The mechanical computer-aided design world saw its competitive field diminished by one Monday, as Matra Datavision SA bought Cisigraph SA. The combined company, with annual sales of some $125m, now ranks among Europe’s top five and the world’s top 10, with some 3,500 customers, according to Les Echos. For the moment, however, the two will retain their separate identities, each selling their respective products, Euclide and Strim. We are first going to work on creating a common commercial identity, said Michel Neuve Eglise, managing director of Matra Datavision. Matra, which accounts for the 75% of the revenues of the combined company, wants Cisigraph to strenghten its international network, notably in Germany and in the US. Cisigraph was held 65% by its employees, 22% by Bayerische MotorenWerke AG and the rest by Sumitomo Bank.
