Daratech reports another strong year for Bentley.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 1997--

Names Bentley Fastest Growing Major AEC Software Provider for 1996,

Second Fastest Growing Major CAD/CAM/CAE Supplier

CAD/CAM/CAE market research firm Daratech Inc., today reported another strong annual performance for Bentley Systems, Inc., of Exton, PA.

Daratech estimates that Bentley revenue for software and software subscriptions provided to its users in 1996 increased thirty-seven percent over 1995. That growth compares with fifteen percent growth for the CAD/CAM/CAE industry and distinguishes Bentley as the fastest growing major AEC software provider and second fastest growing major CAD/CAM/CAE provider overall, behind only Parametric Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: PMTC).

Bruce Jenkins, vice president of Daratech, comments, "Bentley is proving to be an impressive market performer. The company's emergence in 1995 and market-beating growth in 1996 is one of the most compelling business stories in our industry." He continues, "But what differentiates Bentley from the rest in AEC is its vision for the future of CAD/CAM, CAE technology and its ability to move ahead quickly in building engineering and geoengineering."

Separately, Bentley reported especially strong performance from new products and business initiatives of the past two years. Revenue from new products has more than doubled in 1996 compared to 1995. Revenue from new distribution channels is up fifty percent. Intergraph Corporation, which until 1995 was the exclusive distributor of Bentley products, now accounts for less than twenty percent of Bentley revenue.

Also in 1996, the new Bentley SELECT(SM) technology and service subscription program became the preferred method for users to purchase, maintain and get training for Bentley software. Membership grew from 49,000 to 88,000 subscribers, and orders from members now account for over fifty percent of total Bentley revenue.

A record number of new MicroStation(R) seats were shipped during the year showing increased market share and continuing high demand for Bentley's flagship product. MicroStation reached the quarter million mark in number of users in a year that saw Bentley revenues exceed $113M and employee count grow from over 450 to 600.

Bentley also made several major investments in partner companies during the year while maintaining profitability. In fact, the company formed a corporate structure of an "interpreneurial" organization with seven market-leading Strategic Affiliates providing advanced engineering applications in key markets. With this structure in place, Bentley now offers a portfolio of over thirty engineering products and solutions.

Bentley was honored with several business and technology awards during the year, including the coveted Enterprise Award for Growth Company of the Year last given to SAP America. Product awards acknowledged several technology advancements, for instance in the areas of Web-enabled engineering and solid modeling for architectural engineering.

Finally, the company announced in September its Engineering Back Office strategy and new category of ModelServer(TM) products that augment the MicroStation product line. Hailed as an "important new direction for the industry" by Daratech, ModelServers hold major significance because of the Web-based connectivity and information sharing they offer engineering groups and their enterprises.

For more information on Bentley, please contact the company at 1-800-BENTLEY, [phone] (US), [phone] (Europe), [phone] (Asia), through E-mail at [e-mail] , or through www.bentley.com .

More on Bentley

Bentley Systems, Inc. is a worldwide leader in engineering software and user services. The company now serves over 250,000 professionals in geoengineering, building/plant engineering, and mechanical engineering. Its MicroStation desktop products are proven at over 70% of the largest U.S. engineering firms and are the software foundation of well-known buildings, roadways, machines, and industrial plants around the world. Its new line of Internet/intranet-based ModelServer products are the first to unite engineering and the enterprise. With revenues now over $120M annually, Bentley was listed as the fourth fastest growing on the 1996 Softletter 100 and named 1996 Growth Company of the Year by the Eastern Technology Council.

MicroStation is a registered trademark; ModelServer and Bentley are trademarks; and Bentley SELECT is a service mark of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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