Autodesk Signs Agreement to Acquire netfabb and Enter Strategic Partnership with FIT AG.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 24, 2015-- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire netfabb, a Lupburg, Germany-based developer of software solutions for industrial additive design and manufacturing. Autodesk will also make a strategic investment in FIT Technology Group, the parent company of netfabb and provider of additive manufacturing software and services. The two companies will collaborate to increase adoption of technology for industrial additive manufacturing.

Autodesk plans to use foreign capital for the transaction, which is expected to close in Autodesk’s Q4 FY2016. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Autodesk has always been impressed by FIT’s track record in creating powerful solutions to meet the challenges of industrial additive manufacturing and together we will accelerate a new future of making things,” said Samir Hanna, Autodesk vice president and general manager, Consumer & 3D Printing. “We look forward to welcoming the netfabb team to Autodesk and helping designers and manufacturers worldwide take 3D printing beyond prototyping and plastics, to reliably creating production-grade parts at scale.”

More than 80,000 designers, manufacturers, artists, researchers and developers worldwide currently use netfabb solutions as part of their 3D printing process. Autodesk plans to support and expand this community by continuing to develop, sell and support netfabb software as well as integrate netfabb technology into Autodesk’s solutions for product design and additive manufacturing, including Autodesk Fusion 360 the Spark 3D printing platform.

“Autodesk shares FIT’s goal of delivering high quality industrial additive manufacturing. We’re looking forward to cooperating with Autodesk – our newest investor– and we are confident that netfabb will continue to thrive and grow as part of Autodesk,” said Carl Fruth, CEO, FIT AG, parent company of the FIT Technology Group.

Business Outlook

This transaction is expected to have no impact on Autodesk’s guidance issued on, August 27, 2015.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding: the impact of the acquisition and strategic investment on Autodesk's guidance issued on August 27, 2015, our business performance, and product and services offerings; the impact of the transactions on Autodesk's and netfabb’s products and services capabilities, customers, and partners; and Autodesk’s plans to develop new technology for advanced manufacturing and expand the Spark 3D printing platform. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: Autodesk’s ability to timely close the acquisition of netfabb and successfully integrate the business; costs related to the acquisition and strategic investment; whether demand for the 3D printing grows as anticipated; the competitive environment in the manufacturing industries and competitive responses to the acquisition; Autodesk and netfabb success developing new products or modifying existing products and the degree to which these gain market acceptance; general market and business conditions; and unanticipated impact of accounting for acquisitions. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Autodesk are included in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2015, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2015, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Autodesk does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

About Autodesk

Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

Autodesk and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2015 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Source: Autodesk, Inc

Autodesk, Inc
Noah Cole, Phone +1-415-580-3535
noah.cole@autodesk.com