Alias, maker of the Maya 3D animation and effects package, is involved in exclusive discussions with a private equity investment firm for the acquisition of Alias from parent company Silicon Graphics Inc. The news comes just months after the company shortened its name from Alias|Wavefront.
“As an independent entity, Alias would be able to further expand its business, extend customer value and create significant growth with its products and services,” says Alias president Doug Walker. “The investor believes that there is a great potential and synergy to having design and entertainment focused products, services and customers. The new investor has been briefed in detail on our roadmap and is attracted to Alias precisely because of our product and services portfolio.”
According to Alias, there will be no changes to the management team, organization, services, support or product availability as a result of the negotiations or the sale of the business.
In 2003, Alias was awarded an Oscar for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its development of Maya. Seven years earlier, John Gibson, Rob Krieger, Milan Novacek, Glen Ozymok and Dave Springer received the award for the development of the geometric modeling component of the Alias PowerAnimator system. StudioTools is based on this software code.
Alias’ entertainment customers include Acclaim Ent. Inc., Digital Domain, Disney, Electronic Arts, Industrial Light & Magic, Factor 5 LLC, Midway Games, Nintendo, Pacific Data Images (PDI), Pixar, Sega, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Square Co., Ltd. and Weta Ltd.
