I was wondering what people feel about the effect of the credit crunch on the "big" CFD/CAE vendors. You would have to argue that Ansys are probably set up to loose the most having bought Fluent for a (somewhat overinflated in my opinion) $565million a couple of years back, over half of which was financed by banks. When the deal went through the ansys stock price was valued at $44 per share but is now down to under $30 per having hovered around $40-$50 for the past year.

Also Mentor graphics recently acquired flomerics (who in turn had just acquired nika) again largely in stock although for the somewhat lower $60million. Their share price has remained reasonably stable (and reasonably low) though.

Just mulling this all over as the markets continue to slide. So does everyone think that the heavily financed companies are likely to suffer, and if so how, and are the "independets" cd-adapco, BRNI etc likely to prosper and dodge the worst of the crunch?

No wonder Ansys is increasing price of Fluent by 10-20 percent for yearly license renewal..

I advise you the article of Simon Jenkins:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4926560.ece

the times are really good for engineers and bad for financial swaggers.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4916300.ece

the gadgets, trinkets, lad's magazines and hen nights are out and bankrupt. Excellent!