Paris, France – September 22, 2009 – ESI Group (ISIN FR0004110310), pioneer and world-leading supplier of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes, announced today that it has been selected by Panoz Auto Development Company as a design partner for its sports car development program.

ESI and Panoz Auto Development collaboration is a win-win situation. Indeed, while ESI’s End-to-End Virtual Prototyping solutions will allow Panoz Auto Development to continue delivering new creative designs at a much faster pace, ESI will be reinforcing its presence in the Motor Sports industry. In addition, as both are qualified as ‘innovative companies’, customers in the automotive industry will benefit from their shared experience.

"ESI is known for its cutting edge technology and being a leader in Simulation-Based Design," said Daniel Panoz, President - Panoz Auto Development Company. "ESI provides a comprehensive solution for vehicle development, which is why I wanted to have them as part of our team. This is an opportunity for us to work side by side with ESI, learn from its experts, use its tools, and deliver an even better product to the market faster."

"Our partnership with Panoz Auto Development is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate all that ESI has to offer,” stated Michael Bloor, COO – ESI North America. “Panoz has a history of being innovative, creative, and not being afraid of trying something new which are the traits that have made ESI and our customers successful throughout the years. We look forward to being part of this winning team.”

About Panoz Auto Development Company

Panoz Auto Development has evolved into one of the premier automobile manufacturing companies in the world. The company’s use of new technology and fresh designs has made it a leader in the automotive industry since 1989. Panoz Auto Development Company manufactures the Panoz Esperante and the Panoz GTS race car and is part of a family of privately held international businesses. Other Companies within that family include Panoz Motor Sports Group, Château Élan Winery, and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the Château Élan Hotels and Resorts chain. Other Panoz owned companies focused on competition are, Élan Technologies which builds IRL, Champ car, Star Mazda, IMSA lights DP02, Formula super league and Van Diemen racecars. Élan Technologies also encompasses Élan composites, Élan power products and many of these companies are concentrated in a single facility to offer full service design, engineering and production capability. Van Diemen also operates factories in the U.K. and India. Panoz owns three of North America’s most historic racetracks as well, which are Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway and Mosport Park. For more information, please visit www.panozauto.com.

About ESI Group

ESI is a world-leading supplier and pioneer of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes that take into account the physics of materials. ESI has developed an extensive suite of coherent, industry-oriented applications to realistically simulate a product’s behavior during testing, to fine-tune manufacturing processes in accordance with desired product performance, and to evaluate the environment’s impact on product performance. ESI’s products represent a unique collaborative and open environment for Simulation-Based Design, enabling virtual prototypes to be improved in a continuous and collaborative manner while eliminating the need for physical prototypes during product development. The company employs over 750 high-level specialists worldwide covering more than 30 countries. ESI Group is listed in compartment C of NYSE Euronext Paris. For further information, visit www.esi-group.com.

Press Relations

ESI Group Elise Lavoue elise.lavoue@esi-group.com Tel. : +44 (0) 1865 784 833