Use these links to rapidly review the document
Table of contents
PART I
PART II
PART III
Item 17: Financial Statements

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

o

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from                       to                       

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-28578

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

FRANCE
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

9, quai Marcel Dassault
B.P. 310, 92156 Suresnes Cedex, France
(33-1) 40-99-40-99
(Address of principal executive offices)

Valérie Agathon at (33-1) 40-99-69-24 or investors@3ds.com

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered

American Depositary shares, each representing
one common share, nominal value €1 per share

The NASDAQ Global Market
Common Stock, nominal value €1 per share The NASDAQ Global Market

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the Annual Report.

Common Stock, nominal value €1 per share as of December 31, 2007: 117,604,553

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.   ý Yes    o No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.   o Yes    ý No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   ý Yes    o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):   ý Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer    o Non-accelerated filer

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing. ý U.S. GAAP    o International Financial Reporting Standard as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board    o Other

If "other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.   o Item 17    o Item 18

If this is an Annual Report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).   o Yes    ý No

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    3


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of contents   4


Our Business Segments,
Companies and Brands


 


5

Our Business Segments

 

5

Our Principal Companies and Brands

 

5


Part I


 


6

Item 1:

 

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

 

7

Item 2:

 

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

7

Item 3:

 

Key Information

 

8

Item 4:

 

Information on the Company

 

17

Item 4A:

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

29

Item 5:

 

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

30

Item 6:

 

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

49

Item 7:

 

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

67

Item 8:

 

Financial Information

 

70

Item 9:

 

The Offer and Listing

 

72

Item 10:

 

Additional Information

 

75

Item 11:

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

86

Item 12:

 

Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

 

89


Part II


 


90

Item 13:

 

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

91

Item 14:

 

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

91

Item 15:

 

Controls and Procedures

 

91

Item 16:

 

[RESERVED]

 

92

Item 16A:

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

92

Item 16B:

 

Code of Ethics

 

92

Item 16C:

 

Principal Accountants Fees and Services

 

93

Item 16D:

 

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

 

93

Item 16E:

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

94


Part III


 


95

Item 17:

 

Financial Statements

 

96

Item 18:

 

Financial Statements

 

96

Item 19:

 

Exhibits

 

97


 


 


 


 


 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

F-1

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

F-2

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

 

F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

F-8

4    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Our Business Segments, Companies and Brands

Our Business Segments

We currently organize our business and market our products and services according to two types of applications: "Product Lifecycle Management" or "PLM" (also called "process-centric"), and "Mainstream 3D" (also called "design-centric"). We describe these applications in "Item 4B: Business Overview – Summary".


Our Principal Companies and Brands

The companies listed below develop and market principally the brands shown. You can find descriptions of our main brands in "Item 4B: Business Overview – Brands".

Companies

  Main Brands

 

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) business

 

 

 
  Dassault Systèmes S.A.   CATIA  
  Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. (formerly, Abaqus, Inc.)   SIMULIA  
  Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp. (formerly, Delmia Corp.)   DELMIA  
  Dassault Systèmes Americas Corp. (formerly, Enovia Corp.)   ENOVIA  
  Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. (formerly, MatrixOne, Inc.)   ENOVIA  
  As used herein, "Dassault Systèmes", or the "Group" refers to Dassault Systèmes S.A. (the "Company") and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.      

Mainstream 3D business

 

 

 
  SolidWorks Corporation   SolidWorks  

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    5

Back to Contents



PART I

 
   

Item 1:    Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

 

7

Item 2:    Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

7

Item 3:    Key Information

 

8

A.  Selected Financial Data

 

8

B.  Capitalization and Indebtedness

 

10

C.  Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

 

10

D.  Risk Factors

 

10

Item 4:    Information on the Company

 

17

A.  History and Development of the Company

 

17

B.  Business Overview

 

18

C.  Organizational Structure

 

28

D.  Property, Plant and Equipment

 

28

Item 4A:    Unresolved Staff Comments

 

29

Item 5:    Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

30

A.  Operating Results

 

30

B.  Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

46

C.  Research and Development, Patents and Licenses

 

46

D.  Trend Information

 

46

E.  Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

47

F.   Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

 

48

Item 6:    Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

49

A.  Directors and Senior Management

 

49

B.  Compensation

 

57

C.  Board Practices

 

65

D.  Employees

 

65

E.  Share Ownership

 

66

Item 7:    Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

67

A.  Major Shareholders

 

67

B.  Related Party Transactions

 

69

C.  Interests of Experts and Counsel

 

69

Item 8:    Financial Information

 

70

A.  Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

 

70

B.  Significant Changes

 

71

Item 9:    The Offer and Listing

 

72

A.  Listing Details

 

72

B.  Plan of Distribution

 

74

C.  Markets

 

74

D.  Selling Shareholders

 

74

E.  Dilution

 

74

F.   Expenses of the Issue

 

74

Item 10:    Additional Information

 

75

A.  Share Capital

 

75

B.  Memorandum and Articles of Association

 

75

C.  Material Contracts

 

81

D.  Exchange Controls

 

81

E.  Taxation

 

81

F.   Dividends and Paying Agents

 

85

G.  Statements by Experts

 

85

H.  Documents on Display

 

85

I.    Subsidiary Information

 

85

Item 11:    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

86

Item 12:    Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

 

89

6    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 1: Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not applicable.


Item 2: Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    7

Back to Contents



Item 3: Key Information


A. Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data with respect to each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in millions, except per share data and percentages)

  2007(1)

  2007

  2006

  2005

  2004

  2003

   
Consolidated Statement of Income Data(2)                                        
Software revenue(3)   $ 1,552.7   1,063.3   963.1   783.6   670.9   645.6    
Services and other revenue     285.5     195.5     194.7     150.9     125.7     109.2    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Total revenue     1,838.2     1,258.8     1,157.8     934.5     796.6     754.8    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Cost of software revenue (excluding amortization of acquired intangibles)     (77.5 )   (53.0 )   (49.6 )   (26.8 )   (21.7 )   (21.7 )  
Cost of services and other revenue     (228.2 )   (156.3 )   (143.7 )   (115.3 )   (101.0 )   (89.7 )  
Research and development     (442.3 )   (302.9 )   (299.9 )   (250.0 )   (221.9 )   (215.6 )  
Marketing and sales     (511.1 )   (350.0 )   (296.0 )   (223.0 )   (173.7 )   (162.4 )  
General and administration     (141.8 )   (97.1 )   (83.7 )   (58.6 )   (47.1 )   (46.8 )  
Amortization of acquired intangibles     (68.3 )   (46.8 )   (39.0 )   (9.8 )   (1.4 )   (5.9 )  
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Total operating expenses     (1,469.2 )   (1,006.1 )   (911.9 )   (683.5 )   (566.8 )   (542.1 )  
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Operating income     369.0     252.7     245.9     251.0     229.8     212.7    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
As a percentage of total revenue     20.1%     20.1%     21.2%     26.9%     28.8%     28.2%    
Financial revenue and other, net     8.8     6.0     3.6     14.9     7.0     0.3    
Income from equity investees     1.9     1.3     1.0     1.0     0.7     0.4    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Income before income taxes     379.7     260.0     250.5     266.9     237.5     213.4    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Income tax expense     (118.6 )   (81.2 )   (70.8 )   (90.8 )   (80.9 )   (76.9 )  
Minority interest     (0.4 )   (0.3 )   0.1     (0.6 )   (0.2 )   (1.1 )  
Net income     $260.7   178.5   179.8   175.5   156.4   135.4    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
As a percentage of total revenue     14.2%     14.2%     15.5%     18.8%     19.6%     17.9%    
Basic net income per share   $ 2.24   1.53   1.56   1.54   1.38   1.20    
Diluted net income per share   $ 2.18   1.49   1.51   1.49   1.35   1.18    
Average number of shares     116.4     116.4     115.2     114.0     113.2     113.0    
Diluted number of shares     119.6     119.6     119.1     117.6     116.2     114.7    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
Dividends per share(6)     0.67   0.46   0.44   0.42   0.38   0.34    

8    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except per share data and percentages)

  2007(1)

  2007

  2006

  2005

  2004

  2003

 
Supplemental Non-GAAP Statement
of Income Data(4)
                                     
Revenue   $ 1,863.2   1,275.9   1,177.5   943.6   796.6   754.8  
Operating income     488.5     334.5     316.2     269.9     231.2     218.6  
As a percentage of total revenue     26.2%     26.2%     26.9%     28.6%     29.0%     29.0%  
Net income     346.4     237.2     217.5     187.2     157.6     140.4  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted net income per share     2.90     1.98     1.83     1.59     1.36     1.22  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  December 31,

 
(in millions)

  2007(1)

  2007

  2006

  2005

  2004

  2003

 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data                                      
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   $ 915.0   626.6   459.3   379.9   552.8   439.7  
Net working capital(5)     898.4     615.2     466.3     388.5     591.2     505.1  
Total assets     2,849.3     1,951.1     1,856.0     1,413.3     1,099.2     964.5  
Long-term and short-term debt     292.1     200.0     200.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  
Long-term obligations and current portion of long-term obligations     178.1     122.0     145.8     74.1     51.6     55.1  
Capital stock     171.7     117.6     115.8     115.0     113.8     113.4  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity     1,746.2     1,195.8     1,110.0     986.1     759.2     657.7  
(1)
U.S. dollar amounts in this column have been translated solely for the convenience of the reader at a conversion rate of $1.4603 per €1.00, the Noon Buying Rate on December 31, 2007.
(2)
Due to our marketing and sales agreement with IBM, as discussed in Note 3 below, our revenue and percentage of various expenses and other line items to revenue may not be comparable to those of our competitors. See "Item 5A: Operating Results."
(3)
A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from our marketing and distribution agreements with IBM. See "Item 4B: Business Overview – Sales and Marketing" and Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements.
(4)
Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-GAAP financial information is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measurements. The supplemental non-GAAP financial information should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, our supplemental non-GAAP financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with our audited financial statements and the related notes, and a discussion of the limitations of the non-GAAP measures, see "Item 5A: Operating Results – Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information".
(5)
Net working capital consists of total current assets less total current liabilities.
(6)
The 2007 dividend is subject to approval by the shareholders at the next shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 22, 2008. The U.S. dollar value of the dividend will be determined according to the exchange rate on the date of payment of the dividend. Dividend amounts exclude the avoir fiscal. See "Item 8: Financial Information – Dividend Policy".

EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

We publish our consolidated financial statements in euro. Solely for the convenience of the reader, this report contains translations of certain euro amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates. Unless otherwise stated, the translations of euro into U.S. dollars have been made at the rate of $1.4603 per €1.00, which was the noon buying rate for euro in New York City for cable transfers as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Noon Buying Rate") on December 31, 2007. These translations should not be construed as representations that the euro amounts represent such U.S. dollar amounts or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rate. On April 2, 2008, the Noon Buying Rate was $1.5618 per €1.00.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    9

Back to Contents


The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information concerning the exchange rates based on the Noon Buying Rate expressed as U.S. dollar per euro. Such rates are provided solely for the convenience of the reader and are not necessarily the rates used by us in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

EXCHANGE RATES

 
  Period end

  Average(1)

  High

  Low

 
2003   1.26   1.14   1.26   1.04  
2004   1.35   1.25   1.36   1.18  
2005   1.18   1.24   1.35   1.17  
2006   1.32   1.27   1.33   1.19  
2007   1.46   1.38   1.49   1.29  
October 2007   1.45   1.42   1.45   1.41  
November 2007   1.47   1.47   1.49   1.44  
December 2007   1.46   1.46   1.48   1.43  
January 2008   1.48   1.47   1.49   1.46  
February 2008   1.52   1.48   1.52   1.45  
March 2008   1.58   1.55   1.58   1.52  
(1)
The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each month during the relevant year.


B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.


C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.


D. Risk Factors 2007

You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this report. Depending on the extent to which any of the following risks materializes, our business, financial condition, cash flow or results of operations could suffer and you could lose all or part of your investment in our shares. The risks described below are not the only ones we face.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our revenue and earnings depend on corporate spending on information technology infrastructure, which may decrease during periods of weak general economic and business conditions or due to significant fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

The deployment of a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution may represent a large portion of a customer's investments in software technology. Decisions to make such an investment are impacted by the economic environments in which our customers operate. Any important business slowdown or recession, or a significant fluctuation in currency exchange rates, particularly as between the U.S. dollar and the euro, could lead our customers to reduce, defer or cancel their investments in information technology. A decline in such investments could cause our revenue, net earnings and cash flows to decrease, or to grow more slowly, whether on an annual or quarterly basis.

Due to their specific investment cycles and sensitivities to short-term economic conditions, the various industrial sectors we serve have different degrees of exposure to declines in corporate investment, both in terms of intensity and timing. Although these differences have in recent years generally assisted us in mitigating the potential negative impact of downturns in any particular industry, significant downcycles

10    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



in several key industrial sectors, particularly the industrial equipment, automotive and aerospace industries, might in the future occur over the same period, which could cause our revenues, net income and cash flow for such period to decline.

As a result of our historical approach to commercializing our PLM products, a substantial portion of our total revenue results from a long-standing marketing and distribution agreement with IBM. Since 2005, we have begun to assume much greater responsibility for the distribution of PLM products. If we do not effectively address the related management and commercial challenges, our revenue and ability to grow could be negatively impacted.

Pursuant to a long-standing, mutually non-exclusive agreement, IBM markets and distributes a substantial portion of our PLM products worldwide. According to the terms of the agreement, we license these products to IBM, who then sub-licenses them to end-users. Revenue generated through our agreement with IBM represented approximately 35%, 45% and 52% of our total revenue in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. IBM has substantial discretion and control over such marketing and distribution, including the financial resources devoted to marketing and sales and the compensation of its sales personnel. A decision by IBM to cease, freeze or reduce substantially its marketing and distribution efforts for our PLM products would have an immediate and material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We began in 2005 to significantly expand our role in marketing and distributing our PLM products through the progressive transitioning from IBM to us of full responsibility for the indirect PLM sales channels:

in 2005 we started managing the PLM indirect sales channel for IBM in a number of European countries and in the United States. In parallel, we began to sell to a network of resellers in China, Australia and New Zealand;

in 2006, we expanded our sales to resellers in France, Belgium, Taiwan and Latin America;

in 2007, under a new agreement with IBM, we continued this transition and began to sell to a network of resellers in the United States, Canada, UK, Italy, Spain, the Scandinavian countries and South Korea; and

in 2008, the transition has continued and Dassault Systèmes began to sell to a network of resellers in Japan and Germany.

By the end of 2008, we expect to have responsibility for PLM indirect sales channels on a global basis, while IBM will continue to market our PLM products to large enterprises. See "Item 4B: Business Overview – Sales and Marketing". In connection with this transition, which may give rise to potential sales channel conflict, we must maintain an effective relationship with IBM. If IBM and we do not properly manage the transition, and coordinate our sales efforts efficiently within affected territories, our revenue and ability to grow may be negatively affected.

In order to support our expanding marketing and sales initiatives, we are continuing to substantially strengthen our global PLM marketing and sales forces and deploy the needed tools and processes. If we do not effectively meet these management and commercial challenges, future growth in revenues may be adversely affected, we may lose market opportunities and we may incur substantial costs and inefficiencies.

IBM also is not prohibited from competing with us, marketing and distributing competing PLM software applications, providing services around competing PLM software applications, or acquiring or forming a strategic alliance with one or more of our competitors.

Currency fluctuations may significantly affect our results of operations.

Our results of operations have been, and may in the future be, significantly affected by changes in exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations can impact the revenues and expenses recorded in our statement of income upon translation of other currencies into euro. Although we currently benefit from a natural coverage of most of our exposure to U.S. dollars from an operating margin perspective, the loss of revenue if the dollar weakens may still negatively impact our operating income, net income and earnings per share. In addition, our revenues denominated in Japanese yen, Korean won and British pound substantially outweigh our expenditures in these currencies, which exposes our financial results to a potential depreciation in their value relative to the euro, adversely affecting our operating income, operating margin, net income and earnings per share. In 2007, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar, compared to the euro reduced the growth rate of our reported revenue by approximately 6 percentage points, and of our operating income by an estimated 9 percentage points. See "Item 5A: Operating Results".

Our net financial revenue can also be significantly affected by changes in exchange rates between the time we recognize revenue and receive cash payments or record and pay an expense. Any such differences are accounted for in the "Foreign exchange (losses) gains, net" portion of our financial revenue.

See "Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Foreign currency exchange risk."

Since market growth rates for our software applications and the revenue growth rates of our significant competitors are computed in U.S. dollars, such growth rates from period to period may not be comparable to our euro-computed revenue growth rates for the same periods.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    11

Back to Contents


Claims that our products, or any third-party components embedded in our products, infringe the proprietary rights of others could harm our sales and increase our costs.

Third parties, including our competitors, may own or obtain copyrights, patents or other proprietary rights that could restrict our ability to further develop, use, or sell our own product portfolio. We have received in the past, and may in the future receive, communications alleging that our products infringe the patents and other intellectual property rights of others. Such a claim could cause us to incur substantial costs to defend ourselves in any litigation which may be brought, regardless of its merits. If we fail to prevail in intellectual property litigation, we may be required to:

cease making, licensing or using the products or services that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;

obtain and pay for licenses from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which licenses might not be available on acceptable terms, if at all; or

redesign our products, which could involve substantial costs and require us to interrupt product licensing and product releases, or which might not be feasible at all.

In addition, we embed in our products an increasing number of third party components selected either by us or by companies which we have acquired. Although we have implemented strict approval processes to certify the originality of third party components and verify any corresponding licensing terms, the same approval processes may not have been adopted by companies which we acquire. As a result, the use of third party embedded components in our products exposes us to the risk that a third party will claim that the embedded components infringe their intellectual property rights.

If any of the above situations were to occur for a significant product, it could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

If we do not maintain and improve the technological strength of our products, demand for them may be reduced.

PLM solutions are characterized by the use of rapidly changing technologies and frequent new products introductions or enhancements. These solutions must address complex engineering needs in various areas of product design, simulation and manufacturing, and must also meet sophisticated process requirements in the areas of change management, industry collaboration and cross enterprise work.

As a result, our success is highly dependent upon our ability:

to understand our customers' needs, and support them in reengineering key product lifecycle processes and managing the migration of substantial amounts of data;

to enhance our existing solutions by developing more advanced technologies;

to anticipate and take timely advantage of quickly evolving technologies; and

to introduce new solutions in a cost-effective and timely manner.

We commit substantial resources to the development of new offerings, but we continue to face the challenge of increasingly complex integration of our products' different functionalities to address our customers' PLM requirements. As a result, longer and more difficult industrialization work is required for new releases and offerings. In addition, if we are not successful in anticipating technological leaps and developing new solutions and services that address our customers' increasingly sophisticated expectations, demand for our products could decline, and our results of operations and financial condition could be negatively affected.

Errors or defects in our products could cause us to incur additional costs, lose revenue and business opportunities and expose us to potential liability.

Sophisticated software often contains errors, defects or other performance problems when first introduced or when new versions or enhancements are released. If errors or defects are discovered in our current or future products, we may not be able to correct them in a timely manner, or provide an adequate response to our customers. We may therefore need to expend significant financial, technical and management resources, or divert some of our development resources, in order to resolve or work around those defects. We may also experience an increase in our service and warranty costs.

Errors, defects or other performance problems in our products may also result in the loss of, or delay in, the market acceptance of our products or postponement of customer deployment. Such difficulties could also cause us to lose customers and, particularly in the case of our largest customers, the potentially substantial associated revenues which would have been generated by our sales to companies participating in our customer's supply chain. Technical problems, or the loss of a customer with a particularly important global reputation, could also damage our own business reputation and cause us to lose new business opportunities.

12    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Because errors, defects or other performance problems in our software could result in significant financial or other damage to our customers, our customers could pursue claims against us. A product liability claim brought against us, even if not successful, would likely be time consuming for our management and costly to defend and could adversely affect our marketing efforts.

Any insurance we carry may only partially offset the cost of correcting significant errors.

If we are unable to hire or retain our key personnel and executives, our business activities and operating results may be negatively affected.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the continued service of our key managers and highly qualified research and development, technical, support, sales management and other personnel, and on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. In particular if we fail to hire on a timely basis and retain highly skilled sales forces, we may hinder the expansion of the sales organization and slow growth in revenues. The competition for such employees is intense, and if we lose the ability to hire and retain key employees and executives with a diversity and high level of skills in appropriate domains (such as research and development and sales), it could have a material adverse impact on our business activities and operating results. We generally do not maintain insurance with respect to the loss of our key personnel.

Our products, business development and sales could be adversely affected if we experience difficulties with our partners.

Our PLM strategy requires fully integrated solutions of computer-aided-design, simulation, manufacturing and data management products, which are themselves increasingly complex. To implement our PLM strategy, we have chosen to partner with other companies in such areas as:

hardware and technology, to maximize our benefits from available technology;

product development, to enable software developers to create and market their own software applications using our key product architecture; and

consulting and services, to support customers adapting and deploying PLM solutions.

We believe that our partnering strategy allows us to reduce costs while achieving broader market coverage.

Our broad partnering strategy creates a degree of dependency on such partners. Serious difficulties in our relationships with our partners, or an unfavorable change of control of our partners, may adversely affect our products, business development and sales, and could cause us to lose the contribution of the personnel who are employees or contractors of our partners, particularly in the area of research and development. In addition, any failure by our partners to deliver products of the quality or according to the timing expected may cause delays in the delivery of, or deficiencies in, our own products.

The regulatory environments in which we operate have become increasingly complex, including with respect to accounting standards and internal controls.

Due to the global reach of our operations and our listings on French and U.S. stock exchanges, we are subject to complex, overlapping and rapidly evolving laws, regulations and requirements, including with respect to our financial statements, which are prepared according to both International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and U.S. GAAP. The laws and regulations to which we are subject have become increasingly complex and apply to a wide variety of areas, including corporate governance and internal controls. The cost of compliance and the failure or suspected failure to comply with any of these regulations may result in increased regulatory scrutiny through inquiries or investigations, adverse media attention and the possible distraction of management time, as well as in penalties, fines, disciplinary actions, an increase to our litigation risk or limits on our business operations. A number of these adverse consequences could occur even if it is ultimately determined that there has been no failure to comply. There can be no assurance that additional regulation in any of the jurisdictions in which we now, or in the future may, operate would not significantly increase the cost of regulatory compliance.

As our business grows, we are increasingly exposed to the risk of claims and lawsuits against us that may increase our expenses for legal services, absorb management resources and result in adverse outcomes.

As a result of our business activity, we are subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, and as our business grows, this litigation risk increases. Litigation can be lengthy, expensive, and disruptive to the management of our operations. Results cannot be predicted with certainty, and adverse outcomes in some or all of the claims pending against us may result in significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against us that could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. While, based on current knowledge, management believes that resolving any outstanding matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations, litigation and other claims are by their nature subject to uncertainties. Actual outcomes of litigation and other claims may differ from management expectations, which could result in a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    13

Back to Contents


If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property, our competitive market position could be harmed.

Our success is heavily dependent upon our proprietary software technology. We rely on a combination of copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret law and contractual restrictions to protect the proprietary aspects of our technology. These legal protections afford only limited protection. In addition, effective copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in certain countries where intellectual property rights are less protected than in the United States or Western Europe, or as a result of the prior rights of third parties.

If our strategies for protecting our intellectual property fail to achieve adequate protection, third parties may develop similar technology and cause a reduction in our software revenues. Furthermore, although we enter into confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, distributors, customers and potential customers, and limit access to and carefully control the distribution of our software, documentation and other proprietary information, the measures we take may not be adequate to deter misappropriation or independent third party development of our technology.

In addition, like most of our competitors, we face an increasing level of piracy of our successful products, both by individuals and by groups acting worldwide, which could potentially affect our growth in specific markets. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights and to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Any litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and could seriously harm our operating results. We may not prevail in any such litigation and our intellectual property rights may be found invalid or unenforceable.

We expect our quarterly operating results to continue to fluctuate, which could cause our stock price to fluctuate.

Our quarterly operating results have varied significantly and are likely to vary significantly in the future, depending on factors such as:

the timing and cyclical nature of revenues received due to the signing of important new customer orders, the completion of major service contracts or the completion of customer deployments;

the timing of announcements regarding any significant acquisitions or divestitures;

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

our ability to develop, introduce and market new and enhanced versions of our products and customer order deferrals in anticipation of these new or enhanced products;

the number, timing and significance of product enhancements or new products that we develop or that are released by our competitors; and

general conditions in our software markets, the software industry generally and computer industries and regional economies.

A substantial portion of our orders and shipments typically occur in the last month of each quarter and therefore, if any delay occurs in the timing of the order, we may experience significant quarterly fluctuations in our results of operations. Additionally, as is typical in the software applications industry, we have historically experienced our highest licensing activity for the year during the month of December. Delays in orders and shipments can affect our revenue and income.

The trading price of our shares and ADSs may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to quarterly variations in our operating results and the operating results of other software applications developers in our markets.

Because we rely on IBM to provide us information as to the level of a significant portion of our revenue, we generally are not in a position to know our revenue for any particular period within the same timeframe as would otherwise be possible. As a result, we may not be able to confirm or adjust expectations as to sales achieved for a particular period as quickly as we otherwise could, or within the same timeframe as some other companies in our industry.

The growth of Dassault Systèmes creates organizational stresses which can adversely affect our business or financial performance.

Dassault Systèmes has continued to expand through acquisitions and internal development. Our significant growth in revenues, employees, operations and customers creates organizational stresses as management policies and internal systems must be adapted and integrated to meet the needs of a larger, more complex structure. We must also continue to re-organize ourselves to maintain efficiency, and remain focused on our strategy while ensuring customer retention. If we do not address these issues effectively and in a timely manner, our product development, internal processes, cost management and commercial operations may experience inefficiencies or fail to satisfy adequately market or customer demands, which could adversely affect our business or financial performance.

In addition, in order to realize future acquisitions or investments, we may use significant financial resources, make potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities or incur debt. These transactions may also cause us to incur amortization expenses related to intangible

14    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



assets other than goodwill, or generate goodwill subject to annual (or more frequent, if necessary) impairment tests, which may trigger depreciation. Minority interests or other investments in unaffiliated partners may also have to be written down in our accounts as a result of impairment. Acquired companies may also carry the risk of unanticipated or contingent liabilities, including litigation risk related to prior events (for example, see above the risk of claims that embedded components violate third-party intellectual property rights). Each of these potential consequences of an investment or acquisition could reduce our operating margin or net income. Also, due to local regulatory constraints, a planned acquisition might not be realized as anticipated or at all.

Competitive price pressure and a longer sales cycle could negatively impact our revenue, financial performance and market position.

Over the last several years prices have declined in the technological market, and this trend could continue or accelerate. This price decline may result from competition, low marginal production costs and/or rapid technological change. In addition, in the past few years, we have seen a move towards consolidation in our industry, which may lead to increased competitive pressure. Industry consolidation may also lead to the adoption by competitors of business models fundamentally different than ours, causing a substantial decline in prices and requiring us to adapt to a substantially different market environment. These competitive price pressures could negatively impact our revenue, financial performance and market position.

In parallel, due to the strategic nature of our PLM products for our customers, the sales cycle for PLM products is relatively long. If the sales cycle lengthens further, we could face a slowdown in our revenue growth.

Our key facilities are subject to risks of damage or temporary unavailability.

Our research and development facilities are computer-based and rely on the proper functioning of complex software and integrated hardware systems. However, it is not possible to guarantee the uninterrupted operation and security of these systems. For example, the invasion of our computer-based systems by either computer hackers or industrial pirates could interfere with their proper functioning and cause substantial damage, loss of data or delays in on-going research and production activities. Computer viruses, whether deliberately or unintentionally introduced, could also cause similar damage, loss or delays. As many of our systems include advanced or state-of-the-art functionalities, computer "bugs" or design errors could cause malfunctions.

In addition, because our key facilities are located in a limited number of sites, including our headquarters outside Paris in a possible flood zone, our facilities in Japan and California which may be exposed to earthquakes and our research and development sites in the Boston area, India and Israel, substantial physical damage to any one of our sites, by natural causes or by attack or local violence, could materially reduce our ability to continue our normal business operations.

If any of these circumstances were to arise, the resulting damage, loss or delays could have a material negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to the risks inherent in international operations.

As a global participant in the software industry, our business is subject to certain risks inherent in international operations that are beyond our control. These risks include tariffs, duties, export controls and other trade barriers; unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and applicable laws; and political and economic instability in certain countries. Any of these factors could harm our operating results. There can be no assurance that we will not experience material adverse effects with respect to our international operations and sales.

Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault is our principal shareholder with approximately 44% of our outstanding shares.

Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS (GIMD), which represents the interests of some of our founding shareholders, has maintained its substantial interest in Dassault Systèmes and owned 44.10% of our outstanding shares, representing 46.41% of total voting rights, as of February 29, 2008. As a result, GIMD plays a decisive role with respect to matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election and removal of directors and the approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

Technology-related stock prices have generally been volatile, and this volatility may depress our stock price.

The market price of our shares and ADSs is likely to be highly volatile, as the market for shares of technology companies has historically been more volatile than the stock market overall.

The price of our ADSs and the U.S. dollar value of any dividends will be affected by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate.

Our ADSs are quoted in U.S. dollars. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar are likely to affect the market price of the ADSs. For example, because our financial statements are reported in euro, a decline in the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar would reduce our earnings as reported in U.S. dollars. This could adversely affect the price at which the ADSs trade on the U.S. securities markets. Our dividends are denominated in euro; a decline in the value of the euro against the U.S. dollar would reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of any such dividend.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    15

Back to Contents


Holders of ADSs may be subject to additional risks related to holdings ADSs rather than shares.

ADS holders will generally have the right to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting right for the shares represented by the ADSs. However, because holders of ADSs do not hold their shares directly, there can be no guarantee that they will receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote. It is possible that ADS holders, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other intermediaries, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote at all.

Preemptive rights may be unavailable to holders of our ADSs.

Under French law, upon the issuance of new shares or equity-related securities for payment, we may grant preemptive rights to our shareholders to subscribe to such securities on a prorata basis. However, holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise these preemptive rights for the shares underlying their ADSs unless both the rights and the shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or an exemption from registration is available. At the time of any rights offering, considering the costs and benefits associated with such an offering to the ADS holders, or other factors, we may elect not to file such a registration statement or an exemption from registration may not be available. If preemptive rights cannot be exercised by an ADS holder, the depositary of our ADS program may sell such holder's preemptive rights and distribute the proceeds to the holder. If the sale of such rights is not lawful or reasonably practicable or is not possible for any other reason, the ADS depositary may allow the rights to lapse, in which case the ADS holders will receive no value for these rights.

16    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 4: Information on the Company


A. History and Development of the Company

1981 THROUGH 2006

Dassault Systèmes was established in 1981 through the spin-off of a team of engineers from Dassault Aviation, which was developing software to design products in three dimensions ("3D"). We entered into a distribution agreement with IBM the same year and started to sell our software under the CATIA brand to automotive and aerospace customers. Through our work with large industrial customers, we learned how important it was for them to have a software solution that would support their product development processes. With this in mind, we enriched our solution to enable the design of "digital mock-ups" (DMU) which helped our customers reduce the number of physical prototypes and realize substantial savings in product development cycle times. We also broadened our targeted industry segments to fabrication and assembly, consumer goods, high-tech, shipbuilding and energy.

In 1997, we organized our business in two segments: the "process-centric" segment (which we refer to as "PLM"), which supports our customers' end-to-end product development process, and the "design-centric" segment (which we refer to as "Mainstream 3D"), dedicated to customers seeking to design products in a 3D design environment. In conjunction with this decision, we acquired SolidWorks, with the goal of targeting the significant market of companies designing their products in two dimensions (2D) and interested in taking advantage of the power of 3D design.

In order to fulfill the mission to provide a robust, integrated PLM solution supporting the entire product lifecycle, and in conjunction with our internal development, we undertook a series of targeted acquisitions and developed a new software platform, Version 5 ("V5"), for the PLM segment. In 1998, we acquired the Product Manager software and development laboratory from IBM, which we merged with our virtual Product Data Management application to create the ENOVIA product line. In 1999, following our acquisition of SmarTeam, we developed a portfolio of applications to manage product data configurations, product lifecycle integration and collaboration. In 1999, we also introduced V5, a software platform to develop integrated PLM solutions. In 2000, DELMIA was launched in order to address the digital manufacturing domain following a series of three acquisitions, including (i) Deneb, a U.S. company specialized in robotic simulation acquired in 1997, (ii) Safework, a Canadian company specialized in human modeling technology, in 2000, and (iii) Delta, a German company specialized in manufacturing process management software, also in 2000. In 2000, we acquired Spatial, a U.S. company developing and selling software components, including ACIS.

In 2004 we created DELMIA Automation and entered the automation market using technology developed both internally and through the acquisition in 2003 of Athys, a French company specialized in the development of workcell control software.

In 2005 we introduced a new PLM brand, SIMULIA, for realistic simulation, comprised of our existing simulation products in combination with the products of Abaqus, Inc., which we acquired in October 2005 (Abaqus was renamed Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp.) as the core of our realistic simulation offerings.

In 2005, we also acquired Virtools, a company with significant expertise in interactive Web applications which give lifelike behavior to 3D content. The Virtools acquisition forms part of our ongoing "3D For ALL" initiative, under which we direct a portion of our research and development and acquisition resources toward making 3D technology more broadly available to multiple levels of users, from content creators to collaborators and consumers.

In 2006, we expanded our collaborative product offerings and broadened our industry focus from seven to eleven industries with the acquisition of MatrixOne, Inc. (renamed Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp.), a global provider of collaborative PLM software and services to medium-to-large organizations including companies across the high-tech, consumer products and medical devices industries. Following completion of the acquisition, ENOVIA MatrixOne became one of our three product lines under the ENOVIA brand.

In 2006, we also acquired Dynasim AB, a Swedish company specializing in modeling and simulation solutions for embedded systems in connection with the development of our CATIA Systems strategy, and GCS Scandinavia AB, a Swedish company with a Product Data Management product which is now distributed by SolidWorks as PDMWorks Enterprise.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    17

Back to Contents


2007

In 2007, we leveraged our research and technology and advanced our 3D For ALL initiative, with the mid-year introduction of our newest brand, 3DVIA, for lifelike 3D experiences. 3DVIA extends 3D to new users, businesses and consumers in order to create new communities with 3D as the common language. With its open Web services architecture, it enables high-performance distribution of 3D content.

We introduced our first online product, 3DLive, with versions issued or to be issued for each of our PLM brands. 3DLive is a suite of products designed to help search, navigate and collaborate in 3D in real time over the Internet. 3DLive is also the first illustration of our online portfolio, labeled Version 6, which will supplement the broad V5 desktop-based application portfolio.

With Microsoft, we jointly introduced Microsoft® Virtual Earth™ – 3DVIA. Integrated into Microsoft's Virtual Earth, this free, online application provides Internet users with simple tools to create realistic 3D models of homes and buildings, and then share them with others in online communities in the context of a highly realistic 3D image of the earth.

We acquired the French company Seemage SA and in December 2007 introduced 3DVIA Composer, a 3D desktop-based system that allows the production of product documentation, technical training and marketing materials to occur concurrently with the design of the product, and to remain consistent with any future changes.

Working with Publicis Groupe, we initiated a strategic project called 3D See What You Mean (3dswym) to bring innovative 3D marketing solutions to companies involved in global marketing activities.

We also expanded our CATIA offering in high-end surfacing and styling with the acquisition of ICEM Ltd., a U.K. company well-known in the automotive industry for its styling and high-quality surface modeling and rendering solutions.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS

Acquisitions of companies, or equity interests in companies, and intangible assets offering strategic technology, represent our main capital expenditures. See "Item 5A: Operating Results – Executive Overview for 2007 – ICEM and Seemage Acquisitions" and "Item 5B: Liquidity and Capital Resources".

Our principal acquisitions of companies over the last three years include:

Company

  Year

  Purchase Price                          

 
ICEM Ltd   2007   €54 million (including transaction costs)  
MatrixOne, Inc.(1)   2006   €324 million (including transaction costs)  
Abaqus, Inc.(2)   2005   €346 million (including transaction costs)  
(1)
Renamed Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. in November 2007.
(2)
Renamed Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. in May 2007.

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Dassault Systèmes S.A. is a société anonyme, a form of limited liability company, incorporated under the laws of France. Created on June 9, 1981 for a duration of 99 years we are governed by French company law and related regulations. Our registered office is located in Suresnes, France, at 9, quai Marcel Dassault, B.P. 310, 92156, and the telephone number is: 33 (0) 1 40 99 40 99. For a list of our subsidiaries, see "Item 4C: Organizational Structure" below and Note 21 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Dassault Systèmes is registered in the Nanterre Commercial Register under No. 322 306 440.

We have been a publicly listed company since 1996, and our shares are listed in France on Euronext Paris (Compartiment A) and in the United States on the NASDAQ Global Market.


B. Business Overview

SUMMARY

We are the world leader, based on market share, of the global market for PLM and Mainstream 3D software solutions.

