UGS, founded in 1963 as United Computing, provides over 42,000 companies with product lifecycle management (PLM) technologies and services. The firm builds customized systems for life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and other clients. Its applications and services streamline product development processes. UGS systems include wizards that support the design, validation, and manufacture of products. The firm introduced its first computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) applications in 1969. It purchased MCS' ADAM software in 1973, employing it as a foundation for the Unigraphics computer-aided design (CAD) program. United Computing was acquired by McDonnell Douglas Corporation in 1976 and became a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas Automation Company (McAuto). The Unigraphics products continued to be developed by McAuto, until it was acquired by EDS Corporation in 1991. EDS established Unigraphics Software as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1997. It also sold a 14 percent stake in the firm. Shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the UGS symbol. Unigraphics Solutions acquired dCADE and Applicon Incorporated in 1999. It acquired Engineering Animation Incorporated (EAI) in 2000. The next year, EDS repurchased the 14 percent stake in UGS, acquired SDRC, and merged the two companies, forming EDS PLM Solutions. In 2004, Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners, and Wartburg Pincus acquired the firm, changing its name to UGS. The firm now is based in Plano, Texas. UGS markets its products across 24 countries. It employs 6,300 people. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the firm had revenues of $294.2 million.