Cadence to acquire BETA CAE and expands into structural analysis

Cadence Design Systems is to acquire BETA CAE Systems International, a system analysis platform provider of multi-domain, engineering simulation solutions.

The addition of BETA CAE’s technologies will see Cadence expanding its multiphysics system analysis portfolio and enables it to enter into the structural analysis segment, unlocking a multi-billion-dollar incremental TAM opportunity.

Under the terms of the agreement Cadence will pay approximately $1.24bn for the company.

Increasing system complexity and time-to-market pressures from accelerating mechanical and electrical convergence, along with the digital transformation in multiple industries, are driving the need for multiphysics simulations early in the design cycle.

Over the past few years, Cadence has expanded its system analysis portfolio to build out a comprehensive multiphysics platform including electromagnetics (EM), electrothermal (ET) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions, and with BETA CAE, Cadence will now enter structural analysis, the largest system analysis segment.

BETA CAE has established a reputation for its innovative, high-performance simulation software and best-in-class services. Its portfolio includes its flagship pre- and post-processing products, mechanical and structural simulation and multiphysics analysis, and simulation, process, data, and resources management (SPDRM) solutions, among others.

BETA CAE has a very strong footprint in the automotive vertical sector, delivering solutions to the top 10 global automobile manufacturers and most Formula One racing teams, as well as leading customers in the aerospace, industrial and healthcare industries.

“Cadence entered the multiphysics space several years ago through organic innovation and acquisitions. This strategic acquisition reaffirms our commitment to continued growth in this critical domain,” said Dr. Anirudh Devgan, president and CEO, Cadence.

“Combining our computational software expertise with BETA CAE’s rich technology and talent will enable us to offer a more comprehensive portfolio to customers, while opening significant new opportunities for Cadence by tapping into the structural analysis segment. These solutions are particularly important in automotive, where convergence of electrical and mechanical designs is further driven by an increasing shift towards electric vehicles, requiring deeper design team collaboration in integrated workflows.”

“For more than two decades we’ve led the evolution of engineering simulation, first by establishing our reputation in the land mobility sector, and then successfully expanding to broad deployments across aerospace, defence, biomechanics, electronics, energy and other industries,” said Panagiotis Kouvrakis, chairman of BETA CAE. “We are very excited to join the Cadence team and are looking forward to advancing success through our shared values and passion for innovation and engineering, and our unwavering commitment to customers and partners.”

BETA CAE provides a complete platform that accommodates the entire simulation and analysis flow for multiphysics system simulations, spanning mechanical/structural, CFD and EM. Its flagship products include ANSA, an advanced, multidisciplinary computer-aided engineering (CAE) pre-processor that encompasses all necessary functionality for full-model build up in a single, cohesive, integrated environment, and META, an advanced, multidisciplinary CAE post-processor for optimally visualising data and simulation results and creating reports, powered with state-of-the-art augmented reality capabilities.

Additionally, BETA CAE’s EPILYSIS and FATIQ solvers enable customers to efficiently solve structural analysis and optimisation problems.

The SPDRM tool addresses the integrated orchestration of data, processes and resources by providing a simple and intuitive way to capture, deploy, manage and improve CAE processes.

BETA CAE’s products are seen as being very complementary to Cadence’s multiphysics system analysis portfolio, which includes Clarity, Celsius, Sigrity, Voltus, Fidelity and the recently announced Millennium M1 multiphysics platform, addressing the EM, thermal, signal and power integrity, and CFD domains.

Headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland, BETA CAE has a primary R&D centre in Thessaloniki, Greece and 13 additional offices worldwide.

The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.