ABAQUS Agrees to Be Acquired by Dassault Systemes; A Landmark in the Continued Evolution of Finite Element Analysis

Business Wire, May 17, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- ABAQUS Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Paris, France-based Dassault Systemes, a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services.

Under the agreement, and subject to the satisfaction of certain customary conditions and approval by the regulatory and merger control authorities, especially in the USA and in Germany, Dassault Systemes will acquire 100% ownership of ABAQUS in a cash transaction. The transaction has received the unanimous support of ABAQUS's owners and management team and, subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter 2005.

"This agreement represents a historic milestone in the continued evolution of our company and our software," said David Hibbitt, founder and chairman of ABAQUS Inc. "Through our delivery of technologically advanced software and services, ABAQUS already has a proven leadership position in finite-element-based engineering simulation. This agreement is the basis for the long-awaited wider and more effective deployment of such real-world simulation. This vision, along with Dassault Systemes' commitment to continued investment in technology leadership, marks a new and exciting chapter in ABAQUS's history."

Mark Goldstein, president and chief executive officer of ABAQUS, Inc., commented, "I am delighted and enthused that Dassault Systemes has selected ABAQUS as the foundation of a strategic investment in simulation technology. As companies continue to adopt performance-centric practices as a foundation of product design, the role of simulation will become ever more important to the success of an enterprise. I look forward to the contribution that ABAQUS technology will make to Dassault Systemes' PLM solutions and to maintaining our focus on delivering industry-leading finite-element technology and solutions to the PLM market in general."

"For the past 28 years ABAQUS has built an enviable reputation for technology leadership and customer satisfaction," said Bernard Charles, president and chief executive officer, Dassault Systemes. "We are delighted to welcome ABAQUS employees, customers, and partners to our company, where we share the same values and core beliefs that have made both ABAQUS and Dassault Systemes so successful over the years."

About ABAQUS Inc.

Founded in 1978, ABAQUS, Inc., is the world's leading provider of software and services for advanced finite element analysis. The ABAQUS(R) software suite has an unsurpassed reputation for technology, quality and reliability. It has been adopted by major corporations across all engineering disciplines as an integral part of their design process. ABAQUS offers a powerful and complete solution for simple to complex linear and nonlinear engineering problems, using the finite element method. A wide range of structural, thermal, and coupled analyses is supported. The software delivers a unified finite element analysis environment without equal, presenting a compelling alternative to implementations involving multiple products and vendors. ABAQUS employs over 400 people worldwide, with 28 direct offices for technical support, sales and services, plus a network of technically advanced distributors in emerging markets. (http://www.abaqus.com)

ABAQUS(R) is a registered trademark or trademark of ABAQUS, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

About Dassault Systemes

As world leader in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault Systemes group brings value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance. Its offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIA(R), DELMIA(R), ENOVIA(R), SMARTEAM(R)), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks(R)), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS(R)). Dassault Systemes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.