significant contracts with established blue chip and fast growing organizations. This is despite the relatively long lead-in times required for an intensive implementation process for our workflow solution.

"The Board is optimistic on the outlook for next year and remains confident of current market expectations for the financial performance of the Company for 2001".

Commenting on SDL's US expansion, Mark Lancaster, Chairman and Chief Executive of SDL International, said: "The opening of new offices in Seattle and St Louis will be a further step in consolidating our leading position in the key US globalization market. Seattle is a prime geographic location poised at the brink of global trade, with industries strong in manufacturing, high technology, and services, producing an economic output of about $250 billion. The office in St. Louis also provides SDL international with a crucial presence in a high technology area on the East coast of the US."