Dassault Systèmes has reaffirmed its financial targets for 2026 and, at the same time, announced one of the largest acquisitions in its history. The French software manufacturer will pay around $1.8 billion for the US firm ArisGlobal. A further $200 million may be paid out upon achieving multi-year revenue targets related to artificial intelligence.
In the second quarter, Dassault Systèmes generated €1.56 billion in revenue, up 4 per cent at constant exchange rates. Subscription sales rose by 8 per cent, whilst revenue from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and cloud software each increased by 14 per cent. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 8 per cent to €0.31. The company continues to forecast that its revenue for the full year 2026 will increase by 3–5 per cent.
However, the results show a clear divergence between the various business segments. Sales of industrial and cloud solutions remain strong, particularly amongst manufacturing companies. At the same time, the Life Sciences segment, which includes Medidata’s clinical trial software, remains under pressure. Revenue from this part of the business fell by 4 per cent in the quarter, whilst Medidata’s revenue alone fell by 3 per cent. Europe saw no growth, mainly due to the weaker performance of the automotive sector. Revenue rose by 5 per cent in the Americas and by 8 per cent in Asia.
The acquisition of ArisGlobal can therefore be seen both as an investment in AI and as an attempt to strengthen a weaker area of the business. The company provides software for drug safety monitoring, regulatory documentation management, quality control and medical information management. It serves over 200 clients, processes more than 12 million patient safety reports annually, and is expected to generate around $175 million in revenue by 2026.
Dassault Systèmes expects the transaction to boost revenue growth and earnings per share as early as the first year following its completion. The acquisition, which is being financed from the company’s cash reserves, is scheduled to be finalised in the second half of 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals.
