Lionbridge

Last updated

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc.
Company type Private
Nasdaq: LIOX
Industry Language localization
Software testing
E-learning
Founded1996;28 years ago (1996) in Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
HeadquartersWaltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Key people
John Fennelly (CEO)
Number of employees
6000
Website lionbridge.com
Footnotes /references
[1]

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. is an American company that provides translation and localization services. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company has operations in 26 countries.

Contents

History

Lionbridge was founded in 1996. [2] In 2005, they acquired Bowne Global Solutions, then the largest localization provider. [3] In 2014 they acquired Darwin Zone, a digital marketing services agency based in Costa Rica, [4] and Clay Tablet Technologies, a content connectivity software firm. [5]

In 2015, they acquired Zurich-based CLS Communication, a translation services provider, and Geotext, a legal translation company. [6] [7] [8] [9] In December 2016, it was announced that Lionbridge entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by H.I.G. Capital. The deal was announced closed in May, 2017 [10] and, subsequently, the company was delisted from Nasdaq. Lionbridge is now a privately-held company and part of the portfolio of H.I.G. companies.

In July 2017, John Fennelly was named chief executive officer. [11] The founder of the company, Rory Cowan, is chairman of the board of directors. [12]

In December 2018, Lionbridge fully acquired Tokyo-based Gengo, a crowdsourced translation and artificial intelligence training data provider.

In November 2020, Lionbridge agreed with Telus International to sell its artificial intelligence division. [13]

Operations

Lionbridge provides translation and localization in many languages, with offices in 26 countries. [14]

Controversies and court cases

A securities class action lawsuit involving the company was filed in July 2001 under "Samet v. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. et al." in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. [15]

In 2006, a Lionbridge employee was awarded non economic damages of USD $366,250 and economic damages of USD $221,433 due to failure by the company to fulfill its obligation to help the employee obtain a green card. [16]

A 2008 court case involved an unfair dismissal claim by a former Lionbridge employee fired for union recruitment activities at the company's Warsaw office to protect employment conditions. Protests in support were held in Denmark, Spain, Poland, and Ireland. [17] [18]

In 2014, 38 software testers contracting for Microsoft in the Bellevue, Washington office formed Temporary Workers Alliance, a trade union. A year later, Microsoft required Lionbridge to provide at least 3 weeks of vacation. [19] In 2016, Lionbridge announced layoffs, two months after the union had ratified their first collective agreement. As part of the negotiations, the union had agreed to drop a joint employer case against Lionbridge and Microsoft. [20]

In June 2024, an unfair labor practice was filed against the Lionbridge by the Communications Workers of America, alleging that the company illegally terminated the employment of 160 workers in Boise, Idaho who worked as software testers for Activision, in retaliation for exercising their right to participate in concerted union activities. As part of the layoff, CWA also alleges that workers were required to sign an overly broad confidentiality agreement and an illegal waiver of certain rights protected by the National Labor Relations Act. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ "FORM 10-K".
  2. ↑ "TAUS Members". Taus.net.
  3. ↑ Bert Esselink (2003). The Evolution of Localization (PDF). Guide to Localization. Multilingual Computing and Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 7, 2012. In a nutshell, localization revolves around combining language and technology to produce a product that can cross cultural and language barriers. No more, no less.
  4. ↑ Ammachchi, Narayan (May 20, 2014). "Lionbridge Acquires Costa Rica's Darwin Zone". nearshoreamericas.com.
  5. ↑ DePalma, Donald A (October 14, 2014). "Lionbridge Protects Its Connectivity Strategy with Purchase of Middleware Provider". Common Sense Advisory. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Clay Tablet currently supports connections between leading CMSes and Lionbridge's own Freeway, SDL's TMS and WorldServer, SAJAN's Transplicity, Smartling, Welocalize's GlobalSight, Wordbee, and XTM.
  6. ↑ "Lionbridge Technologies (LIOX) Completes CLS Communication Acquisition". streetinsider.com.
  7. ↑ "Lionbridge to Buy CLS Communication as Market Consolidation Continues". Common Sense Advisory.
  8. ↑ "CLS Communication". aihitdata.com.
  9. ↑ "Lionbridge acquires Geotext Translations for $11M". owler.com.
  10. ↑ "H.I.G. Capital closes Lionbridge Tech buy - PE Hub". PE Hub. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Lionbridge Will Be a 'Very Different Company', Says CEO John Fennelly". Slator. January 23, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Rory Cowan: Getting the Pace Right". TAUS blog. August 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Lionbridge Announces Agreement to Sell Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division". lionbridge. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Lionbridge Locations | Office Directory". www.lionbridge.com. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Lionbridge Technologies, Inc". Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. Stanford Law School. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ John Rotterman, Esq. (2007). "DerKevorkian v. Lionbridge Techs, Inc". Immigration Daily. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Interpretation service picketed by trade unions, activists". Metro Eireann. July 10, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  18. ↑ "ITIA Bulletin February 2008". Irish Translators and Interpreters Association Bulletin. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  19. ↑ Eidelson, Josh; Kanu, Hassan (August 23, 2018). "Microsoft Bug Testers Unionized. Then They Were Dismissed". Bloomberg News . Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ Levy, Nat (September 28, 2016). "Microsoft supplier Lionbridge laying off all its unionized workers". GeekWire . Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ Reuben, Nic (June 12, 2024). "Activision QA supplier Lionbridge accused of retaliatory layoffs in "union busting" move". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved June 26, 2024.
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