Cadence Design Systems to spend $3.2B on Hexagon’s simulations tech

Group 1 - The acquisition of Hexagon's D&E business by Cadence Design Systems for approximately $3.18 billion aims to enhance Cadence's multiphysics simulation software portfolio, particularly in aerospace and automotive sectors [9] - Cadence's expanded system analysis portfolio will now include electromagnetics, electrothermal, and computational fluid dynamics, allowing for a more comprehensive multiphysics platform [4][6] - Hexagon's D&E tools, including MSC Nastran and Adams, are critical for the design and validation of complex mechanical systems and will support advancements in robotics and physical artificial intelligence [5][6] Group 2 - The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval, and will strengthen Cadence's position in the multi-billion-dollar structural analysis market [9] - Hexagon's decision to sell its D&E business is part of a strategy to simplify its industrial technology portfolio and transition to a subscription model, which has proven challenging in the rapidly evolving engineering simulation market [8]