Questel, an online intellectual property (IP) service providers, has acquired MultiLing, a global leader in patent translations, with the support of its financial investors IK Investment Partners and Raise.
Founded in 1988 and based in Utah, MultiLing leverages their advanced technology platform to provide the highest quality patent translation services in the most cost-effective manner. Led by its founder, Michael Sneddon, and supported by its 235 employees across eight countries, MultiLing serves 350 clients globally (mostly large corporations) in their process of international filing of patents.
This acquisition is part of Questel’s strategy to build a one-stop-shop offering. MultiLing’s translation activities are highly complementary and synergetic to Questel’s ITIP Foreign Filing activities. The enlarged group reaches an annual turnover of c. MUSD 100 and 500 employees worldwide. This consolidates its rank among the global leaders of the IP industry.
“MultiLing is the right fit for Questel both culturally and strategically,” says Charles Besson, Questel CEO. “Translation is a key part in the foreign filing process where Questel became the world leader in 2017.”
“This is the combination of two recognised players with more than 80 years of experienced in IP,” adds Michael Sneddon, CEO and founder of Multiling. “Our unique technology will also be used to improve the translated Questel patent databases which are searched and analysed in Orbit, its online software platform.”
“The transformational acquisition of MultiLing is a key milestone in the equity story of Questel and we look forward to partnering with MultiLing’s management team,” says Dan Soudry, Managing Partner at IK Investment Partners.
