Press Release

Autodesk, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Alias for cash consideration of $197 million USD. On October 4, 2005, Autodesk announced a definitive agreement to acquire Alias ‘ a leading developer of 3D graphics technology. This acquisition extends Autodesk's 3D software leadership 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. "The acquisition of Alias is
about fulfilling Autodesk's vision: To give design and creative
professionals the best software tools for realizing their ideas. Customers
are demanding the next generation of 3D photorealistic visualization 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. This will be
enabled by Autodesk technology."
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 & 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 of solutions.
Alias' products, technology and services will be integrated with Autodesk's
Manufacturing Solutions and Media & Entertainment divisions and Autodesk's
Consulting organization. Alias StudioTools ‘ software for design tasks
ranging from 2D sketches to production models ‘ adds new design and
visualization capabilities to Autodesk's manufacturing portfolio. The
acquisition also grows Autodesk's media and entertainment portfolio with
Alias' Maya software ‘ an Academy Award-winning application, 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 solution. 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 & Entertainment Division. Michel Besner, formerly Alias Vice
President of Business Development ‘ Emerging Markets, is now leading
product management for Autodesk's Media & Entertainment Division 3D product
portfolio. Alias' former global headquarters in Toronto, Canada remains as
a key development center for Autodesk.
www.autodesk.com/autodeskandalias