Ubisoft 2006 Annual Report Download - page 11

ALAIN MARTINEZ
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
“Fiscal year 2007 was marked by dramatic
increases in Ubisoft’s financial position.
The sharp upturn in activity, coupled with
the conversion of the share subscription
warrants issued in 2003, the 2006 conver-
tible exchangeable bonds (OCÉANES) and
the 2008 redeemable share subscription
warrants totaling 98.2 million, enabled
Ubisoft to finish the year with an increase in
equity from 139 million to 521 million
and a net financial position of 55 million,
a striking improvement compared with its
65 million in net debt the previous year.
This performance is all the more remarkable
given that it was achieved in a context of a
22% increase in R&D investments.”
07
PROFILE
ALAIN CORRE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMEA TERRITORIES
“Underlying Ubisoft’s success is the
group’s ability to seize good opportunities
at the right time. Throughout the EMEA
territories, the market is following an
impressive growth trajectory, expected to
continue over the next five years. As
video games and new consoles, like the
DS™, manage to convert more and more
people to casual games, Ubisoft will reap
the benefits of an expanding consumer
base. Our remarkable work has enabled
the group to get the best out of each mar-
ket and defend its title of 2nd independent
publisher across all EMEA territories
over the last 16 months. With a rich and
well-balanced portfolio that includes
hardcore AAAs, such as Assassin’s
Creed™, Hollywood licenses, such as
Lost™, and games for everyone, such as
Jam Sessions, the future indeed belongs
to us!”
LAURENT DETOC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICA
“The North American market performed
exceptionally in 2006. Nintendo made a
phenomenal comeback with the introduc-
tion of the Wii™ and generated mass
market interest in video games fueling
market expansion and propelling Ubisoft
to the top of the charts as the leading
third-party publisher for the console’s
launch. Microsoft’s Xbox 360™ asserted
its commercial dominance and the PS®2
surprised experts with its staying power.
All of these trends and more gave Ubisoft
the opportunity to show that our strategy
to lead the next generation of video
games is the right one. In fiscal year
2007/08 Ubisoft has high hopes for our
always innovative Tom Clancy franchises
and for the launches of new industry-lea-
ding brands, such as Assassin’s Creed™.
This year we’ll also leverage our early
start on the casual gamer segment by
lauching new product lines that appeal to
a broader group of consumers. Ubisoft’s
future looks bright!”
…The Ubisoft label represents an
expected level of quality regardless
of the studio behind the title.
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