Our strategic mission is to provide software solutions and consulting services that enable our customers to:

innovate in the design and quality of products and services;

18    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


accelerate the introduction of products and services to satisfy market demand;

collaborate with partners and suppliers in product development;

create and manufacture products more cost effectively; and

simulate their end-customers' experiences (to understand and respond to their customers' needs and to capture such information in order to develop, adapt or introduce new products responding to their customers' evolving requirements).

Our software applications address a wide range of products, from apparel, consumer goods, machine parts and semiconductors to automobiles, aircraft, ships and factories. Our global customer base includes companies primarily in 11 sectors: automotive; aerospace; shipbuilding; industrial equipment; high-tech; consumer goods; consumer packaged goods; life sciences; energy; construction; and business services.

We have six brands, each with its own clearly defined mission, as further explained under "Brands" below:

SolidWorks, for productive and easy-to-use 3D mechanical design;

CATIA, for virtual product design;

SIMULIA, for virtual testing;

DELMIA, for virtual production;

ENOVIA, for a global collaborative lifecycle management; and

3DVIA, for online 3D lifelike experiences.

In addition to our sales of software applications, which accounted for 84.5% of our total revenue in 2007, we also provide selected services, principally to large customers. Our services comprise mainly consulting services in methodology for design, deployment and support, training services and engineering services.

We currently organize our business and market our products and services principally according to two types of applications: the PLM market, to support product development, production, maintenance and lifecycle management, and the Mainstream 3D market, which is primarily focused on product design.

For the geographic breakdown of our revenues for the past three years and information on the seasonality of our business, see "Item 5A: Operating Results – Consolidated Information" and "– Trends in Quarterly Results", respectively.

KEY BUSINESS STRENGTHS

We believe that our leadership of the global PLM market is due to our key business strengths.

We develop long-term, integrated relationships with our customers in our targeted industries.  We work closely with our customers to involve them in all phases of product development and to identify their evolving needs. Through these close, long-term working relationships, we are able to gain a deep understanding of their product design processes and requirements. We believe this level of knowledge enables us to develop software solutions more closely attuned to the requirements of our customers, and highly suited to the industries we address. We also have specific industry solutions addressing the unique aspects of product development across different industries to help our customers perform business transformations.

We have a substantial commitment to technological innovation.  We devote significant resources each year to research and development, with 2007 investments representing 24% of total revenue. Our research and development is two-fold in nature, focusing on further advancing our current portfolio of software applications and, at the same time, on the development of technologies and applications which we expect to bring to market over the medium- to long-term.

We believe a core component of our success as a company is our brand strategy, with each brand having a clear identity and value to customers.  Our brand strategy focuses on developing software for specific domains (such as design, simulation, manufacturing, collaboration), with the objective of making each brand the leader within its respective markets. Our research and development strategies, as well as our sales and marketing strategies, support this objective. Our multiple brand strategy also allows our customers to choose the specific point of entry which corresponds to their individual needs and requirements.

We have an extended enterprise model for product development and go-to-market.  We have developed a network of partners for product development, marketing and enhancement of customer relations, which we call our "extended enterprise" model, and we intend to continue to build on this model going forward. See "Our Extended Enterprise Partnerships" below. For marketing and sales, in addition to our direct sales force for some of our products, we have important relationships with IBM, distribution partners and value-added resellers. In PLM, for product development, we have a program to enable independent software companies to develop and build complementary applications onto our PLM platform. Similarly, in the Mainstream 3D design market, SolidWorks has developed a large

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    19

Back to Contents


We have a resilient financial model, with a high level of recurring revenue.  For 2007, recurring revenue represented 60% of our total software revenue, with total software revenue accounting for 84% of our total revenue. This high level of recurring revenue contributes to the resiliency of our business, enabling us to continue to invest in critical resources.

GROWTH STRATEGY

We believe there are a number of opportunities to continue to grow our business, including:

Win new accounts:  Leverage each brand's excellence to win new accounts. Each of our brands can win new customers and each brand can be an entry point for our other brands.

Solution selling:  Provide customers integrated PLM solutions for a broad number of users within an enterprise and throughout the supply chain and spanning design, simulation, collaboration and digital manufacturing. Solution selling thus enables our customers to increase their productivity benefits beyond what they would have achieved through a stand-alone purchase. We are also extending our presence in the supply chain as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seek to better integrate design and manufacturing through collaborating more closely with their suppliers and as suppliers move to increase their innovation and profitability through standardizing on the same PLM solution. Our PLM solutions are suited to a broad range of supply chain participants, since they have been designed to address the needs of large-, medium- and small-size businesses.

Extend the use of 3D technology to new users:  Expand 3D penetration among the 2D users' community, with our SolidWorks brand as a key driver of 2D to 3D migration, and more broadly extend the value of 3D to new users, businesses and consumers, including with our newest brand, 3DVIA.

Expand indirect sales channels:  Enhance our indirect sales channels to increase our penetration of small and medium business enterprises and emerging markets. An important driver of our growth has been our indirect sales channels. In the Mainstream 3D market we have been investing in our SolidWorks indirect distribution network and these efforts have enhanced our sales results. Similarly, in the PLM market, we have been strengthening our indirect channels, and in January 2007 we modified our agreement with IBM to take responsibility for the indirect PLM Value sales channel to enhance our market penetration and market share with small- and medium-size companies.

Expand our total addressable market:  Expand our addressable market towards new industries, new software markets and new types of users. Both our product development and acquisition strategies have been key drivers of the expansion of our addressable markets.

For a description of the challenges which must be met to maintain growth, see "Item 3D: Risk Factors".

BRANDS

We have a diversified portfolio comprised of software applications addressing different 3D market opportunities. Each of our brands is one of the leading participants in its domain, with the exception of our newest brand, 3DVIA, which was introduced during 2007.

SolidWorks – For productive and easy-to-use 3D mechanical design

Overview:   Our SolidWorks solutions focus principally on product design and are developed to capitalize on the significant migration opportunity of 2D users to 3D design.

SolidWorks products are used by companies in the machinery, medical, consumer, mold, tool and die, electrical and power sectors and by suppliers to the aerospace and automotive industries. Since the introduction of the first SolidWorks mechanical design software solution in 1995, SolidWorks software products have been shipped to more than 750,000 product designers, engineers and engineering students worldwide.

SolidWorks products span 3D mechanical design solutions, design validation tools, Product Data Management and design communication and collaboration, and are generally sold to customers as a suite of products, scaled to their needs. The SolidWorks Office suite of products combines ease of use with advanced 2D and 3D design tools, enabling companies to unleash design creativity while completing more work in less time. SolidWorks software reduces CAD overhead because it is easy to deploy, use, and maintain, and it lets engineers spend more time creating new designs.

We believe some of the key benefits of our SolidWorks software solutions are:

ease of use and productivity;

20    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


productive modeling; and

integrated analysis and data management.

Opportunities for growth:   We believe the 2D to 3D migration trend presents attractive opportunities for growth in the market for our 3D mechanical design software.

CATIA – For virtual product design

Overview:   CATIA is our PLM solution for digital product definition, with an extended portfolio addressing styling, mechanical and systems engineering domains. CATIA is a fully integrated solution that allows users to tailor their product development functionalities to their individual and industry needs. We believe that CATIA is among the most powerful virtual product design systems.

We believe some of the key benefits of our CATIA solutions include:

broad portfolio of functionalities;

easy, open and scalable features;

strong design performance for innovation;

continuing breakthrough technologies; and

opportunity for collaborative PLM.

Opportunities for growth:   We believe that we can continue to expand our market penetration with CATIA through acquiring new users at existing customers, increasing penetration among small- and medium-size companies, and displacing competitors in our core and target industries and through the introduction of new versions of our products.

SIMULIA – For virtual testing

Overview:   SIMULIA provides realistic simulation designed to enable manufacturing companies to improve product performance, reduce the number of physical prototypes and drive innovation. SIMULIA's Abaqus software suite for finite element analysis (FEA) allows engineering organizations to create and test virtual prototypes of complex products and processes and provides open, multi-physics solutions and framework for complex simulation applications. SIMULIA's newly introduced Simulation Lifecycle Management complements our ENOVIA products with an open collaborative platform for management of simulation processes, data and know-how. Our SIMULIA portfolio is designed to meet companies' growing need for realistic product and process simulation software, and to make realistic simulation more readily accessible through integrated and collaborative simulation applications.

We believe some of the key benefits of our SIMULIA technology and solutions are:

fully integrated simulation solutions for PLM;

open, collaborative platform for management of simulation processes, data and know-how;

scalable, unified FEA solutions for a wide range of users and applications; and

integrated, multi-physics solutions for the most challenging customer applications.

Opportunities for growth:   SIMULIA's growth reflects expanding relationships with its largest customers and demand across a diversified set of targeted industries. We believe there is a growing need for simulation and the management of simulation processes and data as well as a significant opportunity to transform how companies use simulation in PLM. Virtual testing offers companies the opportunity to perform product simulation at lower cost and earlier in the product design process compared to real world testing. In addition, many companies have their own applications in the field of simulating product behavior which are expensive to develop and maintain. We therefore believe there is a large opportunity for customers to realize performance improvement and substantial savings in this domain.

DELMIA – For virtual production

Overview:   DELMIA is our brand covering both our PLM digital manufacturing solutions and our automation solutions. DELMIA PLM allows manufacturers to define, plan, create, monitor and control production processes in a virtual environment before actual production takes place. From early process planning and assembly simulation to modeling welding lines or robot and cell programming to a complete definition of the production facility and equipment, DELMIA PLM assists companies in achieving maximum production efficiency, lower cost, improved quality and reduced time-to-market.

The primary domains addressed by DELMIA PLM digital manufacturing solutions include: process planning (production layout planning, time measurement of individual and combined processes and sequences, cost analysis and factory line balancing); process detailing (assembly sequences, factory/cell layouts and machining operations); and validation and resource modeling and simulation (simulating robots and analyze ergonomic issues for factory workers).

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    21

Back to Contents


We believe some of the key benefits of our DELMIA solutions are:

better planning and improved manufacturing processes;

improved collaboration between engineering and manufacturing;

earlier start of production and reduced production ramp-up risk; and

enhanced productivity and profitability.

Opportunities for growth:   We have been implementing DELMIA digital manufacturing at some of our largest customers in the automotive and aerospace industries. We believe that the adoption of our digital manufacturing solutions by our largest customers demonstrates the potential of our solutions to contribute to improving manufacturing processes.

ENOVIA – For a global collaborative lifecycle management

Overview:   ENOVIA provides the collaborative framework for our PLM solutions. ENOVIA's Product Data Management (PDM) suite provides a full range of collaboration solutions: from 3D collaboration for complex engineering environments to business process solutions for enterprise users in a variety of critical functions such as sourcing, marketing, procurement and more globally, all aspects of project management.

Our ENOVIA product portfolio:

ENOVIA VPLM provides 3D Collaborative Virtual Product Lifecycle Management of highly complex products, resources and manufacturing processes in medium and large extended enterprises. ENOVIA VPLM enables configured digital mock-ups and design-in-context to accelerate innovation and improve productivity when developing complex products.

ENOVIA MatrixOne provides Collaborative Business Process for enterprises across a wide range of industries. ENOVIA MatrixOne enables access to all business processes undertaken by an enterprise, as well as interactions among a large number of an enterprise's collaborators, both internally and throughout its ecosystem.

ENOVIA SmarTeam provides Collaborative Product Data Management for small- and mid-size enterprises, engineering departments of larger organizations and across supply chains. ENOVIA SmarTeam offers multi-CAD design data management, including a tight integration with CATIA applications.

We believe some of the key benefits of our ENOVIA software solutions are:

the ability to manage product complexity;

the ability to manage enterprise process complexity; and

the ability to provide solutions appropriate to an organization's scaling requirements, addressing the needs of companies from the largest global enterprises to small- and medium-size businesses.

Opportunities for growth:   With our broad ENOVIA product portfolio, we can offer our customers the ability to manage both product and business process complexity. We believe there are attractive opportunities to grow our PDM presence both within our current customer base and across a number of industry verticals, where companies need to manage complex business processes.

3DVIA – For online 3D lifelike experiences

Overview:   3DVIA is our newest brand, which we introduced during 2007. Building upon several years of research and investment in our 3D For ALL initiatives, our objective in introducing this new brand is to bring 3D technology to new users, businesses and consumers. 3DVIA's mission is to provide on-line communities with 3D destination sites, applications and services to imagine, communicate and co-experience in 3D. By introducing software products designed specifically for non-traditional users of 3D applications, we believe 3DVIA can establish an entirely new way for businesses to communicate with consumers, allowing them to virtually experience products, as well as bringing the end consumer into the product creation process.

Our 3DVIA portfolio to date includes:

3DLive:  Our first online product introduced in the spring 2007, 3DLive is a suite of products designed to help everyone across the enterprise to search, navigate and collaborate in 3D in real-time over the Internet;

3DVIA Composer:  First introduced in December 2007 following our acquisition of Seemage, this product enables users to deliver assembly procedures, technical illustrations and marketing materials utilizing 3D images and other 3D data that remains consistent with product data;

3DVIA Shape:  Introduced in the spring 2007 simultaneously on 3DVIA.com and Microsoft® Virtual Earth™, this is our first consumer targeted application, designed to bring the power of advanced 3D modeling to the broad base of Internet users;

22    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


3DVIA DEV & MP:  Initially developed under the Virtools name, it offers a comprehensive interactive 3D development environment which enables companies to create, and their customers to utilize, lifelike interactive experiences. For example, 3DVIA DEV & MP enables customers to virtually test large-scale projects, to train teams to operate complex equipment safely through multi-user simulations and to improve product launches through virtual campaigns; and

3DVIA.com:  Introduced in the spring 2007, this community web site is dedicated to 3D enthusiasts and digital content creators to showcase 3D interactive experiences. The site will expand to become a marketplace for 3D content and experiences.

Some of the key benefits we hope to bring to market with our 3DVIA brand include:

extend 3D to new users, businesses and consumers;

create new communities with 3D as their common language;

deliver authoring products that significantly advance 3D product publishing; and

enable high performance distribution of content through an open Web-services based architecture.

Potential opportunities for growth:   Although 3DVIA, which was introduced in 2007, has earned only minimal revenues to date, we believe that it can offer opportunities for growth by reaching both professional and consumer communities.

With respect to professional communities, our initial opportunities for growth include bringing to market new 3D solutions that enable individual users and groups to author, experience and share information leveraging 3D product data wherever it may reside.

With respect to consumer communities, our growth opportunities are centered along two axes: helping our customers communicate and bring their end-customers into the product creation process through lifelike interactive experiences and secondly, reaching consumers directly by providing them access to 3D products through the Internet to help them in their daily lives. Initially, we are focused on increasing awareness of the value of 3D through the introduction of free 3D products on popular Web sites such as Microsoft® Virtual Earth™.

TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

OVERVIEW

We have devoted significant resources each year to research and development, with 2007 expenses totaling €302.9 million and representing 24% of total revenue. Our research and product development teams include over 3,300 personnel in research laboratories in France, the United States and India (including the employees of our 3D PLM business venture), as well as in Canada, Germany, Israel and the United Kingdom.

Our research and development is two-fold in nature, focusing on further advancing our current portfolio of software applications and, at the same time, on the development of technologies and applications which we expect to bring to market over the medium- to longer-term.

Our technology, research and product development efforts span key domains including: introducing new PLM and 3D MCAD applications, advancing our PLM platform, developing integrated, multi-physics simulation solutions and introducing simulation lifecycle management, and further expanding our addressable markets with the introduction of new, emerging technologies and application domains, as demonstrated by the introduction of our newest brand, 3DVIA, in 2007 and the introduction of CATIA Systems.

We continued to advance our longer-term roadmap to deliver PLM online. Over the course of 2007 we made significant advances in the development of this strategy, leading to the introduction of our Version 6 (V6) platform in January 2008 as well as our first V6 online applications.

Our V6 strategy demonstrates our commitment to extend the benefits of PLM solutions to new markets and, importantly, to new types of users and communities. V6 is the cornerstone for delivering fully collaborative PLM services on demand. Our goal is for V6 to be the technical foundation for our PLM and our partners' solutions, designed to bridge the gap between PLM solutions and existing enterprise middleware. For further information, see "V6 Platform" below and "Brands – 3DVIA".

In 2006 we unveiled our long-term product development roadmap for CATIA Systems. Our goal is to offer an open PLM embedded systems platform, based upon unique mathematical foundations, enabling customers to model, simulate and manage the lifecycle of 100% of the behavior of their products. Due to the complexity and variety of embedded systems, we believe it is important to base our platform upon an open language that is able to manage the complexity and behavior of embedded systems.

V6 Platform

Our V6 platform is the evolution of our V5 SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture), developed as the cornerstone to deliver fully collaborative PLM services on demand by us and our partners. We believe the creation of our V6 platform will be an important contributor to the extension of our market presence within our eleven targeted industries and to the extension of our user market to consumers and collaborators. Our V6 strategy extends current CAA V5 architecture (Component Application Architecture) with best-in-class Web

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    23

Back to Contents



technologies and introduces the unique power of 3D collaborative applications for networked innovation. Our objective is to secure and leverage customers' investments while continuously delivering breakthrough applications and services in order to help customers accelerate and extend their PLM business transformation. Consistent with our product development philosophy, we have been working closely with customers in different industries as we advance our V6 platform.

The V6 platform has been designed to offer key benefits to customers including:

Global Collaborative Innovation:  We believe a key part of the future of PLM is about enabling broader and deeper collaboration. Everyone, from engineers to professionals in marketing or procurement inside and outside the enterprise, can collaborate across business processes, across all engineering disciplines (to the lowest level of details), and across the full product definition, bringing together requirements, functional, logical and physical definitions of the product.

Online Creation and Collaboration:  Product creation and collaboration is enabled for real time, concurrent work, across multiple remote locations and with a Web connection only. We believe this capability is a major breakthrough for any company implementing a global engineering and manufacturing strategy.

A single PLM platform for Intellectual Property (IP) management:  V6 has been designed to enable the management of all product-related IP from idea to product experience. On a single platform, V6 supports both IP modeling applications spanning all engineering disciplines, as well as collaborative business processes covering the entire product lifecycle:

CATIA/DELMIA/ENOVIA/SIMULIA applications are built natively on this single, open SOA platform;

In addition, V6 merges the various ENOVIA collaboration products, including MatrixOne, VPLM, and SmarTeam, into a single ENOVIA collaboration solution; and

V6 gives a unified, federated view and access to IP, whether the information is in the PLM system, another enterprise application or from another data source.

Lifelike Experience:  V6 provides simplicity and ease of use thanks to its extremely intuitive user interface providing a unique experience. 3DLive brings IP to life in 3D across all applications: any user can find/search information, understand others using the universal language of 3D, experience the product, and collaborate in an immersive online 3D environment.

Service-Ready PLM Business Processes:  V6 unifies engineering processes and all enterprise business processes including program management, compliance management and sourcing, among others.

Lower Cost of Ownership:  We believe V6 offers a quick ramp up time via a single server and database for all applications thereby leading to significantly lower cost of ownership as well as more efficient collaboration. SOA standards compliance allows easy integration with existing systems.

MAINSTREAM 3D TECHNOLOGY

Designed specifically for Windows, our SolidWorks technology for the Mainstream 3D market is intended to enable designers and engineers to make an easy transition from 2D drafting to a 3D environment. Its intuitive Windows user interface enables users to productively employ SolidWorks software without extensive training. SolidWorks applications provide users with a 3D design process, for which a fully detailed solid model is used to quickly produce drawings and perform downstream design functions. SolidWorks focuses on three core capabilities: design, analysis and Product Data Management.

We introduced our most recent Mainstream 3D software release, SolidWorks 2008, in mid-2007 with several key objectives: (i) to introduce a new, more intuitive, time-saving user interface; (ii) to help engineers leverage existing designs to save time and ensure accuracy; and (iii) to help users improve their designs by providing feedback about product quality and manufacturability early in the design phase. With the new user interface as well as improved 3D graphics, SolidWorks 2008 builds upon our SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology (SWIFT), which was first introduced in 2006.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We rely on a combination of copyrights, trade secret, trademark and patents to establish and protect our technology. We distribute our products under software licenses which contain various provisions protecting our ownership and the confidentiality of the licensed technology.

The source code of our products is protected as a trade secret and as a copyrighted work. In addition, some of the key capabilities of our software products are protected through patents when possible. However, no assurance can be given that others will not copy or otherwise obtain and/or use our products or technology without authorization. In addition, effective copyright, trade secret, trademark and patent protection or enforcement may be unavailable or limited in certain countries.

24    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


With regard to trademarks, our policy is to register trademarks for our principal lines of products in the countries where we do business. Such registrations are a combination of international trademark registrations, community trademarks registrations and national registrations. When companies are acquired, a review and an assessment of their main trademarks is made, and when necessary, complementary applications for registrations may be made in order to establish a scope of protection of such trademarks compliant with our trademark policy.

In order to protect our core technologies and key product capabilities, we generally file patent applications in countries where our main customers and competitors are located. Our portfolio includes more than 65 patents already granted in the United States and more than 200 patent applications pending worldwide.

We are also engaged in an active policy against piracy to protect our rights through appropriate measures against the illegal use and distribution of our products. To that end, the Company implements a compliance program to reduce the use of illegal copies of our products and an anti-piracy plan leading to legal actions to disrupt illegal distribution channels.

See "Item 3D: Risk Factors" for risks concerning possible third-party allegations of unauthorized use of their intellectual property, and the difficulties in ensuring adequate protection for our own intellectual property.

CUSTOMERS AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

Our customer base and target markets span 11 industry sectors: automotive; aerospace; shipbuilding; industrial equipment; high-tech; consumer goods; consumer packaged goods; life sciences; energy; construction; and business services.

We believe we have a well diversified customer base. We estimate that our largest customer represented approximately 5% of total revenue in 2007 (compared to 5% in 2006), and our five, ten and 20 largest customers accounted, respectively, for approximately 15%, 20% and 24% of total revenue in 2007, compared to 16%, 21% and 25%, respectively, of total revenue in 2006.

Our core industries are the industrial equipment, automotive and aerospace industries, and our customers in these industries include:

Aisin Seiko Co   Ford   Nikon  
Alstom Power   Framatome   Nissan  
AVIC   General Motors   Northrop Grumman  
BAE Systems   Goodyear   Raytheon  
Bobst   Honda   Renault  
Boeing   Honeywell   Safran  
Bombardier   Hyundai Kia Motor Corp   Schuler  
Chrysler   Kobelco   Tata Motors  
Claas   Lockheed Martin   Toyota Motor  
Daimler   Metso   Volkswagen Group  
Dassault Aviation   Michelin   Volvo Group  
EADS   Mitsubishi Motors      

Industries we are targeting to significantly increase our market presence include consumer goods; consumer packaged goods (such as packaged food products); energy; high-tech; and shipbuilding. Our market position in some of these industries has been reinforced by our acquisitions over the last several years.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    25

Back to Contents


Our customers in the consumer goods; consumer packaged goods; high-tech; shipbuilding and energy industries include:

Adidas   Guess   Northrop Grumman Newport News  
Agere   Hitachi   Pioneer  
Areva   Hydro Quebec   Philips  
Barilla   Kodak   Procter & Gamble  
Bénéteau   LG Electronics   Samsonite  
Celestica   Luxottica   Samsung Heavy Industries  
Clarion   Matsushita Panasonic   Shell  
Coca-Cola   MeyerWerft   Sony Ericsson  
Gap   New Balance   STMicroelectronics  
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works   Nokia   Yantai Raffles  

Industries which we have recently begun to target include life sciences, construction, and more broadly, business services. Our customers in these industries include Abbott, Electronic Arts, GE Healthcare, Gehry Partners, Medrad and 3M.

OUR EXTENDED ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIPS

A core component of our strategy is the concept of an extended enterprise. This extended enterprise network, with our customers at the center, encompasses partners across technology, software development, distribution, consulting, service and marketing, and education.

IBM relationship.   We maintain a long-standing relationship with IBM in distribution, as described below under "Sales and Marketing". Moreover, in the hardware, middleware and consulting services domains, IBM has been a key partner to us. We also collaborate with IBM on research and development projects.

Customer partners.   We establish an ongoing dialogue between our research and development teams and our customers, thereby ensuring product developments that are responsive to market needs. A key part of our research and development is focused on developing in-depth knowledge of our customers' industries and tailoring products to the needs of those industries.

Technology partners.   We have established long-standing, technical collaborations with key partners in order to maximize the benefits from available technology and to increase the value for our common customers. Our technology alliances are established with three objectives: to ensure compatibility between the IT infrastructure and our solutions; to expand our global network of value partners sharing the same interests within a "competitively cooperative" model; and to integrate the latest features of these technologies into our solutions.

With Microsoft, for example, we have a global strategic alliance to deliver our PLM and 3D design solutions to companies of all sizes that use the Microsoft software platform. By capitalizing on the Microsoft platform, we are committed to delivering greater customer value through solutions that are easy to use, deploy and maintain with reduced cost of ownership and ease of integration.

Software partners.   We have software development partners working with our PLM and Mainstream 3D software solutions.

Our largest program with these partners is our CAA V5 (Component Application Architecture) program to enable software developers to create and market their own software applications that are fully integrated and complementary to our PLM software solutions. Our CAA V5 program has more than 450 products based on CAA V5 introduced on the PLM market with V5 R18 by 160 CAA V5 partners as of January 2008.

SolidWorks operates a development partnership program bringing together companies supplying products that are either compatible with or entirely integrated with SolidWorks. Through this program, over 240 compatible products are available to customers in many areas, including machining, analysis, simulation and rapid prototyping.

Consulting, service and marketing partners.   Our industry alliances also include a community of consulting firms and systems integrators, led by our integrated services organization. These consulting and services partners are able to complete our own services offerings to customers to optimize their business processes as well as integrate global PLM solutions in line with best-of-class implementation practices. See also "Sales and Marketing" below.

Education partners.   We have established a number of relationships with research centers, universities and schools throughout the world over the years.

26    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


SALES AND MARKETING

Summary.   We largely market and sell our software solutions indirectly. In 2007, approximately two-thirds of our total revenue resulted from indirect sales, including through IBM PLM, and one third from direct sales.

Through our investments over the last several years we have developed three sales channels: (1) our PLM Business Transformation Channel, primarily addressing large enterprises through IBM PLM and our PLM direct sales forces, (2) our PLM Value Channel, primarily addressing small- to mid-size enterprises through a network of value-added resellers, and (3) our 3D Professional Channel, which has historically focused on marketing and sales of our Mainstream 3D solutions through a network of value-added resellers and distributors and is becoming a multi-brand channel.

We have a long-standing strategic relationship with IBM. In January 2007, our distribution agreement with IBM continued to evolve with respect to the marketing and sales of our PLM software. Under the terms of the amended agreement, both IBM and Dassault Systèmes are increasing the scope of their responsibilities, with IBM authorized to market and sell an expanded portfolio of our PLM solutions to a defined territory of large enterprises, and Dassault Systèmes progressively assuming full responsibility for the PLM Value Channel. Reflecting our expanded responsibilities we reorganized our marketing and sales organization, effective January 2007, and continue to make changes as appropriate. See "Item 3D: Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business" for risks related to our historical and evolving approach to the marketing and sales of our PLM products.

Revenue generated through our agreement with IBM represented approximately 35%, 45% and 52% of our total revenue in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Our Sales Channels

PLM Business Transformation Channel:  Representing approximately 55% of our total revenue in 2007, this channel is focused on the marketing and sales of our PLM solutions to large enterprises and comprises sales activities through IBM PLM and our direct sales resources. Our goal is to ensure the appropriate coverage by geography and customer, bringing the best combination of resources to address the needs of our customers.

IBM PLM, an IBM organization dedicated to the sales of Dassault Systèmes PLM software applications since 1981, is engaged in marketing and selling our PLM solutions to large enterprises. Historically, IBM PLM was authorized to sell CATIA, ENOVIA VPLM and ENOVIA SmarTeam products and is now also authorized to market and sell our ENOVIA MatrixOne and DELMIA PLM solutions. Under our marketing and distribution agreement, we license our products to IBM, which then sublicenses them to end-users. IBM pays us royalties, which are in general equal to 50% of total license fees invoiced by IBM, but this amount may vary depending upon individual customer or brand circumstances. IBM may earn an incentive provided it reaches certain royalty growth targets.

Dassault Systèmes PLM direct sales:  Through our acquisitions, in particular, Abaqus, Inc. (susbsequently renamed Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp.) in 2005 and MatrixOne, Inc. (subsequently renamed Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp.) in 2006, we have significantly increased our direct sales resources. Our SIMULIA, DELMIA and ENOVIA MatrixOne products are largely marketed by our direct sales force complemented by resellers.

PLM Value Channel:  Representing approximately 25% of our total revenue in 2007, this channel is focused on the marketing and sales of our PLM solutions to small- to mid-size enterprises via a network of resellers (VARs or Value-Added Resellers). Historically, IBM PLM managed a network of IBM business partners selling our solutions and we provided technical support and training as needed to these partners. Beginning in 2005, we have progressively assumed increasing responsibility for our PLM Value Channel (acting first as Channel Management Services Provider for IBM and then assuming direct oversight of the PLM Value Channel). At the end of 2007, we were responsible for the direct oversight and support of a network of marketing and sales partners in 25 regions, and during 2008 we expect to complete the transition of the remaining ten regions which were previously managed by IBM.

3D Professional Channel:  Representing approximately 20% of our total revenue in 2007, our 3D Professional Channel is comprised of a network of more than 350 value-added resellers and distributors worldwide. To date, this channel has focused on the marketing and sales of our Mainstream 3D solutions, predominantly SolidWorks. Commencing in 2008, we have begun to market and sell our 3DVIA solutions through our 3D Professional Channel. We support their sales activities through industry trade shows, seminars, online educational activities, advertisements and marketing materials.

COMPETITION

Markets for our products are highly competitive and characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving standards. Our main competitors in the PLM market include Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) and Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of Siemens Industry Sector. For our Mainstream 3D products, our main competitors include Autodesk, Inc., and PTC. We also compete with companies focused on specific applications including, ANSYS, Inc. and MSC.Software in simulation, and Oracle Corporation and SAP AG in Product Data Management and collaboration. In addition, numerous software developers compete with us in specific applications, including Adobe Systems Incorporated. In general, our competitors compete with us on a worldwide basis.

We compete in our various product lines on the basis of product features, product coverage and optimization, price, openness, customized design, marketing, sales, services and technical support. Our ability to compete successfully depends on elements both within and outside our control, including successful and timely development of new products, product performance and quality, pricing, customer service, and industry trends.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    27

Back to Contents



C. Organizational Structure

Dassault Systèmes S.A., the Group's parent company, which owns directly or indirectly all the companies which make up the Dassault Systèmes group, has two primary functions: First, it is the Group's largest operating company and its principal research and development center, responsible for the development of a number of our software solutions, including CATIA, a part of our ENOVIA, SIMULIA and 3DVIA solutions and the CAA V5 platform. Second, Dassault Systèmes S.A. operates as a holding company and provides certain guidelines and centralized services to all the companies in the Group.

Dassault Systèmes S.A. defines our overall strategy and operating plans. The executive management team is located at Dassault Systèmes' principal office in Suresnes, France, which is also the headquarters for Dassault Systèmes. By the end of 2008, Dassault Systèmes expects to move its headquarters to a new campus located in Vélizy to the southwest of Paris. Dassault Systèmes S.A. provides support to the Group in a range of areas, such as finance, investor relations, communications, legal, human resources, information technology and sales processes, as well as our global research and development and acquisition strategies and management of our strategic partnership with IBM. The costs of providing centralized services are billed back at their actual costs to the respective subsidiaries using these services. The total amount charged back to subsidiaries was €5.1 million in 2007, €4.1 million in 2006 and €1.7 million in 2005. With respect to our assets, they largely rest with the respective subsidiaries using such assets for the development of software and services.

At December 31, 2007, the Group included Dassault Systèmes S.A. and 81 operational subsidiaries present in 27 countries. We are present on all continents including, in addition to the countries mentioned below, in various European countries as well as in China, India and South America. The list below sets forth our main subsidiaries and also indicates the percentage equity interest and of voting rights directly or indirectly held by Dassault Systèmes S.A.

Dassault Data Services SAS (France) – 95%   Dassault Systèmes Americas Corp. (US) – 100%  
Dassault Systèmes SAS (France) – 100%   Dassault Systèmes LLC (US) – 100%  
Dassault Systèmes Provence SAS (France) – 100%   SolidWorks Corporation (US) – 100%  
Dassault Systèmes Deutschland AG – 100%   Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. (US) – 100%  
Delmia GmbH (Germany) – 100%   Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp.(US) – 100%  
Dassault Systèmes Israel Ltd – 100%   Spatial Corp. (US) – 100%  
Dassault Systèmes K.K. (Japan) – 100%   Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. (US) – 100%  
    Dassault Systèmes Inc. (Canada) – 100%  

See also Note 21 to our consolidated financial statements.

Dassault Systèmes S.A. accounted for 30% of total consolidated revenue in 2007. SolidWorks Corporation (substantially represented by our Mainstream 3D segment) was our only subsidiary that accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated revenue in 2007.


D. Property, Plant and Equipment

We currently lease our headquarters offices (a total of approximately 30,000 square meters) in Suresnes outside Paris, France. We previously owned part of these offices, that we sold in February 2008 for a basis consideration of €36 million and subject to additional consideration. We will remain in these offices as lessee until the transfer of our headquarters to a new location in Vélizy, outside Paris, France, which is expected to occur by the end of 2008.

In 2006, we entered into a built-to-suit lease agreement for new headquarters facilities, under which we have committed to lease approximately 57,000 square meters of office space located in Vélizy, for a non-cancelable initial term of 12 years. The lease is to begin when construction is completed, which is expected to be in the third quarter of 2008. We believe that our existing facilities and the office space to be occupied once we have moved our headquarters will be adequate for our foreseeable needs, and that suitable additional or alternative space should be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms as needed.

We also lease most of our other administrative, research, production and distribution facilities, which are located principally in France, the United States, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and China.

28    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


We believe that we are not exposed to substantial risks relating to the environment due to the nature of our business. On the contrary, our products contribute to the protection of the environment, since they are designed to replace the construction of physical mock-ups and to reduce the environmental issues that are common to all industries.

We are insured under various global and local insurance policies. These policies provide coverage for significant risks and activities related to our operations, including damage to property, civil liability, directors' and officers' liability, and product liability (global electronic errors or omissions). Our insurance policies are regularly reviewed and adjusted as we believe necessary to reflect changes in the revenues, activities and risks faced by the different companies in the Group.


Item 4A: Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    29

Back to Contents



Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects


A. Operating Results

The executive overview below highlights selected aspects of our financial results for 2007. The executive overview, the supplemental non-GAAP financial information and the more detailed discussion that follows should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

In discussing and analyzing our results of operations, we consider supplemental non-GAAP financial information which excludes (i) the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, (ii) the amortization of acquired intangibles, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, (iii) stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, and (iv) one-time tax restructuring effects for the year ended December 31, 2006. A reconciliation of this supplementary non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto is presented below under "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information".

When we believe it would be helpful for understanding trends in our business, we restate percentage increases or decreases in selected financial data to eliminate the effect of changes in currency values, particularly the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, relative to the euro. When trend information is expressed below "in constant currencies", the results of the "current" year have first been recalculated using the average exchange rates of the preceding year, and then compared with the results of the preceding year. All constant currency information is provided on an approximate basis. Unless otherwise indicated, the impact of exchange rate fluctuations is approximately the same for both our GAAP and supplemental non-GAAP financial data for the three years discussed below.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW FOR 2007

The tables below set forth our revenue by activity, geographic region and segment for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and provides growth rates on an as reported basis and in constant currencies.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)


  2007



  % growth



  % growth in constant currencies

  2006



  % growth



  % growth in constant currencies

  2005



 
Total Revenue   1,258.8   8.7%   15%   1,157.8   23.9%   26%   934.5  
Total revenue by activity                                    
Software revenue   1,063.3   10.4%   16%   963.1   22.9%   25%   783.6  
Services and other revenue     195.5   0.4%   6%     194.7   29.0%   31%     150.9  
Total revenue by geographic region                                    
Americas   391.8   10.1%   20%   356.0   25.8%   27%   283.0  
Europe     575.9   6.3%   6%     541.9   23.7%   24%     438.2  
Asia     291.1   12.0%   24%     259.9   21.8%   29%     213.3  
Total revenue by segment (1)                                    
PLM revenue   1,006.2   8.8%   15%   924.8   25.8%   28%   735.4  
Mainstream 3D revenue     252.6   8.4%   14%     233.0   17.0%   19%     199.1  
(1)
During 2007 we moved CosmosWorks to our Mainstream 3D segment from PLM where it had historically been grouped with our other analysis and simulation applications. Data for 2006 and 2005 have been restated to reflect this change. The change did not have a material impact on either segment.

Our 2007 financial performance benefited from the diversification of our revenues by geographic region, product application and sales channel.

30    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


All three of our geographic regions had year-over-year revenue growth, led by Asia. In constant currencies, Asia posted revenue growth of 24%, the Americas increased 20% and Europe was higher by 6%. Europe accounted for 46% of our total revenue, followed by the Americas with 31% and Asia with 23%, during 2007.

