Paris, France and Mississauga, Canada, April 15, 2004 -
Dassault Systèmes (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 Systèmes 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 Systèmes and 40% owned by
RAND Worldwide. Dassault Systèmes 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
Systèmes’ PLM Solutions market share; and to
reinforce RAND Worldwide’s financial position.
RAND Americas will operate as an IBM Business
Partner selling Dassault Systèmes PLM solutions as
RAND Worldwide is today.
Rand Americas will become a subsidiary of Dassault
Systèmes. 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 Systèmes’ 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 Systèmes’ 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
Systèmes.
Further details related to this agreement will be
discussed in Dassault Systèmes’ earnings
conference call on April 29th, 2004. About Dassault Systèmes
As world leader in PLM (Product Lifecycle
Management) solutions, the Dassault Systèmes group
brings value to more than 70,000 customers in 80
countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market
since 1981, Dassault Systèmes 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 retirement. Its offering includes integrated
PLM solutions for product development (CATIA®,
ENOVIA®, DELMIA®, SMARTEAM®), mainstream product
design tools (SolidWorks), and 3D components
(ACIS®) from Spatial Corp. Dassault Systèmes is
listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris
(#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more
information, visit
http://www.3ds.com.
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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