$550m US vendor buys Aussie CAD developer

Bentley Systems has acquired the business of Engineering Systems, headquartered in New South Wales, for an undisclosed sum

Engineering Systems provides structural analysis and design software. Its main products include Microstran for structural analysis, MStower for the design of communications and power transmission structures and Limcon, a specialty tool for the design of steel connections.

The vendor's solutions have helped design landmark structures such as Wembley Stadium in London, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Hong Kong Stadium and the Olympic Park railway station in Australia.

These will add to Bentley's own portfolio of structural analysis and design software, which includes STAAD, RAM, ProStructures, and SACS.

Engineering Systems served Australian customers directly. It also has resellers in Canada, the UK, and south east Asia. Those arrangements are currently under review.

No job cuts are expected, with Bentley expecting to increase staff levels in order to support new users and product portfolio. Former Engineering Systems personnel will be locating to Bentley’s North Sydney office.

Engineering Systems owner Richard Collins has joined the Bentley team, where he will be responsible for the continuation of business activities for Microstran, Limcon and MSTower users.

Collins will serve as a consultant to Bentley’s structural management team.

Bentley vice president Raoul Karp said: "Besides his expertise with Engineering Systems’ software products, Richard has broad experience in structural design and an in-depth understanding of local structural engineering requirements and practices in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia that will help us better serve the needs of our users in these key growth regions."

Bentley Systems turned over $550 million in the 2012 financial year, 74 percent of which was from subscriptions.