Software revenue, representing 84% of our total revenue, was the principal driver of our revenue growth in 2007, increasing 16% in constant currencies, with our total revenue increasing 15% in constant currencies. Services and other revenue increased 6% in constant currencies.

Our software revenue growth was well-supported by the performance of our three largest brands. CATIA software revenue increased 7% (12% in constant currencies), reflecting primarily solid internal growth, as well as the acquisition of ICEM; ENOVIA software revenue increased 30% (37% in constant currencies), reflecting both strong internal growth and the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc. (now called Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp.) for a full year; and Mainstream 3D software revenue increased 8% (15% in constant currencies) led by SolidWorks. In addition, SIMULIA showed strong growth.

Each of our three sales channels made an important contribution to the growth in software revenue.

Recurring software revenue, which increased 24.0% (31% in constant currencies) during 2007, was an important contributor to our revenue growth and continues to be an important aspect of our financial model. For 2007 recurring software revenue represented 60% of software revenue, compared to 53% and 50% in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Our recurring software revenue includes periodic licenses and annual maintenance revenue.

Due to our revenue growth and profitability levels, our net cash provided by operations increased 19.4% in 2007 to €310.3 million compared to €259.8 million for 2006.

We continue to have a strong financial position. Cash and short-term investments totaled €626.6 million at December 31, 2007, compared to €459.2 million at December 31, 2006. Our net financial position was €423.7 million at December 31, 2007, net of outstanding debt consisting principally of €200 million of financial long-term debt. During 2007, we paid cash dividends totaling €50.8 million and completed acquisitions, net of cash acquired, of €75.9 million.

Currency had a significant impact on our revenue and earnings in 2007 in comparison to 2006, as we report in euros but earn revenue and incur expenses in three principal currencies: the euro (EUR), the U.S. dollar (USD) and the Japanese yen (JPY). See "Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – Foreign currency exchange risk."

We use revenue growth in constant currencies to evaluate our financial performance in comparison to prior periods and as a measure of expected growth in planning and setting objectives for future periods. We believe this measure is an important indicator of our progress and outlook because it provides a better gauge of the level of change in business activity by eliminating changes arising solely from currency fluctuations. The average euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate increased 9% to $1.37 per euro for 2007 compared to $1.26 per euro for 2006. The euro to Japanese yen exchange rate increased 10% to an average annual rate of JPY161.4 per euro for 2007 compared to JPY146.1 per euro for 2006.

In 2007, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar, compared to the euro reduced our reported growth in revenues by approximately 6 percentage points and in operating income by an estimated 9 percentage points. Specifically, our total revenue increased 8.7% for 2007 on an as reported basis, while in constant currencies it increased 15% for the year; our operating income increased 2.8% for 2007 on an as reported basis, while in constant currencies it increased an estimated 12%. Currency had a net negative impact on our operating margin of approximately 60 basis points in 2007, principally as a result of changes in the value of the Japanese yen compared to the euro.

In 2007 approximately 38% of our revenue was generated in U.S. dollars and approximately 42% of our expenses were denominated in U.S. dollars; approximately 17% of our revenue was generated in Japanese yen and Korean won, and approximately 6% of our expenses were denominated in Japanese yen and Korean won.

Changes in the value of foreign currencies compared to the euro also had an impact on our short-term assets, since short-term assets held in foreign currencies are translated to euro at the end of period exchange rate. This impact is taken into account in "Financial revenue and other, net."

ICEM and Seemage acquisitions

In 2007, we acquired ICEM Ltd, a UK company, for a total cost, including transaction costs, of approximately €54.5 million. We also acquired Seemage SA, a French company, for a total cost, including transaction costs, of approximately €25.5 million. For other information on our acquisitions, including pro forma information on ICEM, see Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    31

Back to Contents


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make certain assumptions and judgments. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe the following critical accounting policies, among others, affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition," as amended by SOP 98-9, "Modification of SOP 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, With Respect to Certain Transactions," Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" ("SAB-104") and other authoritative guidance. Although we believe that we are currently in compliance with SOP 97-2, SOP 98-9 and SAB-104, the accounting profession continues to discuss various provisions of these guidelines with the objective of providing additional guidance on their future application. These discussions and the issuance of new interpretations could lead to changes in our revenue recognition policies. Our operating results and financial position may be impacted by changes in these policies. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements and the discussion of the complexity of our regulatory environment under "Item 3D: Risk Factors".

Under our arrangement with IBM, royalties from products distributed by IBM are recognized when IBM recognizes revenue and reports such revenue to us.

Computer Software Costs / Research and Development

Costs incurred to develop computer software products – such as payroll and other headcount-related costs associated with product development – to be licensed or otherwise marketed to customers are expensed in the period incurred, unless such costs qualify for capitalization after technological feasibility is established. We have determined that technological feasibility for our software products is reached shortly before the commercial release of our products. Costs incurred after technological feasibility is established are not material, and accordingly, the application of this accounting policy has resulted in substantially all research and development costs being expensed in the period incurred. Purchased in-process research and development (IPR&D) that is not technologically feasible as of the acquisition date and has no future alternative use is expensed.

Purchase Price Allocation for Business Combinations

We allocate the purchase price of acquired businesses to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The fair value of in-process research and development projects, if any, is immediately expensed. The excess purchase price over those fair values is recorded as goodwill, which is not amortized but subject to annual impairment review.

A significant portion of the price paid for our recent acquisitions has been assigned to goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, primarily developed technology and contractual customer relationships, amortized over their estimated useful life of up to 12 years. We typically perform valuation studies to determine the fair value of identifiable intangible assets, generally using a discounted cash flow approach. This requires us to make assumptions about the acquired entity's future operating cash flows, the attrition rate of existing customers, the useful life of existing technology, and the applicable discount rate. We also use judgment to determine the fair value of post-contract customer support obligations or the acquired entity. Different assumptions may result in different IPR&D write-offs, intangible amortization or goodwill impairment charges recorded in our income statement.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

We account for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with SFAS 142, which requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each reporting unit.

Significant judgments required to estimate the fair value of reporting units include estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates, and other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and/or goodwill impairment for each reporting unit, and consequently our results of operations.

In addition, we review our intangible assets, including acquired technology, whenever changes in circumstances or new events indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and we make assumptions about future cash flows expected to be generated by these assets.

Should different operating conditions prevail, including changes in our perception of competition and market demand for any of our reporting units or acquired technologies, this could materially affect our determination of their fair values and useful life, and lead us to record impairment charges or increased amortization expense.

32    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Income taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

We evaluate regularly the realizability of our deferred tax assets by assessing our valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are our forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. We have used tax planning strategies to realize or renew net deferred tax assets in order to avoid the potential loss of future tax benefits.

In addition, we operate within multiple tax jurisdictions and are subject to audit in these jurisdictions. These audits can involve complex issues, which may require an extended period of time to resolve. Actual results and amounts could differ from those used in accounting for income taxes, since such accounting encompasses the use of judgments and estimates. Such differences could have a material impact on our future operating results.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Readers are cautioned that the supplemental non-GAAP financial information is subject to inherent limitations. It is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measurements. The supplemental non-GAAP financial information should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, our supplemental non-GAAP financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Specific limitations for individual non-GAAP measures are set forth below.

In evaluating and communicating our results of operations, we supplement our financial results reported on a GAAP basis with non-GAAP financial data, including non-GAAP revenue, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share. As further explained below, the supplemental non-GAAP financial information excludes certain income statement elements: deferred revenue adjustments for acquired companies, amortization of acquired intangibles, including amortization of acquired software, (which arise from our acquisitions of companies and some technology-related intangible assets), stock-based compensation expense and one-time tax restructuring effects. For this reason, and subject to the limitations set forth above and below, we believe that the supplemental non-GAAP financial information provides a consistent basis for period-to-period comparisons which can improve investors' understanding of our financial performance.

Our management uses the supplemental non-GAAP financial information, together with our GAAP financial information, to evaluate our operating performance, to make operating decisions and to plan and set objectives for future periods. Compensation of our executive officers is based in part on the performance of our business measured with the supplemental non-GAAP information. We believe that the supplemental non-GAAP data also provides meaningful information to investors and financial analysts who use them for comparing our operating performance to our historical trends and to other companies in our industry, as well as for valuation purposes.

The supplemental non-GAAP financial information adjusts our GAAP financial information to exclude:

deferred revenue adjustment of acquired companies (for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005): Under U.S. GAAP, deferred revenue of an acquired company must be adjusted by writing it down to account for the fair value of customer support obligations assumed under support contracts acquired through the acquisition. (See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.) As a result, in the case of a typical one-year contract, our GAAP revenues for the one-year period subsequent to an acquisition do not reflect the full amount of revenue on assumed contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired entity in the absence of the acquisition.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    33

Back to Contents


amortization of acquired intangibles, including amortization of acquired software (for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005): Under U.S. GAAP, the cost of acquired intangible assets, whether acquired through acquisitions of companies or of technology or other intangible assets, must be recognized according to the assets' fair value and amortized over their useful life.
stock-based compensation expense (for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006): Under U.S. GAAP, we are required to recognize in our income statement all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, based on their fair values over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. This requirement, which is set forth under SFAS 123(R), became effective for us as of January 1, 2006.
one-time tax restructuring effects (for the year ended December 31, 2006): Our U.S. GAAP financial statements reflect the impact of a one-time tax restructuring effected during 2006 in the United States.

The following tables set forth our supplemental non-GAAP revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income and diluted net income per share, which exclude the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, the expense for the amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense and one-time tax restructuring effects (as explained

34    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


above). The tables also set forth the most comparable GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP information.

 
  Twelve months ended December 31,

  Increase (Decrease)

 
(in millions, except percentages
and per share data)


  2007
GAAP


  Adjustment(1)

  2007
non-GAAP


  2006
GAAP


  Adjustment(1)

  2006
non-GAAP


  GAAP

  Non-GAAP(2)

 
Total Revenue   1,258.8   17.1   1,275.9   1,157.8   19.7   1,177.5   8.7%   8.4%  
Total revenue by activity                                              
Software revenue     1,063.3     17.1     1,080.4     963.1     19.7     982.8   10.4%   9.9%  
Services and other revenue     195.5           195.5     194.7           194.7   0.4%   0.4%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by geography                                              
Americas     391.8     6.1     397.9     356.0     10.5     366.5   10.1%   8.6%  
Europe     575.9     8.4     584.3     541.9     6.4     548.3   6.3%   6.6%  
Asia     291.1     2.6     293.7     259.9     2.8     262.7   12.0%   11.8%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by segment                                              
PLM revenue     1,006.2     14.4     1,020.6     924.8     16.1     940.9   8.8%   8.5%  
Mainstream 3D revenue     252.6     2.7     255.3     233.0     3.6     236.6   8.4%   7.9%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Operating Expenses   1,006.1   (64.7 ) 941.4   911.9   (50.6 ) 861.3   10.3%   9.3%  
Stock-based compensation expense     17.9     (17.9 )       11.6     (11.6 )     n/a   n/a  
Amortization of acquired intangibles     46.8     (46.8 )       39.0     (39.0 )     n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income   252.7   81.8   334.5   245.9   70.3   316.2   2.8%   5.8%  
PLM Operating income     169.6     71.4     241.0     171.8     61.9     233.7   (1.3% ) 3.1%  
Mainstream 3D Operating income     83.1     10.4     93.5     74.1     8.4     82.5   12.1%   13.3%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Margin     20.1%           26.2%     21.2%           26.9%          
PLM Operating margin     16.9%           23.6%     18.6%           24.8%          
Mainstream 3D Operating margin     32.9%           36.6%     31.8%           34.9%          
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before Income Taxes   260.0   81.8   341.8   250.5   70.3   320.8   3.8%   6.5%  
Income tax expense     (81.2 )   (23.1 )   (104.3 )   (70.8 )   (32.6 )   (103.4 ) n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax effect of adjustments above     23.1     (23.1 )       21.1     (21.1 )     n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-time tax restructuring effects                   11.5     (11.5 )     n/a   n/a  
Minority interest     (0.3 )         (0.3 )   0.1           0.1   n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income   178.5   58.7   237.2   179.8   37.7   217.5   (0.7% ) 9.1%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted Net Income Per Share(3)   1.49   0.49   1.98   1.51   0.32   1.83   (1.3% ) 8.2%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
In the reconciliation schedule above, (i) all non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP revenue data reflect the exclusion of the deferred revenue adjustment; (ii) non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP operating expenses data reflect the exclusion of the amortization of acquired intangibles and stock-based compensation expense (as detailed below); and (iii) all non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP income data reflect the combined effect of these non-GAAP adjustments, plus with respect to net income and diluted net income per share, the exclusion of one-time tax restructuring effects in 2006.

 
  Twelve months ended December 31,

 
(in millions)


  2007
GAAP


  Adjustment


  2007
non-GAAP


  2006
GAAP


  Adjustment


  2006
non-GAAP


 
Cost of services and other revenue   156.3   (0.7 ) 155.6   143.7   (0.4 ) 143.3  
Research and development     302.9     (10.3 ) 292.6     299.9     (6.8 )   293.1  
Marketing and sales     350.0     (3.7 ) 346.3     296.0     (2.5 )   293.5  
General and administrative     97.1     (3.2 ) 93.9     83.7     (1.9 )   81.8  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total stock-based compensation expense           (17.9 )             (11.6 )      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2)
The non-GAAP percentage increase (decrease) compares non-GAAP measures for the two different periods. In the event there is a non-GAAP adjustment to the relevant measure for only one of the periods under comparison, the non-GAAP increase (decrease) compares the non-GAAP measure to the relevant GAAP measure.
(3)
Based on a weighted average 119.6 million diluted shares for 2007 and 119.1 million diluted shares for 2006.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    35

Back to Contents


 
  Twelve months ended December 31,

  Increase

 
(in millions, except percentages
and per share data)


  2006
GAAP


  Adjustment(1)

  2006
non-GAAP


  2005
GAAP


  Adjustment(1)

  2005
non-GAAP


  GAAP

  Non-GAAP

 
Total Revenue   1,157.8   19.7   1,177.5   934.5     9.1     943.6   23.9%   24.8%  
Total revenue by activity                                              
Software revenue     963.1     19.7     982.8     783.6     9.1     792.7   22.9%   24.0%  
Services and other revenue     194.7           194.7     150.9           150.9   29.0%   29.0%  
Total revenue by geography                                              
Americas     356.0     10.5     366.5     283.0     3.3     286.3   25.8%   28.0%  
Europe     541.9     6.4     548.3     438.2     3.6     441.8   23.7%   24.1%  
Asia     259.9     2.8     262.7     213.3     2.2     215.5   21.8%   21.9%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by segment                                              
PLM revenue     924.8     16.1     940.9     735.4     8.2     743.6   25.8%   26.5%  
Mainstream 3D revenue     233.0     3.6     236.6     199.1     0.9     200.0   17.0%   18.3%  
Total Operating Expenses   911.9   (50.6 ) 861.3   683.5   (9.8 ) 673.7   33.4%   27.8%  
Stock-based compensation expense     11.6     (11.6 )                     n/a   n/a  
Amortization of acquired intangibles     39.0     (39.0 )       9.8     (9.8 )     n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income   245.9   70.3   316.2   251.0   18.9   269.9   (2.0% ) 17.2%  
PLM Operating income     171.8     61.9     233.7     182.8     16.4     199.2   (6.0% ) 17.3%  
Mainstream 3D Operating income     74.1     8.4     82.5     68.2     2.5     70.7   8.7%   16.7%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Margin     21.2%           26.9%     26.9%           28.6%          
PLM Operating margin     18.6%           24.8%     24.9%           26.8%          
Mainstream 3D Operating margin     31.8%           34.9%     34.3%           35.4%          
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before Income Taxes   250.5   70.3   320.8   266.9   18.9   285.8   (6.1% ) 12.2%  
Income tax expense     (70.8 )   (32.6 )   (103.4 )   (90.8 )   (7.2 )   (98.0 ) n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax effect of adjustments above     21.1     (21.1 )       7.2     (7.2 )     n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-time tax restructuring effects     11.5     (11.5 )                   n/a   n/a  
Minority interest     0.1           0.1     (0.6 )         (0.6 ) n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income   179.8   37.7   217.5   175.5   11.7   187.2   2.5%   16.2%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted Net Income Per Share(3)   1.51   0.32   1.83   1.49   0.10   1.59   1.3%   15.1%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
In the reconciliation schedule above, (i) all non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP revenue data reflect the exclusion of the deferred revenue adjustment; (ii) non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP operating expenses data reflect the exclusion of the amortization of acquired intangibles or stock-based compensation expense (as detailed below); and (iii) all non-GAAP adjustments to GAAP income data reflect the combined effect of these non-GAAP adjustments, plus with respect to net income and diluted net income per share, the exclusion of one-time tax restructuring effects in 2006.

 
  Twelve months ended December 31,

 
(in millions)


  2006
GAAP


  Adjustment


  2006
non-GAAP


  2005
GAAP


 
Cost of services and other revenue   143.7   (0.4 ) 143.3   115.3  
Research and development     299.9     (6.8 )   293.1     250.0  
Marketing and sales     296.0     (2.5 )   293.5     223.0  
General and administrative     83.7     (1.9 )   81.8     58.6  
   
 
 
 
 
Total stock-based compensation expense           (11.6 )            
   
 
 
 
 
(2)
The non-GAAP percentage increase (decrease) compares non-GAAP measures for the two different periods. In the event there is a non-GAAP adjustment to the relevant measure for only one of the periods under comparison, the non-GAAP increase (decrease) compares the non-GAAP measure to the relevant GAAP measure.
(3)
Based on a weighted average 119.1 million diluted shares for 2006 and 117.6 million diluted shares for 2005.

36    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION

Revenue

Our total revenue is comprised of (i) software revenue, which is our primary source of revenue, and (ii) services and other revenue. Our services and other revenue was generated principally by the PLM segment in 2007, 2006 and 2005. The tables below set forth our revenue by activity, geographic region and segment for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and provides growth rates on an as reported basis and in constant currencies.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)



  2007



  % growth



  % growth in
constant
currencies


  2006



  % growth



  % growth in
constant
currencies


  2005



 
Total Revenue   1,258.8   8.7%   15%   1,157.8   23.9%   26%   934.5  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by activity                                    
Software revenue   1,063.3   10.4%   16%   963.1   22.9%   25%   783.6  
Services and other revenue     195.5   0.4%   6%     194.7   29.0%   31%     150.9  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by geographic region (1)                                    
Americas(2)   391.8   10.1%   20%   356.0   25.8%   27%   283.0  
Europe(2)     575.9   6.3%   6%     541.9   23.7%   24%     438.2  
Asia(2)     291.1   12.0%   24%     259.9   21.8%   29%     213.3  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue by segment (3)                                    
PLM revenue   1,006.2   8.8%   15%   924.8   25.8%   28%   735.4  
Mainstream 3D revenue     252.6   8.4%   14%     233.0   17.0%   19%     199.1  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
In our consolidated financial statements, we classify and state software revenue by geographic region in two ways: (i) by the geographic location of the end-user customer and (ii) by the geographic location of our business unit which records the transaction. See Note 19 to our consolidated financial statements. In the tables above, software revenue is classified by the geographic location of the end-user customer, while services and other revenue is classified by the location where the activity is performed.
(2)
See Note 19 to our consolidated financial statements. Germany and France account for a large majority of our sales in Europe. Most of the revenue in the Americas comes from the United States, and a large majority of the revenue from Asia comes from Japan.
(3)
During 2007 we moved CosmosWorks to our Mainstream 3D segment from PLM where it had historically been grouped with our other analysis and simulation applications. Data for 2006 and 2005 have been restated to reflect this change. The change did not have a material impact on either segment.

2007 compared to 2006:   Total revenue increased 8.7% to €1.26 billion in 2007 from €1.16 billion in 2006. In constant currencies, total revenue increased 15%, principally reflecting software revenue growth of 16% as well as services and other revenue growth of 6%, as further discussed below. Growth by region was strongest in Asia where revenue increased 24% in constant currencies on double-digit growth in Japan and strong growth in emerging countries. In the Americas revenue increased 20% in constant currencies led by the United States. In Europe revenue increased 6%. As a percentage of total revenue, Europe represented 46% (compared to 47% in 2006), the Americas accounted for 31% (31% in 2006) and Asia represented 23% (22% in 2006). On a non-GAAP basis, revenue increased 8.4% to €1.28 billion in 2007 compared to €1.18 billion in 2006. On a non-GAAP basis and in constant currencies, total revenue increased 14% during 2007.

2006 compared to 2005:   Total revenue increased 23.9% (26% in constant currencies) to €1.16 billion in 2006 from €934.5 million in 2005, reflecting additional PLM revenue from the inclusion of our two major acquisitions, Abaqus, Inc.,which was completed in October 2005 (and renamed Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. in 2007), and MatrixOne, Inc., which was completed in May 2006 (and renamed Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. in 2007), and strong internal growth from both our business segments. Excluding MatrixOne, Inc. and Abaqus, Inc., revenue increased 10% in 2006 compared to 2005. All geographic regions contributed to the growth in total revenue in 2006, with revenue in Europe increasing by 23.7%, revenue in the Americas increasing by 25.8% (27% in constant currencies) and revenue in Asia increasing by 21.8% (29% in constant currencies). As a percentage of total revenue in 2006, Europe represented 47% (unchanged from 2005), the Americas accounted for 31% (compared to 30% in 2005) and Asia represented 22% (compared to 23% in 2005). On a non-GAAP basis, revenue increased 24.8% (27% in constant currencies) to €1.18 billion in 2006 from €943.6 million in 2005, and excluding MatrixOne, Inc., and Abaqus, Inc., and in constant currencies, revenue on a non-GAAP basis increased 12%.

Software Revenue

Software revenue is comprised of new licenses revenue and periodic licenses, maintenance and product development revenue.

Our PLM products are mainly licensed pursuant to one of two payment structures: (i) new licenses, for which the customer pays an initial fee for a perpetual license and subsequently pays fees for maintenance, generally on an annual basis, or (ii) periodic (rental) licenses, for which the customer pays equal periodic fees to keep the license active. New licenses require the payment of fees for maintenance and product updates. Periodic (rental) licenses entitle the customer to corrective maintenance and product updates without additional charge.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    37

Back to Contents



Product updates include improvements to existing products but do not cover new products. Software revenue generated from new customers, or from new business with existing customers, is recorded as "periodic license" revenue if the customer chooses that payment structure. Our product development revenue relates to the development of additional functionalities of standard products requested by customers.

Software licenses offered by SolidWorks require the payment of a one-time fee, which is recorded as new licenses revenue. Access to upgrades and maintenance requires payment of an annual subscription fee, which is recorded as maintenance revenue.

Software Revenue

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Software revenue                    
New licenses revenue   417.5   432.3   375.6  
Periodic licenses, maintenance and product development revenue     645.8     530.8     408.0  
   
 
 
 
Total software revenue   1,063.3   963.1   783.6  
(as a % of total revenue)     84.5%     83.2%     83.8%  

2007 compared to 2006:   In 2007 software revenue increased 10.4% primarily reflecting a 21.7% increase in periodic licenses, maintenance and product development revenue, offset in part by a 3.4% decrease in new licenses revenue. In constant currencies, software revenue increased 16% and new licenses revenue increased 2%. Our software revenue growth was well-supported by the performance of our three largest brands. CATIA software revenue increased 7% (12% in constant currencies), reflecting primarily solid internal growth, as well as the acquisition of ICEM; ENOVIA software revenue increased 30% (37% in constant currencies), reflecting both strong internal growth and the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc. (now called Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp.) for a full year; and Mainstream 3D software revenue increased 8% (15% in constant currencies) led by SolidWorks. In addition, SIMULIA showed strong growth. On a non-GAAP basis, software revenue increased 9.9% to €1.08 billion (16% in constant currencies) from €982.8 million in 2006.

Recurring revenue, comprised of periodic licenses and maintenance revenue, increased 24.0% (31% in constant currencies) to €634.8 million in 2007, compared to €512.1 million in 2006. Recurring revenue represented 60% and 53% of software revenue in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Recurring revenue growth reflected increases in the installed base of the PLM business segment, including the impact of MatrixOne acquisition for a full year, growth in periodic licenses, the transfer of an account from the IBM PLM sales channel to the Dassault Systèmes PLM direct sales channel, and growth in maintenance fees in the Mainstream 3D segment reflecting a larger installed base and an increase in the maintenance renewal rate.

Product development revenue totaled €11.0 million in 2007 compared to €18.7 million in 2006.

In total, new CATIA and SolidWorks seats licensed during 2007 increased 6.9% to 84,101 seats, from 78,684 seats in 2006. CATIA new seats licensed during 2007 totaled 35,202 seats essentially level in comparison to 35,343 seats during 2006. New CATIA seats licensed include new licenses and the first year of periodic licenses under rental contracts. SolidWorks seats licensed during 2007 increased 12.8% to 48,899 seats from 43,341 seats in 2006.

The average new seat price for SolidWorks of €4,596 in 2007 primarily reflected a negative impact of five percentage points due to fluctuations in currency values. Excluding currency effects, the average SolidWorks end-user price per seat decreased 4% during 2007, principally reflecting the impact of geographic mix variations in comparison to 2006, since end-user price per seat varies by geographic region. Generally, underlying prices and the mix of seat types remained relatively similar compared to 2006.

2006 compared to 2005:   In 2006 software revenue increased 22.9% or €179.5 million to €963.1 million on a 15% increase in new licenses revenue and a 30% increase in periodic licenses, maintenance and product development revenue. On a non-GAAP basis, software revenue increased 24.0% (26% in constant currencies) to €982.8 million from €792.7 million in 2005. Recurring revenue increased 31.5% to €512.1 million in 2006 compared to €389.3 million in 2005, and represented 53% and 50% of software revenue in 2006 and 2005, respectively. Recurring revenue growth reflected the additional recurring revenue from the Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc., acquisitions, increases in the installed base of the PLM business segment and growth in maintenance fees in the Mainstream 3D segment.

We experienced solid growth in CATIA and SolidWorks seat licensing activity in 2006, accompanied by stable to slightly increasing average pricing in constant currencies for the year. In the aggregate CATIA and SolidWorks seats licensed during 2006 totaled 78,684 seats, representing an increase of 9.2% in comparison to 2005. CATIA seats licensed increased 1.6% to 35,343 seats for 2006, and SolidWorks seats licensed increased 16.3% to 43,341 seats for 2006. The average CATIA Version 5 end-user price per seat decreased 1%, but was unchanged in constant currencies in 2006. The average SolidWorks end-user price per seat increased 3% and 5% in constant currencies in 2006.

Product development revenue totaled €18.7 million in each of 2006 and 2005.

38    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Services and other revenue

Services and other revenue are generated mainly from consulting services in methodology for design, deployment and support, training services and engineering services. In addition, we generate services revenue from the commissions we receive as a result of our sales activities as an IBM Business Partner and, since mid-2005, from fees paid by IBM for our management of the indirect PLM Value sales channel (Channel Management Provider or CMP). As we complete the transition to direct oversight of our PLM Value Channel, we will no longer receive CMP service revenue. We also resell a limited amount of computer hardware, for which we record only the gross margin from these sales as service revenue. For each of the years 2007, 2006 and 2005, nearly all our service revenue was generated principally by the PLM segment.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Services and other revenue   195.5   194.7   150.9  
(as a % of total revenue)     15.5%     16.8%     16.2%  

2007 compared to 2006:   Services and other revenue increased 0.4% to €195.5 million in 2007, in comparison to 2006. In constant currencies, services and other revenue increased 6%, reflecting higher services revenue from the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., for a full year, offset to a large extent by a lower level of fees from our role as CMP for IBM as we undertake the transition of this PLM Value sales channel to Dassault Systèmes direct control as well as the lowering of our level of sales and service activities as a business partner (historically, our IBM Business Partner operations).

2006 compared to 2005:   Services and other revenue increased 29.0% (31% in constant currencies) to €194.7 million in 2006 from €150.9 million in 2005. Growth in services and other revenue reflected several factors: (i) service revenue recorded by Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. and Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp., (ii) higher revenue received by us as an IBM Business Partner in certain geographies and in our role as Channel Management Services Provider for IBM and (iii) growth in PLM service engagements.

OPERATING EXPENSES

Growth in operating expenses of 10.3% to €1,006.1 million in 2007 from €911.9 million in 2006 reflected principally (i) the full year effect in 2007 of the acquisition in May 2006 of MatrixOne, Inc., (ii) the build-out of our sales channels, including in particular additional marketing and sales personnel and related general and administrative expenses, and (iii) the acquisition of ICEM in 2007. In addition, amortization of acquired intangibles increased in 2007, principally as a result of the acquisition of ICEM, the repurchase of SolidWorks shares and the acquisition of MatrixOne, Inc. Finally, the decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen in 2007 had a favorable impact of about 5 percentage points on growth in our operating expenses.

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in millions)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Operating expenses   1,006.1   911.9   683.5    
Non-GAAP adjustments(1)     (64.7 )   (50.6 )   (9.8 )  
   
 
 
   
Non-GAAP operating expenses(1)   941.4   861.3   673.7    
   
 
 
   
(1)
The non-GAAP adjustments and non-GAAP operating expenses in the table above reflect adjustments to our financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP by excluding (i) the amortization of acquired intangibles, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and (ii) stock-based compensation expense, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. For the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto, see "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information" above.

Cost of revenue expenses

The cost of software revenue includes principally software licensing fees paid for third-party components integrated into our own products, maintenance costs, compact disk reproduction costs, preparation costs for user manuals and delivery costs. The cost of software revenue (excluding amortization of acquired intangibles) amounted to 4%, 4% and 3% of total revenue in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The cost of services and other revenue includes principally personnel and other costs related to organizing and providing professional services. The cost of services and other revenue amounted to 12%, 12% and 12% of total revenue in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Cost of software revenue (excluding amortization of acquired intangibles)   53.0   49.6   26.8  
Cost of services and other revenue     156.3     143.7     115.3  
   
 
 
 
Cost of revenue expenses   209.3   193.3   142.1  
   
 
 
 

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    39

Back to Contents


2007 compared to 2006:   Total cost of revenue expenses increased 8.3% in 2007 to €209.3 million from €193.3 million in 2006. Cost of software revenue (excluding amortization of acquired intangibles) increased 6.9% to €53.0 million in 2007 compared to €49.6 million in 2006, primarily reflecting the impact of the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., for a full year, and to a lesser extent, the acquisition of ICEM, as well as additional product shipping costs as our increased responsibilities for marketing and sales also expanded our role in product delivery. Cost of services and other revenue increased 8.8% to €156.3 million in 2007 compared to €143.7 million in 2006, reflecting the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., for a full year as well as growth in our consulting services. The services and other revenue gross margin was 20.1% in 2007, a decrease from 26.2% in 2006, primarily reflecting lower revenue in our business partner operations and a lower level of fees from our role as Channel Management Services Provider for IBM as we undertake the transition of this PLM Value sales channel to Dassault Systèmes direct control (see "Item 4B: Business Overview – Sales and Marketing").

2006 compared to 2005:   Total cost of revenue increased 36.0% in 2006 to €193.3 million from €142.1 million in 2005. Cost of software revenue increased 85.0% to €49.6 million in 2006 compared to €26.8 million in 2005, primarily reflecting the acquisitions of Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc. Cost of services and other revenue increased 24.6% to €143.7 million in 2006 compared to €115.3 million in 2005, reflecting the inclusion of the Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc., acquisitions as well as an increase in activity. The services and other revenue gross margin was 26.2% in 2006, an improvement from 23.6% in 2005, primarily reflecting an increase in fees received for our support of PLM sales (see "Item 4B: Business Overview – Sales and Marketing").

Research and development expenses

We believe that research and development is one of the most important elements of our success. We operate research laboratories in France, the United States, India, Canada, Germany, Israel and the United Kingdom. Our expenses for research and development include primarily the personnel cost for specialists in software architecture and various application fields such as mechanical design, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and linear and non-linear finite element analysis, interactive 3D applications, computer graphics, as well as for specialists with significant experience and knowledge of our target industrial sectors. Research and development expenses also include computer rental expenses, the depreciation and cost of maintenance related to computer hardware used in research and development, development tools, networking and communication expenses.

Costs for research and development of software are expensed when incurred, if the analysis of technical criteria does not qualify them as a capital asset. Since our founding in 1981, implementation of this accounting policy has resulted in all such costs being expensed in the period in which they were incurred.

Expenses for research and development are recorded net of grants received from various governmental authorities to finance certain research and development activities (including tax research credits in France, which would be paid by the French tax authorities if our income tax due were insufficient to enable the credits to be deducted).

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages and headcount)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Research and development expenses(1)   302.9   299.9   250.0  
(as a % of total revenue)     24.1%     25.9%     26.8%  
(1)
Due to our sales and marketing relationship with IBM, our percentage of various expenses, including research and development expenses, to revenue may not be comparable to such percentages for our competitors.

2007 compared to 2006:   Research and development expenses increased 1.0% in 2007 in comparison to 2006. Research and development expense growth in 2007 reflected several factors: (i) higher employee expenses due to a 6% increase in average research and development headcount, which were partially offset by (ii) an increase of €2.6 million in tax credits for research and development in 2007 compared to 2006 and (iii) currency fluctuations which limited growth in research and development expenses on an as reported basis. Our average research and development headcount growth reflected principally the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., personnel for a full year and the 2007 acquisition of ICEM. At year-end 2007, research and development personnel numbered 3,349, compared to 3,164 and 2,678 at year-end 2006 and 2005, respectively. A small percentage of research and development personnel pursue research and development activities in the context of providing clients with software maintenance, and their cost is thus included under cost of software revenue.

2006 compared to 2005:   Research and development expenses increased 20.0% to €299.9 million in 2006 compared to €250.0 million in 2005. Growth in research and development expenses closely tracked growth in average research and development headcount of 18.7% with the acquisitions of Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc., representing a large majority of this increase. Internal growth also contributed to the increase in headcount. As a percentage of revenue, research and development expenses decreased to 25.9% in 2006 from 26.8% in 2005, reflecting principally the application of an increased tax credit for research and development costs.

Marketing and sales expenses

Marketing and sales expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, which include sales commissions and personnel for processing sales transactions; marketing and communications expenses; travel expenses; and marketing infrastructure costs, such as information

40    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



technology resources used for marketing and office rental expenses. Marketing and sales expenses are derived principally from our sales activities and from activities in support of our three sales channels.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages and headcount)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Marketing and sales expenses   350.0   296.0   223.0  
(as a % of total revenue)     27.8%     25.6%     23.9%  

2007 compared to 2006:   Marketing and sales expenses increased €54.0 million or 18.2% compared to 2006. Reflecting our increasing responsibilities for the marketing and sales of our products (see "Item 4B: Business Overview – Sales and Marketing"), the growth in marketing and sales expenses resulted principally from (i) the expansion of our PLM Value sales channel resources, (ii) the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., marketing and sales personnel for a full year, (iii) the expansion of our PLM direct sales resources, (iv) higher marketing and sales investments in our Mainstream 3D business, and (v) to a lesser extent, the 2007 acquisition of ICEM. At year-end 2007, marketing and sales personnel numbered 3,536, compared to 3,166 and 2,614 at year-end 2006 and 2005, respectively. A portion of marketing and sales personnel provide client services such as consulting and assistance in product deployment, and their cost is thus included in the cost of services and other revenue expenses line item.

2006 compared to 2005:   Marketing and sales expenses increased 32.7% in 2006 compared to 2005. Higher expenses reflected principally the inclusion of Abaqus, Inc. and MatrixOne, Inc. (with both companies primarily marketing and selling their products through direct sales forces), additional staffing related to our PLM indirect sales channel initiative as well as growth in our PLM direct sales resources and higher marketing and sales investments in our design-centric segment. Average headcount in marketing, sales and services increased 19.6% in 2006, principally reflecting the acquisitions of Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc., internal growth related to our marketing and sales initiatives and other acquisitions.

General and administrative expenses

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
General and administrative expenses   97.1   83.7   58.6  
(as a % of total revenue)     7.7%     7.2%     6.3%  

2007 compared to 2006:   General and administrative expenses increased 16.0% in 2007 compared to 2006 and reflected principally average headcount growth of 12% related to the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc., for a full year, increased administrative staffing related to our PLM Value sales channel initiatives and expenses related to the further implementation of our ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. At December 31, 2007, the total general and administrative headcount was 574, compared to 510 at December 31, 2006.

2006 compared to 2005:   General and administrative expenses increased 42.8% in 2006 compared to 2005. The increase in general and administrative expenses reflected principally the inclusion of Abaqus, Inc. and MatrixOne, Inc., increased administrative staffing related to our PLM indirect sales channel initiative and higher expenses related to the implementation of our ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls. Average general and administrative headcount increased 30.5% in 2006, largely reflecting the acquisitions of Abaqus, Inc., and MatrixOne, Inc., and increased staffing related to our PLM indirect sales channel initiative. At December 31, 2006, the total general and administrative headcount was 510, compared to 401 at December 31, 2005.

Amortization of acquired intangibles

Amortization of acquired intangibles includes amortization of acquired software, amortization of acquired technology and amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection with business combinations (primarily customer relationships and technology). See the discussion above under "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information".

