ENGINEERING

SANTA ANA, CA -- MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE: MNS), the leading global provider of simulation software, services and systems, today announced that product development firm Atena Engineering Inc. has implemented both MSC.Nastran and MSC.Patran and is using IBM(TM) CATIA workstations at its first U.S.-based design center in Rocky Hill, Conn. ATENA helps global customers including MTU Aero Engines in coordination with Pratt & Whitney and GE, Airbus, Fairchild Dornier, Eurocopter, Mercedes Benz and BMW design, analyze and manufacture mechanical products including aerospace engines (turbines, casings etc.), aircraft structures and auxiliary equipment, automotive exterior, interior, and other industrial components. "MSC.Software has seen a strong commitment from our small and medium-sized customers around the world who are increasingly looking to the value that simulation software and related systems and services can offer," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer of MSC.Software. "We are proud to be part of ATENA's success and look forward to helping them expand their operations in North America." Based in Munich, Germany, ATENA GmbH was formed in 1998 as a subsidiary of MTU Aero Engines (A DaimlerChrysler Division), growing to more than 250 employees, with eight offices in just over three years. ATENA was conceptualized by MTU to supplement their aero engine business and to make their engineering knowledge and experience available to other markets. The U.S.-based branch of ATENA Engineering currently offers a complete line of mechanical engineering and project management services for both on-sight and in-house projects. "In our business, the customer dictates what types of applications we use and our customers want us to use MSC.Nastran to get analysis results," said Stefan Andres, vice president and chief operating officer of Atena Engineering in the U.S. "We saw it as a big advantage that MSC.Software could provide us with high-end software tools and the hardware needed to run them." Atena has been an MSC.Software customer since 1998 in Europe and recently extended the relationship to include software licenses, hardware systems and services in the United States. For more information visit www.mscsoftware.com