Filed by Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 425
                                                Under the Securities Act of 1933
                                        Subject Company: Simplex Solutions, Inc.
                                                  Commission File No.: 001-10606

         This filing relates to a proposed merger between Cadence Design
Systems, Inc. ("Cadence") and Simplex Solutions, Inc. ("Simplex") pursuant to
the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 24, 2002, by and
among Cadence, Simplex and Zodiac Acquisitions, Inc.

         On April 24, 2002, Cadence and Simplex issued the following joint
press release regarding the proposed merger described above:

                    CADENCE EXPANDS TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AT
                0.13-MICRON-AND-BELOW WITH ACQUISITION OF SIMPLEX

    Cadence Brings Together World-Class Teams And Best-in-Class Technologies

         SAN JOSE, Calif -- April 24, 2002 -- Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
(NYSE: CDN), the world's leading supplier of electronic design products and
services, today announced it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire
Simplex Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLX), a Sunnyvale, California-based company
that provides software and services for the design and verification of
integrated circuits (ICs). An analyst/press briefing hosted by the CEOs of
Cadence and Simplex will begin at 1:45 p.m. (Pacific) and can be accessed at
http://www.cadence.com/company/investor_relations.

         Under the terms of the agreement, Cadence will acquire Simplex in a
tax-free, stock-for-stock merger with an aggregate value of approximately $300
million, or $18 per share of Simplex common stock, at the time of announcement.
The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2002.

         "Our strategy is to bring the best technology to market for
0.13-micron-and-below design," said Ray Bingham, president and CEO of Cadence
Design Systems. "We have been building the solutions for the next generation of
IC design for more than a year now. We are executing through our own innovation,
accelerated by the acquisition of leading-edge technology from CadMOS, Silicon
Perspective Corp. and Plato Design Systems. The proposed acquisition of Simplex
fuels our efforts to supply our customers with the world's best technology to
ensure 1st Silicon Success(R). Simplex's world-class technology and management
team will be making significant contributions to the combined company."

         "We're excited by the opportunity to participate in the transformation
of Cadence and the electronics industry," said Penny Herscher, chairman and CEO
of Simplex. "With Cadence's strong global channel and technology investment in
0.13-micron and below, together we are able to deliver the best immediate and
long-term solutions for our customers' most daunting technology challenges."

         As semiconductor process geometries move to 0.13-micron and below,
deep-submicron (DSM) physics create new challenges for the semiconductor
industry that require a new generation of design technology solutions. To be
successful at these smaller geometries, designers need tools that can easily
interoperate, support hierarchical design methods and rapid prototyping, and
that take into account critical DSM effects such as signal integrity, voltage
(IR) drop, electromigration and substrate noise.

         As a leading innovator in the area of DSM system-on-a-chip (SoC)
verification solutions, Simplex will provide Cadence with complementary
best-in-class technology for 3D parasitic extraction and full-chip power-grid
planning, electromigration and signal integrity solutions. Simplex also brings a
fast-growing, leading-edge design services capability that specializes in
high-performance, multi-million-gate digital designs to complement Cadence's
strengths in leading-edge analog and mixed-signal design. Simplex will also
provide Cadence with an exciting opportunity to improve supply chain
relationships through the X Initiative, and design performance, power, cost and
yield through the X Architecture interconnect technology.

         Once the merger is completed, the Simplex leadership team will play key
roles in Cadence's future. Penny Herscher will become executive vice president
and chief marketing officer responsible for marketing, strategy, Tality and the
Simplex SoC Design Foundry, reporting to Ray Bingham. Aki Fujimura, Simplex
president and COO, will become corporate vice president and general manager of
the Design for Manufacturability business unit, reporting to Lavi Lev, executive
vice president and general manager of the IC business unit. Steve Teig, Simplex
chief technology officer, will become the Cadence chief scientist and will join
the office of the CTO, reporting to Ray Bingham.

         CUSTOMERS APPLAUD MERGER

         "Both Cadence and Simplex products are part of ST's standard design kit
for our advanced 0.13 micron process," said Joel Monnier, corporate vice
president and central R&D director at ST Microelectronics. "The addition of the
Simplex tools and team, together with its recent acquisition of Silicon
Perspective and Plato Design Systems, gives Cadence a complete set of
best-in-class solution for 0.13-micron and below."

