CENIT AG, IBM and Dassault Systemes Strengthen Product Lifecycle Management Alliance

Reinforced partnership will increase cooperation in sales, service, and development to optimize and leverage PLM skills and resources

Stuttgart, Germany and Paris, France - September 25, 2002 - CENIT AG Systemhaus, IBM, and Dassault Systemes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced plans to reinforce their alliance by leveraging the companies’ respective strengths. The new alliance calls for increased cooperation in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) sales, service, and development, with a specific focus on the automotive and shipbuilding industries, and interfaces with other e-business solutions.

CENIT is a major IBM Premier Business Partner, selling IBM PLM Solutions centered on Dassault Systemes’ 3D PLM portfolio, including CATIA, ENOVIA, SMARTEAM, and DELMIA. CENIT also provides customers with integrated IBM solutions, including IBM PLM software and services.

Building upon the success of this partnership, IBM will grant CENIT direct access to its Industry Competency Centers, including those jointly operated with Dassault Systemes. In addition, CENIT and Dassault Systemes will sign a consulting agreement to optimize sharing of best practices and consulting experience. IBM will further support this relationship by assigning an international PLM Business Partner executive.  

In the area of product development, CENIT is currently a Dassault Systemes’ CAA V5 Gold Software Partner and has concluded Original Software Component agreements with Dassault Systemes. These include V5 solutions for CATIA and DELMIA. Under the new alliance, development will be extended to include ENOVIA solutions with specific emphasis on manufacturing, shipbuilding and interfaces. In Germany, CENIT will operate as the Manufacturing Core Competency Center for CATIA NC and DELMIA.

 “CENIT is Germany’s largest and most experienced consulting crew for PLM in a market with an annual revenue growth rate of more than 20 per cent,” said CENIT Executive Board spokesman Andreas Schmidt. “Our expertise in the PLM business is reaffirmed by this alliance and we expect increased market share as well as higher software and service revenue from it.”

“Strengthening our partnership with CENIT will generate new business opportunities and allow more companies to reap the benefits of product lifecycle management,” said Kim Stuckey, worldwide channel manager, IBM Product Lifecycle Management.  “CENIT’s strong process focus delivers faster return on investment to customers. This announcement underlines our strategy to address the PLM space with partners that have the skills and capabilities to deliver business value.”

“CENIT is a valued Dassault Systemes partner and this strengthened alliance only fortifies our common goal of providing the best 3D PLM solutions in the world,” said Philippe Forestier, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Dassault Systemes. “The alliance will enable each company to play to its strengths and maximize efficiency. For example, CENIT has invested heavily in skills for the shipbuilding industry. To optimize that talent, CENIT will become an important partner of the IBM Shipbuilding Competency Center in Hamburg."