Translation software company SDL posts first-half loss

Aug 6 (Reuters) - Translation software company SDL Plc posted a first-half pretax loss, hurt mainly byincreased investment in marketing, sales and research anddevelopment as the company transitions to automatedtranslations.

SDL posted a loss before tax of 2.3 million pounds ($3.53million) in the six months ended June 30 compared with a pretaxprofit of 16.4 million pounds a year earlier. Revenue dropped 2percent to 131 million pounds.

The company, which sells rights to its translation softwareand provides consulting and language services, said performancein the second half would depend on the speed of recovery inservices volume and technology licence sales growth.

"Although investments are taking longer to deliver bookingsgrowth than originally anticipated, we are starting to seepipeline improvements on both the technology and services side,"Chief Executive Mark Lancaster said in a statement.

SDL maintained its full-year forecast.

In June, SDL had slashed its full-year profit forecast to 15million pounds to 20 million pounds, citing lower-than-expectedsales of licenses in its translation technology and languageservices businesses in the first five months.