ABB Signs $4.5 Million Contract for Autodesk Mechanical and Engineering Design Software.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 1996--Leveraging the advanced functionality of the Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, AutoCAD Release 13, and the strength of its global account program, Autodesk signed a contract with Swiss/Swedish based Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., (ABB) worth $4.5 million over a three year period.

A world leader in electric power generation and transmission, industrial building systems and rail transportation, ABB employs more than 200,000 employees in 100 countries. The US $34 billion ABB uses Autodesk's AutoCAD Release 13 design software, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop software, and Autodesk's Kinetix division's 3D Studio software for key mechanical, engineering and electrical design projects worldwide.

With products it manufactures ranging from heavy electric motors to power plants, ABB is in the process of centralizing its information technology decisions for the future. The decision to use Autodesk, the world leader in PC design software, as a global supplier represents one of the first attempts by ABB to coordinate its information technology (IT) strategy worldwide.

Autodesk, with its international presence in 130 countries, offers the ability to meet the stringent demands ABB places on a global supplier.

"ABB's choice of Autodesk is another confirmation of the growing strength of Autodesk in the highly competitive mechanical design market," said Dominic Gallello, vice president of the Autodesk Mechanical Market Group. "ABB has joined a long list of leading global companies that have chosen Autodesk solutions for their mechanical design needs."

A key product in ABB's purchase strategy is the Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, a leading mechanical CAD software solution that provides parametric feature based solid modeling, NURBS surface modeling, associative drafting and assembly modeling on desktop systems.

Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, in combination with programs developed by a dozen industry-leading partners in the most important mechanical market niches, provides complete design-through- manufacturing solutions for the mechanical CAD market.

Although ABB has been a long-term Autodesk customer, this contract extends the companies' relationship beyond traditional vendor/purchaser roles because it falls within Autodesk's Global Accounts Program. The contract, which makes Autodesk an ABB preferred supplier on a global basis, provides opportunities for the two companies to share their strategies and perspectives on information technology and computer aided design.

A global account team comprised of Autodesk and a number of its third party development partners, distributors and authorized dealers worked together to provide ABB with a global, integrated solution.

AutoCAD is the industry design and drafting software standard used by over 1.5 million users worldwide. The latest version of AutoCAD, AutoCAD Release13, provides users with powerful 2D and 3D features, an object-oriented database, customizable Windows interface, and robust functionality.

For more information on AutoCAD R13 design software, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop or 3D Studio software, contact your local Authorized Autodesk Dealer or call 800/964-6532.

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of PC design software and PC multimedia tools. The company's 2D and 3D products, geographic information systems, and data management tools are used in many industries for mapping, architectural design, mechanical design, film and video production, video/game development and Web content development.

Its Kinetix division is the leader in PC-based 3D modeling and animation software, providing a full range of products for digital media and design professionals. The fourth largest PC software company in the world, Autodesk has three million customers in nearly 130 countries. Autodesk products are sold through Autodesk Systems Centers, Dealers and Distributors worldwide.

For more information, please call 415/507-5000, type Go ADESK on CompuServe, or visit its World Wide Web site at http://www.autodesk.com. Kinetix can be reached by calling 800/879-4233 or through its World Wide Web site at http://www.ktx.com. Autodesk shares are traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol ADSK. -0-

Note to Editors: Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Autodesk Mechanical Desktop and Kinetix are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H & R Block. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Autodesk, Inc.

Garth Bradley, 415/507-4733

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