DASSAULT SYSTEMES IS ACQUIRING SOLIDWORKS

Dassault Systemes S.A., a leading maker of computer-aided design software based in Suresnes, France, agreed yesterday to acquire the Solidworks Corporation of Concord, Mass., for stock valued at about $300 million. Solidworks, which is privately held, also produces software for mechanical design. The deal was announced after Dassault's American depository receipts gained $1.25, to $65.25, in Nasdaq trading. Dassault produces primarily mainframe-based software for industrial customers and suppliers. Solidworks has developed mechanical design software products primarily for use with Microsoft's Windows operating system software for personal computers.