SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated April 15, 2004
Commission File No. 0-28578
DASSAULT SYSTEMES S.A.
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(Name of Registrant)
9, Quai Marcel Dassault, B.P. 310, 92156 Suresnes Cedex, France
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes No X
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes No X
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Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-___________
ENCLOSURES:
Dassault Systemes S.A. (the "Company") is furnishing under cover of Form 6-K a
press release dated April 15, 2004, announcing a joint venture between the
Company and RAND Worldwide for PLM sales in North America.
[DASSAULT SYSTEMES logo] [RAND WORLDWIDE logo]
Dassault Systemes and RAND Worldwide Announce
Joint Venture for PLM Sales in North America
Agreement strengthens Dassault Systemes presence in North American
market; solidifies RAND financial position
Paris, France and Mississauga, Canada - April 15, 2004 - Dassault Systemes
(Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) and Rand A Technology
Corporation, operating as RAND Worldwide (TSX: RND) today announced plans to
create RAND North America, Inc. ("Rand Americas"), a new joint venture focused
on increasing sales of Dassault Systemes Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
software in North America.
Subject to closing of the proposed transaction, RAND Worldwide will transfer its
North American PLM software sales business unit (approximately 55 employees) to
Rand Americas, a new U.S. company, 60% owned by Dassault Systemes and 40% owned
by RAND Worldwide. Dassault Systemes will pay RAND Worldwide CDN$11 million, as
well as reschedule RAND Worldwide loan payments.
The goal of the new structure is threefold: to create a dynamic that will
further improve PLM small-and-medium sized business (SMB) sales across the North
American continent, to grow Dassault Systemes' PLM Solutions market share; and
to reinforce RAND Worldwide's financial position. RAND Americas will operate as
an IBM Business Partner selling Dassault Systemes PLM solutions as RAND
Worldwide is today.
Rand Americas will become a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes. Brian Semkiw,
currently CEO and a director of RAND Worldwide, will become the new CEO of RAND
Americas. RAND Worldwide president Frank Baldesarra will become CEO of RAND
Worldwide. The transaction, which is expected to close on or before June 30,
2004, is subject to customary conditions, including documentation and approval
by RAND Worldwide's Board of Directors. The new arrangement involves neither
RAND Worldwide's PLM software sales business in Europe and Asia-Pacific, nor any
other parts of the company's global business operations.
"We believe that Dassault Systemes' continued commitment to RAND and to
investing in the PLM market will significantly improve our North American
business and, in turn, help us to return to global profitability and predictable
growth," said Frank Baldesarra.
"Together, we will accelerate the sales of Dassault Systemes' best-in-class PLM
solutions and RAND Worldwide's leading PLM services to the mutual benefit of all
of our customers," said Brian Semkiw. "The new structure will bring our two
companies into even closer global partnership in the rapidly growing PLM
marketplace."
"After a successful transition, RAND is a key part of our global PLM software
and service distribution plan. The transaction further improves our position in
North America and will help to generate a market dynamic that benefits all of
our partners" said Etienne Droit, executive vice president, Sales and Services,
Dassault Systemes.
Further details related to this agreement will be discussed in Dassault
Systemes' earnings conference call on April 29th, 2004.
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About RAND Worldwide
RAND Worldwide is one of the world's leading providers of services and
technology to companies looking to optimize their product lifecycle management
(PLM) processes. Unlike traditional CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM technologies, PLM provides
collaborative solutions to define and manage information throughout the complete
product lifecycle and across the entire extended enterprise. As the world's only
independent global technology provider, RAND Worldwide employs over 800 people
in more than 75 international sales and client service centres. The Company's
corporate head office in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada can be reached at
905-625-2000 or through the Internet at http://www.rand.com.
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About Dassault Systemes
As world leader in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault
Systemes group brings value to more than 70,000 customers in 80 countries. A
pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and
markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes
and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to
maintenance. Its offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product
development (CATIA(R), DELMIA(R), ENOVIA(R), SMARTEAM(R)), mainstream product
design tools (SolidWorks(R)), and 3D components (ACIS(R)) from Spatial Corp.
Dassault Systemes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065,
DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com
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RAND Worldwide Press & Investor Dassault Systemes Press Dassault Systemes Investor
Contact: Contacts: Contacts:
Greg Taylor, Vice President, Investor Derek Lane Harriet Keen
Relations & Communications Tel: +1 818 673 2243 Financial Dynamics
Tel: (905) 625-8142, ext. 2369 derek_lane@ds-us.com Tel: +44 207 831 3113
E-mail: gtaylor@rand.com --------------------
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Anthony Marechal
Tel: +33 1 55 49 84 21
anthony_marechal@ds-fr.com
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
DASSAULT SYSTEMES S.A.
Date: April 15, 2004 By: /s/ Thibault de Tersant
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Name: Thibault de Tersant
Title: Executive Vice President,
Finance and Administration