Ubisoft 2001 Annual Report Download - page 31

FINANCIAL REPORT
Financial Year 2001/2002
31
■Ubi Soft concluded a medium-term syndicated line of cre-
dit for 130 million Euros with a group of leading French and
international banks. This revolving line of credit has a
maturity of three years, which can be extended to five
years, and will build up the Group's resources so that it
can fund its growth and develop its business.
September 2001
■Worldwide agreement concluded between Ubi Soft
Entertainment, Fox Interactive and Visiware covering the
creation of video games based on the film Planet of the ApesTM
for PC, Game Boy®Advance and GameTM Boy Color.
■Signing of an agreement covering the marketing of one of
the first role-playing games designed for the GameCubeTM,
Evolution Worlds. Ubi Soft acquired the publishing rights for
this game from Entertainment Software Publishing, Inc. The
game will be published worldwide, with the exception of Japan,
China, Korea and Taiwan, in the first half of 2002.
■Exclusive publishing agreement concluded with Eidos
Interactive for the marketing of the Game Boy®Advance
version of Salt Lake 2002TM, the official game of the Winter
Olympics, under license from the IOC.
October 2001
■International licensing agreement concluded for the deve-
lopment of a video game based on well-known television
series Bear in the Big Blue House, created by The Jim
Henson Company. This series, which is broadcast every day
on Playhouse Disney, has just started its fourth season in
the United States, and has been distributed to several
European countries. Ubi Soft Entertainment will develop the
video game for the PlayStation®, Game Boy®Advance and
GameCubeTM consoles.
November 2001
■Ubi Soft Entertainment launched ubi.com, a leading portal
for all game fans. This new game portal will revolutionize
the way gamers use the Internet. Ubi.com will allow them to
participate in online communities and play their favorite
games, all on the same website.
■Issuing of a bond with the option of conversion into and/or
exchange for new or existing shares (OCEANE bond) to a
value of 150 million Euros, with redemption scheduled for
2006. The annual rate of interest was set at 2.5%, payable
when installments are due on November 30 each year. The
gross redemption yield will be 4.5%.
■Agreement concluded between Sony Pictures Consumer
Products and Ubi Soft covering the license for Charlie's
Angels. Ubi Soft acquired the exclusive right to develop
and publish “Charlie's Angels” video games worldwide for
Nintendo GameCube™, Game Boy® Advance, Microsoft Xbox™,
PlayStation®2 and PC.
December 2001
■Ubi Soft signed a distribution agreement with Destination
Software for 11 Game Boy®Advance games. These games
include: Formula One, Tiger Woods, PGA Tour 2002,
Medal of Honor Underground, Johnny Bravo, etc. For the
majority of these titles, the agreement is valid for all
countries that have adopted the PAL standard, with the
exception of the United Kingdom.
■On the occasion of the European release of Rayman®M™
for PC, Ubi Soft announced that 10.5 million copies of the
Rayman®product range had been sold worldwide since the
first game was launched in 1995.
■Ubi Soft strengthened its presence in Europe by opening
a new distribution organization in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The new subsidiary will employ seven staff, who will be
responsible for selling, distributing and promoting Ubi Soft
products all over Switzerland.
January 2002
■Ubi Soft joined up with 20th Century Fox to adapt Ice Age™
for the Game Boy®Advance. This game, which has been
adapted from the animated feature film, is intended for
the international market.
■Exclusive European publishing contract concluded with
Bethesda Softworks®Inc. This agreement covers nine
games, including The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind™ for
PC and Xbox™, and Sea Dogs™, which has won several
awards.