Ubisoft 2001 Annual Report Download - page 28

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1
28
1.1 Key dates and major developments
HISTORY OF THE GROUP
KEY DATES:
1986:
Creation of Ubi Soft S.A.
Five brothers, Claude, Michel, Yves, Gérard and Christian
Guillemot, who were interactive entertainment enthusiasts,
set up Ubi Soft, a publisher and distributor of educational
software and video games.
Ubi Soft's beginnings were marked by:
■the successful sales distribution of games for PC, AMSTRAD,
AMIGA and ATARI.
■the increasing share represented by the distribution of soft-
ware from the largest US, British and German publishers, such
as Elite, Microprose, Electronic Arts, Sierra, LucasArts™,
Interplay, Software Toolworks and Novalogic®.
1989/1990:
Beginning of internationalization
Ubi Soft set up marketing subsidiaries on the main interna-
tional markets (UK, Germany and USA).
1991:
The launching of console products
Ubi Soft began distributing products for the rapidly-growing
market for Nintendo®and Sega®video game consoles.
1994/1995:
Establishement of the first developpement
studios the launch of Rayman®
Ubi Soft opened its first in-house production studios in
Montreuil, and set up a large, integrated organization to
create and develop multimedia products. The first integrated
studio abroad was set up in Rumania.
In the fall of 1995, Ubi Soft launched the first game based
on the exploits of the “armless and legless” character Rayman®.
1996:
Ubi Soft S.A. becomes Ubi Soft
Entertainment S.A. and is floated
on the Stock Exchange.
In July 1996, Ubi Soft Entertainment S.A. was floated on
the Paris Bourse second securities market (SICOVAM
5447). The initial public offering was subscribed more than
75 times over.
In December, the Guillemot family increased the company's
floating stock from 20% to 36%.
In January 2000, Ubi Soft Entertainment S.A. shares were
transferred to the Paris Bourse Monthly Settlement listed
securities market (“Premier Marché”). There was also a 5-for-1
stock split, which reduced the share face value to FF 2.
Since August 2000, Ubi Soft Entertainment S.A. shares
have been eligible for the French deferred settlement system
(“SRD”) and are part of the SBF 120 index.
1999/2000:
The Group restructured,
into its current organization
The sale and distribution of products was divided between
two geographic centers, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Asia)
and the USA.
A corporate structure based in Montreuil, France, was set
up to manage the distribution subsidiaries, the studios and
the product quality.