Acquisition Extends Autodesk's Leadership in Structural Engineering Space
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to
acquire Robobat, a privately-held company based in Grenoble, France that
provides software for structural engineering analysis, design and steel and
concrete detailing, for $33 million in USD cash, subject to a working capital
adjustment. The acquisition will complement Autodesk's current software
offerings to the structural engineering industry, AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit
Structure, and will also help Autodesk provide an increasingly complete set of
well-integrated solutions to the structural engineering community.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
"We are pleased to welcome Robobat, their industry-leading software and
technology and their community of customers to Autodesk," said Jay Bhatt, vice
president, Autodesk Building Solutions. "As we enhance our comprehensive
solutions for structural engineering, Autodesk remains committed to supporting
our customer's choice of structural analysis and detailing software. We will
continue to support open data exchange standards and to work closely with our
strategic structural engineering partners to support the many different ways
that structural engineers around the world use software to work and realize
their ideas."
Robobat, a leading supplier of software solutions for structural
engineering, was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Grenoble, France and
has a significant operation in Krakow, Poland. Its software has been used by
structural engineers around the world on projects including the Stade de
France, the proposed Shanghai South Rail Station and the new hangar for the
Airbus A380 aircraft. Robobat ROBOT Millennium, a structural analysis and
design solution for structural engineering, has been integrated with Autodesk
Revit Structure, and Robobat has also developed steel and concrete detailing
software on the AutoCAD platform. Autodesk currently plans to offer new
solutions for structural engineering, detailing and analysis that incorporate
both Robobat and Autodesk technology, and to continue supporting Robobat's
existing product line.
"Robobat and Autodesk share a vision for building information modeling
(BIM) and the use of information technology for structural engineering," said
Andre Niznik, CEO, Robobat. "We have partnered with Autodesk to integrate
Robobat ROBOT Millennium with Autodesk Revit Structure and developed software
that integrates with other Autodesk products for many years. We are excited
to join Autodesk and are confident that both Autodesk and Robobat customers
will benefit from this acquisition."
About Autodesk Revit Structure
Autodesk Revit Structure is building information modeling (BIM) software
for structural engineering and documentation that can increase efficiency,
accuracy, and design flexibility. Revit Structure integrates a physical model
-- for layout, coordination, and documentation -- with an independently
editable analytical model for multiple analyses, and was released last year in
the United States and Canada. For more information on Autodesk Revit
Structure visit http://www.autodesk.com/structure .
Business Outlook
This transaction is expected to have no impact on targeted non-GAAP EPS,
which excludes in-process R&D expenses and the amortization of acquisition-
related intangibles, for fiscal 2007.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, including statements regarding the impact of the
acquisition on Autodesk's earnings, product offerings and the performance of
its business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
include the following: difficulties encountered in integrating merged
businesses; whether certain market segments grow as anticipated; the
competitive environment in the software industry and competitive responses to
the acquisition; and whether the companies can successfully develop new
products or modify existing products and the degree to which these gain market
acceptance.
Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial
results of Autodesk are included in the company's reports on Form 10-K for the
year ended January 31, 2006, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30,
2006 which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Robobat
Robobat writes and distributes market leading analysis, design and
drafting software solutions for structural engineers that help clients to
integrate the various facets of the structural engineering process, thereby
improving accuracy, efficiency and profitability. More than 10000 licenses of
Robobat software are in use in over 100 countries around the world. Founded in
1988, Robobat is an ISO 9001 accredited company headquartered in Grenoble,
France with subsidiaries and resellers around the world.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that
great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the
world's leading software and services company for the manufacturing,
infrastructure, building, media and entertainment, and wireless data services
fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their
data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas
into competitive advantage, become more productive, streamline project
efficiency and maximize profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California.
NOTE: Autodesk, AutoCAD and Revit are registered trademarks of Autodesk,
Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names
or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Contact: Noah Cole, 415-547-2405
Email: noah.cole@autodesk.com,
Investors:
Sue Pirri, 415-507-6467
Email: sue.pirri@autodesk.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
09/06/2006
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Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)
1019 09/06/2006 17:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
