In July 2000, SDL merged with JDS Uniphase Corporation in a stock deal valued at a reported $41 billion. Transaction was finalized in 2001. After the period of lockout, the actual realized value was $17-18B - still far and away, however, the highest price paid for and SBIR involved firm. SDL itself had previously acquired several other firms to include Photonic Integration Research, Queensgate Instruments and VeriTech Microwave and Seastar Optics. By the time of merger, SDL had grown to employ almost 2000 people. At the time, SDL's products powered the transmission of data, voice, video and Internet information over fiber optic networks to meet the needs of telecommunications, cable television and satellite communications applications. These products were focused to meeting the broaening bandwidth needs of the then rapidly increasing Internet, data, video and voice traffic by expanding their fiber optic communications networks much more quickly and efficiently than would be possible using conventional electronic and optical technologies. SDL's optical products also served a variety of non-communications applications, including materials processing and printing. Following the merger, the Founding President of SDL, Don Scifres became Co-chairman of the Board of JDS Uniphase Corporation, and Chief Strategy Officer, in charge of Mergers and Acquisitions - positions he held until February 2003 until he left the firm to establish SDL Ventures.
