| Contact:
Cassie Vogel Corporate Communications Manager (919) 460-1776 ext:3072 cvogel@ubisoft.com UBI
SOFT ACQUIRES THE LEARNING COMPANY’S ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION PARIS,
France – March 7, 2001 Ubi Soft has signed a deal with parent company, Gores
Technology Group, for the acquisition of the entertainment division of The
Learning Company. Thanks to this acquisition, Ubi Soft, one of the world
leaders in interactive entertainment, becomes the publisher of the next two
episodes of the Myst® series and grows its catalog by more than 80 titles,
including other world-renowned brands like Pool of Radiance(tm), Prince of
Persia, Chessmaster® and Harpoon. Additionally this new operation in the U.S.
considerably reinforces the presence of the Ubi Soft group in North America. Myst
represents a turning point in the history of video games, with its surreal
setting, sparse yet poetic storyline and breathtaking graphics. Since its
creation in 1993, Myst and its various sequels have been in the top 10 of
video game sales on all formats, with more than 10 million copies sold
worldwide. The May 7th release of Myst® III: Exile on PC and Mac will carry
the legend forward, as sales for the game are estimated to surpass a million
copies worldwide. Ubi Soft will also bring this game to the new generation
consoles. For a taste of Myst® III: Exile, visit: www.myst3.com This
acquisition confers upon Ubi Soft the exclusive publishing rights to 88
titles. Among these titles are such leading brands as Pool of Radiance(tm),
The Legend of Alon D’Ar(tm), Earth 2150: The Moon Project(tm), Championship
Surfer(tm), Silent Hunter II(tm), and Dogz, and Catz. These games will enrich
Ubi Soft’s strong brand catalog with diverse titles that include adventure,
role-playing and sports games, all geared toward an adult target audience. Ubi
Soft thus fills out its PC offerings, which should represent more than a third
of its global catalog over the next twelve months. Additionally, the
acquisition of TLC’s Entertainment Division allows the Ubi Soft group to
reinforce its position in the U.S. through the integration of the company
based in Novato, California, as well as through numerous contracts with
first-rate American development studios. Moreover, Ubi Soft anticipates that
Myst® III: Exile will be the best selling PC product in the U.S. The
contribution to 2001-2002 market sales is estimated to be more than 40 million
Euros (37 million dollars) with a positive impact on the profitability of Ubi
Soft. This acquisition investment should pay for itself very quickly. Following
on the heels of the acquisition of Red Storm Entertainment in August 2000 and
of Blue Byte Software in February of 2001, this latest operation is consistent
with Ubi Soft’s selective acquisition strategy of strong brands. It will bring
Ubi Soft a step closer to becoming one of the world’s top five publishers,
with a goal of 1.5 billion dollars in annual revenues by 2005/2006. About
Ubi Soft®Entertainment Ubi Soft Entertainment is an international producer,
publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products. A leading
company in the multimedia industry, Ubi Soft’s strong and diversified lineup
has grown considerably, as has Ubi Soft itself. As well as steadfastly
continuing to partner with several high-profile companies, Ubi Soft has also
confirmed its presence on the global market by developing its own exceptional
properties. Founded in 1986 in France, Ubi Soft is now present on every
continent, both through offices in 18 different countries including the United
States, Brazil, Morocco, Germany and China and through sales of products in a
total of 52 countries. The group is dedicated to delivering high-quality,
cutting-edge video game titles to consumers around the world. Ubi Soft
generated a turnover of FF 1.2 billion for the 1999/2000 fiscal year, up 40.7%
from the previous year, and enjoyed a net consolidated income of FF 71.8
million, up 75.2% over 98/99. To learn more, visit www.ubisoft.com. |