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Amortization of acquired intangibles   46.8   39.0   9.8  

2007 compared to 2006:   Amortization of acquired intangibles increased 20.0% or €7.8 million in 2007 compared to 2006. This increase reflected principally the amortization of acquired intangibles arising primarily from our acquisition of ICEM, the repurchase of SolidWorks shares, and to a lesser extent, the full-year impact of the consolidation of MatrixOne, Inc. See "Item 6B: Compensation – Options to subscribe SolidWorks shares".

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    41

Back to Contents


2006 compared to 2005:   Amortization of acquired intangibles increased €29.2 million in 2006 compared to 2005. This increase reflected principally the amortization of acquired intangibles arising primarily from our acquisitions of MatrixOne, Inc., in May 2006 and Abaqus, Inc., in October 2005.

OPERATING INCOME

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Operating income   252.7   245.9   251.0  

2007 compared to 2006:   Operating income increased 2.8% to €252.7 million in 2007 from €245.9 million in 2006, while our operating margin decreased to 20.1% from 21.2% in 2006. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased 5.8% to €334.5 million in 2007 from €316.2 million in 2006, and our operating margin decreased to 26.2% in 2007 compared to 26.9% in 2006. The increase in operating income reflected higher revenue which was largely offset by an increase in expenses related to personnel, particularly in marketing and sales. Changes in currency values reduced our reported operating income growth rate by an estimated 9 percentage points (8 percentage points on a non-GAAP basis). The decrease in operating margin principally reflected the negative impact of 60 basis points from the effects of the weakening of foreign currencies, principally the Japanese yen.

2006 compared to 2005:   Operating income decreased 2.0% to €245.9 million in 2006 from €251.0 million in 2005, and our operating margin decreased to 21.2% from 26.9% in 2005. The decrease in operating income and operating margin reflected higher revenue which was partially offset by higher operating expenses and further offset principally by amortization of acquired intangibles arising from our acquisitions of MatrixOne, Inc., and Abaqus, Inc., as well as the recently adopted requirement to recognize in our income statement all share-based payments to employees (pursuant to SFAS 123(R)). On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased 17.1% to €316.2 million in 2006 from €269.9 million in 2005 on strong revenue growth, offset in part by higher expenses. On a non-GAAP basis, our operating margin decreased to 26.9% in 2006 compared to 28.6% in 2005. The decrease in the non-GAAP operating margin reflected principally approximately 1.5 points of dilution from the acquisition of MatrixOne, Inc., and a negative impact from the weakening of the yen, partially offset by increased profitability from our existing businesses.

FINANCIAL REVENUE AND OTHER, NET

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Financial revenue and other, net   6.0   3.6   14.9  

2007 compared to 2006:   Financial revenue and other, net amounted to €6.0 million in 2007 compared to €3.6 million in 2006. Financial revenue and other, net in 2007 was comprised of net interest income of €15.7 million, exchange losses of (€8.8) million and other losses of (€0.9) million. The increase in financial revenue and other, net primarily reflected a 41.4% increase in net interest income due to a higher average balance of cash and short-term investments which more than offset higher interest expense, and higher exchange losses on financial assets and liabilities. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2007, cash and short-term investments totaled €626.6 million, compared to €459.2 million at December 31, 2006. See also "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below and Notes 2 and 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

2006 compared to 2005:   Financial revenue and other, net amounted to €3.6 million in 2006 compared to €14.9 million in 2005. Financial revenue and other, net in 2006 was comprised of net interest income of €11.1 million, exchange losses of €(6.9) million and other revenue of €(0.6) million. The decrease in financial revenue and other, net primarily reflected a 20.1% decrease in net interest income due to a lower average balance of cash and short-term investments, as well as higher interest expense (due to the drawdown on our credit line in connection with the acquisition of MatrixOne, Inc.) and higher exchange losses incurred in connection with some intercompany loans denominated in U.S. dollars. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2006, cash and short-term investments totaled €459.2 million, compared to €379.9 million at December 31, 2005. See also "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below and Notes 2 and 13 to our consolidated financial statements.

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Income tax expense   81.2   70.8   90.8  
Effective consolidated tax rate     31.2%     28.3%     34.1%  

42    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


2007 compared to 2006:   Both income tax expense and our effective consolidated tax rate increased in comparison to 2006 when we benefited from a tax restructuring effected in the United States that generated one-time tax restructuring benefits totaling €11.5 million and lowered our 2006 effective consolidate tax rate. In 2007 income tax expense increased €10.4 million or 14.7% and our effective consolidated tax rate increased to 31.2% in 2007 from 28.3% in 2006. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. On a non-GAAP basis, our effective consolidated tax rate was 30.5% for 2007, compared to 32.2% for 2006.

2006 compared to 2005:   Income tax expense amounted to €70.8 million in 2006, and our effective consolidated tax rate decreased to 28.3%, principally due to a tax restructuring effected during 2006 in the United States that generated one-time tax restructuring benefits totaling €11.5 million. See Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. On a non-GAAP basis, our effective consolidated tax rate was 32.2% for 2006 compared to 34.4% for 2005.

NET INCOME AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except per share data)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Net income   178.5   179.8   175.5  
   
 
 
 
Diluted net income per share   1.49   1.51   1.49  
   
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding     119.6     119.1     117.6  

2007 compared to 2006:   Net income and net income per share in 2007 decreased slightly in comparison to 2006, principally reflecting the impact of the higher effective tax rate on income tax expense. On a non-GAAP basis, net income increased 9.1% to €237.2 million in 2007, compared to €217.5 million in 2006, principally reflecting growth in non-GAAP operating income of 5.8%, a decrease in the non-GAAP effective tax rate to 30.5% from 32.2% and to a much lesser extent growth in financial revenue and other, net. On a non-GAAP basis, diluted net income per share increased 8.2% to €1.98 in 2007, compared to €1.83 in 2006.

2006 compared to 2005:   Net income increased 2.4% to €179.8 million in 2006, compared to €175.5 million in 2005. On a non-GAAP basis, net income increased 16.2% to €217.5 million in 2006, compared to €187.2 million in 2005, principally reflecting growth in operating income, as well as a lower effective consolidated tax rate, partially offset by a lower level of financial revenue and other, net. Diluted net income per share increased 1.3% in 2006 to €1.51, compared to €1.49 in 2005. On a non-GAAP basis, diluted net income per share increased 15.1% to €1.83 in 2006, compared to €1.59 in 2005.

REVENUE AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT

The tables below set forth the revenue and operating income of the PLM and Mainstream 3D segments, and the respective contribution of each segment to our total revenue and operating income (see Notes 1 and 19 to our consolidated financial statements). During 2007 we moved CosmosWorks to our Mainstream 3D segment from PLM, where it had historically been grouped with our other analysis and simulation applications. This change reflected the fact that CosmosWorks products are primarily sold through the Mainstream 3D channel in conjunction with the sale of SolidWorks products. Data for 2006 and 2005 have been restated to reflect this change. The change did not have a material impact on either segment.

PLM

Revenue

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)


  2007


  % of Total revenue

  2006


  % of Total revenue

  2005


  % of Total revenue

 
Revenue (excluding inter-segment sales)                                
PLM revenue   1,006.2   79.9%   924.8   79.9%   735.4   78.7%  
Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information (1)                                
PLM Non-GAAP revenue   1,020.6   80.0%   940.9   79.9%   743.6   78.8%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
The supplemental non-GAAP financial information reflects non-GAAP adjustments to our audited financial information by excluding the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. For the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto, see "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information" above.

2007 compared to 2006:   Revenue for the PLM segment grew 8.8% to €1.01 billion (excluding €4.8 million of inter-segment sales) and on a non-GAAP basis increased 8.5% to €1.02 billion. On a constant currency basis and excluding inter-segment sales, PLM revenue increased 15% and 14% on a non-GAAP basis. The growth in PLM revenue in 2007 reflected good software growth of our CATIA, SIMULIA and ENOVIA brands, principally due to the impact of acquisitions, with the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc. for a full year compared to eight

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    43

Back to Contents



months in 2006 and the acquisition of ICEM, and to growth in recurring revenue, including higher periodic licenses from increased activity and growth in our installed base for maintenance. PLM service revenue was essentially level with the prior year, and on a constant currency basis increased slightly. For additional information, see "Revenue – Software Revenue" above.

2006 compared to 2005:   Revenue for the PLM segment, including ENOVIA revenue, increased 25.8% (28% in constant currencies) in 2006 to €924.8 million, representing 79.9% of total revenue (excluding €4.1 million of inter-segment sales). On a non-GAAP basis and excluding inter-segment sales, PLM revenue increased 26.5% (28% in constant currencies) in 2006 to €940.9 million, including ENOVIA revenue which increased 63.8% to €199.7 million. The increase in revenue in 2006 reflected principally the inclusion of MatrixOne, Inc. and Abaqus, Inc., as well as solid revenue growth for CATIA and contributions from our other product lines. While overall CATIA licenses grew relatively modestly, CATIA revenue growth was strong as a result of increases in recurring revenue and services revenue.

Operating income

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007



  % of Total operating income

  2006



  % of Total operating income

  2005



  % of Total operating income

 
Operating income                                
PLM operating income   169.6   67.1%   171.8   69.9%   182.8   72.8%  
Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information (1)                                
PLM Non-GAAP operating income   241.0   72.0%   233.7   73.9%   199.2   73.8%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
The supplemental non-GAAP financial information reflects non-GAAP adjustments to our audited financial information by excluding (i) the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, (ii) the amortization of acquired intangibles, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and (iii) stock-based compensation expense, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. For the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto, see "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information" above.

2007 compared to 2006:   Operating income for the PLM segment decreased 1.3% with higher revenue more than offset by increased expenses related to our PLM Value channel initiatives and other channel investments in marketing and sales, the negative impact of currency, particularly the yen and higher amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased €7.3 million or 3.1% in 2007 compared to 2006, reflecting higher revenue largely offset by increased expenses related to our PLM Value channel initiatives and investments in other sales channels and the negative impact of the yen.

2006 compared to 2005:   Operating income for the PLM segment decreased 6.0% with higher revenue more than offset by dilution from our MatrixOne acquisition including amortization of intangibles related to the acquisition, increased expenses related to our PLM indirect channel initiatives and other investments in marketing and sales and research and development. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased €34.5 million or 17.3% in 2006 compared to 2005, reflecting higher revenue partially offset by dilution from the MatrixOne acquisition, increased expenses related to our PLM indirect channel initiatives and the negative impact of the yen.

Mainstream 3D

Revenue

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007


  % of Total revenue

  2006


  % of Total revenue

  2005


  % of Total revenue

 
Revenue (excluding inter-segment sales)                                
Mainstream 3D revenue   252.6   20.1%   233.0   20.1%   199.1   21.3%  
Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information (1)                                
Mainstream 3D non-GAAP revenue   255.3   20.0%   236.6   20.1%   200.0   21.2%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
The supplemental non-GAAP financial information reflects non-GAAP adjustments to our audited financial information by excluding the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. For the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto, see "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information" above.

2007 compared to 2006:   Revenue in the Mainstream 3D segment increased 8.4% (14% in constant currencies) in 2007 to €252.6 million, representing 20.1% of total revenue (excluding €1.1 million of inter-segment sales). On a non-GAAP basis and excluding inter-segment sales, revenue in the Mainstream 3D segment increased 7.9% (14% in constant currencies) in 2007 to €255.3 million on 12.8% growth in new SolidWorks seats licensed and growth in the maintenance installed base, offset in part by a decrease in the average end-user revenue per seat principally due to currency effects and to a lesser extent, geographic mix variations.

44    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


2006 compared to 2005:   Revenue in the Mainstream 3D segment increased 17.0% in 2006 to €233.0 million, representing 20.1% of total revenue (excluding €0.5 million of inter-segment sales). On a non-GAAP basis and excluding inter-segment sales, revenue in the Mainstream 3D segment increased 18.3% (20% in constant currencies) in 2006 to €236.6 million on strong growth in new seats licensed, an increase in the average end-user revenue per seat and growth in maintenance revenue.

Operating income

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in millions, except percentages)

  2007



  % of Total operating income

  2006



  % of Total operating income

  2005



  % of Total operating income

 
Operating income                                
Mainstream 3D operating income   83.1   32.9%   74.1   30.1%   68.2   27.2%  
Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information (1)                                
Mainstream 3D non-GAAP operating income   93.5   28.0%   82.5   26.1%   70.7   26.2%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
The supplemental non-GAAP financial information reflects non-GAAP adjustments to our audited financial information by excluding (i) the effect of adjusting the carrying value of acquired companies' deferred revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, (ii) the amortization of acquired intangibles, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and (iii) stock-based compensation expense, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. For the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial information with information set forth in our financial statements and the notes thereto, see "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information" above.

2007 compared to 2006:   Operating income for the Mainstream 3D segment increased €9.0 million or 12.1% in 2007 compared to 2006, and the operating margin increased to 32.9%. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased €11.0 million or 13.3% in 2007 compared to 2006, reflecting revenue growth and operating margin improvement to 36.6% in 2007 compared to 34.9% for 2006.

2006 compared to 2005:   Operating income for the Mainstream 3D segment increased €5.9 million or 8.7% in 2006 compared to 2005. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income increased €11.8 million or 16.7% in 2006 compared to 2005, tracking closely revenue growth as the operating margin was generally stable in 2006 in comparison to 2005. On a non-GAAP basis, Mainstream 3D segment's operating income represented 34.9% of segment revenue in 2006, compared with 35.4% in 2005.

TRENDS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS

Our quarterly revenues have varied significantly and are likely to vary significantly in the future. Our net income also varies considerably each quarter, reflecting the change in revenues, since our expenses tend to be relatively stable. A significant portion of sales typically occurs in the last month of each quarter, and, as is typical in the software market, we normally experience our highest licensing activity for the year in December. Software revenue, total revenue, operating income and net income have generally been highest in the fourth quarter of each year.

Some of the factors causing our quarterly revenues to vary significantly include, but are not limited to: the size of software transactions, the method of software licensing, the timing and size of service engagements, the timing and size of product development software engagements as well as the timing and level of mergers and acquisition activities. Additionally, quarterly revenue can vary significantly due to the varying length of time required to negotiate and complete sales contracts or to the timing of recognition of service engagements.

In 2007, revenue for the fourth, third, second and first quarters represented, respectively, 28.8%, 23.8%, 24.3% and 23.1% of our total revenue for the year. In 2006, our revenue for the fourth, third, second and first quarters represented, respectively, 30.2%, 23.8%, 24.2% and 21.8% of our total revenue for the year. See "Item 3D: Risk Factors" for a discussion of the principal causes of variations in our quarterly results.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    45

Back to Contents



B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal source of liquidity is cash from operations. Cash obtained from operations has been used primarily for working capital, short-term investments, dividend payments and the financing of business acquisitions.

Working capital at December 31, 2007 increased by €16.9 million, compared to an increase in 2006 of €10.8 million and a decrease of €11.6 million in 2005. The most important change in 2007 concerned an increase in unearned revenue, reflecting primarily unearned revenue generated in connection with our increased PLM and Mainstream 3D business. See the consolidated statements of cash flows included in this annual report. Under our marketing and distribution agreement, IBM is required to pay us a cash settlement one month after it records its revenue for licensing activity. However, due to holidays and other factors, such payments are not always received precisely within the one-month period. Delays that cause a payment to be made in a subsequent accounting period can lead to noticeable variations in the balance of accounts receivable on any given balance sheet date. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled €626.6 million as of December 31, 2007, compared with €459.2 million and €379.9 million as of December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, respectively. During 2007, net cash provided by operating activities increased to €310.3 million compared with €259.8 million during 2006. Cash flows used in investing activities amounted to €86.8 million, reflecting primarily acquisitions of businesses, net of cash, compared to €268.6 million in 2006. In 2007, net cash used in financing activities totaled €3.2 million, primarily comprised of cash dividends paid of €50.8 million and proceeds from stock option exercise, net of €47.0 million. In 2006, net cash provided by financing activities totaled €124.9 million. Exchange rate fluctuations had a negative translation effect of €31.8 million on our December 31, 2007 cash balance compared to a negative translation effect of €20.5 million on our December 31, 2006 cash balance.

Our expenditures and investments in 2007 consisted principally of acquisitions, which were financed from operating cash flows. We currently have €200 million drawn down on our five-year revolving credit facility. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements. Pursuant to the terms of this credit facility, we are required to comply with limitations on our ability to grant liens on, or sell, our assets or the assets of our principal subsidiaries, or to carry out a restructuring. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the lenders could require immediate repayment. We currently have no significant capital expenditures or investments in progress.

At the end of 2007, our financial indebtedness included long-term debt in the amount of €200 million. Our net financial position at December 31, 2007, was €423.7 million, representing cash and short-term investments, net of long-term debt, compared to €254.9 million at December 31, 2006. Management believes that our currently available sources of liquidity will provide sufficient resources for continuing our operations for the foreseeable future.

For information on our market risks, see "Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk".


C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses

See the discussion under "Item 4B: Business Overview – Technology, Research and Product Development" and "Item 5A: Operating Results – Consolidated Information – Research and development expenses" above.


D. Trend Information

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

On January 24, 2008, we announced the launch of our new, next-generation platform, Version 6 (V6). V6 is an open platform, embracing SOA standards. V6 offers a single PLM platform for all PLM business processes, available to anybody anywhere, spanning engineering groups, businesses and end users. V6 also gives intelligent access to all product experience information no matter the data source location, with our ENOVIA MatrixOne technology built into the foundation. See "Item 4B: Business Overview – Technology, Research and Product Development".

46    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


RELEVANT ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS TRENDS

The overall economic environment has an impact on our revenue and level of business activity. We also consider trends in business investment spending and industrial production since our customers are largely composed of manufacturing companies. However, in light of the time lag between general economic cycles and business investment spending, the differing investment cycles of the various industrial sectors we serve, and the specific investment budgets and calendars of our individual customers, there is no reliable short- or mid-term correlation between these macro-economic indicators and our revenues for any particular region or period. In addition, economic indicators are frequently revised upwards or downwards, so that their forecasting ability is limited.

See also "Item 3D: Risk Factors" for further discussion of the potential effects of overall economic conditions on our business and operating results.

OBJECTIVES

We set forth below our non-GAAP financial objectives. The non-GAAP objectives set forth below do not take into account the following accounting elements: deferred revenue write-downs estimated at approximately €1 million for 2008; stock-based compensation expense estimated at approximately €18 million for 2008; and amortization expense for acquired intangibles estimated at approximately €48 million for 2008. These objectives do not include the impact of any one-time costs or any one-time real estate gain related to the anticipated relocation of our global headquarters during 2008, any new stock option or share grants, or any new acquisitions which may be completed during 2008.

2008 non-GAAP total revenue objective of about 10% growth in constant currencies;

2008 non-GAAP software revenue objective of about 12% growth in constant currencies;

2008 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share objective of about €2.17 to €2.22, representing about 10% to 12% growth;

2008 non-GAAP operating margin objective of about 27.0% to 27.5%;

Objectives based upon exchange rate assumptions of US$1.45 per €1.00 and JPY 160 per €1.00; and

2008 non-GAAP revenue range of about €1.365 billion to €1.380 billion, reflecting the exchange rate assumptions noted above.

The information above under under "Objectives" includes statements that express objectives for our future financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on our management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or performances may differ materially from those in such statements due to a range of factors. In preparing such forward-looking statements, we have in particular assumed an average U.S. dollar per euro exchange rate of $1.45 per €1.00 and an average Japanese yen per euro exchange rate of JPY160 per €1.00 for 2008; however, currency values fluctuate, and our results of operations may be significantly affected by changes in exchange rates. We have also assumed that there will be no substantial decline in general levels of corporate spending on information technology, and that our increased responsibility for both indirect and direct PLM sales channels, and the resulting commercial and management challenges, will not prevent us from maintaining growth in revenues or cause us to incur substantial unanticipated costs and inefficiencies. Our actual results or performance may also be materially negatively affected by difficulties or adverse changes affecting our partners or our relationships with our partners, including our longstanding, strategic partner, IBM; new product developments and technological changes; errors or defects in our products; growth in market share by our competitors; and the realization of any risks related to the integration of any newly acquired company and internal reorganizations. For more information regarding the risks facing our business, see "Item 3D: Risk Factors".


E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    47

Back to Contents




F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007:

 
  Payments due by period

 
(in thousands)

  Total

  Less than 1 year

  1-3 years

  3-5 years

  More than 5 years

 
Employee profit-sharing   32,508   9,622   10,229   7,796   4,861  
Built-to-suit lease agreement     188,913         12,388     37,163     139,362  
Revolving loan facility(1)     250,667     9,728     19,456     19,456     202,027  
Operating lease obligations     95,905     36,337     36,940     16,156     6,472  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Total   567,993   55,687   79,013   80,571   352,722  
   
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Including interest at Euribor plus 0.18% at December 31, 2007 (4.86%) per annum.

48    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 6: Directors, Senior Management and Employees


A. Directors and Senior Management

In accordance with our by-laws (statuts) and French company law, our affairs are managed by our Board of Directors, which is presided over by a chairman of the Board (Président), and our Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), who is a member of the Board.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors determines our business strategy and oversees its implementation. Under French law, the Board of Directors is also responsible for, among other things, the presentation of the annual and consolidated accounts to the shareholders and for convening the general meeting of shareholders to approve such accounts. The Board of Directors must also give prior authorization for any security, pledge or guarantee granted by the Company, establish forecasted accounts, and determine the compensation of the Chairman and the CEO. In addition to decisions to be taken by the Board as a result of legal requirements, the Board in 2007 approved or reviewed partnership or acquisition transactions, reviewed the internal control deployment within the Dassault Systèmes Group and the compliance with new legal requirements relating to financial communications. Under French law, directors are liable for violation of legal or regulatory requirements applicable to a limited liability company (société anonyme), such as Dassault Systèmes S.A., for the violation of our by-laws or for mismanagement. A director may be held liable for such actions both individually and jointly with the other directors.

Our by-laws provide that, generally, the Board of Directors must consist of three to fifteen directors at any time. Only the shareholders can increase the size of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board are elected by the shareholders at a general meeting of shareholders to serve six-year terms and may be reelected for consecutive terms. Directors serve until the expiration of their respective terms, or until their resignation, death or removal, with or without cause by the shareholders. Under certain conditions, the Board of Directors may fill its vacancies until the subsequent shareholders' meeting. At no time may the number of directors exceeding the age of 70 years constitute more than one-half of the Board of Directors. The Chairman may not be more than 75 years old. Pursuant to our statuts, each director must hold at least one share of Dassault Systèmes for the duration of his mandate.

Meetings of the Board of Directors are normally convened by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and are to be held as often as required in the corporate interest. A quorum consists of at least one half of the members of the Board of Directors. Decisions are made by majority vote of the members present, deemed to be present or duly represented by other members of the Board of Directors. A director may not vote on an arrangement or contract in which he is materially interested; if he does vote, the decision will be void. Our by-laws permit any director to attend, participate in and vote at any meeting by videoconference and by other means of telecommunications, except for certain decisions as provided by French law. The Board of Directors met three times in 2007, with an attendance rate of 100%.

Our Board of Directors generally complies with all French rules and recommendations, and all applicable U.S. regulations, regarding corporate governance. In 2007, the Board performed its annual assessment of the independence of the independent directors, using information provided in response to the questionnaire sent to directors. The independent directors are Bernard Dufau, André Kudelski, Paul R. Brown, Jean-Pierre Chahid-Nourai and Arnoud De Meyer.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    49

Back to Contents


The following table sets forth the names, ages and election dates of our directors, as well as their occupations and directorships. As of the date hereof, five of the nine members of our Board of Directors are independent, as determined according to French corporate governance requirements resulting from the Bouton report and Sarbanes-Oxley and NASDAQ requirements.

Name

Age

  Current position within our Company

  Director since

  Term expires

  Other occupation and Directorships(1)

  Other mandates (outside DS) expired during the last five years

Company shares
owned at March 15, 2008


 



Charles Edelstenne



70



 



Chairman



 



1993



 



2011



 



Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (
Président-Directeur Général) of Dassault Aviation

French companies:

Member of the Supervisory Board
(Conseil de Surveillance) of Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS

Director of Sogitec Industries SA

Manager (
Gérant) of Arie, Arie 2 and Nili and Nili 2

Foreign companies:

Director of Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques

Chairman of Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation

President of Dassault International, Inc.



 



Director of Dassault Réassurance and Thalès Systèmes Aéroportés



7,662,647



 
Paul R. Brown 57   Director   2000   2011   Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania   Director and member of the Audit committee of Dictaphone, Inc. 2  

Bernard Charlès

51

 

President and Chief Executive Officer ("Directeur Général")

 

1993

 

2011

 

Foreign subsidiaries of DS:

Director and Chairman of SolidWorks Corp.; Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp.; Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp.; Dassault Systèmes Corp. and Dassault Systèmes K.K.

President of Dassault Systèmes Canada Inc.

 

Director of Business Objects

86,940

 

50    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents






Laurent Dassault




54




 




Director




 




1993




 




2011




 




VP and member of the Supervisory Board (
Vice-Président and Membre du Conseil de Surveillance) of Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS

French companies:

Chairman of the Supervisory Board (
Président du Conseil de Surveillance) of Immobilière Dassault SA

President (
Président) of Château Dassault SAS and Co-manager (co-gérant) of the SCEA La Fleur Mérissac

Director of Generali France SA; Sogitec Industries SA; Société de Véhicules Electriques SAS; Société Financière Louis Potel & Chabot; Génération Entreprise

Manager (
Gérant) of Artcurial Développement

Member of the Supervisory Board (
Membre du Conseil de Surveillance) of ARQANA SAS and 21 Central Partners SA

Member of the Steering Committee (
Comité de suivi) of Pechel Industries SAS and Member of the Advisory Committee (Comité Consultatif) of Sagard Private Equity Partners SAS

Chairman of the Development Committee (
Président du Comité de développement) of the Groupe Artcurial

Foreign Companies:

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (
Président-Directeur Général) of Dassault Belgique Aviation

Chairman of the Advisory Board of CATALYST INVESTMENTS II L.P.
Director of Power Corporation du Canada, Kudelski SA, Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Luxembourg SA, Fauchier Partners Management Ltd., Lepercq, de Neuflize and Co. Inc., Terramaris SA




 




Manager (
Gérant) of Dassault Investissements

President of Dassault Falcon Jet do Brazil, Midway Aircraft Corp., Dassault Investment Fund Inc., Vina Dassault San Pedro

Director of Fingen SA, Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille, BSS Investment SA, Chenfeng Machinery, Aero Precision Repair and Overhaul Company "A-pro", NAFCO National Aerospace Stener Co., Generali Assicurazioni SpA, Industrial Procurement Services

Member of the Supervisory Board
(Conseil de Surveillance) of Eurazeo and Member of the Advisory Board (Comité Consultatif) of Power Private Equity Fund and Syntek Capital SA




10




 
Bernard Dufau 66   Director   2001   2013   Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of France Telecom SA

Director and Member of the Audit Committee of Kesa Electricals plc
  Director of Team Partner Group and Mood Media.

Manager (
Gérant) of B. Dufau Conseil
1,000  

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    51

Back to Contents



André Kudelski

47

 

Director

 

2001

 

2013

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (
Président and administrateur délégué) of Kudelski SA

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (
Président Directeur Général) of Nagra + SA

Chairman of the Board of Open TV (USA)

Director of HSBC Private Bank Holding (Switzerland), Nestlé and Edipresse

 

Member of the Advisory Board of Crédit Suisse and of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce

10

 

Thibault de Tersant

50

 

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

1993

 

2011

 

French subsidiaries of DS:

President (
Président) of Dassault Systèmes Europe SAS and Dassault Systèmes HoldCo SAS

Foreign subsidiaries of DS

Director and Chairman of Spatial Corp.

Director of SolidWorks Corp., Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corp.; Dassault Systèmes Corp.; Dassault Systèmes Israel Ltd.; SmarTeam Americas Inc.; Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. and Icem Ltd.

 

None.

9,815

 
Jean-Pierre Chahid-Nouraï 69  
Director
  2005   2011   Director of Stanislas SA   Managing Director (Administrateur Délégué) of Finanval Conseil 1,010  
Arnoud De Meyer 53   Director   2005   2011   Professor and Director of the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Director of Option International NV and Kylian Technology Management Pte. Ltd.
  Director of Ancorabel, SR&DM, INSEAD (Singapore) and of INSEAD EAC Pte. Ltd. 250  
(1)
Principal occupation appears first for directors whose principal employment is not at Dassault Systèmes.

Director Biographies

Charles Edelstenne was one of the founders of Dassault Systèmes in 1981 and was our Managing Director (gérant) until we were transformed into a société anonyme in 1993. From 1993 to 2002, Mr. Edelstenne was our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Président-Directeur Général) and since 2002, Mr. Edelstenne has served as our Chairman of the Board. Mr. Edelstenne devotes the majority of his time to his duties at Dassault Aviation, as indicated above.

Bernard Charlès has been our Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général) since 2002, Mr. Edelstenne being since then only the Chairman of our Board. Mr. Charlès served similar executive functions since 1995 which were shared with Mr. Edelstenne. Prior to holding this position, Mr. Charlès served as our Director of Research and Strategy from 1985 to 1988 and as our Director of Research and Development from 1988 to 1995.

Thibault de Tersant has been our Senior Executive Vice President since 2003, and our Chief Financial Officer since 1988. Prior to joining us, Mr. de Tersant served as a finance executive at Dassault International. Mr. de Tersant is also a member of the Board of Directors of the DFCG (French National Association of Chief Financial Officers and Financial Controllers).

Paul R. Brown has been a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania since 1974. He is Dean of the College of Business and Economics of the Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was formerly a professor and Chairman of the Accounting, Taxation and Business

52    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Law Department of the Leonard N. Stern Business School at New York University. Professor Brown was also the Academic Director of TRIUM Executive MBA program. He has also worked at the Yale School of Management, INSEAD and the International University of Japan and has worked for Arthur Andersen & Co. and for the Financial Accounting Standards Boards (FASB). He is also a consultant for numerous financial enterprises.

Laurent Dassault has served in management positions in the Dassault group since 1991. Mr. Dassault is Vice President of GIMD, Chairman of the Supervisory Board (Président du Conseil de Surveillance) of Immobilière Dassault and President (Président) of Château Dassault and Château La Fleur Mérissac. Prior to this, Mr. Dassault worked for 14 years in banking at Banque Vernes, Banque Parisienne Internationale and Banque Industrielle et Commerciale du Marais.

Bernard Dufau first joined IBM France as a commercial engineer and then served in various management positions. Mr. Dufau served as Chairman of the Board (Président du Conseil d'administration) of IBM France from 1996 to 2001, Chairman of the Management Board (Président du Directoire) of IBM France from 1995 to 1996, Managing Director of the Distribution Division of IBM Europe in 1994, Chief Operating Officer of IBM France from 1992 to 1994 and Sales Director of IBM France from 1989 to 1992.

André Kudelski has been President and Chief Executive Officer (Président and administrateur délégué) of Kudelski SA since 2002 and of Nagra + SA, a joint-venture of Kudelski SA and Canal +, since 1992. He first joined Kudelski SA in 1984 as an R&D engineer and was Product Manager for pay-TV products from 1989 to 1990, Managing Director of Nagravision, the pay-TV division of the group and succeeded his father as Président. In 2007, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Open TV, a US company listed on the NASDAQ and controlled by the Kudelski Group.

Jean-Pierre Chahid-Nouraï is an independent consultant. He was general manager (administrateur délégué) of Finanval Conseil from 1992 to 2007. Former member of the Executive Team (gérance) of Michelin and Chief Financial Officer of the Michelin group, Mr. Chahid-Nouraï has also worked as an investment banker for MM. Lazard Frères et Cie., Banque Vve Morin-Pons, Financière Indosuez and S.G. Warburg and as consultant with McKinsey & Co. Inc. Mr. Chahid-Nouraï has also taught finance at ESSEC, at the Centre de formation à l'analyse financière, INSEAD and at CEDEP (the Centre européen d'éducation permanente).

Arnoud De Meyer is Director of Judge Business School and Professor in Management Studies (University of Cambridge, UK). He is also currently external member of the management board of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform of the British government. Mr. De Meyer is a specialist in the Management of Innovation, a subject on which he has published numerous articles and books. He was previously a Professor of Technology Management at INSEAD and Deputy Dean of INSEAD in France in charge of Administration and External Relations. He has also taught at Waseda University and Keio Business School in Japan and created the INSEAD Campus in Singapore.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee. In compliance with French and U.S. corporate governance rules, the Committee is composed of four independent directors: Paul R. Brown, Bernard Dufau, André Kudelski, and Jean-Pierre Chahid-Nouraï. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Bernard Dufau and the financial expert on this Committee is Paul R. Brown.

The Audit Committee was established in 1996 to assist our Board of Directors in overseeing the quality and integrity of our financial statements and the financial reporting process, our internal accounting and financial control systems, the performance by the external auditors of their mission and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

The Audit Committee is responsible for examining these matters and providing recommendations and advice to the Board in relation thereto. The Audit Committee assesses the independence and the performance of our external auditors and recommends to the Board of Directors their appointment, compensation and termination (subject to shareholders' approval under French law). The Audit Committee discusses with the external auditors the scope of the audit, pre-approves all audit-related and non-audit related services provided by the external auditors, and discusses with them the critical accounting policies used and the valuations and decisions made by management in connection with the preparation of the financial statements. Each fiscal year, the Audit Committee reviews the audited annual consolidated financial statements before making recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all related-party transactions pursuant to NASDAQ corporate governance requirements.

The Audit Committee discusses with management, the internal auditors and the external auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and financial controls, including our policies and procedures to assess, monitor and manage business and financial risk. It is informed of the progress in our internal control project in compliance with French and U.S. regulatory requirements, particularly as regards the evaluation of internal control on financial reporting. The Audit Committee also approves annual audit plan of our internal audit department. Our internal audit director reports to the Audit Committee conclusions resulting from the audit engagements.

In 2007 the Audit Committee met three times in person; the Senior EVP and CFO, the Group CFO, the consolidation director, the internal audit director, the general counsel and the external auditors attended these meetings. In addition, in order to review quarterly earnings

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    53

Back to Contents



announcements and other specific matters, the Audit committee met four times by telephone with the Senior EVP and CFO, the Group CFO and the consolidation director. The attendance rate to meetings in 2007 was 100%.

Compensation and Nomination Committee. In compliance with applicable U.S. and French corporate governance rules, the Board of Directors formed a Compensation and Nomination Committee in 2005 with two independent directors, Bernard Dufau and André Kudelski.

The principal objectives of the Committee are to: (i) propose to the Board the compensation of the Chairman and CEO; (ii) propose the calculation bases and the determination rules of the variable portion of the compensation of the Chairman and CEO and verify compliance with the determination rules; (iii) propose succession planning in the event of vacancies of the Chairman and CEO positions; (iv) examine the nomination and compensation policies for our executive officers; (v) examine our policy and make recommendations on stock option grants and other forms of stock-based incentives; (vi) review the directors fees and the method for allocating those fees among directors; and (vii) make proposals to the Board on the appointment of new directors or reappointment of current directors.

The NASDAQ rules stipulate that the compensation of all executive officers (other than the Chairman of the Board and the CEO) must be determined, or recommended to the Board for determination, by a majority of our independent directors or by a compensation and nomination committee comprised solely of independent directors. However, under French law, the Board determines only the compensation of the Chairman, the CEO and, if any, the deputy CEO, the compensation of the other executive officers being determined by the Company's management in accordance with their employment terms and market practices. As a result, the Company continues to follow its home country practice and has informed NASDAQ in this respect.

In 2007, the Compensation and Nomination Committee met twice in person, with an attendance rate of 100%. Based on the information provided by each director in response to a questionnaire, the Compensation and Nomination Committee confirmed to the Board that five out of the nine directors are independent. The Committee proposed to the Board the allocation of Directors' fees, stock grants for the CEO and stock options for the benefit of certain of our executive officers and employees. The Committee also advised on the compensation structure for executive officers for 2007, and the global process for granting stock options.

Based on the assessment of the implementation by the CEO in 2006 of the strategic orientations adopted previously by the Board, the Committee proposed in 2007 that the variable portion of his compensation for 2006 could be paid to the CEO; the Committee also proposed to the Board the total on-target earnings of the CEO, as well as the compensation of the Chairman, for 2007.

In 2008, it is anticipated that the Compensation and Nomination Committee will meet a minimum of two times.

Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee is comprised of two directors, Bernard Charlès and Arnoud De Meyer, and one executive officer, Dominique Florack, our Senior Executive Vice President, Products – Research and Development, and meets at least once a year. All members of the Committee were appointed on the date of its creation. The Committee reviews the axes for research and development, examines our technological advances and makes recommendations in relation thereto. The Scientific Committee usually requests the participation at its meetings of DS employees who have the appropriate expertise in research and development or with respect to the questions being discussed.

The Scientific Committee met four times in 2007. It discussed potential applications of Dassault Systèmes software to new domains, such as consumer goods, manufacturing and life sciences. The Committee reviewed Dassault Systèmes' strategy with regard to on-line software applications and the related technological challenges, as well as opportunities which may exist to enable Dassault Systèmes to address a larger users group and raise interaction between the consumer and the product designer. The evolution of CATIA software in the domain of systems engineering was also discussed by the Scientific Committee. It is anticipated that the Scientific Committee will meet at least two times in 2008.

