Sonenshine Partners Advises ABAQUS on its Sale to Dassault Systèmes
Company Press Release
May 17, 2005

New York, N.Y. – Sonenshine Partners today announced that it has advised ABAQUS Inc. on its sale to Paris, France-based Dassault Systèmes, 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, Dassault Systèmes 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 Systèmes' commitment to continued investment in technology leadership, marks a new and exciting chapter in ABAQUS's history."

Founded in 1978, ABAQUS, Inc., is the world's leading provider of software and services for advanced finite element analysis. The ABAQUS® 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® 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.

Dassault Systèmes group is the world leader in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, bringing value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes 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®, DELMIA®, ENOVIA®, SMARTEAM®), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks®), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS®). Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

Sonenshine Partners is a leading independent investment bank focused on providing integrated strategic, financial and corporate advisory services.  The firm was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in New York City.