Dassault Systèmes signs definitive agreement to acquire SAFEWORK

Leveraging on SAFEWORK’s human modeling technology to "create human friendly products in a user friendly environment"

Suresnes (France) and Montréal (Quebec, Canada), December 13, 1999 – Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY) and SAFEWORK today announced the signing of a definitive agreement whereby the privately-held SAFEWORK will be acquired by Dassault Systèmes through a cash transaction in the first quarter of 2000. Through this agreement, the company becomes a wholly–owned subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes. The acquisition will be non-dilutive to Dassault Systèmes’ earnings per share.

SAFEWORK’s advanced turn-key human modeling software is the solution of choice for leaders in aerospace, military, and industry throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Its revolutionary technology provides users with anthropometrically-correct mannequins used within a digital environment to simulate, demonstrate and optimize how a specific task may be carried out. The SAFEWORK team of senior Human Factors and Software engineers is supported by a worldwide network of universities.

With this agreement, SAFEWORK becomes the Dassault Systèmes company in charge of providing an advanced human modeling infrastructure within the V5 architecture. It will also become the leading Dassault Systèmes human modeling Competency Center for Dassault Systèmes' brands, CATIA, DENEB and ENOVIA. SAFEWORK can also provide turn-key solutions by complementing their software solution with consulting services for ergonomic processes in various industries.

The integration of SAFEWORK technology within the CATIA, DENEB and ENOVIA portfolios is expected to benefit users by creating better products and optimizing manufacturing workplaces with increased efficiency, quality, productivity and competitiveness. It also leads to increased safety, reduced health care costs, and reduced risk and liability.

SAFEWORK’s human modeling infrastructure will be incorporated into specialized applications, developed by Dassault Systèmes or its partners, that enhance product ergonomics, interior packaging, product maintenance, and optimization and safety of human intervention within a manufacturing environment. These applications will allow product and process engineers as well as human factors experts to study human interaction within a digital environment, thus reducing the requirement for expensive physical prototypes.

"We share with Dassault Systèmes a common passion for engineering excellence," said Robert Carrier, President and CEO of SAFEWORK. "This new partnership extends our ability to deploy our proven technology and know-how to the worldwide market. Our companies’ synergies and complementary skills combine to address customers’ needs for product quality, usability, maintainability and manufacturing process optimization."

"Within a world where products are built, used and maintained by people, the human being is the central actor of the digital enterprise", added Bernard Charlès, President of Dassault Systèmes. "This acquisition enables Dassault Systèmes to immerse human models within the digital mock-up throughout every stage of the product life cycle. It will help our customers create human friendly products in a user friendly environment."