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Product category: Rendering, visualisation and styling software
News Release from: Autodesk
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 16 January 2006

Autodesk buys Alias for $197 million

Autodesk has has bought Alias for $197 million in cash after announcing its plans to do so in October 2005.

Autodesk has has bought Alias for $197 million in cash after announcing its plans to do so in October 2005 Alias is a developer of 3D graphics technology

This acquisition extends Autodesk's 3D software in the manufacturing and media and entertainment industries.

"We're excited to welcome Alias customers, partners and employees to Autodesk," said Carl Bass, COO of Autodesk.

"Customers are demanding the next generation of 3D photorealistic visualisation and animation tools, and we are poised to deliver".

"In the future, 3D assets will be created once and shared across a range of industries, from automotive and architectural design to films and games".

The combined company has more than seven million users.

Alias' automotive and design customers include BMW, Boeing, General Motors, Mattel, Honda, Renault and Rollerblade.

Alias' media and entertainment customers include major film studios and game developers, such as Industrial Light and Magic, Dreamworks SKG, Weta Digital, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Electronic Arts, Midway Games, Nintendo and Sega.

Many of these customers use both Autodesk and Alias products, providing an opportunity for the combined company to deliver a more comprehensive suite.

Alias' products, technology and services will be integrated with Autodesk's manufacturing and media and entertainment divisions and Autodesk's consulting organisation.

Alias Studiotools - software for design tasks ranging from 2D sketches to production models - adds design and visualisation capabilities to Autodesk's manufacturing portfolio.

The acquisition also grows Autodesk's media and entertainment portfolio with Alias' Academy Award-winning Maya software, Alias Motionbuilder 3D character animation software, and FBX - a widely used format for the exchange and use of 3D content.

Autodesk plans to continue the development and support of Alias products and services.

The combined company's research and development priority is to link Autodesk's and Alias' existing products, delivering increased interoperability and improved data management.

In the manufacturing industry, this will give users an extended workflow into conceptual design, as part of Autodesk's design-to-manufacturing software.

In the media and entertainment industry, many customers already use products from both Autodesk and Alias.

As such, they will benefit from a streamlined workflow for digital film, broadcast and game projects.

Several Alias management team members have joined Autodesk, including Dave Wharry and Michel Besner.

Dave Wharry, formerly Alias Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, is now Vice President of Sales for Autodesk's Media and Entertainment Division.

Michel Besner, formerly Alias Vice President of Business Development in Emerging Markets, is now leading product management for Autodesk's Media and Entertainment Division 3D product portfolio.

Alias' former global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, remains as a development centre for Autodesk.

Autodesk is reaffirming its previously issued standalone fourth quarter fiscal 2006 guidance.

Excluding the impact of the Alias acquisition, net revenues are expected to be between $405 million and $415 million and earnings are expected to be between $0.34 and $0.36 per diluted share.

Including Alias results for the remainder of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, Autodesk expects net revenues to be between $409 million and $419 million.

Due to the impact of in-process R and D expenses, amortisation of intangibles, and equity-based compensation expenses, earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.31 to $0.33 on a GAAP basis.

Excluding these items non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.33 to $0.35 in the fourth quarter.

Autodesk believes that Alias will be slightly accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share in the 12 months following the acquisition.

Autodesk will provide updated guidance for fiscal 2007 including Alias with the release of its fourth quarter financial results.

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