Canonsburg-based Ansys mulls bid, holds swanky Vegas event, while software is tested in space
Ansysis reportedly mulling a $35 billion acquisition bid as the Canonsburg software company dined with “high-profile customers” in Las Vegas last week as part of the Consumer ElectronicsShow.
On Wednesday evening, Ansys held an “elegant” privatereception with industry executives at the Sphere, an immersive new event space on the Strip, according to an invitation sent to the PostGazette.Guests were treated to a “Postcard from Earth,” a 45-minute multisensory story that’s part nature documentary and part science fiction.
pany’s space software was getting a real-world test.
Ansys’ simulations helped train Astrobotic’s Peregrine moon mission, which spent the last week hurtling through space with abroken propulsion system. The partnership between the two Western Pennsylvania companies dates to 2010 and was featured in a dramatic 3-minute promotional videoon Ansys’ site.
“Our use of Ansys has providedan assurance that our design is capable,”
Brandon Schoonmaker, Astrobotic’s mechanical systems lead, said in the video.
“It can represent varying dynamic conditions that are beyond the capabilities that you could do by hand.”
Lauren Whitehouse, a structural analysis engineer for Astrobotic, said in the video that the software was “absolutely essential to the mission.”
After aiding Peregrine’s physical design, Ansys also helped Astrobotic plot the rover’s orbital trajectory and communication plan — which has proven crucial as mission control raced to keep the lander alive following damage to its propulsion system.
Ansys’ last big public test came during the COVID-19 pandemic as engineers across the globe used simulation software to continue their research and development at home.
The company had a $26 billion market cap when reports of a potential acquisition began to swirl in late December.
Reutersfirst reported the interest from Synopsis, a maker of software used in chip design, on Dec. 22, noting the deal negotiations came as Synopsys co -founder Aart de Geus transitioned from chief executive to executive chairman. Chief operating officer Sassine Ghazi was set to takeover as CEO on Jan. 1.
Ansys is also going through a leadership change, with chief financial officer Nicole Anasenes set to leave in the second quarter of 2024. The company has not found a replacement.
On Jan. 5, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported that Synopsys was considering paying $400 a share for Ansys in a deal that anonymous sources saidcould be announced in a matterof days.
Asked for comment Wednesday, Ansys gave the same statement it gave in December: “M&A rumors in our industry are not uncommon, and it is our longstanding policy not to comment on them.”
The company had a suite of other announcements planned for the Las Vegas trade show, including a new program with BMW to accelerate the carmaker’s rollout of autonomous technology.