Acquisition Extends Autodesk's Leadership in Structural Engineering Space

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Robobat, a privately-held company based in Grenoble, France that provides software for structural engineering analysis, design and steel and concrete detailing, for $33 million in USD cash, subject to a working capital adjustment. The acquisition will complement Autodesk's current software offerings to the structural engineering industry, AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit Structure, and will also help Autodesk provide an increasingly complete set of well-integrated solutions to the structural engineering community.

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"We are pleased to welcome Robobat, their industry-leading software and technology and their community of customers to Autodesk," said Jay Bhatt, vice president, Autodesk Building Solutions. "As we enhance our comprehensive solutions for structural engineering, Autodesk remains committed to supporting our customer's choice of structural analysis and detailing software. We will continue to support open data exchange standards and to work closely with our strategic structural engineering partners to support the many different ways that structural engineers around the world use software to work and realize their ideas."

Robobat, a leading supplier of software solutions for structural engineering, was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Grenoble, France and has a significant operation in Krakow, Poland. Its software has been used by structural engineers around the world on projects including the Stade de France, the proposed Shanghai South Rail Station and the new hangar for the Airbus A380 aircraft. Robobat ROBOT Millennium, a structural analysis and design solution for structural engineering, has been integrated with Autodesk Revit Structure, and Robobat has also developed steel and concrete detailing software on the AutoCAD platform. Autodesk currently plans to offer new solutions for structural engineering, detailing and analysis that incorporate both Robobat and Autodesk technology, and to continue supporting Robobat's existing product line.

"Robobat and Autodesk share a vision for building information modeling (BIM) and the use of information technology for structural engineering," said Andre Niznik, CEO, Robobat. "We have partnered with Autodesk to integrate Robobat ROBOT Millennium with Autodesk Revit Structure and developed software that integrates with other Autodesk products for many years. We are excited to join Autodesk and are confident that both Autodesk and Robobat customers will benefit from this acquisition."

About Autodesk Revit Structure

Autodesk Revit Structure is building information modeling (BIM) software for structural engineering and documentation that can increase efficiency, accuracy, and design flexibility. Revit Structure integrates a physical model -- for layout, coordination, and documentation -- with an independently editable analytical model for multiple analyses, and was released last year in the United States and Canada. For more information on Autodesk Revit Structure visit http://www.autodesk.com/structure .

Business Outlook

This transaction is expected to have no impact on targeted non-GAAP EPS, which excludes in-process R&D expenses and the amortization of acquisition- related intangibles, for fiscal 2007.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the impact of the acquisition on Autodesk's earnings, product offerings and the performance of its business. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: difficulties encountered in integrating merged businesses; whether certain market segments grow as anticipated; the competitive environment in the software industry and competitive responses to the acquisition; and whether the companies can successfully develop new products or modify existing products and the degree to which these gain market acceptance.

Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Autodesk are included in the company's reports on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2006, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2006 which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Robobat

Robobat writes and distributes market leading analysis, design and drafting software solutions for structural engineers that help clients to integrate the various facets of the structural engineering process, thereby improving accuracy, efficiency and profitability. More than 10000 licenses of Robobat software are in use in over 100 countries around the world. Founded in 1988, Robobat is an ISO 9001 accredited company headquartered in Grenoble, France with subsidiaries and resellers around the world.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the manufacturing, infrastructure, building, media and entertainment, and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage, become more productive, streamline project efficiency and maximize profits.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

NOTE: Autodesk, AutoCAD and Revit are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Contact: Noah Cole, 415-547-2405
Email: noah.cole@autodesk.com,
Investors:
Sue Pirri, 415-507-6467
Email: sue.pirri@autodesk.com

09/06/2006
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