Board of Directors' Internal Regulation. An Internal Regulation of the Board of Directors was adopted in 2005 and regularly updated since. This Internal Regulation sets forth the composition and the functioning rules of the Board and of the committees, as well as the missions of the different committees. It provides for the usual frequency for meetings and the way meetings shall be held; the rules for timely notification of the Board of Directors with respect to events that may materially impact our prospects, forecasts or implementation of our strategy as presented to the Board; the principles of limitations on the powers of our CEO; review of the independence qualifications for Board members on an annual basis; and performance of an annual self-assessment, with, upon request of the majority of the Board members, engagement of an external party to provide a more detailed evaluation and recommendations. A first assessment exercise was carried out in 2006, which led the directors to determine certain steps to enhance its functioning. The Board made a new assessment of its functioning in 2007, with a focus on the operational enhancements. In 2007, as a result, preparation files for the Board were sent with a longer notice, the permanent information of the directors was reinforced by sending regularly and automatically certain information on the Group and by holding meetings with operating managers to address business or organization issues relating to Dassault Systèmes. The Internal Regulation reconfirms the confidentiality obligation incumbent on all Board members. Board members must comply with the insider rules established by Dassault Systèmes which prevent them from trading in any Dassault Systèmes securities when they are aware of sensitive non-public information and unless they have specifically received a preliminary advice from Dassault Systèmes Insider Committee.

54    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


The Internal Regulation states that the independent directors shall meet, in conjunction with regularly scheduled Board meetings, in executive sessions at least twice a year to discuss generally about the functioning of DS and of its Board. Two executive sessions of independent directors were held in 2007.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Chief Executive Officer has full executive authority to manage our affairs and has broad powers to act on our behalf within our corporate purpose and to represent us in dealings with third parties. These powers of the Chief Executive Officer are subject only to the powers expressly reserved to the Board of Directors or shareholders by law or by our by-laws, and are under certain circumstance subject to prior authorization of the Board of Directors or the general meeting of shareholders as specified by French law. In addition, the Internal Regulation of our Board of Directors provides that our Board of Directors shall determine, on a yearly basis, which categories of material transactions will be subject to the Board's prior approval.

The Board of Directors, at its meeting of March 28, 2008, authorized the Chief Executive Officer to take decisions without the prior approval of the Board of Directors except for (i) any significant transaction which would not come within the Company's strategy, as presented to the Board of Directors, and (ii) the following transactions, if they involved amounts beyond a specified ceiling:

acquisitions or sales of entities or equity interests;

any organic growth investment or internal restructuring transaction; and

any external financing (through a banking facility or transaction on the capital markets).

The Board decided also on that same date that the CEO could grant pledges, sureties or securities in the name of the Company within a global limit of 100 million euros, Board approval being required to exceed this limit.

These decisions were taken for a one-year period, until the meeting of the Board to approve the 2008 annual accounts.

The Chief Executive Officer is elected by the Board of Directors and may be removed by the Board of Directors at any time. According to our by-laws, the Chief Executive Officer may not be more than 65 years old.

The following table sets forth the names and birth dates of our executive officers in 2007 and their current positions with us:

Name

Date of Birth

  Position

 
Charles Edelstenne January 9, 1938   Chairman of the Board  
Bernard Charlès March 30, 1957   President and Chief Executive Officer  
Dominique Florack June 26, 1959   Senior Executive Vice President, Products – Research and Development  
Thibault de Tersant July 22, 1957   Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  
Pascal Daloz March 9, 1969   Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing  
Étienne Droit September 3, 1959   Executive Vice President, PLM Value Channel  
Philippe Forestier May 16, 1950   Executive Vice President, Network Selling  
Bruno Latchague January 28, 1957   Executive Vice President, PLM Business Transformation  
Joel Lemke January 12, 1956   Chief Executive Officer of ENOVIA  
John McEleney April 29, 1962   Chief Executive Officer of SolidWorks, until July 1, 2007  
Jeff Ray October 22, 1955   Chief Executive Officer of SolidWorks, since July 1, 2007, and Vice President Professional Channel  
Muriel Pénicaud March 31, 1955   Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, until March 2008.  

On April 1, 2008, Laurence Dors (born: March 16, 1956) was appointed as Senior Executive Vice President, Global Development & Resources.

Executive Officer Biographies

Dominique Florack has been our Senior Executive Vice President, Products – Research and Development since 2007. Mr. Florack served as our Executive Vice President, Strategy, Research and Development from 2004 to 2006, our Executive Vice President Strategy, Applications, Research and Development from 1995 to 1999. He also served as our Director of Mechanical CAD from 1994 to 1995, as Director of Strategy and Research from 1990 to 1993 and as responsible of Dassault Systèmes data base solutions from 1986 to 1989.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    55

Back to Contents


Pascal Daloz has been Executive Vice-President Strategy & Marketing since January 2007 and in charge of the activities under the brand 3DVIA since the beginning of 2008. He joined the company in 2001 as Research & Development Director and was appointed Vice President Strategy and Development in 2003. Mr. Daloz served five years at Arthur D. Little, where he was a consultant and member of Arthur D. Little's Technology Innovation Management team, and four years at Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group, where he served as a financial analyst.

Étienne Droit has been our Executive Vice President, PLM Value Channel since 2007. Mr. Droit joined Dassault Systèmes in 1985 as a member of our CATIA Development Team and served different management positions within strategy and applications development divisions from 1987 to 1995, and was in particular appointed Director of CATIA applications products in 1991. In 1995, he became Executive Vice President of sales and services to large enterprises, a responsibility which was widened to global sales and distribution in 1997. In the context of the reinforced responsibility of Dassault Systèmes for the distribution of its products, Mr. Droit has been responsible for PLM sales through our network of resellers (our "PLM Value" distribution channel).

Philippe Forestier has been our Executive Vice President, Network Selling since 2007. Mr. Forestier joined Dassault Systèmes in 1981 as responsible engineer for development of the CATIA geometric modeler. He then served various management positions in marketing and technical support for our products until 1995 and was responsible for sales and marketing for Americas until 2001. Mr. Forestier also served as our Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing for Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) until 2002 and as our Executive Vice President Alliances, Marketing and Communications until 2006.

Bruno Latchague has been our Executive Vice President, PLM Business Transformation since 2007. In this position, he is responsible for PLM sales to large accounts, as well as for PLM solutions and services. Mr. Latchague joined us in 1987 as Manager CATIA Software Infrastructure. He then served various management functions in research and development and more particularly in the development and support of our PLM solutions. Prior to joining us, Mr. Latchague served as Manager CAD/CAM Products Support at Régie Nationale des Usines Renault.

Joel Lemke has been the Chief Executive Officer of the activities under the brand ENOVIA since its creation in 1998. He was also responsible for PLM sales in Americas from 2003 to 2006. Prior to joining us Mr. Lemke served as Vice President of Solutions in the Industrial Sector Division of IBM. During the nineteen years of his work for IBM, Mr. Lemke was responsible for strategy, product development, service, marketing and sales of materials and software.

John McEleney has been the Chief Executive Officer of SolidWorks since 2001. Mr. McEleney has been with SolidWorks since 1996 and has served in several roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Americas Sales. Prior to joining SolidWorks, Mr. McEleney held several senior management positions at Computervision. Mr. McEleney decided to leave SolidWorks in July 2007, but remained a member of the Board of directors of SolidWorks Corp. until the end of 2007 in order to facilitate the transition of the management of the company to Jeff Ray.

Jeff Ray was appointed in July 2007 as Chief Executive Officer of SolidWorks to replace John McEleney, and at the beginning of 2008 also as Vice President Professional Channel. Mr. Ray joined SolidWorks in 2003 as Chief Operating Officer. He started at IBM where he served in several management positions during seventeen years. He then held management positions in two other US companies within the software industry: he has been Vice-President Global Solutions at Compuware Corp. and Vice-President Worldwide Field operations at Progress Software Corp. Mr. Ray graduated from the Texas University.

Muriel Pénicaud has been our Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer (Organization & Human Resources) since the end of 2002. Since 2006, Mrs. Pénicaud also serves as Chairman of the National Institute of Labour, Employment and Professional Training. Prior to joining us, Mrs. Pénicaud served as Vice President for Organization Development and Human Resources Policies at Groupe Danone. Previously she was adviser to the Minister of Labor for professional training after having held several positions within the French Ministry of Labor and in territorial administrations. Mrs. Penicaud decided to leave our company at the beginning of 2008.

On April 1, 2008, Laurence Dors was appointed as Senior Executive Vice President, Global Development & Resources. Prior to joining us, Mrs. Dors held international positions in several companies and government services. She served as General Secretary of the EADS Group beginning in 2003, as General Secretary of EADS International from 2000 to 2003, and as General Secretary of International Affairs of the Lagardère group, which subsequently became the International Directorate of Aerospatiale-Matra, from 1998 to 2000. Previously, Mrs. Dors was an advisor on international economic matters to the French Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and held several executive management positions in the international services of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance.

To our knowledge there is no family relationship between our directors and executive officers ("mandataires sociaux") (consisting of members of the board of directors and deputy executive officers). There are no potential conflicts of interests with regards to the directors and officers' responsibilities to us and their private interests and/or other responsibilities.

Furthermore, in the past five years and to our knowledge, none of the directors and officers has been (i) convicted of fraud, (ii) declared bankrupt, had their property impounded or liquidated, or (iii) subject to an official accusation and/or penalty delivered by legal or regulatory authorities.

In addition, to our knowledge, in the past five years, none of the directors and officers has been prohibited by a tribunal from becoming a member of an administrative, management or supervisory body of a company, or from being involved in the management or direction of the affairs of such a company.

As of the date of the present document, none of the directors and officers is party to a service contract with us or one of our subsidiaries conferring any benefit.

56    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


FINANCIAL AND CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR COMPANY
AND ITS DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The French Commercial Code (Code de commerce) strictly forbids loans by a company (société anonyme) to its directors. No company may provide overdrafts for directors or guarantee any director's obligations. This prohibition also applies to the chief executive officer, permanent representatives of companies on the Board of Directors, spouses or heirs of such persons and other intermediaries.

The French Commercial Code and our by-laws require any director, the Chief Executive Officer and any shareholder who holds more than 10% of the voting rights of our shares, or, if a corporate shareholder, the company controlling it, that is considering entering into an agreement with the Company, either directly or indirectly, personally or through an intermediary, to inform the Company's Board of Directors as well as its auditors before the transaction is consummated. This obligation applies also to transactions between the Company and any other entity where a Director of the Company is owner, manager, director or member of the supervisory board, it being specified that such other entity may be a subsidiary of the Company. French law also requires such an agreement to be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the director or person concerned may not vote on the issue. French law further requires such an agreement to be submitted to an ordinary shareholders' meeting for approval once entered into, upon presentation of a special report from the Company's auditors. Any agreement entered into in violation of these requirements may be declared void by the Commercial Court at the request of the company or that of any shareholder, if such agreement is contrary to the interests of the company. Moreover, French law also states that agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and with usual terms and conditions are not subject to the prior authorization of the Board of Directors. Nevertheless, as long as they are material to the company, such agreements must be disclosed by the interested party to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, who has the responsibility of communicating the list and the purpose of such agreements to the Board of Directors and to the statutory auditors.

The following transactions, which were authorized by the Board of Directors pursuant to French law, were still in effect in 2007: (i) the insurance policy relating to the directors' and officers' liability entered into with AIG Europe on June 28, 1996; (ii) the non-exclusive and free license of the trademark ENOVIA granted to Dassault Systèmes Americas Corp. (previously, Enovia Corp.) on March 11, 1998; (iii) agreements with Bernard Charlès relating to indemnities to be paid in case of dismissal as described below under "Item 6B: Compensation"; and (iv) the agreement entered into on September 23, 2003, for the benefit of our directors to support the fees for their defense in case they would have to prepare a personal defense before a civil, criminal or administrative court in the United States in the context of an investigation against Dassault Systèmes.


B. Compensation

Our compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified individuals needed to achieve our business and financial objectives. In setting forth criteria for the determination of compensation, it does so by balancing short-term and long-term financial objectives, building stockholder value and rewarding individual and corporate performance. Consistent with those criteria, the annual compensation of each executive officer includes two portions – a fixed portion and a variable portion – except for the Chairman who receives only a fixed portion. The amount of the variable portion is contingent upon the executive officer's annual performance against annual personal performance objectives defined to be consistent with our strategic orientations and with specific individual management targets. The variable portion may represent a significant part of the total compensation if the annual targets are achieved or overachieved.

Beyond their fixed and variable compensation, the French executive officers, except for the Chairman of the Board, and, since January 1, 2008, the Chief Executive Officer, are eligible for corporate profit-sharing in the same manner as other employees of the Company.

In addition, executive officers are given long-term incentives through grants of stock options, intended particularly to encourage them to act in the best interests of our shareholders. Stock options may be granted to key employees, including executive officers, of our Company, and the number of stock options granted is dependent on individual performance and level of responsibility.

The Chairman and/or the Chief Executive Officer are entitled to receive remuneration in addition to the director's fees as provided for in our by-laws, this additional remuneration being determined by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of our Compensation and Nomination Committee.

For the Chief Executive Officer, the target variable can represent up to 100% of the fixed portion, depending on the achievement of annual performance objectives according to the strategic orientations adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board evaluates the extent of realization of the strategic objectives during the year following their presentation. In 2007, the Compensation and Nomination Committee proposed to the Board to pay the total amount of the variable compensation due for 2006 on the basis of the achievement of the objectives, corresponding to 100% of the fixed portion, which proposal was adopted by the Board.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    57

Back to Contents


The aggregate amount of gross compensation paid by us and our subsidiaries to our executive officers as a group (12 persons as identified above under Item 6A) was €6,902,234 (including under our profit-sharing plans and excluding capital gains on the resale of Dassault Systèmes' shares resulting from the exercise of stock options or the stock grants).

See "Stock Grants" and "Options to Subscribe Securities from Registrant or Subsidiaries" below for details on stock grants and stock options allocated to Dassault Systèmes' directors and executive officers. The Compensation and Nomination Committee and the Board of Directors considered that stock grants offered an additional means for associating the Chief Executive Officer with the Group's development and performance.

In accordance with French law, Dassault Systèmes' Board of Directors decided in 2007, after prior consultation with the Compensation and Nomination Committee, that the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer shall have lock-up periods for the shares they may acquire through the exercise of stock options or stock grants. The Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer are thus required to maintain in registered form at least 15% of the total number of shares acquired through the exercise of stock options or stock grants allocated to them in 2007 and they may not sell or transfer such 15% of the shares until they have left their current functions at the Company.

The table below sets forth the total amount of gross compensation, directors' fees and other benefits paid in euro to each director by us and our subsidiaries during the 2007 fiscal year:

 
  Salary and Fees

   
   
   
   
 
 
   
  Directors' 
fees(1)


   
  Total for 
2006(2)


 
(in euros)

  Fixed

  Variable

  Total

  Other benefits

  Total for 2007

 

Directors


 
Charles Edelstenne(3)   800,000  
  800,000  
  33,000   833,000   782,000 (6)
Bernard Charlès   850,000   800,000 (4)(5) 1,650,000   11,727   18,000   1,679,727   1,576,113 (6)
Thibault de Tersant   273,000   146,000 (4) 419,000   7,173   18,000   444,173   382,690 (6)
Paul R. Brown  
 
 
 
  26,000   26,000   22,500  
Jean-Pierre Chahid-Nouraï  
 
 
 
  26,000   26,000   24,500  
Laurent Dassault(7)  
 
 
 
  18,000   18,000   18,000  
Bernard Dufau  
 
 
 
  32,000   32,000   30,500  
André Kudelski  
 
 
 
  28,000   28,000   26,500  
Arnoud De Meyer  
 
 
 
  22,000   22,000   20,000  
Total                       3,108,900   2,882,803  
(1)
Directors' fees due for 2007 were paid at the very beginning of 2008.
(2)
The total amount for 2006 includes directors' fees for 2006 paid early in 2007.
(3)
In 2007, Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS paid €17,000 to Charles Edelstenne in director's fees for his role as member of its Supervisory Board.
(4)
Variable portion due for 2006. Bernard Charlès and Thibault de Tersant each also received in 2007 €31,540 under our French profit-sharing plan.
(5)
The variable portion due for 2007 and to be paid in 2008 amounts to €850,000 for Bernard Charlès.
(6)
See also "– Options to subscribe SolidWorks' shares" in the Company's 20-F for 2006.
(7)
In 2007, Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault paid €325,000 to Laurent Dassault as gross annual salary for his services as employee and €17,000 in director's fees for his role as member of its Supervisory Board.

Our Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Charlès, is entitled to an indemnity payment, in the event he is dismissed from his present functions, according to the following conditions. This indemnity had been decided on by the Board of Directors in 2003. In compliance with the legal requirements of the French "TEPA" law of August 21, 2007, the Board defined the conditions for payment at its meeting on March 28, 2008. The amount of the payment would be based on the total amount of gross remuneration due for the two completed fiscal years preceding the date of dismissal, multiplied by the ratio of variable compensation which had been paid to Mr. Charlès during the three completed fiscal years prior to the date of dismissal as compared to the target variable compensation determined each year by the Board. However, the Board may decide that the indemnity payment would not be due in the event of exceptional circumstances seriously damaging the image or results of the Group and significantly reducing, in the opinion of the Board, the market price of the Company's shares, or in the event of misconduct other than in connection with his corporate functions (faute séparable) and incompatible with the normal exercise of his responsibilities as a Directeur général.

There is no specific retirement plan or insurance plan (régime complémentaire) put in place for the directors mentioned above. The companies controlled by Dassault Systèmes have not paid any compensation nor granted any advantages in-kind to the directors mentioned above.

Directors' fees

In consideration for their services on the Board, directors are entitled to receive director's fees (jetons de présence). Under French law the general meeting of shareholders sets the total annual amount of director's fees and the Board determines the rules for the allocation of fees among the directors. For 2007, we paid €221,000 in attendance fees to directors, of which €154,000 consisted of Board retainer fees and €

58    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



67,000 of attendance fees to members of the Board and of the Board Committees. For 2007 the allocation was based on the following: €15,000 for each director (€30,000 for the Chairman of the Board) and €1,000 per meeting of the Board attended in person; for members of the Audit Committee: €2,000 per meeting attended in person or €500 per meeting by telephone or video conference, and an additional €4,000 for the Chairman of the Audit Committee; for independent members of other Committees of the Board: €1,000 per meeting attended in person or €500 per meeting by telephone or video conference.

This year the Board will not propose to the general meeting of shareholders scheduled on May 22, 2008 a new total annual amount of director's fees, the total annual amount of director's fees set by the general meeting of shareholders on June 14, 2006 at a maximum of €250,000 being still valid for the year 2008 and following years until a new decision by the shareholders is taken.

In addition, remuneration may be granted to directors on a case-by-case basis for special assignments. The Board may also authorize the reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses as well as other expenses incurred by directors in the corporate interest.

STOCK GRANTS

Pursuant to an authorization granted by our shareholders at our shareholders' meeting held on June 6, 2007, the Board of Directors decided on the same day to grant 150,000 free shares to our Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Charlès, in accordance with the recommendation of the Compensation and Nomination Committee. Such shares shall be vested at the end of an acquisition period of two years from the date of the Board which granted them subject to the condition that the CEO shall have the same duties at the acquisition date. Following the termination of this 2-year acquisition period, the CEO must hold the granted shares until the end of a new 2-year lock-up period and may not sell or transfer them during that period.

The Board of Directors had previously decided on June 14, 2006 to grant 150,000 free shares to our Chief Executive Officer with a 2-year acquisition period and a 2-year lock-up period following the 2-year acquisition period. Our Board had also granted on June 8, 2005, 150,000 free shares with a 3-year acquisition period and a 2-year lock-up period following the 3-year acquisition period. With respect to these two grants, the effective acquisition of the 300,000 free shares by our Chief Executive Officer should occur in June 2008 and those shares may not be sold or transferred during a subsequent 2-year period.

In addition to the 2-year lock-up periods mentioned above, Dassault Systèmes' Board of Directors decided in 2007, after prior consultation with the Compensation and Nomination Committee and in accordance with French law, that the Chief Executive Officer must maintain in registered form at least 15% of the total amount of shares he acquires through the exercise of stock options or the stock grants allocated to him in 2007 and may not sell or transfer such 15% of the shares until he has left his current functions at the Company.

The authorization granted to the Board of Directors by our shareholders on June 6, 2007, to grant shares to certain members of personnel or certain categories of personnel of our Company is still valid in 2008 since it was granted for a 38-month period. Taking into account the grant of free shares decided by the Board on June 6, 2007, the Board is authorized to grant a further 1,009,427 shares.

OPTIONS TO SUBSCRIBE SECURITIES FROM REGISTRANT OR SUBSIDIARIES

Options to subscribe Dassault Systèmes shares

As of December 31, 2007 and pursuant to three successive authorizations granted by our shareholders, there are 18 active stock option plans implemented by the Board of Directors for the benefit of certain of our executive officers and employees. The exercise price of stock options granted pursuant to those plans was fixed by reference to the market value of the Dassault Systèmes shares on the grant date of the stock options in accordance with the rule of minimum exercise price as prescribed by French law (80% of the average share price during the 20 trading days preceding the grant date).

Our general meeting of shareholders held on June 8, 2005 authorized the Board to grant stock options to subscribe or to purchase our shares for a period of 38 months and with the limitation that all outstanding stock options for our shares may not at anytime exceed 20% of our share capital. The Board of Directors will propose for shareholder approval at the next shareholders' meeting on May 22, 2008 to replace this authorization, which will expire in 2008, with a new authorization to the Board to grant stock options for a period of 38 months.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    59

Back to Contents


The following table provides certain information on our stock options plans as of January 31, 2008.

Stock option plan

  1997

  1998-1

  1998-2

  1998-3

  1998-4

  1998-5

  1998-8

 
Meeting of Board   Dec. 15,
1997
  Jan. 28,
1998
  Nov. 09,
1998
  Nov. 09,
1998
  Sept. 15,
1999
  Sept. 15,
1999
  Mar. 29,
2001
 
Shareholders' Meeting   June 06,
1997
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
 
Number of options granted   1,031,840   750,000   2,468,730   354,750   3,297,000   320,000   2,909,600  
  to mandataires sociaux(1)   160,400   0   1,039,050   0   1,841,750   0   1,672,250  
  to the top 10 beneficiary employees(1)   411,600   706,000   838,000   126,000   844,000   103,500   736,000  
Maximum number of shares   1,031,840   750,000   2,468,730   354,750   3,297,000   320,000   2,909,600  
Number of beneficiaries   362   26   1,018   296   556   290   531  
Exercise price in euro   25.92   26.37   29.58   29.58   37.00   37.00   52.00  
First exercise date   Dec. 15,
1999
  Jan. 28,
1998
  Nov. 09,
2000
  Nov. 09,
1998
  Sept. 15,
2001
  Sept. 15,
1999
  Mar. 29,
2003
 
Last exercise date   Dec. 14,
2007
  Jan. 27,
2008
  Nov. 08,
2008
  Nov. 08,
2008
  Sept. 14,
2009
  Sept. 14,
2009
  Mar. 28,
2011
 
Number of options exercised in 2007   413,890   2,900   349,803   21,865   56,640   16,925   0  
Number of options cancelled in 2007   1,241   0   (1,000) * 675   400   50   28,510  
Number of options outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2007   0   300   1,411,122   48,438   3,096,211   99,473   2,819,490  
Number of options exercised between Jan.1, 2008 and Feb. 29, 2008   0   300   11,350   3,675   0   20,950   0  
Number of options cancelled between Jan. 1, 2008, and Feb. 29, 2008   0   0   0   0   500   0   1,320  
Number of outstanding options as of Feb. 29, 2008   0   0   1,399,772   44,763   3,095,711   78,523   2,818,170  
Number of options exercised as of Feb. 29, 2008   985,393   722,200   1,012,428   265,349   136,349   191,200   0  
Number of options exercisable as of Feb. 29, 2008   0   0   1,399,772   44,763   3,095,711   78,523   2,818,170  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

60    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


 
Stock option plan

  1998-9

  1998-10

  1998-11

  1998-12

  2002-01

  2002-02

  2002-03

 
Meeting of Board   Mar. 29,
2001
  June 29,
2001
  Oct. 05,
2001
  Oct. 05,
2001
  May 28,
2002
  May 28,
2002
  Jan. 20,
2003
 
Shareholders' Meeting   Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  Jan. 26,
1998
  May 28,
2002
  May 28,
2002
  May 28,
2002
 
Number of options granted   553,300   138,000   1,387,400   328,650   1,363,563   355,300   3,325,000  
  to mandataires sociaux(1)   0   0   655,000   0   651,433   0   1,500,000  
  to the top 10 beneficiary employees(1)   176,600   116,403   424,100   101,000   454,000   139,000   1,060,000  
Maximum number of shares   553,300   138,000   1,387,400   328,650   1,363,563   355,300   3,325,000  
Number of beneficiaries   513   44   400   434   378   401   803  
Exercise price in euro   52.00   49.00   35.00   35.00   45.50   45.50   23.00  
First exercise date   Mar. 29,
2001
  June 29,
2001
  Oct. 05,
2002
  Oct. 05,
2002
  May 28,
2003
  May 28,
2003
  Jan. 20,
2004
 
Last exercise date   Mar. 28,
2011
  June 28,
2011
  Oct. 04,
2011
  Oct. 04,
2011
  May 27,
2012
  May 27,
2012
  Jan. 19,
2013
 
Number of options exercised in 2007   104,565   24,985   16,297   55,786   440   96,481   504,841  
Number of options cancelled in 2007   1,000   305   1,760   438   13,572   518   1,695  
Number of options outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2007   234,680   58,630   1,276,781   83,216   1,317,849   146,688   2,731,259  
Number of options exercised between Jan.1, 2008 and Jan. Feb. 29, 2008   1,200   0   0   250   0   0   3,535  
Number of options cancelled between Jan. 1, 2008, and Feb. 29, 2008   0   0   351   0   569   0   200  
Number of outstanding options as of Feb. 29, 2008   234,480   58,630   1,276,430   82,966   1,317,280   146,688   2,727,524  
Number of options exercised as of Feb. 29, 2008   216,590   71,162   74,621   187,873   440   162,786   580,101  
Number of options exercisable as of Feb. 29, 2008   233,480   58,630   1,276,430   82,966   1,317,280   146,688   2,727,524  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    61

Back to Contents


 
Stock option plan

  2002-04

  2002-05

  2002-06

  2006-01

  2006-02

  Total

 
Meeting of Board   Jan. 20,
2003
  Mar. 29,
2005
  Mar. 29,
2005
  Oct. 9,
2006
  June 6,
2007
     
Shareholders' Meeting   May 28,
2002
  May 28,
2002
  May 28,
2002
  June 8,
2005
  June 8,
2005
     
Number of options granted   675,000   967,150   232,850   1,405,700   1,325,900   23,189,733  
  to mandataires sociaux(1)   0   80,000   0   150,000   150,000   7,899,883  
  to the top 10 beneficiary employees(1)   219,000   405,000   104,000   410,000   407,000   7,781,203  
Maximum number of shares   675,000   967,150   232,850   1,405,700   1,325,900   23,189,733  
Number of beneficiaries   533   264   88   447   462   7,846  
Exercise price in euro   23.00   39.50   39.50   47.00   47.50      
First exercise date   Dec. 31,
2004
  Mar. 30,
2007
  Mar. 30,
2006
  Oct. 10,
2009
  June 7,
2010
     
Last exercise date   Jan. 19,
2013
  Mar. 28,
2012
  Mar. 28,
2012
  Oct. 8,
2013
  June 5,
2014
     
Number of options exercised in 2007   107,245   0   61,600   0   0   1,834,263  
Number of options cancelled in 2007   600   15,650   4,450   33,700   10,700   114,264  
Number of options outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2007   136,335   926,950   138,700   1,372 000   1,315 200   17,213,322  
Number of options exercised between Jan.1, 2008 and Jan. 31, 2008   0   0   0   0   0   41,260  
Number of options cancelled between Jan. 1, 2008, and Jan. 31, 2008   0   600   0   8,700   1,600   13,840  
Number of outstanding options as of Jan. 31, 2008   136,335   926,350   138,700   1,363,300   1,313,600   17,158,222  
Number of options exercised as of Jan. 31, 2008   492,365   5,700   65,900   0   0   5,170,457  
Number of options exercisable as of Jan. 31, 2008   136,335   926,350   138,700   0   0   14,481,322  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
The negative figure is due to the reinstatement of previously cancelled options in connection with transfers of personnel among Dassault Systèmes subsidiaries.
(1)
For our mandataires sociaux (the three of our directors who are also executive officers: Charles Edelstenne, Bernard Charlès and Thibault de Tersant), the collective number of options granted is set forth under the line "to mandataires sociaux". With respect to the directors who are not mandataires sociaux, in compliance with French law, no share options have been granted. With respect to the executive officers who are not mandataires sociaux, the collective number of options granted has been included in the line "to the top 10 beneficiary employees". Disclosure of option grants in this manner is required under French law.

As of December 31, 2007, our mandataires sociaux holding options to subscribe shares of the Company were Charles Edelstenne, Bernard Charlès and Thibault de Tersant, who held options to acquire, respectively, 1,360,710 shares, 4,949,773 shares and 1,302,452 shares.

As of December 31, 2007, and since the first stock-option plan granted by the Company, the total number of stock options granted to our executive officers as identified above (twelve persons) was 13,412,683, of which 495,000 were granted during 2007. As of December 31, 2007, our executive officers had exercised, in the aggregate, 152,600 options of the option plan of December 15, 1997; 255,500 options of the option plan of November 9, 1998 (1998-2); 256,548 options of the option plan of January 20, 2003 (2002-03); and 40,000 options of the option plan of January 20, 2003 (2002-04); i.e., a total of 704 648 stock options of Dassault Systèmes. As of December 31, 2007, our executive officers held options to subscribe 11,761,435 shares of the Company.

The table below shows the stock options granted by us to each director during the 2007 fiscal year as well as the shares subscribed by each director pursuant to the exercise of Dassault Systèmes stock options during the 2007 fiscal year.

Name of the director

  Number of Dassault
Systèmes stock
options granted


  Number of Dassault
Systèmes shares
subscribed


  Exercise
price


  Expiration
date


  Stock option
plan
(number)


 
Bernard Charlès   50,000  
  47.50   June 5, 2014   2006-02  
        120,200   25.92   December 14, 2007   1997  
Thibault de Tersant   100,000  
  47.50   June 5, 2014   2006-02  
        4,200   25.92   December 14, 2007   1997  
        70,000   29.58   November 8, 2008   1998-2  
        56,548   23.00   January 19, 2013   2002-03  
   
 
 
 
 
 

62    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


In accordance with French law, the Company's Board of Directors decided in 2007 that the Chief Executive Officer must, in addition to the two-year lock-up periods described above under "Stock Grants", maintain in registered form at least 15% of the total number of shares acquired through the exercise of stock options or stock grants allocated to him in 2007 and not sell or transfer such 15% of the shares until he has left his current functions at the Company.

The following table shows, on a global basis, (i) the total number and weighted average price of our stock options granted by us to the ten employees of Dassault Systèmes and its subsidiaries who have received the most significant number of Company stock options during the 2007 fiscal year and who are not members of the Board and (ii) the total number and weighted average price of our shares subscribed by the ten employees of Dassault Systèmes and its subsidiaries who have exercised the most significant number of Dassault Systèmes stock options during the 2007 fiscal year and who are not members of the Board:

 
  Total number of Dassault Systèmes stock options

  Weighted average strike price

  Stock
option plan
(number)


 
Stock options granted   407,000   47.50   2006-02  
Stock options exercised   683,200   26.25   1997; 1998-2; 1998-9; 1998-12; 2002-02; 2002-03;
2002-04; 2002-06
 

Other than the stock options and stock grants granted as described above, we have no other outstanding securities convertible or exchangeable into, or representing the right to acquire, our shares.

At February 29, 2008, the outstanding stock options, whether vested or not, if all were exercised, would give rise to the issuance of 17,158,222 shares, representing 14.6% of our share capital. At February 29, 2008, on the basis of the closing price of our shares and ADSs on such date, €36.19 and $54.27, respectively, the exercise of outstanding vested stock options with an exercise price lower than this closing price would give rise to the issuance of 6,323,811shares, representing 5.4% of our share capital.

On July 25, 1997, as part of the SolidWorks acquisition, we issued 2,378,564 shares of the Company to SW Securities L.L.C., our wholly-owned subsidiary that holds such shares solely for the purpose of distribution to the holders of stock options and warrants previously issued by SolidWorks. Pursuant to the SolidWorks acquisition, the rights to shares of capital stock of SolidWorks under the stock options and the warrants were converted into rights to receive our shares. In 2007, 6,374 shares were issued to the SolidWorks holders of stock options and no stock options were cancelled, and as of December 31, 2007, no further stock options or warrants issued by SolidWorks prior to its acquisition by Dassault Systèmes remained outstanding. As of December 31, 2007, and February 29, 2008, SW Securities L.L.C. held 255,204 of our shares. The shares held by SW Securities L.L.C. do not have voting rights, nor are they eligible for dividends until they are distributed. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements.

Options to subscribe SolidWorks shares

Pursuant to a 1998 stock option plan, 6,787,365 stock options giving the right to subscribe to shares of SolidWorks were granted to employees of SolidWorks and its affiliates, including 2,800,000 stock options granted to certain of our executive officers. As of December 31, 2007, with the exception of 20,000 stock options giving the right to subscribe to 20,000 shares of SolidWorks Corp. (representing 0.08% of SolidWorks share capital) held by an employee who is not an executive officer, there are no outstanding options under this plan.

Transactions in the Company's shares by our directors and executive officers

Pursuant to article 223-26 of the règlement général of the Autorité des marchés financiers (the "AMF"), the purchase, sale, subscription or exchange of any financial instrument issued by Dassault Systèmes S.A. made by directors, executive officers or related persons of the

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    63

Back to Contents



Company must be brought to the knowledge of the Company's shareholders. The table below summarizes those transactions executed in 2007 as published by the AMF.

Date and place

  Directors and Officers

  Nature of the transaction

  Unit Price

  Gross amount

 
Euronext Paris 01/22/2007   Muriel Penicaud   Sale   €45.22   €452,200  
NASDAQ 02/20/2007   Joel Lemke   Subscription
Sale
  $24.50
$51.1549
  $980,000
$2,046,196
 
Euronext Paris 03/02/2007   Etienne Droit   Purchase
Sale
  €23
€37.40
  €230,000
€374,000
 
Euronext Paris 05/02/2007   Philippe Forestier   Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€42.30
  €443,700
€634,500
 
Euronext Paris 05/02/2007   Dominique Florack   Purchase
Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€25.92
€42.50
  €1,109,250
€730,944
€2,792,250
 
Euronext Paris 05/02/2007   Etienne Droit   Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€42.50
  €532,440
€765,000
 
Euronext Paris 05/03/2007   Philippe Forestier   Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€42.35
  €443,700
€635,250
 
Euronext Paris 05/03/2007   Bruno Latchague   Purchase
Sale
  €23
€42.05
  €1,380,000
€2,523,000
 
Euronext Paris 05/11/2007   Muriel Penicaud   Purchase   €23   €230,000  
Euronext Paris 05/15/2007   Etienne Droit   Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€41.90
  €295,800
€415,876
 
Euronext Paris 05/15/2007   Thibault de Tersant   Purchase
Sale
  €29.58
€41.90
  €1,183,200
€1,676,000
 
Euronext Paris 05/16/2007   Thibault de Tersant   Purchase
Sale
  €25.92
€42.50
  €108,864
€178,500
 
Euronext Paris 05/16/2007   Bruno Latchague   Purchase
Sale
  €23
€42.10
  €1,150,000
€2,105,000
 
Euronext Paris 05/25/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€43
  €1,479
€2,150
 
Euronext Paris 05/28/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€43
  €1,035.30
€1,505
 
Euronext Paris 05/29/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€43.10
  €293,285.70
€427,336.50
 
Euronext Paris 06/18/2007   Etienne Droit   Acquisition   €23   €230,000  
Euronext Paris 07/31/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€44.34
  €295,800
€443,400
 
Euronext Paris 08/08/2007   Philippe Forestier   Subscription
Sale
Sale
  €29.58
€44.01
€44
  €1,183,200
€880,200
€880,000
 
Euronext Paris 08/08/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€44
  €295,800
€440,000
 
Euronext Paris 08/09/2007   Bernard Charlès   Subscription
Sale
  €25.92
€45
  €1,560,384
€1,575,000
 
Euronext Paris 08/09/2007   Thibault de Tersant   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€46
  €887,400
€1,380,000
 
Euronext Paris 09/19/2007   Bruno Latchague   Subscription
Sale
  €23
€45
  €1,380,000
€2,700,000
 
Euronext Paris 09/21/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€46
  €295,800
€460,000
 

64    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Euronext Paris 09/25/2007   Thibault de Tersant   Subscription   €23   €204,125  
Euronext Paris 11/15/2007   Bernard Charlès   Subscription   €25.92   €1,155,200  
Euronext Paris 11/23/2007   Etienne Droit   Subscription
Sale
  €29.58
€38.60
  €295,800
€386,000
 
Euronext Paris 11/29/2007   Philippe Forestier   Subscription
Sale
  €25.92
€41.12
  €64,851.84
€102,882.24
 
Euronext Paris 12/06/2007 and 12/10/07   Thibault de Tersant   Subscription   €23   €1,096,479  


C. Board Practices

See "Item 6A: Directors and Senior Management".


