Paris, 22^nd December 2006: ESI Group (ISIN FR0004110310), a pioneer and world leading solution provider in virtual prototyping and manufacturing processes, announces the appointment of Mr Sergio Lovera as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Mr Philippe Billaud.

Graduated from the University of Bocconi in Milan, Sergio Lovera (42) began his career as a consultant with Andersen Consulting, then in 1991 integrated the SanPaolo-IMI banking group, in the Mergers & Acquisition department. In 1999, he joined Fluxus (formerly FranceNet), incumbent Internet operator in France, as Finance Chief Operating Officer. After Fluxus was absorbed by the British Telecom group, in 2003 Sergio Lovera became CFO of the Group’s subsidiaries in France (2005/06 consolidated turnover in France of 225 million euros and a workforce of 1000 employees).

Sergio Lovera thus combines excellent knowledge of new information and communication technologies and substantial experience in financial management of a large international group with numerous subsidiaries. He will take up his position from 15th January 2007.

About ESI Group

A virtual test software package publisher, ESI Group is a world-leading supplier, and a pioneer of digital simulation software for prototyping and manufacturing processes that take into account the physics of materials. ESI Group has developed an extensive suite of coherent, industry oriented applications to realistically simulate a product’s behaviour during testing, to fine-tune manufacturing processes in accordance with desired product performance, and evaluate the environment’s impact on product performance. ESI Group’s products, which have a proven track record in manufacturing and have been combined in multi-trade value chains, represent a unique collaborative and open virtual engineering solution known as the Virtual Try-Out Space (VTOS), enabling virtual prototypes to be improved in a continuous and collaborative manner. This integrated protocol allows all the company’s solutions to work with each other and with applications developed by independent software vendors. By significantly reducing costs and development lead times and enabling product/process synergies, VTOS solutions offer major competitive advantage by progressively eliminating the need for physical prototypes during product development. The company generated sales of €62.2m in 2005, employs over 500 high-level specialists worldwide covering more than 30 countries. ESI Group is listed in Eurolist compartment C of Euronext Paris. For further information, visit www.esi-group.com.

Listed in Eurolist compartment C of Euronext Paris - Next Economy - ISIN FR0004110310 - FTSE 977- Bloomberg ESI FP - Reuters ESIG.LN

ESI GROUP has been qualified as “an innovative company” since January 20 2000 by the ANVAR and is eligible for inclusion in “FCPI” (venture capital trusts dedicated to innovation).

FY 2006/07 turnover will be published on 13th March 2007  (after market)

Virtual Try-Out Space® and VTOS® are registered trademarks of ESI Group. All other products, names or companies are the brands or registered trademarks of their respective owners.