In April, Maya maker Alias first noted plans to break away from owner Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) and go independent. Alias has announced the completion of that plan in a deal worth US$57.5 million, executed with private equity firm Accel-KKR and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Alias’ management, organization, services, support and product line won’t change as a result of the new business structure.
In addition to Maya, a 3D graphics and animation software package used in television, movies and video game development, Alias also recently began shipping SketchBook Pro for Mac OS X, a sketching and annotation software application aimed at artists and illustrators who use pen-based drawing systems.