Autodesk Will Acquire Discreet Logic

Autodesk Inc., a maker of software to aid engineers and designers, said it will buy Discreet Logic Inc., a maker of systems and software used in creating special effects for movies and TV. Under terms of the $520-million stock deal, Autodesk will issue 0.525 share for each of Discreet Logic’s outstanding shares. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year. Autodesk is trying to expand its product line to include software related to the Internet and multimedia industries. In Nasdaq trading, shares of San Rafael-based Autodesk rose 13 cents to close at $32.63, and shares of Montreal-based Discreet Logic rose $2.38 to $16. Autodesk also reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $9.1 million including charges, or 18 cents per diluted share, compared with $17.8 million, or 34 cents, a year ago.