PITTSBURGH, PA - August 18, 2005 - Ansoft Corporation (NASDAQ: ANST) today announced financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2006 ended July 31, 2005.

Revenue for the first quarter totaled $14.8 million, an increase of 17% compared to $12.7 million reported in the previous fiscal year's first quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the first quarter was $1.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, representing a 392% increase when compared to net income of $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share in the previous fiscal year's first quarter. On a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, net income for the first quarter was $1.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $30,000, or $0.00 per diluted share in the previous fiscal year's first quarter.

"We had an excellent first quarter with strong growth in revenues and earnings," said Nicholas Csendes, Ansoft's President and CEO. "For the balance of the fiscal year, we expect continued revenue growth of around 10-15% with earnings increasing around 25% over the last fiscal year."

Pro forma results represent non-GAAP financial measures and exclude the impact of amortization of intangible assets. A reconciliation of these amounts to the appropriate GAAP amounts, for the three months ended July 31, 2005 and 2004 is included with this press release.

Ansoft is a leading developer of high-performance electronic design automation (EDA) software. Engineers use Ansoft software to design state-of-the-art electronic products, such as cellular phones, Internet-access devices, broadband networking components and systems, integrated circuits (ICs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), automotive electronic systems and power electronics. Ansoft markets its products worldwide through its own direct sales force and has comprehensive customer-support and training offices throughout North America, Asia and Europe.

This press release contains forward-looking statements including those related to revenue and earnings growth for the current fiscal year that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not necessarily limited to, management's ability to forecast revenues and control expenses and the size, timing and structure of significant licenses.

For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Ansoft's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" section of Ansoft's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained at Ansoft's website at www.ansoft.com/about/investor/index.cfm.

All information in this release is as of August 18, 2005. Ansoft undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.