         "We have worked closely with Simplex on the technology for the X
Architecture for more than three years," said Dr. Susumu Kohyama, corporate
senior vice president at Toshiba Corporation. "Cadence is also a trusted design
technology partner, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration on the
X Architecture as the Simplex team becomes part of Cadence."

         TERMS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

         Upon closing of the merger, Simplex stockholders will receive in
exchange for each outstanding share of Simplex stock held by them between 0.924
and 0.756 shares of Cadence common stock, depending on the price of Cadence
common stock prior to the closing.

         The merger of Cadence and Simplex is subject to certain conditions.
including compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and the approval by
Simplex's stockholders. As a result of the merger, Simplex will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Cadence.

         In connection with the merger agreement, Simplex has issued to Cadence
an option to purchase 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Simplex stock for $18
per share. The option will become exercisable under certain circumstances.

         ABOUT CADENCE

         Cadence is the largest supplier of electronic design technologies,
methodology services, and design services. Cadence solutions are used to
accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking
and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other
electronics-based products. With approximately 5,600 employees and 2001 revenues
of approximately $1.4 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and
research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose,
California, and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More
information about the company, its products and services are available at
http://www.cadence.com.

         ABOUT SIMPLEX

         Simplex Solutions, Inc. provides software and services for the design
and verification of integrated circuits (ICs) to enable its communications,
computer and consumer-products customers to achieve first-time production
success and rapid delivery

of complex systems-on-chip. Simplex's customers use its products and services
prior to manufacture to design and verify ICs to help ensure that they will
perform as intended, taking into account the complex effects of deep-submicron
semiconductor physics. Simplex can be reached at 408-617-6100 or on the web at
http://www.simplex.com.

         ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT

         Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Simplex Solutions, Inc. intend to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, including
a proxy statement/prospectus, and other relevant materials in connection with
the proposed merger. The proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the
stockholders of Simplex. Investors and security holders of Simplex are urged to
read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they
become available because they will contain important information about Cadence,
Simplex and the proposed merger. The proxy statement/prospectus and other
relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed
by Cadence or Simplex with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may be
obtained free of charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at
http://www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free
copies of the documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by
Cadence by contacting Cadence Investor Relations, 2655 Seely Avenue, Building 5,
San Jose, California 95134, 408-943-1234. Investors and security holders may
obtain free copies of the documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Simplex by contacting Simplex Investor Relations, 521 Almanor
Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94085, 408-617-6100. Investors and security
holders are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other
relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or
investment decision with respect to the proposed merger.

         Simplex and its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Simplex in
favor of the proposed merger. A description of the interests of the executive
officers and directors in Simplex is set forth in the proxy statement for
Simplex's 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2002.

This document is available free of charge at the Securities and Exchange
Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov and from Simplex by directing a
request to Simplex Investor Relations, 521 Almanor Avenue, Sunnyvale, California
94085, 408-617-6100. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed
information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the executive
officers and directors in the proposed merger by reading the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

         CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation,
statements regarding the following: the proposed merger between Cadence and
Simplex and the potential benefits and opportunities relating to the proposed
merger; strategies, beliefs and expectations regarding technologies, products,
services and solutions; the electronics and semiconductor industries; and the
integration of the Simplex leadership team. These statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ
materially, including, without limitation, the following: the approval of the
proposed merger by Simplex's stockholders; the satisfaction of closing
conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals; the successful
integration of Simplex's employees and technologies; the rapid pace of
technological change in the electronics and semiconductor industries;
fluctuations in the demand for Cadence's and Simplex's products, services and
solutions; possible development or marketing delays relating to product
offerings; and the introduction of new products by competitors or the entry of
new competitors into the markets for Cadence's and Simplex's products. A
detailed discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is
included in Cadence's and Simplex's most recent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Neither Cadence nor Simplex undertakes any obligation to
update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring
after the date of this press release.