This was very big news, given the wide penetration of TRADOS and SDL software throughout corporations, translation agencies, and freelance translators. TRADOS software alone is used in more than 3,500 enterprises around the world, and both companies claim to have sold more than 100,000 licenses globally.Over the years, SDL CEO Mark Lancaster has steered SDL on an aggressive growth curve through a mix of acquisitions and innovations. The TRADOS deal is by far SDL’s biggest acquisition yet, but it is being positioned as much more of a merger than an acquisition. In fact, TRADOS CEO Joe Campbell has joined the SDL board.