SDC Platinum is a suite of databases produced by Refinitiv, formerly Thomson Reuters. It is used for event studies or time-series observations/transactions, mainly for strategy, but also for organizational studies. Illinois has access to following databases in the suite and their time coverage:

• Mergers & Acquisitions
  • US Targets, 1979-last 30 days of the current year
  • International Targets, 1985-last 30 days of the current year
• Joint Ventures and Alliances
  • 1988-last 30 days of the current year
• New Issues
  • U.S. Domestic Public Offer, 1970 to present.
  • International (Euro & International Markets), 1983 to present.
  • Asian Pacific Domestic, 1991 to present

SDC is available for UIUC current students and faculty to use for academic purposes on extensive time-series secondary business research.  Alums and community users are not allowed to use it due to licensing agreements.  

During the pandemic, the University had an agreement to use Citrix for remote desktop access.  However, that has been discontinued, due to changes in the license.  

For convenience, two locations supply SDC client-server platform database.   Those locations are as follows:

• South campus:  Margolis Market Information Lab, Room 1029 Business Instructional Facility (BIF)  Hours: M-Tue 9AM-5PM, Tue-Wed 9AM-9PM, Friday 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-9PM.  Closed on Saturday.    Two machines are available, first come, first serve, no reservations are required.   Nearest bus stops can be found here. 
• North campus:  STEM Business Innovation Room 000C, IDEA Lab, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center. Hours: M-Thur 11AM-11PM, Fri 11AM-8PM.  Closed Sat & Sun.  You must reserve the room first to use one of the SDC machines, and you can reserve it online.  Nearest bus stops can be found here. 

Appointment to learn how to use the database is highly recommended.  It is not intuitive.  Email BIS@library.illinois for a consultation.  

(NOTE: Please break down large data sets into smaller chunks. Otherwise the download will time out. Start by choosing a 5 year window and a few industries.)

To inquire further please contact: bis@library.illinois.edu