D. Employees

At December 31, 2007, our total workforce amounted to 7,459 persons, comprised of 6,362 Group employees and 1,097 independent contractors, most of whom are employees of 3D PLM Software Solutions Limited, our software development business venture in India. Headcount at year-end 2007 represented an increase of approximately 9% over 6,840 persons at year-end 2006.

The following tables show our workforce both by function and geographically for each of the past three years:

 
  December 31,

 
 
  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Research and Development and Maintenance   3,349   3,164   2,678  
Marketing, Sales and Services   3,536   3,166   2,614  
Administration and Other Functions   574   510   401  
Total   7,459   6,840   5,693  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  December 31,

 
 
  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Europe   3,515   3,280   2,825  
Americas   2,541   2,304   2,063  
Asia-Pacific region   1,403   1,256   805  
Total   7,459   6,840   5,693  
   
 
 
 

As of December 31, 2007, Dassault Systèmes S.A. and its direct French subsidiaries Virtools, Seemage, Athys, Dassault Systèmes Provence and Dassault Data Services had 2,349 employees in France.

Our employees in France have been free to be members of any trade union. They have been represented by the five national unions Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (CFDT), Confédération Française de l'Encadrement-CGC (CFE-CGC), Confédération Française des Travailleurs Chrétiens (CFTC), Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), and Force Ouvrière (FO). The collective bargaining agreements we have entered into with the unions are renegotiated and renewed or amended at the end of their respective terms, either annually or on a multi-year basis. We believe that relations with our employees and labor unions are satisfactory. Within the past several years, we have not experienced any strike.

Under French law, our management is required to hold monthly meetings with a delegation of elected employee representatives, called the comité d'entreprise, to discuss employment matters and our economic condition and to provide appropriate information and documents

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    65

Back to Contents



relating to these matters. As required under French law, two employee representatives are entitled to be present at meetings of our Board of Directors but do not have any voting rights.


E. Share Ownership

See "Item 7A: Major Shareholders" and "Item 6B: Compensation".

At December 31, 2007, 21,533 shares of Dassault Systèmes S.A., representing 0.02% of the total number of shares outstanding at that date, were held by Group employees through a company savings plan (plan d'épargne d'entreprise).

66    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions


A. Major Shareholders

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares by each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding shares and by all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, based on factors including voting and investment power with respect to the shares. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, the following persons have sole voting and sole investment control with respect to the shares they beneficially own, and the address of each beneficial owner listed below is c/o Dassault Systèmes, 9, quai Marcel-Dassault, B.P. 310, 92156 Suresnes Cedex, France.

The percent of beneficial ownership for each shareholder is based on 117,645,813 shares as of February 29, 2008.

Name

  Shares beneficially owned

  Capital %

  Voting %

 
Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault (GIMD)   51,887,334   44.10%   46.41%  
Charles Edelstenne(1)   7,658,122   6.51%   11.21%  
SW Securities L.L.C.(2)   255,204   0.22%   N/A  
Treasury shares(3)   63,903   0.05%   N/A  
Directors and executive officers(4)   112,037   0.09%   0.09%  
Public   57,669,213   49.02%   42.29%  
   
 
 
 
Total   117,645,813   100.00%   100.00%  
   
 
 
 
(1)
Including shares held in trust for the benefit of his family. In early March 2008, Mr. Edelstenne acquired 6,067 additional shares.
(2)
SW Securities L.L.C. is a subsidiary of SolidWorks Corporation. Voting rights and dividend rights with respect to the shares held by SW Securities L.L.C. shall not be exercised until the shares are distributed.
(3)
As of the date of filing of this annual report, the Company held 961,986 treasury shares, as a result of share repurchases effected in March 2008. See "Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers".
(4)
As a group, excluding Charles Edelstenne.

As of February 29, 2008, our share capital was divided into 117,645,813 outstanding shares and represented 136,650,396 voting rights (excluding, with respect to the number of voting rights, the shares of the Company held by SW Securities LLC and treasury shares).

As of the date of this report, the Company holds 961,986 treasury shares, which were repurchased by the Company as part of the share repurchase program authorized by the general shareholders' meeting in June 2007. These treasury shares represented approximately 0.82% of the Company's outstanding share capital as of February 29, 2008, and carry no right to vote or to dividends. For information regarding share repurchases by the Company, see "Item 10B: Memorandum and Articles of Association – Purchase of Our Own Shares" and "Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers".

To our knowledge, there is no agreement between the Dassault Systèmes' shareholders. Dassault Systèmes is not party to any agreement or arrangement which could trigger a change of control of the Company and has no knowledge of any such agreement or arrangement. Dassault Systèmes S.A. is not a party to any agreement with the shareholders of any other company the provisions of which may have a material impact on the price of Dassault Systèmes shares.

Our major shareholders do not have voting rights that are different from the voting rights to which any other shareholder would be entitled.

Fully paid-up shares held in registered form for at least two consecutive years in the name of the same holder are entitled to double-voting rights. See "Item 10: Memorandum and Articles of Association – Shareholders' Meetings and Voting Rights".

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    67

Back to Contents


CHANGES IN PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS OVER THE PAST THREE FISCAL YEARS

The table below shows the significant changes of which we are aware in the percentage of ownership of our shares by our major shareholders during the past three years. Differences between the percentages of shares held and voting rights in the table below are explained by the fact that since 2002, there is a double voting right attached to the Dassault Systèmes shares held for more than two years in registered form, and shares held by SW Securities LLC do not have voting rights.

 
  December 31, 2007

  December 31, 2006

  December 31, 2005

 
 
  Number of shares

  Capital %

  Voting %

  Number of shares

  Capital %

  Voting %

  Number of shares

  Capital %

  Voting %

 
GIMD   51,787,334   44.04   46.34   51,460,436   44.45   44.46   49,795,159   43.29   42.57  
Charles Edelstenne(1)   7,658,122   6.51   11.21   7,658,122   6.61   11.84   7,658,007   6.66   12.10  
SW Securities LLC(2)   255,204   0.22     261,578   0.23   N/A   279,391   0.24    
Directors and Officers(3)   112,037   0.09   0.09   18,762   0.02   0.01   6,359   0.01   0.01  
Public   57,791,856   49.14   42.36   56,371,392   48.69   43.68   57,299,462   49.81   45.32  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total   117,604,553   100.00%   100.00%   115,770,290   100.00%   100.00%   115,038,378   100.00%   100.00%  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Including shares held in trust for the benefit of his family.
(2)
SW Securities L.L.C. is a subsidiary of SolidWorks Corporation that holds shares solely for distribution to holders of stock options and warrants issued by SolidWorks. Shares held by SW Securities L.L.C. therefore do not provide the right to vote.
(3)
As a group, excluding Charles Edelstenne. The officers are the persons identified as executive officers under Item 6 above.

In April 2007, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (the "CDC"), which had acquired more than 2.5% of our share capital and voting rights in 2006, informed us, in accordance with our by-laws, that its voting rights fell below 2.5% of total voting rights, although as of February 29, 2008, it held more than 2.5% of our share capital. The investment managers Orbis Investments Management Limited and Orbis Asset Management Limited (together, "Orbis") informed us that as of November 2007, they held collectively more than 2.5% of our share capital, and that as of March 2008 they held more than 2.5% of voting rights, through the collective investment schemes which they manage. To our knowledge, there are no other shareholders (except as indicated in the table above) holding more than 2.5% of our share capital or voting rights, alone or in agreement with other shareholders.

In January 2008, we commissioned a survey on our shares from an external specialized services provider. The survey indicated that approximately 250 institutional investors (including CDC and Orbis, as mentioned above), each holding more than 2000 shares, held in the aggregate approximately 45% of our share capital as of December 31, 2007. Based upon this survey, as of December 31, 2007, the proportion of our outstanding shares, including in the form of ADSs, held by institutional investors, each holding more than 2,000 shares or ADSs, whose funds were managed from the United States was approximately 5%.

As of December 31, 2007, 60,126,268 outstanding shares (i.e. approximately 51% of the share capital) were held in registered form, representing 79,423,297 voting rights (i.e. approximately 58% of total voting rights).

At February 29, 2008, the number of record holders of our ADSs in the United States, who hold either for their own account or for the account of other beneficial owners, was 79 (including The Depository Trust Company, which itself held for the account of 14,057 other holders), and there were 2,157,174 ADSs outstanding.

Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault SAS ("GIMD") is the principal shareholder of our Company with, as of February 29, 2008, 44.10% of the share capital and 46.41% of the voting rights of the Company. GIMD is wholly-owned by the members of the Dassault family. No other shareholder holds an equivalent or greater interest in the share capital or voting rights of the Company. Under French law, the quorum for an ordinary shareholders' meeting is one-fifth of the total number of voting shares, decisions being taken by at least a majority of the shareholders present or represented. Because GIMD owns more than one third but less than half of the shares and voting rights in the Company, under French company law, GIMD may not increase its participation by more than 2% of the total number of shares or voting rights of the Company in less than twelve consecutive months, unless it launches a tender offer on all the equity securities issued by the Company.

GIMD is not a member of our Board of Directors. Two directors of our Company, Laurent Dassault and Charles Edelstenne, are members of the Supervisory Board (Conseil de surveillance) of GIMD. These two directors are not members of the Nomination and Compensation, Audit or Scientific Committees of the Company. The quorum for holding meetings of the Board of Directors of Dassault Systèmes, comprising 9 members, is at least half of the total number of members, and Board decisions are adopted by at least a majority of the voting directors.

68    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



B. Related Party Transactions

We license our products to Dassault Aviation and certain of its subsidiaries, which is under the control of GIMD and whose President is our Chairman, using commercial terms consistent with those used by our other customers of similar size. We recorded software revenue from Dassault Aviation of €13.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 (€12.5 million for 2006 and €7.7 million for 2005).

We also provide services and support to Dassault Aviation and certain of its subsidiaries. This activity generated revenues of €10.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2007 (€8.2 million for 2006 and €7.5 million for 2005). See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

Most of our development centers subcontract software development work to 3D PLM Software Solutions Limited ("3D PLM"), a business venture between Dassault Systèmes (30% interest) and Geometric Software Solutions Co. Ltd. (70% interest), located in India. This joint venture was created in January 2002 and provides services only to us, with Dassault Systèmes retaining the resulting intellectual property. We account for 3D PLM as an equity investment and show our share of its results under "Income from equity investees". Services purchased from 3D PLM by Dassault Systèmes amounted to €16.0 million in 2007 (€12.7 million for 2006 and €10.3 million for 2005).

Transactions requiring authorization by the Board of Directors under French law may qualify as related party transactions. These transactions are described above under "Item 6A: Directors and Senior Management – Financial and Contractual Relations between Our Company and its Directors and Executive Officers". See also Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

Since January 15, 2004, the Audit Committee has been responsible for pre-approving all related party transactions pursuant to NASDAQ corporate governance requirements.


C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    69

Back to Contents



Item 8: Financial Information


A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

See "Item 18: Financial Statements" for a list of financial statements contained in this report. The audited financial statements are subject to the approval of the shareholders at the next shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 22, 2008.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business. We believe that there is no outstanding or threatened litigation or arbitration, including the matter described below, which has recently had or is likely to have a significant impact on our financial standing, our activities, or results.

MatrixOne, Inc., a U.S. company that we acquired in May 2006 (subsequently renamed Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp.), is one of more than 300 companies named as defendants in coordinated class action litigation pending in federal court in New York. The consolidated amended complaint in the coordinated action, filed in April 2002, alleges, among other matters, that MatrixOne, Inc., and the other defendants violated U.S. securities laws by misrepresenting how their shares would be allocated to investors by banks underwriting initial public offerings of the issuer defendants' shares. A proposed settlement on behalf of the issuers in the coordinated litigation was approved by most of the issuer defendants, including MatrixOne, Inc., and was preliminarily approved by the trial court in September 2005. However, in light of a New York federal appeals court ruling in December 2006, which held that six focus cases involving allegations substantially similar to those asserted against MatrixOne, Inc., could not be certified as class actions, the proposed settlement between the plaintiffs and the issuers, including MatrixOne, Inc., was terminated on June 25, 2007. The plaintiffs have since filed amended complaints in the six focus cases and moved for certification of different classes in all of the pending cases. The issuer and underwriter defendants have separately moved to dismiss the amended complaints and opposed class certification in the six focus cases. With the termination of the proposed settlement, MatrixOne, Inc., intends to continue to defend the litigation vigorously.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have paid dividends in each year since 1986. The payment and amount of dividends depend on our earnings and financial condition and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. Dividends are subject to recommendation by the Board of Directors and a vote by the shareholders at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders. Dividends are paid in euro.

The Board of Directors will recommend to the shareholders at the next general meeting which shall be held on May 22, 2008, to vote for the distribution of a dividend equal to €0.46 with respect to the 2007 financial year. The remainder of the €81,394,501.62 of net profit will be allocated to retained earnings after making the required allocation to our legal reserve.

Dividends paid to holders of ADSs or shares who are not residents of France generally will be subject to French withholding tax at a rate of 25% or 18%. Holders who qualify for benefits under an applicable tax treaty and who comply with the procedures for claiming treaty benefits may be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding tax. See "Item 10E: Taxation – Taxation of U.S. Investors – Taxation of Dividends". Prospective purchasers of ADSs or shares should consult their own advisers with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in ADSs or shares.

The table below sets forth, in respect of the years indicated, the amount of dividends paid per share excluding the French avoir fiscal and, for financial years ending on or prior to December 31, 2003, the amount of dividends paid per share including the French avoir fiscal (before

70    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



deduction of applicable French withholding tax). See "Item 10E: Taxation". Dividends declared in respect of a given year are paid in the following year.

Year to which dividend relates(1)

Shares outstanding at year end

  Dividend per share
Excluding avoir fiscal(2)

  Dividend per Share Including avoir fiscal(2)(3)

 
                  (4) (5)        
2002 114,179,431         € 0.33   $0.39         0.495   or   €   0.363   $0.57   or   $0.42  
2003 113,044,227         € 0.34   $0.43           € 0.51   or   €   0.394   $0.64   or   $0.50  
2004 113,786,411         € 0.38   $0.46                
2005 115,038,378         € 0.42   $0.54                
2006 115,770,290         € 0.44   $0.59                
2007 117,604,553         € 0.46   (6)                
 
 
 
 

 

 
(1)
Pursuant to French law, payment of dividends must be made within nine months following the end of the fiscal year to which they relate.
(2)
U.S. dollar amounts are translated at the Noon Buying Rate on the date the dividend was paid: June 22, 2004 – €0.8257 per $1.00; June 28, 2005 – €0.8280 per $1.00; July 5, 2006 – €1.2822 per $1.00; and June 27, 2007 – €1.3443 per $1.00.
(3)
The avoir fiscal ceased being available to shareholders on dividends paid beginning in 2005.
(4)
Dividends per share paid to individual shareholders and shareholding entities benefiting from a tax credit at 50% for 2003.
(5)
Dividends per share paid to shareholding entities benefiting from a tax credit of 10% for 2003.
(6)
To be determined according to the Noon Buying Rate on the date the dividend is paid.


B. Significant Changes

Except as disclosed in Item 4D: Property, Plant and Equipment with respect to a sale of property, in Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers, and in Note 20 to our consolidated financial statements, there has been no significant change to our financial condition since the date of the annual financial statements included in this report.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    71

Back to Contents



Item 9: The Offer and Listing


A. Listing Details

Our shares have been listed in France on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext Paris) since June 28, 1996, and we are now listed on Eurolist – Compartment A. In the United States, the shares trade in the form of ADSs. The ADSs are quoted through the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "DASTY." Shares issued upon exercise of our stock options during the period from January 1 through the date dividends are paid in a given year will not have dividend rights with respect to such dividends and during this period will be quoted with a second CUSIP ("DASGY" on the NASDAQ and "DSYNV" on Euronext Paris). American Depositary Receipts evidencing the ADSs are issuable by JP Morgan Chase Bank, as Depositary.

The following table sets forth the high and low prices of our shares on Euronext Paris and our ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market since 2003.

Annual High and Low Prices of shares on Euronext Paris and ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market

 
  Euronext Paris €

  NASDAQ U.S.$

 
 
  High

  Low

  High

  Low

 
2003   39.39   19.10   46.25   21.25  
2004   38.81   30.05   49.41   36.87  
2005   48.75   32.40   57.52   42.15  
2006   49.91   34.82   60.70   44.26  
2007   50.00   35.76   68.99   49.19  
   
 
 
 
 
Source:
Bloomberg.

Quarterly High and Low Prices of shares on Euronext Paris and ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market

 
  Euronext Paris €

  NASDAQ U.S.$

 
 
  High

  Low

  High

  Low

 
2006                  
1st quarter   49.91   45.06   60.70   53.91  
2nd quarter   47.88   37.74   58.12   47.50  
3rd quarter   45.55   34.82   57.86   44.26  
4th quarter   44.80   39.53   56.57   52.16  
2007                  
1st quarter   42.48   37.18   55.05   49.19  
2nd quarter   47.48   40.00   64.28   54.21  
3rd quarter   47.40   41.00   66.06   54.94  
4th quarter   50.00   35.76   68.99   53.21  
2008                  
1st quarter   41.25   31.18   59.62   47.10  
   
 
 
 
 
Source:
Bloomberg.

72    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Monthly High and Low Prices of shares on Euronext Paris and ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market

 
  Euronext Paris €

  NASDAQ U.S.$

 
 
  High

  Low

  High

  Low

 
October 2007   50.00   42.39   68.99   61.91  
November 2007   43.14   35.76   62.41   53.21  
December 2007   41.14   37.26   59.96   53.60  
January 2008   41.25   31.18   59.62   47.10  
February 2008   38.50   32.50   57.50   50.75  
March 2008   38.38   34.59   59.53   53.90  
   
 
 
 
 
Sources:
Bloomberg.

EURONEXT PARIS

All Euronext Paris securities are listed and traded on a single market, which is operated by Euronext Paris. In accordance with Euronext Paris rules, shares issued by domestic and other companies are classified in capitalization compartments. The shares of listed companies are distributed between three capitalization compartments, according to the criteria set by Euronext Paris:

Compartment A comprises the companies with market capitalizations above €1 billion;

Compartment B comprises the companies with market capitalizations from €150 million and up to and including €1 billion;

Compartment C comprises the companies with capitalizations below €150 million.

Our common shares are listed on Compartment A under the ISIN code FR 00001 30650.

Securities listed by Euronext Paris are placed in one of the two categories, Continu (continuous trading) or Fixing (call auctions), depending on their trading volume. Our common shares are listed in the category known as Continu, which includes the most actively traded securities. The minimum yearly trading volume required for a security to be placed in Continu for a company already listed on a regulated market of Euronext Paris is 2,500 trades.

Securities listed on Euronext Paris are officially traded through authorized financial institutions that are members of Euronext Paris. Trading takes place continuously on each business day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Paris time), with a pre-opening session from 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and a pre-closing session from 5:30 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. during which transactions are recorded but not executed, a closing auction at 5:35 p.m. and a "trading at last" from 5:35 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. during which transactions are recorded but not executed. Any trade of securities that occurs after a stock exchange session closes is recorded on the next business day at the previous session's closing price for that security. Euronext Paris publishes a daily official price list that includes among other things, price information on listed securities. Euronext Paris has introduced continuous electronic trading during trading hours for most actively listed securities.

Euronext Paris may suspend trading in a listed security if the quoted price of the security exceeds certain price limits defined by the regulations of Euronext Paris. In particular, if the quoted price of a Continu security, such as the Company's shares, varies by more than 10% from the previous day's closing price (reference price) and once trading has begun, Euronext Paris may suspend trading in that security for up to 42 minutes. Once trading has recommenced, further suspensions for up to 42 minutes are also possible if the price again varies by more than 10% from a new reference price equal to the price that caused the first trading suspension. During the continuous trading session, Euronext Paris also may suspend trading for a 42-minute period if trades are bound to breach the so-called "dynamic" thresholds, set at 5% plus or minus the last traded price. Euronext Paris also may suspend trading of a security listed on the Euronext Paris – Compartment A market in certain other limited circumstances, including, for example, the occurrence of unusual trading activity in the security. In addition, in certain exceptional cases, the Autorité des marchés financiers ("AMF"), the self-regulatory organization that has general regulatory authority over the French stock exchanges, may also suspend trading.

Trades of securities listed on Euronext Paris are settled on a cash basis on the third day following the trade. However, market intermediaries are also permitted to offer investors a deferred settlement service (service de réglement différé or "SRD") for a fee. The SRD allows investors who elect this service to benefit from leverage and other special features of the monthly settlement market. The SRD is only available for trades in securities which have both a total market capitalization of at least €1 billion and a daily average volume of trades aggregating at least €1 million and which are cited on the list published by Euronext Paris. Our shares are eligible for the deferred settlement service. Investors in shares eligible for SRD can elect on the determination date (date de liquidation), which is, at the latest, the fifth trading day before the end of the month, either to settle the trade by the last trading day of the month or to pay an additional fee and postpone the settlement to the determination date of the following month.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    73

Back to Contents


Ownership of equity securities traded on a deferred settlement basis is considered to have been transferred only after such securities have been registered in the purchaser's account. Under French securities regulations, any sale of securities executed on a deferred settlement basis during the month the dividend is paid is deemed to occur after the dividend has been paid. If the sale takes place before, but during the month of, a dividend payment date, the purchaser's account will be credited with an amount equal to the dividend paid, and the seller's account will be debited by the same amount.

Prior to any transfer of securities held in registered form on Euronext Paris, the securities must be converted into bearer form and accordingly placed in an account maintained by an accredited intermediary with Euroclear France S.A., a registered clearing agency. Transactions in securities are initiated by the owner giving instructions (through an agent, if appropriate) to the relevant accredited intermediary. Trades of securities listed on Euronext Paris are cleared through "clearing 21," a common Euronext platform, and settled through Euroclear France S.A. using a continuous net settlement system. A fee or a commission is payable to the broker-dealer or other agent involved in the transaction.


B. Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.


C. Markets

See "Item 9A: Listing Details".


D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.


E. Dilution

Not applicable.


F. Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

74    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 10: Additional Information


A. Share Capital

Not applicable.


B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

The information required for this Item 10B is specifically incorporated by reference to the relevant information in the Form F-1 filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 1996 ("Registration Statement on Form F-1"). The information provided below supplements the information provided in the Registration Statement on Form F-1 or, to the extent inconsistent with such information, supersedes it.

In this section, we summarize material information concerning our share capital, together with material provisions of applicable French law and our statuts (by-laws). An unofficial English translation of our by-laws as of the date of filing of this 20-F is included as an exhibit to this report. You may obtain copies of our by-laws in French from the Registry of Commerce and Companies of Nanterre, France where we are registered under number 322 306 440. Please refer to the complete by-laws or the unofficial English translation thereof for additional details.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For a complete description of the powers of the directors under French law and our by-laws, see "Item 6: Directors, Senior Management and Employees".

SHARE CAPITAL

As of February 29, 2008, our share capital was €117,645,813 divided into 117,645,813 shares with a nominal value of €1.00 per share, including 63,903 treasury shares which under French law have no voting rights. All the shares are fully paid. (As of the date of filing of this annual report, the Company held 961,986 treasury shares, as a result of share repurchases effected in March 2008. See "Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers".)

PURPOSES OF THE COMPANY

As set forth in Article 2 of our by-laws, the purposes of our Company, in France as well as abroad, are (1) to develop, produce, market, purchase, sell, rent and provide after-sale service of computer hardware and/or software, (2) to supply and sell services to users specifically in the area of training, demonstration, methodology, display and utilization, and (3) to supply and sell computer resources, together or separate from software or service, in the areas of computer-aided manufacturing and design, management of the lifecycle of products, collaborative work, technical databases, management of manufacturing processes, and software development tools as well as research and development in these areas. For a complete description of our purposes, please refer to our by-laws.

SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS AND VOTING RIGHTS

Notice of shareholders' meetings

The Company must announce general meetings of shareholders at least 35 days in advance by means of a preliminary notice which is published in France in the Bulletin des annonces légales obligatoires (BALO).

Shareholders' meetings are convened by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors fails to convene a shareholders' meeting the statutory auditors may call the meeting. In case of bankruptcy, the liquidator or court-appointed agent may also call a shareholders' meeting in some instances. Any of the following may request the court to appoint an agent: (i) one or several shareholders holding at least 5% of our share capital; (ii) any interested party in case of emergency; (iii) duly qualified associations of shareholders who have held their shares in registered form for at least two years and who together hold at least a specified percentage of the voting rights of our Company; or (iv) the workers' committee in an emergency.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    75

Back to Contents


In addition, shareholders representing a majority of the share capital or voting rights may convene a meeting after a public tender offer or the acquisition of a controlling block of shares.

Additional resolutions for shareholders' meetings

Additional resolutions to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders at the meeting may be proposed to the Board of Directors after the publication of the preliminary notice in the BALO but not later than 25 days before the shareholders' meeting by one or several shareholders holding a specified percentage of our share capital or a duly qualified association of shareholders who have held their shares in registered form for at least two years and who together hold at least a specified percentage of the voting rights of our Company. Shareholders wishing to submit additional resolutions must provide to the Board of Directors a certificate from their accredited intermediary evidencing their share ownership. This certificate must be issued again at midnight on the third business day before the shareholders' meeting. In addition, the workers' committee may propose additional resolutions within 10 days of the publication of the notice in the BALO.

During the two weeks preceding a meeting of shareholders, any shareholder may submit written questions to the Board of Directors. The questions must be received by the Company no later than four business days before the meeting and be accompanied by a certificate from an accredited intermediary evidencing share ownership. The Board of Directors must respond to these questions.

Attendance and voting at shareholders' meetings

In general, each share confers on the shareholder the right to one vote. Nevertheless, based on a resolution voted by the shareholders at the extraordinary shareholders' meeting dated May 28, 2002, our by-laws provide that a double voting right will be awarded to all fully paid-up shares held in registered form for at least two consecutive years in the name of the same holder. Under French company law, treasury shares and shares of a company held by entities controlled directly or indirectly by that company are not entitled to voting rights and do not count for quorum or voting purposes. In the case of a capital increase by incorporation of reserves, profits or premiums, this double voting right will be attached on the date of their issuance to registered shares newly allotted to a shareholder in consideration for the old shares giving rise to such right.

Any share converted into a bearer share or changing hands shall lose the right to the double voting right unless in case of transfer on succession, or in case of partition of property jointly owned by spouses, or in case of a gift inter vivos to a spouse or a relative entitled to succeed to the donor's estate. The double voting right may be cancelled by a resolution of the shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting approved by the special meeting of shareholders having a double voting right.

Our by-laws provide that upon decision by our Board of Directors, shareholders may participate and vote at general meetings of shareholders by videoconference or by other means of telecommunication permitting shareholders' identification and effective participation in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If such participation is permitted, shareholders who participate in this manner will be counted for the calculation of a quorum and a majority at general meetings of shareholders.

In accordance with French law, a precondition for exercising any voting rights is that a holder of shares of the Company has his/her securities registered in his/her name or in the name of his/her intermediary at midnight (Paris time) on the third business day preceding the meeting, either in registered form or in bearer form.

In the case of a holder of shares in bearer form, the accredited intermediary must issue a certificate (attestation de participation) as an exhibit to the voting form (formulaire de vote à distance), the proxy or the admission card (carte d'admission) at midnight (Paris time) on the third business day preceding the meeting.

Pursuant to French law, a holder of shares who has already voted, sent a proxy or requested his/her admission card or certificate may transfer all or part of his/her shares at any time. However, if the sale takes place before midnight (Paris time) on the third business day preceding the meeting, the Company shall invalidate or modify accordingly, as the case may be, the vote, the proxy or the admission card or the certificate. The accredited intermediary who maintains the accounts shall notify the sale to the Company or to its authorized agent. If the sale takes place after midnight (Paris time) on the third business day preceding the meeting, the accredited intermediary is not required to notify the Company and the Company is not required to take any action.

The company does not follow the NASDAQ Rule 4350(f). In compliance with French law for ordinary meetings of shareholders, a quorum consists of at least one fifth of the voting rights upon the first notice of call. There is no quorum in case of a second notice of call. For extraordinary meetings of shareholders, a quorum consists of at least one fourth of the voting rights upon the first notice of call and one fifth of the voting rights in case of a second notice of call.

Proxies and votes by mail

A shareholder may be represented at a shareholders' meeting by his or her spouse, or by another shareholder to whom he/she grants a written proxy, or the shareholder may vote by mail using the form provided. A shareholder may also send us a blank proxy (dated and signed) without nominating a representative. In this case, the chairman of the meeting will vote the blank proxies in favour of all resolutions proposed or agreed to by the Board of Directors and against all others.

76    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


A shareholder not domiciled in France, as defined in the French Civil Code, may also be represented at a shareholders' meeting by an intermediary registered under the conditions set forth by the legal and regulatory provisions in force. Such shareholder will be considered to be present at the meeting for the computation of the quorum and the results of voting.

Financial statements and other communications with shareholders

In connection with any shareholders' meeting, we must provide a set of documents, including our management report, a summary of the results of the five previous fiscal years and special reports regarding the work of our Board of Directors and our internal control. We must also provide, to any shareholder who so requests, special reports regarding grants of stock options and of shares.

DIVIDENDS

Legal reserve

At December 31, 2007, our legal reserve was €11.6 million.

Distribution of dividends

French companies typically pay dividends once per year. Shares issued upon exercise of our stock options during the period from January 1 through the dividend payment date of a given year will not have dividend rights with respect to such dividends and during this period will be quoted with a second CUSIP ("DASGY" on the NASDAQ and "DSYNV" on Euronext Paris). Following the dividend payment date, these shares will be assimilated to, and prospectively will entitle the holder to the same rights and benefits as shares issued before January 1.

In addition, our by-laws provide that our shareholders, in an ordinary general meeting, may authorize the grant to each shareholder of an option to receive all or part of any dividends declared either in cash or in our shares.

CHANGES IN SHARE CAPITAL

Increases in share capital

As provided by French company law, our share capital may be increased only with the shareholders' approval at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders following a recommendation of the Board of Directors. Increases in our share capital may be effected by (i) issuing common shares or preferred shares; or (ii) increasing the nominal value of existing shares.

Increases in share capital by issuing additional common or preferred shares may be effected by issuing such securities (i) for cash; (ii) for assets contributed in kind; (iii) by conversion, exchange or redemption of debt securities previously issued; (iv) by exercise of any other securities giving rights to such securities, such as warrants or stock options; (v) by capitalization of profits, reserves or share premiums; (vi) subject to various conditions, in satisfaction of debt incurred by our Company; (vii) by conversion of common shares into preferred shares or conversion of preferred shares into common shares or into another class of preferred shares; or (viii) any combination of the above.

Decisions to increase the share capital through the capitalization of reserves, profits and/or share premiums require the approval of an extraordinary general meeting, acting under the quorum and majority requirements applicable to ordinary shareholders' meetings. Increases effected by an increase in the nominal value of shares require unanimous approval of the shareholders, unless effected by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premiums. All other capital increases require the approval of shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting acting under applicable quorum and majority requirements.

The shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may delegate the right to carry out any increase in share capital (other than for an in-kind contribution, subject to certain exceptions) to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may further sub-delegate this right to our Chief Executive Officer. Each time the shareholders decide to carry out a capital increase or decide to delegate to the Board of Directors the right to carry out a capital increase (except for a contribution in kind or when it results from an earlier issue of securities giving rights to shares), they must decide on whether or not to carry out a capital increase reserved to employees of our Company and its subsidiaries or on whether or not to delegate to the Board of Directors the right to implement such reserved capital increase.

On June 6, 2007, our general meeting of shareholders granted new authorizations to the Board, for a period of 26 months, to increase the share capital in accordance with the new French company law provisions. Pursuant to this delegation by our shareholders, the Board of Directors is now authorized to (i) increase the share capital, with or without preemptive subscription rights of our shareholders, by an issuance of shares and/or any other securities granting access to a portion of our share capital, provided, however, that the nominal amount of increases in the share capital to be made pursuant to this delegation may not exceed €15 million and the nominal amount of debt securities to be issued pursuant to this delegation shall not exceed a maximum of €750 million; (ii) increase the share capital by the capitalization of profits, reserves or share premiums; (iii) increase the initial amount of any capital increases by 15% in the event of

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    77

Back to Contents



over-subscription, within the same nominal aggregate limit of €15 million; and (iv) increase the share capital to issue new shares in the event of a contribution in kind of securities by a third party, up to a limit of 10% of our total share capital; and (v) increase the capital of a nominal amount not exceeding €10 million through the issue of new shares or other securities giving access to the capital of the Company reserved to the employees of Dassault Systèmes and/or to its affiliates who are members of a plan d'épargne d'entreprise.

Our share capital may also be increased through grants of stock options and shares. Our general meeting of shareholders on June 8, 2005, authorized the Board to grant stock options to subscribe or to purchase our shares for a period of 38 months and with the limitation that all outstanding stock options for our shares may not at anytime exceed 20% of our share capital. The Board of Directors has proposed for shareholder approval at the next shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 22, 2008, a new authorization to grant stock options to subscribe or to purchase our shares under the same conditions as described above. At the June 6, 2007, meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors was also authorized for a period of 38 months to grant shares representing up to a maximum of 1% of our share capital. See also "Item 6B: Compensation – Stock Grants".

Decreases in share capital

According to French company law, any decrease in our share capital requires approval by the shareholders entitled to vote at an extraordinary general meeting. The shareholders may delegate the right to carry out any decrease in share capital to the Board of Directors, provided that this decrease has been previously authorized by the shareholders. In the case of a capital reduction, other than a reduction to absorb losses or a reduction as part of a program to purchase our own shares, all shareholders must be offered the opportunity to participate in such a reduction. The share capital may be reduced either by decreasing the nominal value of the outstanding share capital or by reducing the number of outstanding shares. The number of outstanding shares may be reduced either by an exchange of shares or by the repurchase and cancellation of shares. Holders of each class of shares must be treated equally unless each affected shareholder agrees otherwise.

Preemptive Subscription Rights

According to French law, if we issue securities for cash giving a right either immediately or at a later date to subscribe to new shares, current shareholders will have preemptive subscription rights to these securities on a pro rata basis. Thus the holder of such rights is entitled to subscribe to any issuance of securities that may increase the share capital of our Company. Preemptive subscription rights are transferable during the subscription period relating to a particular offering. These rights may also be listed on Euronext Paris or any relevant Stock Exchange. Shareholders may notify us on an individual basis if they wish to waive their own preemptive subscription rights with respect to any particular issuance.

The shareholders may vote to decide or to authorize the Board to decide an issuance of new securities at a majority of two-thirds of the voting rights held by present or represented shareholders. Generally, in the event of an authorization to increase the share capital granted to the Board by the general meeting of the shareholders, the decision to issue new securities must be taken by the Board within 26 months, the period prescribed by law.

The shareholders may waive the preemptive subscription rights of existing shareholders with respect to any particular offering to the public. The general meeting of shareholders may also decide to waive the preemptive subscription rights of the shareholders to reserve the issuance of new securities to a specific beneficiary or a category of beneficiaries; in such case, the securities must be issued within eighteen months from the general meeting. French law requires that the Board of Directors and our independent auditors present reports that specifically address any proposal to waive such rights.

The shareholders may also decide at an extraordinary general meeting to give the existing shareholders a non-transferable priority right to subscribe to such new securities during a limited period of time of at least three trading days.

FORM, HOLDING AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

Form and holding of shares

Our by-laws permit us to request that Euroclear France provide us at any time with the identity, nationality and address of the holders of our shares or other securities granting immediate or future voting rights, held in bearer form, and with the number of shares or other securities so held. French company law states that shares held by any non-French resident may be held by an intermediary on the shareholder's behalf in a collective account or in several individual accounts. The intermediary must declare its position as an intermediary holding shares on behalf of the beneficial owner. Consequently, the owner of shares recorded in the collective account or in several individual accounts by an intermediary will be represented at the general meetings of shareholders by this intermediary.

Transfer of shares

Registered shares must be converted into bearer form before being transferred on Euronext Paris and, accordingly, must be registered in an account maintained by an accredited intermediary. A shareholder may initiate a transfer by giving instructions to the relevant accredited intermediary.

78    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


For dealings on Euronext Paris, a fee or commission is payable to the broker, accredited intermediary or other agent involved in the transaction (whether within or outside France). No registration duty is normally payable in France, unless a transfer instrument has been executed in France. See "– Taxation – French Taxation – Taxation on Sale or Disposition of Shares" below.

REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLDINGS EXCEEDING CERTAIN PERCENTAGES

French company law provides that any individual or entity, including a holder of ADSs, acting alone or in concert with others, that becomes the owner, directly or indirectly, of more than one-twentieth, one-tenth, three-twentieths, one-fifth, one-fourth, one-third, one-half, two-third, eighteen-twentieths, or nineteen-twentieths of the outstanding share capital or the voting rights of a listed company in France, or whose holdings fall below any such level, must notify us within five trading days of the date it crosses the threshold of the number of shares or ADSs it holds and their voting rights. The individual or entity must also notify the AMF within five trading days of such date of the number of equity securities it holds and the voting rights attached thereto. This information will be made public pursuant to the conditions set forth in the General Regulation of the AMF. Failure to comply with such legal obligation of notification will result in the suspension for two years of the voting rights attached to the shares exceeding the relevant threshold.

French law and the AMF impose additional reporting requirements on persons, acting alone or in concert with others, who acquire more than 10 percent, and subsequently, as the case may be, more than 20 percent of the outstanding shares or voting rights of a listed company. These persons must file with the AMF and such listed company a report disclosing their intentions for the next 12 months with respect to such company. In this report, the acquirer must disclose whether or not it intends, within the 12-month period following the acquisition, to increase its shareholding, to acquire control of such company, or to seek a nomination to such company's board of directors. Such report must be filed with the AMF and with such listed company within 10 trading days of the date such threshold has been crossed. The AMF publicly releases the notice. The acquirer may amend its stated intentions, provided that it does so on the basis of significant changes in its own situation or that of the shareholders. Upon any change of intention, it must file a new report.

In addition, our by-laws provide that any person who, directly or indirectly, acting alone or in concert with others, becomes the owner of more than 2.5 percent, or any subsequent multiple of 2.5 percent up to 50 percent, of our share capital or voting rights, or whose holdings fall below any such percentage, shall be required to notify us of such fact within five trading days of such acquisition by registered mail. Failure to comply with such notification provisions will result in the suspension for up to two years of the voting rights attached to the excess of the relevant threshold if requested in the minutes of a shareholders' meeting by one or more shareholders holding equity securities representing at least 2.5 percent of our share capital or voting rights.

We publish the number of our shares and voting rights on our website each month.

PURCHASE OF OUR OWN SHARES

Under French law, we may not subscribe to our own shares. However, we may, directly or through an intermediary acting on our behalf, purchase our own shares in accordance with French and European Union law. Our general meeting of shareholders held on June 6, 2007, authorized the Board to implement a share repurchase program (which permits us to repurchase our shares for the purposes detailed below) limited to 10 percent of our share capital. Under this authorization, we may not buy shares at a price exceeding €60 per share (transaction fees excluded) or above a maximum aggregate amount of €500 million. This authorization expires at our next general shareholders' meeting, to be held on May 22, 2008. At the meeting on June 6, 2007, our shareholders also authorized our Board of Directors to cancel the repurchased shares, and reduce our share capital by up to 10 percent within any 24-month period. These authorizations replaced the authorizations that were granted by our shareholders at the general meeting of shareholders on June 14, 2006. No shares were repurchased under the authorizations of June 14, 2006. For information regarding share repurchases effected in March 2008 under the authorizations of June 6, 2007, see "Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers".

Our Board of Directors has proposed a resolution to our next general shareholders' meeting that would authorize the Board to implement a new share repurchase program in order to replace the program previously authorized. The new repurchase program is also limited to 10 percent of our share capital as of the date of the shareholder approval. We may also repurchase shares according to this authorization in the context of a tender offer, within the limits permitted under French law. This authorization would expire on the general meeting of shareholders approving the financial statements for the financial year ending December 31, 2008. Under this repurchase program, we may not buy shares at a price exceeding €60 per share (transaction fees excluded) or above a maximum aggregate amount of €500 million. At the meeting scheduled for May 22, 2008, our shareholders will also be asked by the Board of Directors to authorize the cancellation of any repurchased shares, and to reduce our share capital by up to 10 percent within any 24-month period.

The resolution to be proposed to the May 22, 2008, shareholders' meeting would permit us to use repurchased shares to:

Cancel the shares acquired for the purpose of increasing the profitability of shareholders' equity and earnings per share;

Deliver shares in payment or in exchange, particularly in the case of external growth transactions within the limit of 5% of the share capital;

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    79

Back to Contents


Enhance liquidity in the market for our shares by means of a liquidity contract with an independent investment firm with a code of business ethics recognized by the AMF;

Provide shares to our employees under a profit-sharing plan, a stock plan or as a free grant of shares;

Ensure the coverage of our commitments resulting from rights granted to our employees and executive officers to payment in cash based on increases in the market price of our shares;

Remit shares upon exercise of rights attached to securities granting access to our share capital; or

Implement any stock exchange market practice which may be recognized by law or by the AMF.

Under French law we may not, directly or through a person acting on our behalf, own more than 10 percent of our outstanding share capital or, if we have different classes of shares, more than 10 percent of the shares in each class. The General Regulation of the AMF and its instructions require us to publicly disclose a description of the program prior to its implementation.

We must hold any shares we repurchase in registered form. These shares also must be fully paid up. Shares repurchased by us are deemed outstanding under French law but are not entitled to dividends or voting rights, and we may not exercise the preemptive subscription rights attached to them.

TRADING IN OUR OWN SHARES

Pursuant to regulations of the European Union and the AMF, we may not trade in our own shares for purposes of manipulating the market. In order for trades to be valid according to the applicable regulations:

we must not, when executing trades under a buy-back program, purchase shares at a price higher than the highest price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading market where the purchase is carried out;

when purchasing our own shares through derivative financial instruments, the exercise price of those derivative financial instruments shall not be above the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid;

we may not purchase more than 25% of the average daily volume of the shares in any one day on the regulated market on which the purchase is carried out. The average daily volume figure must be based on the average daily volume traded in the month preceding the month of public disclosure of that program and fixed on that basis for the authorized period of the program. Where the program makes no reference to that volume, the average daily volume figure must be based on the average daily volume traded in the 20 trading days preceding the date of purchase.

In addition, in order to benefit from the exemption provided by applicable regulations, we may not, during any participation in a buy-back program, engage in the following:

selling of our own shares during the life of the program, subject to certain exceptions and especially if the sale is realized through a block trade which does not affect the formation of the price in the central order book;

repurchase our own shares during a 15-day period before the date on which we make our consolidated, annual and intermediary accounts public;

repurchase our own shares if we become aware of information that, if disclosed, would have a significant impact on the market price of our securities, until such information is made public.

The prohibitions mentioned above do not apply if:

we have a time-schedule buy-back program in place; or

the buy-back program is managed by an investment firm or a credit institution which makes its trading decisions in relation to our shares independently of, and without influence by, us with regard to the timing of the purchases.

Pursuant to the General Regulation of the AMF and its instructions, we must publicly disclose, by means of a press release posted on our website, no later than the seventh trading day following the date of execution, any transactions pursuant to an ongoing buy-back program.

In addition, we disclose monthly buy-back transactions and we inform the annual general meeting of shareholders of the realization of buy-back transactions such meeting authorized.

OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OR ADSS BY NON-FRENCH RESIDENTS

Under French law, there is normally no limitation on the right of non-French residents or non-French security holders to own, or, where applicable, to vote securities of a French company.

80    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents




C. Material Contracts

For a discussion of material contracts between IBM and our Company, see "Item 3D: Risk Factors," "Item 4B: Business Overview" and "Item 5A: Operating Results."


D. Exchange Controls

Under current French exchange control regulations, there are no limitations on the amount of payments that may be remitted by a French company to non-French residents. Laws and regulations concerning foreign exchange controls do require, however, that all payments or transfers of funds made by a French resident to a non-French resident be handled by an accredited intermediary. In France, all credit establishments, including all registered banks, are accredited intermediaries.


E. Taxation

FRENCH TAXATION

The following is a general summary of the material French tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of shares by a holder that is not a resident of France and does not hold the shares in connection with a business conducted in France. The statements relating to French tax laws set out below are based on the laws in force as of the date hereof, and are subject to any changes in applicable French tax laws or in any applicable double taxation conventions or treaties with France occurring after such date.

This discussion is intended only as a descriptive summary and does not purport to be a complete analysis or list of all potential tax effects of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the shares.

Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers concerning the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares.

Taxation on sale or disposition of shares. Subject to the more favorable provisions of a relevant tax treaty, holders that are not residents of France for tax purposes, do not hold shares in connection with the conduct of a business or profession in France, and have not held, with their spouse, ascendants and descendants, more than 25% of our dividend rights (droits aux bénéfices sociaux), directly or indirectly, at any time during the preceding five years, are not subject to French capital gains tax on the sale or disposition of shares.

A 1.1% ad valorem registration duty (subject to a maximum of €4,000 per transfer) applies to certain transfers of shares in French companies. This duty does not apply to transfers of shares in listed companies that are not evidenced by a written agreement, or if any such agreement is executed outside France.

Taxation of dividends. In France, dividends are paid out of after-tax income.

Dividends paid to non-residents are normally subject to a 25% French withholding tax. The withholding tax rate is reduced to 18% when the dividends are paid to individuals whose tax residency is out of France in a European Union member State or in another State of the European Economic Area which has signed a tax treaty with France providing for an administrative assistance clause.

However, non-resident corporate holders, which effective place of management is situated in a European Union member State and which hold at least 15% in the share capital of our company, may benefit from an exemption of French withholding tax under certain conditions set in article 119 ter of the French tax code. Moreover when non-resident corporate holders, (i) which effective place of management is situated in a European Union member State or in a State of the European Economic Area which has signed a tax treaty with France providing for an administrative assistance clause, (ii) which hold at least 5% of our capital and voting rights and (iii) which would not be entitled to offset the French withholding tax on dividends against any tax due in their State of establishment, should such French withholding tax be levied, may benefit from an exemption of such French withholding tax in the conditions set forth in the administrative instruction 4 C-8-07, dated July 12, 2007.

In addition, non-resident holders that are entitled to and comply with the procedures for claiming benefits under an applicable tax treaty may be subject to a reduced rate (generally 15%) of French withholding tax. If a non-resident holder, entitled to treaty benefits, provides the paying agent with the certificate of residence no 5000 (the "Certificate") prior to the payment of a dividend, then French tax generally will be withheld at the reduced rate provided under the tax treaty. If a non-resident has not filed the Certificate before the dividend payment date, the French withholding tax will be levied at the rate of 25%. Such non-resident, entitled to treaty benefits, may claim a refund of the excess withholding tax by filing both the Certificate and the Treasury form no 5001 before December 31 of the second year following the year during which the dividend was paid.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    81

Back to Contents


Moreover, French resident individuals are entitled to a tax credit equal to 50% of all dividends received within one year (the "Tax Credit"), capped at €230 per year for married couples and members of a civil union subject to joint taxation and €115 per year for single persons, widows or widowers, divorcees, married persons or members of a civil union subject to separate taxation. Dividends paid to non-residents are not normally eligible for the Tax Credit described above. However, qualifying non-resident individuals may, depending on the provisions of the tax treaty possibly entered into between France and their country of residence, benefit from a refund of the Tax Credit (net of applicable withholding tax) under certain conditions, subject to compliance with the procedures for claiming benefits under the applicable treaty. The French tax authorities have not yet issued any guidance with regard to the procedures for claiming the refund of the Tax Credit to non-resident individuals and individual investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers in this respect.

The following countries have entered into treaties with France whereby tax residents of such countries and territories may, under certain circumstances, obtain from the French tax authorities a refund of the Tax Credit.

Australia   Ghana   Luxembourg   New Zealand   Switzerland  
Austria   Great Britain   Malaysia   Niger   Togo  
Belgium   Iceland   Mali   Norway   Turkey  
Bolivia   India   Malta   Quebec   Ukraine  
Brazil   Israel   Mauritius   Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon   United States  
Burkina   Italy   Mayotte   Senegal   Venezuela  
Canada   Ivory Coast   Mexico   Singapore      
Estonia   Japan   Namibia   South Korea      
Finland   Latvia   Netherlands   Spain      
Gabon   Lithuania   New Caledonia   Sweden      

Estate and gift tax. France imposes estate and gift tax on shares of a French that are acquired by inheritance or gift. The tax applies without regard to the tax residence of the transferor. However, France has entered into estate and gift tax treaties with a number of countries pursuant to which, assuming certain conditions are met, residents of the treaty country may be exempted from such tax or obtain a tax credit.

Wealth tax. Individuals who are not residents of France for purposes of French taxation are not subject to French wealth tax (impôt de solidarité sur la fortune) as a result of owning an interest in the share capital of a French corporation, provided that such ownership interest is less than 10% of the corporation's share capital and does not enable the shareholder to exercise influence over the corporation. Double taxation treaties may provide for a more favorable tax treatment.

TAXATION OF U.S. INVESTORS

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax and French tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of our shares or ADSs. This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders. You are a U.S. Holder if you are the beneficial owner of shares or ADSs and all of the following five points apply to you:

1)
You own, directly, indirectly or by attribution, less than 10% of our share capital or voting stock; and

2)
You are any one of the following:

a)
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes,

b)
a corporation (or certain other entities taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof,

c)
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

d)
a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust, and if one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; and

3)
You are entitled to the benefits of the "Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital", signed August 31, 1994 and the protocol thereto (the "Treaty") under the "Limitation on Benefits" article of that treaty; and

4)
You hold your shares or ADSs in the company as capital assets; and

5)
Your functional currency is the U.S. dollar.

82    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership that holds shares or ADSs, you are urged to consult your own tax adviser regarding the specific tax consequences of owning and disposing of such shares or ADSs.

Special rules may apply to U.S. expatriates, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, pension funds, banks, financial institutions, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, securities broker-dealers, persons holding shares or ADS as part of a hedging transaction, straddle or conversion transaction, persons who acquired their shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, among others. Those special rules are not discussed herein. Furthermore, this discussion is based upon current U.S. and French law and practice, including the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, the Treaty, rulings, judicial decisions, administrative pronouncements, and the practice of the French tax authorities. This summary is subject to any changes to (or changes in the interpretation of) U.S. or French law or practice occurring after the date hereof, which may have retroactive effect. In addition, this summary is based, in part, upon representations made by the depositary to us and assumes that the Deposit Agreement, and all other related agreements, will be performed in accordance with its terms. Holders should consult their own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our shares or ADSs in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

The statements of U.S. and French tax laws set forth below assume that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS

Under the Treaty, the rate of French withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. Holder whose ownership of the ADSs or shares is not effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base in France (an "Eligible U.S. Holder") is normally reduced to 15%. Dividends paid to such Eligible U.S. Holder are immediately subject to the reduced rate of 15% on the date of payment of such dividends, provided that such Eligible U.S. Holder complies with the "Simplified procedure" described below. Otherwise, the excess withholding tax may be refund under the "Normal procedure" described below.

Simplified procedure: A French Treasury form 5000 certifying your tax residency (the "Certificate") must be completed by the United States tax authorities and sent before the effective payment of dividends to the financial institution acting as custodian for your shares of record. Once the financial institution receives the Certificate, and before the effective payment of dividends, it will inform the French dividend payer of the amount of dividends with respect to which you are entitled to the reduced withholding tax rate.

Normal procedure: If you are not able to send the Certificate before the effective payment of dividends, you will be subject to the normal 25% withholding tax, but may then claim a refund from the French tax authorities of the excess withholding tax by completing the Certificate and the French Treasury form 5001 and send them to the French tax authorities before December 31 of the second year following the year during which the dividends were paid.

The forms, together with their respective instructions, are available from the Centre des Impôts des Non-Résidents (10, rue du Centre, 93465 Noisy-le-Grand Cedex, France). The depositary will provide to all U.S. Holders of ADSs registered with the depositary the forms and instructions, and will arrange for the filing with the French tax authorities of all forms completed by U.S. Holders of ADSs that are returned to the depositary in sufficient time.

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the gross amount of your distribution (including the related French tax credit paid to a U.S. Holder and before deduction of any French tax withheld), will be taxable as dividend income to a U.S. Holder, based on the U.S. dollar value of the distribution calculated by reference to the spot rate in effect on the date the distribution is actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder, in the case of shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. No dividends received deduction will be allowed to U.S. corporate Holders with respect to dividends paid by us. For foreign tax credit limitation purposes, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, dividend income generally will constitute foreign source "passive category income" or in the case of certain U.S. Holders, "general category income." The amount of any dividend paid in euro, including the amount of any French taxes withheld therefrom, will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the euro amount received calculated by reference to the spot rate in effect on the date the dividend is includible in income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the euros are converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally should not recognize any foreign currency gain or loss upon conversion. If the euros are not converted in to U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally will have a basis in the euros equal to their U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Such U.S. Holder will be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss, which generally will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss, upon a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the euros. Moreover, a U.S. Holder may be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss upon the receipt of a refund of amounts, if any, withheld from a dividend in excess of the treaty rate of 15%. Special rules govern and specific elections are available to accrual method taxpayers to determine the U.S. dollar amount includible in income in the case of taxes withheld in a foreign currency. Accrual method taxpayers are urged to consult their own tax advisors in this regard.

French withholding tax imposed at the Treaty rate of 15% on dividends paid by us and on the payment of any related French tax credit is treated as payment of a foreign income tax and, subject to certain conditions and limitations, may be taken as a credit against a

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    83

Back to Contents



U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability. Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may claim foreign taxes paid in a particular year as an itemized deduction. A deduction does not reduce U.S. tax or a dollar-for-dollar basis as does a tax credit. The deduction, however, is not subject to the limitations applicable to foreign tax credits. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning their eligibility for benefits under the Treaty and whether, and to what extent, a foreign tax credit will be available.

The United States Treasury has expressed concern that parties to whom ADSs are released may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits or reduced tax rates in respect of qualified dividends by U.S. Holders of ADSs. Accordingly, the discussion above regarding the creditability of French withholding tax or the availability of qualified dividend treatment could be affected by future actions that may be taken by the United States Treasury with respect to ADSs.

Certain U.S. Holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax at a maximum rate of 15%, in respect of "qualified dividend income" received in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. For this purpose, qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid by a non-U.S. corporation if, among other things, the U.S. Holders meet certain minimum holding periods and the non-U.S. corporation satisfies certain minimum requirements, including that either (i) the shares (or ADSs) with respect to which the dividend has been paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) the non-U.S. corporation is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive U.S. income tax treaty (such as the Treaty) which provides for the exchange of information. We currently believe that dividends paid with respect to our ADSs and shares should constitute qualified dividend income for U.S. federal income tax purposes and we anticipate that our dividends will be reported as qualified dividends on Forms 1099-DIV delivered to U.S. Holders. Each individual U.S. Holder of ADSs or shares is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the availability to it of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of its own particular situation and regarding the computations of its foreign tax credit limitation with respect to any qualified dividend income paid by us, as applicable.

TAXATION OF CAPITAL GAINS

A U.S. Holder who is a resident of the United States as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty, and who does not hold the ADSs or shares in connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base in France, will not be subject to French tax on any capital gain from the sale or other disposal of ADSs or shares. Special rules apply to individuals who are residents of more than one country.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of ADSs or shares in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized for the ADSs or shares and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis (determined in U.S. dollars) in the ADS or shares. This capital gain or loss will be U.S. source gain or loss, and generally will be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the Holder's holding period in the ADSs or shares exceeds one year at the time of disposition. In the case of a U.S. Holder who is an individual, any capital gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates if specified minimum holding periods are met. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

The deposit or withdrawal of shares for ADSs by a U.S. Holder under the Deposit Agreement will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

PASSIVE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANY STATUS

A non-U.S. corporation will be classified as a passive foreign investment company (a "PFIC") for any taxable year if at least 75% of its gross income consists of passive income (such as dividends, interest, rents or royalties – other than rents or royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and received from an unrelated person – or gains on the disposition of certain minority interests), or at least 50% of the average value of its assets consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. We currently believe that we did not qualify as a PFIC for the 2006 taxable year for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we were characterized as a PFIC for any taxable year (which conclusion is a factual determination that must be made as of the close of the taxable year), U.S. Holders would suffer adverse tax consequences. These consequences may include having gains realized on the disposition of ADSs or shares treated as ordinary income rather than capital gains and being subject to punitive interest charges on certain dividends and on the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or shares. Furthermore, dividends paid by us would not be "qualified dividend income" and would be taxed at the higher rates applicable to other items of ordinary income. Application of the PFIC rules is complex. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of the PFIC rules to their ownership of ADSs or shares.

FRENCH ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES

Under "The Convention Between the United States of America and the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Estates, Inheritance and Gifts of November 24, 1978," a transfer of ADSs or shares by gift or by reason of the death of a U.S. Holder will not be subject to French gift or inheritance tax unless (i) the donor or the transferor is domiciled in France at the time of the making of the gift, or at the time of his or her death, or (ii) the ADSs or shares were used in, or held for use in, the conduct of a business through a permanent establishment or fixed base in France.

FRENCH WEALTH TAX

The French wealth tax generally does not apply to the ADSs or shares owned by a U.S. Holder who is a resident of the United States as defined pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty (except in the case where substantial participations are held by a U.S. resident individual).

84    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


UNITED STATES INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING

Dividend payments made to a Holder, and proceeds paid from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of ADSs or shares, may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible U.S. federal backup withholding at a current rate of 28%. Backup withholding will not apply to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number or certificate of foreign status and makes any other required certification, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. persons who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification). Non-U.S. Holders generally are not subject to U.S. information reporting or backup withholding. However, these Holders may be required to provide certification of non-U.S. status (generally on IRS Form W-8BEN) in connection with payments received in the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability. A Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS in a timely manner and furnishing any required information.


F. Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.


G. Statements by Experts

Not applicable.


H. Documents on Display

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and file reports, including Annual Reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and our officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to publish financial statements as frequently or as promptly as United States companies. However, we intend to file with the SEC, as long as we are required to do so, within 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, Annual Reports on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm.

You may review a copy of our filings with the SEC including exhibits and schedules filed with it, at the SEC's public reference facilities in Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services.

In addition, material filed by us with the SEC and other information about us can be inspected at the offices of The NASDAQ Stock Market at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20006-1506.

We provide JP Morgan Chase Bank with annual and semi-Annual Reports in English, as well as summaries in English or an English version of all notices of stockholders' meetings and other reports and communications that we generally make available to our stockholders. Copies of these reports and other documents are available upon request from JP Morgan Chase Bank, attention of the ADR department.


I. Subsidiary Information

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    85

Back to Contents



Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our overall risk management policy is based upon the prudent management of our market risks, primarily interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. Our programs with respect to the management of these risks, including the use of hedging instruments, are discussed below. Our exposure to these risks may change over time and there can be no assurance that the benefits of our risk management policies will exceed the related costs. Such changes could have a materially adverse impact on our financial results.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Except for their impact on the general economic environment, which is difficult to assess, we believe that changes in interest rates in 2007 did not materially affect our revenue and earnings before financial income. Similarly, interest rates are not expected to affect future earnings before financial income, but may affect financial income. Therefore, our interest rate risk is primarily a risk related to a reduction of financial revenue.

We generate positive cash flows from operations and have some financial obligations (e.g., credit facilities, employee profit-sharing), but our cash position net of debt is positive throughout the year. We sometimes use bank overdrafts, for non-significant amounts, for which the interest rate is a variable market rate.

In December 2005, we signed a 5-year variable rate revolving credit facility for up to €200 million, with two options for one-year extensions, one of them having been exercised in 2006 and the other one in 2007, and we entered into interest rate swap agreements in connection with this facility. These swap agreements have the economic effect of modifying our forecasted interest obligations relating to this facility until 2010 so that the interest payable effectively becomes fixed at a rate of 3.36% per annum during the period covered by the swap agreements. Under the terms of the credit facility, we are subject to limitations on granting liens on, or selling, Company assets or the assets of our principal subsidiaries, and on restructurings involving the Company. A change in control of the Company triggers early reimbursement of amounts outstanding under the facility. We drew down the entire €200 million from the facility on March 15, 2006 to finance the acquisition of MatrixOne, Inc.

Financial revenue is composed in part of interest income from cash and cash equivalents, as well as from short-term investments. As a result, it is sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates. As of December 31, 2007 cash and cash equivalent and short-term investments totaled €626.6 million, including €539.6 million sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates mostly in euro and U.S. dollars. With all other variables held constant, a change in interest rates of 100 basis points would have had an impact of €3.5 million on financial income, positive if the interest rates rise, negative if they decrease. As of December 31, 2006 cash and cash equivalent and short-term investments totaled €459.2 million, including €415.5 million sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates mostly in euro and U.S. dollars. With all other variables held constant, a change in interest rates of 100 basis points would have had an impact of €2.7 million on the financial income, positive if the interest rates rise, negative if they decrease. In addition, a change in interest rates of 100 basis points would not have had a significant impact on the fair value of the swap agreements.

In 2007, for cash management purposes, we did not invest in any common shares. We invested a non-significant part of our cash in funds directly invested in stocks. Our financial results are therefore not significantly directly linked to stock market variations.

The following table presents the notional amount and fair value of interest rate financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 
  Year ended December 31, 2007

  Year ended December 31, 2006

 
(in thousands of euros)

  Notional amount

  Fair value

  Notional amount

  Fair value

 
Euro interest rate swap   200,000   6,386   200,000   5,672  
   
 
 
 
 

We follow a conservative policy for investing our cash resources, mostly relying on short-term, investment grade investments. Investment rules are determined and controlled by the treasury department of the parent company.

86    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RISK

As a result of significant operations in the United States of America, in Europe and in Japan, our financial position can be affected significantly by movements in USD/euro and in JPY/euro exchange rates since our revenue is primarily invoiced in U.S. dollars, euro and Japanese yen.

Under the IBM marketing and sales agreement, the royalties we receive for the products distributed by IBM are generally set in the local currency of the end purchaser, and then remitted to us by IBM in U.S. dollars based on conversion rates adjusted monthly. Our resellers pay us in different currencies, primarily euro and U.S. dollars. In addition, we incur expenses in several currencies, through our suppliers and employees in different countries. Finally, we engage in mergers and acquisitions outside the euro zone and may lend money in different currencies to our fully or partially owned subsidiaries. As a result, our results of operations may be affected by changes in exchange rates, particularly between the U.S. dollar or the Japanese yen and the euro.

To a certain extent, we experience natural hedging, with revenue denominated in U.S. dollars partially offset by our U.S. dollar expenses. Our net exposure in Japanese yen is more significant. In 2007, revenue denominated in U.S. dollars represented approximately 38% of total revenue, compared with 39% in 2006 and 2005, after taking into account the monthly conversion by IBM of royalties coming from end purchaser payments in currencies other than U.S. dollars. Our operating expenses denominated in U.S. dollars represented 43% of total operating expenses in 2007, compared with 45% in 2006 and 38% in 2005.

As a result, our net operating exposure to U.S. dollars was limited to €46.5 million in 2007 (4% of our revenue), and this exposure was in part hedged through market instruments at a level of €1.5 million, as further described below. The U.S. dollar decreased on average by 9% in 2007 and 1% in 2006 having a negative impact on our operating income, while it was on average flat and had no significant impact in 2005.

Our net operating exposure to Asian currencies, principally to Japanese yen, amounted to €163.3 million in 2007 (13% of our revenue), and this exposure was in part hedged through market instruments at a level of €1.9 million, as further described below. In 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Japanese yen depreciated 10%, 7% and 2% against the euro, respectively, compared to the respective preceding year, with a negative impact on our operating income.

Currency fluctuations may impact financial revenue as well as revenue and expenses. The main items of financial revenue subject to fluctuations linked to exchange rates are:

the difference between the exchange rate used to record invoices and expenses in foreign currencies and the exchange rate when we receive or make the payment; and

the revaluation of assets denominated in foreign currencies.

We are able to hedge some of our foreign currency exchange risk, but some currency risks, such as the impact of the consolidation of subsidiaries reporting in U.S. dollars, cannot be hedged. We only hedge our revenues and expenses coming from usual and predictable activity arising in the normal course of operations. We use exclusively forward agreements or financial instruments with a maximum predictable loss. All hedging activities are carried out or formally approved by the parent company and all hedging transactions and our net exposure are reported to the Chief Financial Officer on a monthly basis. The table below sets forth, for the year ended December 31, 2007, the euro value of our revenue, operating expenses and net position, before and after hedging, denominated in U.S. dollars, Japanese yen together with Korean won and other currencies, principally the euro.

 
  Year ended December 31, 2007

 
(in thousands of euros)

  U.S. dollars

  Japanese yen, Korean won and other Asia-Pacific currencies

  Euro and others

 
Revenue   481,349   220,724   556,775  
Operating expenses   434,804   57,423   513,900  
Net position   46,545   163,301   42,876  
Hedge(1)   1,545   1,936   4,557  
   
 
 
 
Net position after hedge   45,000   161,365   38,319  
   
 
 
 
(1)
Includes operations considered as a cash flow or fair value hedge under FAS 133 only.

With all other variables held constant, movements in euro/USD exchange rates by +10% or -10% would have had an impact of €(4.2) and €4.7 million on operating income, respectively, as of December 31, 2007. In addition, with all other variables held constant, movements in euro/JPY exchange rates by +10% or -10% would have had an impact of €(14.8) and €16.3 million on operating income, respectively, as of December 31, 2007.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    87

Back to Contents


The following table presents the notional amount and market value of foreign currency financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 
  Year ended December 31, 2007

  Year ended December 31, 2006

   
(in thousands of euros)

  Notional amount

  Fair value

  Notional amount

  Fair value

   
Forward exchange contract USD/euro – sale(1)   37,703   356   38,883   179    
Forward exchange contract JPY/euro – sale(2)   8,489   496   1,483   204    
Collars USD/euro       3,846   69    
Forward contract GBP/euro – sale(3)       1,426   (60 )  
Dual forward contract       1,000   (7 )  
   
 
 
 
   
(1)
See Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.
(2)
"JPY" means Japanese yen.
(3)
"GBP" means British pound.

Revenue and expenses denominated in currencies other than the euro are translated into euro using rates determined by the applicable accounting regulation. For example, most non-euro transactions originating in France are translated using the average exchange rate of the month preceding the transaction. When consolidating subsidiaries reporting in currencies other than the euro, however, the average exchange rate of the quarter in which the consolidation takes place is used. In the context of business acquisitions, the currency exchange rate used is the rate on the date of the acquisition, or on the date the foreign currency used for the acquisition was purchased.

88    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 12: Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    89

Back to Contents



PART II

 
   

Item 13:    Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

91

Item 14:    Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

91

Item 15:    Controls and Procedures

 

91

Item 16:    [RESERVED]

 

92

Item 16A:    Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

92

Item 16B:    Code of Ethics

 

92

Item 16C:    Principal Accountants Fees and Services

 

93

Item 16D:    Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

 

93

Item 16E:    Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

94


 


 


 

90    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 13: Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

To our knowledge, there has been no material default in the payment of principal or interest or any other material default not cured within 30 days relating to our indebtedness or that of any of our subsidiaries.


Item 14: Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

To our knowledge, no one (i) has modified materially the instruments defining the rights of holders of our shares or (ii) has modified materially or qualified the rights evidenced by our registered securities by issuing or modifying any other class of securities.


Item 15: Controls and Procedures

(a)
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

The Company's management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation, pursuant to Rule 13a-15 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2007. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2007.

Disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms and that such information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

(b)
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurances with respect to financial statements preparation and presentation.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") framework. Based on this assessment, management concluded that as of December 31, 2007 our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    91

Back to Contents


PricewaterhouseCoopers, which audited our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007, has issued an attestation report of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting under Auditing Standard No. 5 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America).

(c)
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.

See the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on page F-1.

(d)
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

During 2007, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting.


Item 16: [RESERVED]


Item 16A: Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board of Directors has determined that Paul R. Brown, Audit Committee member and independent member of our Board of Directors, is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Item 16.A of Form 20-F.


Item 16B: Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and other senior members of the management of Dassault Systèmes S.A. and the main Dassault Systèmes companies. This code of ethics is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11 to our 2003 Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed on June 30, 2004.

92    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 16C: Principal Accountants Fees and Services

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit served as our independent public accountant for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

The following table presents the aggregate audit fees, audit-related fees and fees for other professional services rendered to us by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2007 and 2006.

 
  2007

  2006

 
 
  PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit

  PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit

 

(in euros, except percentages)


 

Fee amount



 

Percentage of
total fees



 

Fee amount



 

Percentage of
total fees



 

Audit fees(1)   2,911,779   94.7%   2,801,538   86.0%  
Audit-related fees(2)   121,310   3.9%     413,506   12.7%  
Tax fees(3)   42,308   1.4%     42,028   1.3%  
All other fees              
   
 
 
 
 
Total   3,075,397   100.0%     3,257,072   100.0%  
   
 
 
 
 
(1)
Audit fees consist of fees billed for the annual audit services engagement and other audit services, which are those services that only the external auditor reasonably can provide, and include the Group audit; statutory audits; consents; attest services; and services provided in connection with documents filed with the SEC and the French market authorities (AMF).
(2)
Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements or that are traditionally performed by the external auditor, and include due diligence services related to acquisitions, consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards, attestation services not required by statute or regulation, and information system reviews.
(3)
Tax fees include fees billed for tax compliance services, including the review of tax returns and tax services regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments and expatriate tax assistance and compliance.

AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Audit Committee assesses the independence of the external auditors of our financial statements and recommends to the Board of Directors their appointment and termination (subject to shareholder approval under French law). In connection with this process, the Audit Committee recommends the external auditors' compensation and discusses with them the scope of the audit, has the authority to pre-approve all audit-related and non-audit related services provided by the independent auditors, and discusses with the independent auditors all critical accounting policies used in connection with the preparation of the financial statements. At the end of each fiscal year, the Audit Committee reviews the audited annual consolidated financial statements before it gives its report to the Board of Directors.

During 2007, none of the Audit-related fees, Tax fees and All other fees provided to us by PricewaterhouseCoopers were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception to the pre-approval requirement provided by paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.


Item 16D: Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

Not applicable.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    93

Back to Contents




Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The table below sets forth information regarding stock repurchases effected by the Company since January 1, 2007.

Period

  (a) Total Number of Shares Purchased

  (b) Average Price Paid per Share

  (c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1)

  (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(1)

 
February 1 – 29, 2008   63,903 shares   36.11   63,903 shares   11,530,368 shares  
March 1 – 31, 2008   898,083 shares   36.43   898,083 shares   10,632,285 shares  
Total   961,986 shares   36.41   961,986 shares   10,632,285 shares  
   
 
 
 
 
(1)
The repurchase plan was publicly announced on May 29, 2007 and provided for the repurchase of up to a maximum of 11,594,271 shares, representing 10% of the share capital of the Company at the date of the shareholders' meeting approving the plan (June 6, 2007). This repurchase plan will expire at our next shareholders' meeting scheduled for May 22, 2008, when another plan will be proposed by the Board of Directors for approval by the shareholders (see above "Item 10B: Memorandum and Articles of Association – Purchase of Our Own Shares"). There were no other repurchase plans in existence by the Company during the period covered by the table above.

Of the 961,986 shares repurchased, 300,000 shares (purchased for an average price of €37.45 per share) have been designated for use in providing the shares covered by the grants of free shares decided in 2005 and 2006 (see "Item 6B: Compensation – Share Grants"), and the remainder (purchased for an average price of €35.94 per share) have been designated for cancellation.

94    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



PART III

 
   

Item 17:    Financial Statements

 

96

Item 18:    Financial Statements

 

96

Item 19:    Exhibits

 

97

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    95

Back to Contents



Item 17: Financial Statements

Not applicable.


Item 18: Financial Statements

The following financial statements, together with the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers thereon, are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Consolidated Financial Statements

   
 
Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers   F-1  
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006   F-2  
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005   F-3  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005   F-4  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005   F-6  
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005   F-8  

96    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Item 19: Exhibits

1.1 Dassault Systèmes' by-laws, as adopted at the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting on June 6, 2007 (Unofficial English translation) (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1.1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 29, 2007).  
†4(a).1 Amended and Restated License Agreement for the Use and Marketing of Programming Materials between International Business Machines Corporation and Dassault Systèmes (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on form F-1 (Registration No. 333-04970), filed with the SEC on June 24, 1996), as amended by the amendments filed with the SEC as exhibits to our Annual Reports on Form 20-F for each of the years ended December 31, 1996, through December 31, 2006 (the "IBM Agreement").  
†4(a).2 Amendment 159, dated December 12, 2007, to the IBM Agreement.  
†4(a).3 Amendment 160, dated December 12, 2007, to the IBM Agreement.  
†4(a).4 Amendment 161, dated October 10, 2007, to the IBM Agreement.  
†4(a).5 Amendment 162, dated December 26, 2007, to the IBM Agreement.  
†4(a).6 Amendment 163, dated December 26, 2007, to the IBM Agreement.  
*4(c).1 Amendments, in the form of an unofficial English-language translation of the relevant portions of the minutes from the March 28, 2008, Board of Directors meeting, to the relevant preceding Board minutes and employment contract, which are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 4(c).1 and 4(c).2 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2003.  
**11 Incorporated by reference.  
12.1 Certification of Bernard Charlès, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  
12.2 Certification of Thibault de Tersant, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  
13.1 Certification of Bernard Charlès, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Systèmes S.A. and Thibault de Tersant, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dassault Systèmes S.A. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  
15(a).1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit.  

For a list of our direct subsidiaries, see Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements for the year 2007.

Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to certain portions of this Exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
*
The relevant portions of the minutes from the September 23, 2003 Board of Directors meeting and Mr. Charlès's amended employment contract, which are incorporated by reference herein, were filed as Exhibits 4(c).1 and 4(c).2 to our 2003 Annual Report on Form 20-F, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2004.
**
The Code of Ethics was filed as Exhibit 11 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2004.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    97

Back to Contents


Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES S.A.

Date: April 4, 2008

/s/ Thibault de Tersant
Thibault de Tersant
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

98    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Dassault Systèmes:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dassault Systèmes and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 15 in this form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, March 31, 2008

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-1

Back to Contents


Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
   
  December 31,

 
(in thousands)

  Notes

  2007

  2006

 
ASSETS                  
Current assets:                  
Cash and cash equivalents   (Note 2)   597,246   408,746  
Short-term investments   (Note 2)     29,351     50,524  
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of €4,485 in 2007 and
    €5,111 in 2006
  (Note 7)     319,968     303,606  
Deferred tax assets   (Note 15)     18,218     38,000  
Prepaid expenses and advances         19,907     24,499  
Other current assets         76,056     52,157  
       
 
 
Total current assets         1,060,746     877,532  
       
 
 
Property and equipment, net   (Note 3)     61,132     63,872  
Investments and loans receivable   (Note 4)     2,479     1,437  
Deferred tax assets   (Note 15)     15,476     79,141  
Intangible assets, net   (Note 6)     347,820     378,221  
Goodwill   (Note 6)     463,493     455,836  
       
 
 
Total assets       1,951,146   1,856,039  
       
 
 
 
 
   
  December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  Notes

  2007

  2006

   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                    
Current liabilities:                    
Accounts payable       48,419   52,189    
Accrued wages and other personnel costs         113,605     103,695    
Unearned revenue         207,529     170,603    
Income taxes payable         2,626     4,283    
Deferred tax liabilities   (Note 15)     8,329     8,036    
Other current liabilities         64,994     58,955    
       
 
   
Total current liabilities         445,502     397,761    
       
 
   
Non-current obligations:                    
Deferred tax liabilities   (Note 15)     39,245     92,631    
Borrowings   (Note 8)     200,000     200,000    
Other non-current liabilities         69,369     54,622    
       
 
   
Total non-current obligations         308,614     347,253    
       
 
   
Commitments and contingencies   (Note 9)            
Minority interest         1,274     980    
Shareholder's equity:   (Note 16)                
Common stock         117,604     115,770    
Additional Paid in capital         239,506     172,793    
Retained earnings         1,025,745     907,747    
Accumulated other comprehensive loss         (187,099 )   (86,265 )  
       
 
   
Total shareholders' equity         1,195,756     1,110,045    
       
 
   
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity       1,951,146   1,856,039    
       
 
   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-2    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Consolidated Statements of Income

 
   
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands, except per share data)

  Notes

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Revenue:                          
New licenses revenue       417,506   432,170   375,520    
Periodic licenses, maintenance and product development revenue         645,846     530,948     408,035    
       
 
 
   
Software revenue   (Note 7)     1,063,352     963,118     783,555    
Services and other revenue         195,497     194,680     150,958    
       
 
 
   
Total revenue         1,258,849     1,157,798     934,513    
       
 
 
   
Cost of software revenue (excluding amortization of acquired intangibles)         (52,991 )   (49,605 )   (26,847 )  
Cost of services and other revenue         (156,301 )   (143,713 )   (115,288 )  
Research and development         (302,922 )   (299,864 )   (250,019 )  
Marketing and sales         (349,975 )   (295,988 )   (223,029 )  
General and administrative         (97,139 )   (83,655 )   (58,596 )  
Amortization of acquired intangibles   (Note 6)     (46,799 )   (39,028 )   (9,753 )  
       
 
 
   
Total operating expenses         (1,006,127 )   (911,853 )   (683,532 )  
       
 
 
   
Operating income         252,722     245,945     250,981    
       
 
 
   
Financial revenue and other, net   (Note 13)     6,053     3,580     14,908    
Income from equity investees         1,277     1,033     1,017    
       
 
 
   
Income before income taxes         260,052     250,558     266,906    
       
 
 
   
Income tax expense   (Note 15)     (81,279 )   (70,810 )   (90,847 )  
Minority interest         (290 )   54     (597 )  
       
 
 
   
Net income       178,483   179,802   175,462    
       
 
 
   
Basic net income per share   (Note 16)   1.53   1.56   1.54    
Diluted net income per share   (Note 16)   1.49   1.51   1.49    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-3

Back to Contents


Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Cash flows from operating activities                      
Net income   178,483   179,802   175,462    
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                      
  Depreciation of property and equipment     24,688     24,951     17,713    
  Amortization of intangible assets     50,531     40,740     13,703    
  Gain on disposal of investment in MSC             (14,705 )  
  Impairment charge         796     14,324    
  Deferred income taxes     15,923     (30,371 )   (3,794 )  
  Tax benefits from employee stock-option plans     1,029     14,184     3,169    
  Excess tax benefits from share-based payments     (1,029 )   (14,184 )      
  Non-cash share-based payment expense     17,963     11,621     1,141    
  Exchange loss on receivables/debts in foreign currency         20,200        
  Other     5,878     1,271     1,365    
   
 
 
   
Changes in current assets and liabilities:                      
  (Increase) in trade accounts receivable     (32,905 )   (14,056 )   (21,241 )  
  (Increase) decrease in other current assets     (9,450 )   2,518     (8,716 )  
  Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses     10,670     4,341     13,606    
  (Decrease) increase in income taxes payable     (10,696 )   (5,547 )   2,889    
  Increase in unearned revenue     52,589     28,151     15,613    
  Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities     6,648     (4,616 )   (13,799 )  
   
 
 
   
Net cash provided by operating activities     310,322     259,801     196,730    
   
 
 
   
Cash flows from investing activities                      
  Additions to property, equipment and intangibles     (30,123 )   (25,851 )   (43,190 )  
  Purchases of short-term investments     (26,986 )   (20,607 )   (15,362 )  
  Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments     46,128     38,609     13,263    
  Payment for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired     (75,880 )   (260,862 )   (329,364 )  
  Proceeds from sale of investments             21,132    
  Increase in long-term receivables             (2,329 )  
  Other     19     128     91    
   
 
 
   
Net cash used in investing activities     (86,842 )   (268,583 )   (355,759 )  
   
 
 
   

F-4    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows (continued)

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Cash flows from financing activities                      
  Borrowings         200,000        
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options     47,042     23,810     29,276    
  Repurchase of SolidWorks shares, net of option exercises (Note 12)         (63,243 )   (29,222 )  
  Cash dividends paid     (50,827 )   (48,200 )   (43,120 )  
  Principal payments on capital lease obligations     (433 )   (1,689 )   (1,878 )  
  Excess tax benefits from share-based payments     1,029     14,184        
   
 
 
   
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     (3,189 )   124,862     (44,944 )  
   
 
 
   
  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     (31,791 )   (20,486 )   26,756    
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     188,500     95,594     (177,217 )  
   
 
 
   
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     408,746     313,152     490,369    
   
 
 
   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   597,246   408,746   313,152    
   
 
 
   

Supplemental disclosure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income taxes paid   66,307   91,373   88,131    
Cash paid for interest   7,538   6,111   1,443    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-5

Back to Contents


Consolidated Statements
of Shareholders' Equity

 
  Share capital issued
   
   
   
   
   
(in thousands, except number of shares)

  Number of Shares

  Stated value

  Additional Paid in capital

  Retained earnings

  Accumulated other comprehensive Income/(loss)

  Total

   
January 1, 2005   113,786,411   113,786   77,107   643,803   (75,447 ) 759,249    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
  Net income               175,462       175,462    
  Other items of comprehensive income, net of tax                   41,802   41,802    
Total comprehensive income                       217,264    
Exercise of stock options (Note 12)   1,251,967   1,252   32,782           34,034    
Dilution gain on SolidWorks           12,391           12,391    
Other stock transactions           3,118           3,118    
Tax benefits (Note 15)           3,169           3,169    
Cash dividends paid (€0.38 per share)               (43,120 )     (43,120 )  
December 31, 2005   115,038,378   115,038   128,567   776,145   (33,645 ) 986,105    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
  Net income               179,802       179,802    
  Other items of comprehensive income, net of tax                   (56,448 ) (56,448 )  
Total comprehensive income                       123,254    
Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax                   3,828   3,828    
Exercise of stock options (Note 12)   731,912   732   18,139           18,871    
Share-based payment expense (Note 12)           11,621           11,621    
Other stock transactions           282           282    
Tax benefits (Note 15)           14,184           14,184    
Cash dividends paid (€0.42 per share)               (48,200 )     (48,200 )  
December 31, 2006   115,770,290   115,770   172,793   907,747   (86,265 ) 1,110,045    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
  Net income               178,483       178,483    
  Other items of comprehensive income, net of tax                   (100,834 ) (100,834 )  
Total comprehensive income                       77,649    
Adjustment to initially apply FIN No. 48               (9,658 )     (9,658 )  
Exercise of stock options (Note 12)   1,834,263   1,834   47,721           49,555    
Share-based payment expense (Note 12)           17,963           17,963    
Tax benefits (Note 15)           1,029           1,029    
Cash dividends paid (€0.44 per share)               (50,827 )     (50,827 )  
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
December 31, 2007   117,604,553   117,604   239,506   1,025,745   (187,099 ) 1,195,756    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-6    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Consolidated Statements
of Comprehensive Income

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Net income   178,483   179,802   175,462    
Other items of comprehensive income:                
  Available for sale securities   (86 )   461    
  Derivative gains on cash-flow hedges   714   5,672      
  Minimum pension liability     (1,490 ) (842 )  
  Actuarial gains and losses   (1,596 )      
  Foreign currency translation adjustment   (100,340 ) (59,213 ) 41,863    
  Income tax relating to component of other comprehensive income   474   (1,417 ) 320    
Other comprehensive income, net of tax   (100,834 ) (56,448 ) 41,802    
Total comprehensive income   77,649   123,354   217,264    
   
 
 
   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-7

Back to Contents


Dassault Systèmes
Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for the Years Ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Dassault Systèmes, which refers to Dassault Systèmes S.A. and its subsidiaries (the "Company"), develops 3D and Product Lifecycle Management ("PLM") software solutions powered by three-dimensional (3D) representation. The Company's strategic mission is to provide software solutions and consulting services that enable its customers to innovate in products and services; accelerate product design in order to satisfy market demand; create and manufacture products more cost effectively; and simulate their end-customers' experiences.

The Company operates in two segments, the "Process-centric or PLM" segment and the "Design-centric or Mainstream 3D" segment. The "Process-centric" segment is dedicated to PLM software solutions. PLM solutions are organized around five of the Company's brands: CATIA for virtual product design, SIMULIA for virtual testing, DELMIA for virtual production, ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online lifelike experiences. The "Mainstream 3D" segment is dedicated to customers primarily focused on product design solutions. The Company primarily addresses the Mainstream 3D market with its SolidWorks software applications for productive and easy-to-use 3D mechanical design. Its products and solutions are designed to capitalize on the significant migration opportunity of 2D users to 3D design. The Company largely markets and sells its software solutions through indirect selling channels. With respect to the sales of the Company's PLM solutions, International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM") has been a long-standing strategic sales partner.

In addition to the development and distribution of software products, the Company also provides services related to its software products and solutions and obtains other revenue from its support of IBM's marketing and distribution efforts, direct support to customers, technological consulting services, and hardware resale activities.


Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dassault Systèmes S.A. and its subsidiaries. Companies over which the Company has control are fully consolidated. Companies over which the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for under the equity method. Investments in which the Company is not able to

F-8    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



exercise significant influence over the investee are accounted for under the cost method. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.


Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Examples include: estimating loss contingencies; assessing product life cycles; identifying the different elements comprising a software arrangement, including the distinction between upgrades/enhancements and new products; determining when technological feasibility is achieved for our products; estimating the fair value and/or goodwill impairment for our reporting units; determining when a decline in value of our investments is other-than-temporary; determining the nature, fair value and useful life of acquired intangible assets in a business combination; determining assumptions for share-based payments; and assessing the realizability of our deferred tax assets. Actual results and outcomes could differ from management's estimates and assumptions.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

The Company derives revenue from three primary sources: (1) its marketing and distribution agreement with IBM; (2) new software licenses, periodic licenses, maintenance and product development, which includes software license updates, technical support and the development of additional functionalities of standard products requested by clients; and (3) consulting and training services and other revenue, including commissions received for sales support. Revenues are disclosed net of taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities.

Marketing and distribution agreement with IBM – Under the Company's agreement with IBM, the Company licenses its products to IBM who then sublicenses the products to end-users. The Company provides maintenance to IBM but does not contract directly with IBM customers. In addition, the Company provides training to IBM employees for new product releases, participates with IBM in a worldwide marketing arrangement and is involved in other product development initiatives for both the Company and IBM products.

Royalties under this arrangement are earned as revenue is recognized by IBM from its sublicensing of the products and services. Royalties are recognized in software revenue when earned from IBM and reported to us. In general, this results in recognition of license royalties when IBM sublicenses software to end-users and Postcontract Customer Support ("PCS") royalties over the period during which IBM is required to provide support to end-users. Royalty payments are generally made within 30 days after the end of the month in which the royalties are earned.

The Company's agreement with IBM provides for increases in the share of licensing revenue to be retained by IBM if certain annual growth targets are met by IBM. This incentive is also linked to IBM meeting a certain level of sales and marketing expenses for the distribution of CATIA and ENOVIA. This incentive is recorded as a reduction to software revenue.

Software License, Maintenance and Product Development Revenue – Software license revenue represents fees earned from granting customers licenses to use our software. Our software license revenue consists of perpetual and periodic license sales of software products. Software license revenue is recognized when: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery and acceptance of the software has occurred, the software license fee is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is probable. In instances when any of the four criteria are not met, we defer recognition of software license revenue until all criteria are met. Revenue related to the licensing of software through value-added resellers (VAR) is recognized when evidence of a sale to an end-user customer is provided to the Company, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Periodic licenses generally have a one-year term and the corresponding fee is recognized ratably over the term of the license.

Maintenance revenue represents periodic fees associated with the sale of unspecified product updates on a when-and-if-available-basis and technical support. Maintenance agreements are entered into in connection with the initial software license purchase. Maintenance support may be renewed at the conclusion of each term. Revenue from maintenance is deferred and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the maintenance agreement.

Product development revenue relates to the development of additional functionalities of standard products requested by clients and is recognized as the development work is performed.

Recurring fees for periodic license and maintenance and product development revenue are reported within software revenue.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-9

Back to Contents


Revenue under multiple-element arrangements, which typically include new software licenses and maintenance agreements sold together, is allocated to each element in the arrangement primarily using the residual method based upon the fair value of the undelivered elements, which is specific to us (vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value or "VSOE"). Discounts, if any, are applied to the delivered elements, usually software licenses, under the residual method. For maintenance, VSOE is based upon either the renewal rate specified in each contract or the price charged when sold separately. If VSOE of one or more undelivered elements cannot be established, the entire amount of revenue from the arrangement is deferred and recognized when delivery of those elements occurs or when VSOE can be established.

Services and Other Revenue – Services and other revenue consists primarily of fees from consulting, services and training, commissions received in connection with our sales support activities, and revenue generated by hardware resale activities. Services generally do not require significant modification or customization of software products and are accounted for separately to the extent they are not essential to the functionality of software products. Service revenues derived from time and material contracts are recognized as time is incurred. Service revenues derived from fixed price contracts are generally recognized using a percentage of completion basis. For customer support contracts, when no performance pattern is discernible, revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the contract, generally one year, on a straight-line basis. Commissions are recognized when earned. Revenue derived from hardware resale activities is recognized upon delivery.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE COSTS/RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Costs incurred to develop computer software products – such as payroll and other headcount-related costs associated with product development – to be licensed or otherwise marketed to customers are expensed in the period incurred, unless such costs qualify for capitalization after technological feasibility is established. We have determined that technological feasibility for our software products is reached shortly before the commercial release of our products. Costs incurred after technological feasibility is established are not material, and accordingly, the application of this accounting policy has resulted in substantially all research and development costs being expensed in the period incurred. Purchased in-process research and development that is not technologically feasible as of the acquisition date and has no future alternative use is expensed.

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

The Company receives grants from various governmental authorities to finance certain research and development activities (including tax research credits in France that are treated as government grants because they are realizable in cash in the event the Company has insufficient income tax payable). Government grants are recognized as a reduction of research and development costs when the qualifying research and development activities have been performed and there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be received. Government grants amounting to €8.4 million, €5.8 million and €1.8 million were recorded as a reduction to research and development expenses in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair Value – The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value, due to the short-term maturities of such instruments. Foreign exchange options, futures, and forward contracts, which are designated and serve as hedges, are recorded at their fair market value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments – The Company considers marketable debt securities with maturities of less than 90 days when acquired, deposits with banks, and investments in money market mutual funds to be cash equivalents. Marketable debt securities with maturities of more than 90 days when acquired and mutual funds that do not qualify as cash equivalents are considered to be short-term investments and are generally classified as trading securities with changes in fair value recorded through financial income.

Investments – Investments include, principally, available-for-sale equity securities at fair value, debt securities at amortized cost, securities that are not publicly traded at cost, and equity method investments. For available-for-sale equity securities, any unrealized holding gains and losses, net of deferred taxes, are excluded from operating results and are recognized in other comprehensive income ("OCI") until realized. The fair values of securities are determined based on prevailing market prices. The Company assesses declines in the value of individual investments to determine whether such decline is other-than-temporary and thus the investment is impaired. This assessment is made by considering available evidence including changes in general market conditions, specific industry and individual company data, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the individual company, and the Company's intent and ability to hold the investment.

Derivative Instruments – The Company uses derivative instruments to manage exposures to foreign currency and interest rates and accounts for its derivative instruments under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended. This statement requires that each derivative instrument be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value, and that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized in current earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. The statement also establishes criteria for a derivative to qualify as a hedge for

F-10    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



accounting purposes. Changes in fair value of derivatives designated as hedges of forecasted transactions are deferred and recorded as a component of accumulated OCI until the hedged forecasted transaction occurs and is recognized in earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash-flow hedges are reported as a component of OCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND LOANS RECEIVABLE

The allowance for doubtful accounts and loans receivable reflects the Company's best estimate of probable losses inherent in the receivable balance. The Company determines the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience and other currently available evidence.

BORROWINGS

Borrowings are recognized initially at an amount equal to the proceeds received, net of transaction costs incurred. Any difference between the recorded amount and the redemption value is amortized into income over the period of the borrowing using the effective interest rate method.

FOREIGN CURRENCY ADJUSTMENTS

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the applicable local currency, while the Company's functional and reporting currency is the euro. Assets and liabilities with functional currencies other than the euro are translated into euro equivalents at the rate of exchange in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted average monthly exchange rates for the year. Translation gains or losses are recorded as a separate component of shareholders' equity and transaction gains and losses are reflected in net income.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, derivatives and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash equivalents and its short-term investments with high credit-quality financial institutions. The Company invests its excess cash primarily in money market funds, bank certificates of deposit, and commercial paper.

The Company has established guidelines relative to credit ratings, diversification and maturities that seek to maintain safety and liquidity. Management monitors the credit-worthiness of the aforementioned counter-parties and considers the credit risk exposure due to counter-party failure to be minimal.

As further discussed in Note 7. Software Revenue and Transactions with IBM, during 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company generated approximately 35%, 45% and 52%, respectively, of its total revenue through its commercial relationship with IBM. Outside of IBM, the Company's credit risk is partially mitigated due to the fact that its customer base is diversified both by geography and industry.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives: buildings, 30 years; computer equipment, 18 months to 5 years; office furniture and equipment, 5 to 10 years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the assets or the remaining lease term, not exceeding 10 years. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill, which is equal to the fair value of consideration paid in excess of the fair value of the net assets purchased, has been recorded in conjunction with several of the Company's purchase business combinations. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The impairment test is performed annually in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year at the reporting unit level using a two-step, fair-value based approach. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The second step allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to the Company's tangible and intangible assets and liabilities. This derives an implied fair value for the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. For the purpose of the impairment test, the Company relies upon projections of future cash flows and takes into account assumptions regarding the evolution of the market and its ability to successfully develop and commercialize its products. Changes in market conditions

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-11

Back to Contents



could have a major impact on the valuation of these assets and could justify additional impairment losses. No impairment of goodwill has been identified during any of the periods presented.

Intangible assets primarily include acquired technology, contractual customer relationships and trademarks. Costs related to acquired technology, contractual customer relationships, and patents and trademarks are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from three to 12 years. No impairment of intangible assets has been identified during any of the periods presented.

INCOME TAXES

On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation ("FIN") 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Among other things, FIN 48 requires application of a "more likely than not" threshold to the recognition and derecognition of tax positions. It further requires that a change in judgment related to prior years' tax positions be recognized in the quarter of such change. The January 1, 2007 transition reduced our retained earnings by €9.7 million and was an increase in other non current liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period during which the change is enacted.

The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from its future taxable income, and to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely, it establishes a valuation allowance. The Company considers historical taxable income, estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the amount of the valuation allowance. Adjustments could be required in the future if the Company determines that the amount to be realized is greater or less than the valuation allowance it has recorded.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING

Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales for all periods presented.

ADVERTISING COSTS

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses were €20.7 million, €16.6 million and €14.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. The Company reports comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of shareholders' equity.

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment ("SFAS 123(R)"), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair value for all share-based payment awards including stock options, employee stock purchases under employee stock purchase plans, non-vested share awards (such as restricted stock) and stock appreciation rights. SFAS 123(R) supersedes SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, ("SFAS 123"). The Company elected the modified prospective transition method, under which prior periods are not restated for comparative purposes to reflect the impact of SFAS 123(R). The modified prospective transition method requires that share-based compensation expense be recorded for (a) any share-based payments granted through, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the pro forma provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) any share-based payments granted or modified subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R). In March 2005, the Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 ("SAB 107"), which provided supplemental implementation guidance for SFAS 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS 123(R).

SFAS 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of the grant using an option-pricing model. The value of awards expected to vest is recognized as expense over the applicable requisite service periods. Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for its share-based compensation plans using the intrinsic value method under the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees ("APB 25") and related guidance. Under the intrinsic value method, the Company did not recognize any amount of compensation expense in the Company's

F-12    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



consolidated statements of operations in connection with its employee stock option plans, as options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to or greater than the share market value on the date of grant.

Prior to adopting SFAS 123(R), the Company accounted for its share-based payment awards using the intrinsic value method of APB 25 and SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS 148. Under APB 25, the Company did not record compensation expense for employee share options unless the awards were modified, because the share options were granted with exercise prices equal to or greater than the fair value of the stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on reported net income and earnings per share applicable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2005, had we accounted for the share-based compensation plans using the fair value method of SFAS 123:

(in thousands except per share amounts)

  Year Ended
December 31,
2005


   
Net Income:          
  As reported   175,462    
  Add: Share-based payment expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effect        
  Less: Share-based payment expense determined under fair value based method, net of related tax effect     (5,770 )  
  Pro forma   169,692    
   
   
Basic net income per share          
  As reported   1.54    
  Pro forma   1.49    
Diluted net income per share          
  As reported   1.49    
  Pro forma   1.44    


Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform with current year presentation.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations ("SFAS 141R") and SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 ("SFAS 160"). SFAS 141R will change how business acquisitions are accounted for and will impact financial statements both on the acquisition date and in subsequent periods. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 are effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2009. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 will have on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("SFAS 159"), which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 159 will have a material impact on its financial position, cash flows, or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements ("SFAS 157"), which clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements and eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS 157 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on its financial position, cash flows, or results of operations.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the AICPA and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future consolidated financial statements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-13

Back to Contents


Note 2. Cash and Cash Equivalents
and Short-term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents are maintained on deposit with large financial institutions, for which management monitors the credit-worthiness, principally in France and in the United States of America, and are comprised of the following:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

 
Bank accounts   309,788   227,744  
Money market accounts     287,458     181,002  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents   597,246   408,746  
   
 
 

Short-term investments of €29.4 million and €50.5 million in 2007 and 2006 respectively, are primarily comprised of mutual funds held with large financial institutions. Management considers the credit risk exposure due to counter-party failure to be minimal. At December 31, 2007, and 2006, short-term investments included investments in the amounts of €22.0 million and €32.6 million denominated in US dollars, respectively. Such short-term investments are liquid and have stated maturities of one year or less at each balance sheet date.

Note 3. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, at cost, consists of the following:

 
  Year ended December 31, 2007

  Year ended December 31, 2006

 
(in thousands)

  Gross

  Accumulated amortization

  Net

  Gross

  Accumulated amortization

  Net

 
Land and buildings   32,868   (14,274 ) 18,594   32,868   (13,367 ) 19,501  
Computer equipment     82,110     (65,238 )   16,872     82,293     (66,356 )   15,937  
Office furniture and equipment     33,338     (22,458 )   10,880     32,958     (21,954 )   11,004  
Leasehold improvements     45,776     (30,990 )   14,786     44,379     (26,949 )   17,430  
Total   194,092   (132,960 ) 61,132   192,498   (128,626 ) 63,872  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

The change in the carrying amount of property and equipment as of December 31, 2007 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Land and buildings

  Computer equipment

  Office furniture and equipment

  Leasehold improvements

  Total

   
Net value – January 1, 2007   19,501   15,937   11,004   17,430   63,872    
Acquisitions         13,753     5,314     6,245     25,312    
Acquisitions through business combinations         56     372     39     467    
Disposals         (95 )   (48 )   (1,217 )   (1,360 )  
Depreciation for the period     (907 )   (11,879 )   (4,887 )   (7,015 )   (24,688 )  
Exchange differences         (900 )   (875 )   (696 )   (2,471 )  
   
 
 
 
 
   
Net value – December 31, 2007   18,594   16,872   10,880   14,786   61,132    
   
 
 
 
 
   

F-14    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


The change in the carrying amount of property and equipment as of December 31, 2006 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Land and buildings

  Computer equipment

  Office furniture and equipment

  Leasehold improvements

  Total

   
Net value – January 1, 2006   20,407   17,773   11,627   19,577   69,384    
Acquisitions         11,229     3,857     3,898     18,984    
Acquisitions through business combinations         1,127     889     1,624     3,640    
Disposals         (83 )   (87 )   (119 )   (289 )  
Depreciation for the period     (906 )   (12,928 )   (4,307 )   (6,810 )   (24,951 )  
Exchange differences         (1,181 )   (975 )   (740 )   (2,896 )  
   
 
 
 
 
   
Net value – December 31, 2006   19,501   15,937   11,004   17,430   63,872    
   
 
 
 
 
   

Note 4. Investments and Loans Receivable

Investments and loans receivable consist of the following:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

   
Cost basis   198   196    
Gross unrealized gains            
Gross unrealized losses     (86 )      
   
 
   
Available-for-sale securities     112     196    
   
 
   
Other securities, at cost     646        
   
 
   
Equity method investments     1,721     1,241    
Loans receivable     951     76    
Less: current portion     (951 )   (76 )  
   
 
   
Loans receivable – non-current portion            
   
 
   
Investments and loans receivable   2,479   1,437    
   
 
   

The available-for-sale investments included above represent investments in listed securities. There is no fixed maturity or coupon rate associated with these investments. The fair values of these securities are based on quoted market prices.

Note 5. Acquisitions

ICEM

On June 12, 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of ICEM Limited ("ICEM") for approximately €54.5 million in cash (including €1.4 million of direct transaction costs). Headquartered in the United Kingdom, ICEM is a worldwide developer and supplier of advanced, surface-based modelling, surface quality analysis and design visualisation software for use in the design development of manufactured products, mainly in the automotive industry.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-15

Back to Contents


Under business combinations accounting, the total purchase price was allocated to ICEM's net tangible and intangible assets based on their fair values as of the date of acquisition with the residual amount allocated to goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price resulted in €33.5 million of goodwill, which has been assigned to the PLM segment. The primary items that generated goodwill include, but are not limited to, the value of the synergies between ICEM and the Company's PLM activities and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an amortizable intangible asset.

The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.

(in thousands)

   
   
Cash and cash equivalents   2,981    
Other tangible assets     1,314    
Deferred taxes, net     (10,711 )  
Deferred revenue(1)     (2,108 )  
Other liabilities     (8,259 )  
   
   
Net tangible assets acquired     (16,783 )  
   
   
Intangible assets acquired(2)     37,800    
Goodwill     33,483    
   
   
Total purchase price   54,500    
   
   
(1)
The carrying value of ICEM's deferred revenue was reduced to reflect the fair value of customer support obligations assumed. As a result, approximately €8.7 million of revenues that would have otherwise been recorded by ICEM as an independent entity in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 will not be recognized in our consolidated statements of income.
(2)
Intangible assets acquired are subject to amortization and include the following:

(in thousands)

  Fair value

  Estimated weighted-average useful life

 
Technology   11,700   10 years  
Contractual customer relationships     22,800   9 years  
Trademarks     1,400   10 years  
   
     
Total amortizable intangible assets acquired     35,900      
In process research & development ("IPR&D")(1)     1,900      
   
     
Total intangible assets acquired   37,800      
   
     
(1)
The amount assigned to research and development assets was written off at the date of acquisition. This write-off is included in amortization of acquired intangibles in our consolidated statements of income.

The unaudited pro forma financial information presented in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 as if the acquisition of ICEM had occurred at the beginning of the period presented. The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes and does not purport to be indicative of results that would have been achieved if the ICEM acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the period presented, nor does it purport to be indicative of the results that will be achieved in the future. The impact of adjustments to reduce ICEM's deferred revenue to the fair value of the associated support obligations has not been reflected in the following pro forma financial information as the reduction in revenue represents a material non-recurring charge directly attributable to the transaction. The charges associated with acquired in-process research and development have not been reflected in the following pro forma summary as they are non-recurring.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in thousands except per share data)

  2007

  2006

 
 
  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

 
Revenue   1,266,432   1,178,171  
Income before income taxes     262,785     248,541  
Net income     181,645     178,576  
Basic net income per share   1.56   1.55  
Diluted net income per share   1.52   1.50  

F-16    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



DS Enovia Corp. (previously known as MatrixOne, Inc.)

On May 11, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Dassault Systèmes Enovia Corp. ("DS Enovia Corp."), previously known as MatrixOne, Inc. for approximately €324 million in cash (including approximately €4 million of direct transaction costs). DS Enovia Corp. is a global provider of collaborative PLM software and services to medium-to-large organizations including companies across the high tech, consumer products and medical devices industries, among others. The acquisition of DS Enovia Corp. enabled the Company to expand its collaborative product offerings and extend its reach across a broader range of industries. The results of operations of DS Enovia Corp. have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements beginning May 11, 2006.

Under business combinations accounting, the total purchase price was allocated to DS Enovia Corp.'s net tangible and intangible assets based on their fair values as of the date of acquisition with the residual amount allocated to goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price resulted in €124 million of goodwill, which has been assigned to the PLM segment. The primary items that generated goodwill include, but are not limited to, the value of the synergies between DS Enovia Corp. and the Company's PLM activities and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an amortizable intangible asset. Of the amount assigned to goodwill, approximately €8 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.

(in thousands)

   
   
Cash and cash equivalents   72,325    
Other tangible assets     30,418    
Deferred taxes, net     (16,598 )  
Deferred revenue(1)     (12,303 )  
Restructuring reserve(2)     (11,809 )  
Other liabilities     (16,234 )  
   
   
Net tangible assets acquired     45,799    
   
   
Intangible assets acquired(3)     153,627    
Goodwill     124,094    
   
   
Total purchase price   323,520    
   
   
(1)
The carrying value of DS Enovia Corp.'s deferred revenue was reduced to reflect the fair value of customer support obligations assumed. As a result, approximately €14.4 million of revenues that would have otherwise been recorded by DS Enovia Corp. as an independent entity in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 have not been recognized in our consolidated statements of income.
(2)
The Company's management approved a restructuring plan resulting directly from the DS Enovia Corp. acquisition and involving the elimination of facilities, fixed assets and employee positions of DS Enovia Corp. ("DS Enovia Corp. restructuring plan"). The total restructuring reserve established for this plan was reflected as an allocation item in the total purchase price consideration of the DS Enovia Corp. acquisition. Total estimated costs of the DS Enovia Corp. restructuring plan were €11.8 million. This plan involved costs associated with exiting leased facilities and abandonment of certain assets of approximately €7.5 million. In addition, this plan also involved employee terminations representing an estimated cost for severance and outplacement of approximately €4.3 million. Substantially all of the actions required of the DS Enovia Corp. restructuring plan were completed by the fourth quarter of 2007.
(3)
Intangible assets acquired are subject to amortization and include the following:

(in thousands)

  Fair value

  Estimated weighted-average useful life

 
Technology   44,161   9 years  
Contractual customer relationships     104,629   12 years  
Trademarks     2,114   5 years  
   
     
Total amortizable intangible assets acquired     150,904      
   
     
IPR&D(1)     2,723      
Total intangible assets acquired   153,627      
   
     
(1)
The amount assigned to research and development assets was written off at the date of acquisition. This write-off is included in amortization of acquired intangibles in our consolidated statements of income.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-17

Back to Contents



DS Simulia Corp. (previously known as Abaqus Inc)

On October 4, 2005, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common shares of Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp. ("DS Simulia Corp."), previously known as Abaqus Inc., for approximately €346 million in cash (including approximately €5 million of direct transaction costs). DS Simulia Corp. develops, markets and supports finite element analysis software. The acquisition of DS Simulia Corp. enabled the Company to expand its capabilities in realistic 3D simulation and to diversify in markets beyond its existing manufacturing base. The results of operations of DS Simulia Corp. were included in the Company's consolidated financial statements beginning October 1, 2005.

Under business combinations accounting, the total purchase price was allocated to DS Simulia Corp.'s net tangible and intangible assets based on their fair values as of the date of acquisition with the residual amount allocated to goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price resulted in €169 million of goodwill, which was assigned to the PLM segment. The primary items that generated goodwill included, but were not limited to, the value of the synergies between DS Simulia Corp. and the Company's PLM activities and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualified as an amortizable intangible asset. The entire amount assigned to goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The following table summarizes the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.

(in thousands)

   
   
Cash and cash equivalents   22,324    
Other tangible assets     17,375    
Deferred revenue(1)     (9,030 )  
Other liabilities     (13,299 )  
   
   
Net tangible assets acquired     17,370    
   
   
Amortizable intangible assets acquired(2)     160,251    
Goodwill     168,802    
   
   
Total purchase price   346,423    
   
   
(1)
The carrying value of DS Simulia Corp.'s deferred revenue was reduced to reflect the fair value of customer support obligations assumed. As a result, approximately €15.3 million of revenues that would have otherwise been recorded by DS Simulia Corp. as an independent entity in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 were not recognized in our consolidated statements of income.
(2)
Intangible assets acquired are subject to amortization and include the following:

(in thousands)

  Fair value

  Estimated weighted-average useful life

 
Technology   57,195   10 years  
Contractual customer relationships     99,402   11 years  
Trademarks     3,654   10 years  
   
     
Total amortizable intangible assets acquired   160,251      
   
     


Other acquisitions

SEEMAGE

On September 24, 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of Seemage SAS for cash consideration of approximately €25.5 million. Seemage SAS is a French company that develops 3D interactive product documentation. As a result of this transaction, an amount of €

F-18    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents



14.7 million was recorded in goodwill. In addition, intangible assets subject to amortization and included in fair value of the net assets acquired are as follows:

(in thousands)

  Fair value

  Estimated weighted-average useful life

 
Technology   9,895   9 years  
Contractual customer relationships     4,000   8 years  
   
     
Total amortizable intangible assets acquired   13,895      
   
     

DYNASIM

In April 2006, the Company acquired Dynasim for cash consideration of approximately €5.4 million. Dynasim is a Swedish company that develops and markets Dymola, a software tool used for dynamic multi-engineering modeling and simulation. Dynasim customers include the automotive, aerospace, power generating and process industries. As a result of this transaction, an amount of €4.6 million was recorded in goodwill.

GCS SCANDINAVIA AKTIEBOLAG

In April 2006, the Company acquired GCS Scandinavia for cash consideration of approximately €4.9 million. GCS Scandinavia is a Swedish company that develops and markets Conisio, a software tool used for designing integrated data management solutions in the product design process in a wide range of industries. As a result of this transaction, an amount of €3.5 million was recorded in goodwill.

VIRTOOLS

In June 2005, the Company acquired Virtools for cash consideration of approximately €11.3 million. Virtools provides software development solutions for building highly interactive 3D content. As a result of this transaction, an amount of €8.4 million was recorded in goodwill.

RAND SUBSIDIARIES IN EUROPE AND RAND NORTH AMERICA

In January 2005, the Company acquired certain subsidiaries of Rand A Technology Corporation ("Rand") in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland, plus the subsidiary Rand Technologies C.I.S., Inc., and increased its ownership in Rand NA from 60 to 70 percent. The total purchase price was €31.7 million consisting of €28.3 million in loans, advances and interest due from Rand and €3.4 million in cash. As a result of this transaction, an amount of €28.1 million was recorded in goodwill.

All of the other acquisitions discussed above have been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and have been consolidated in the Company's financial statements as of the date the acquisition was finalized. Pro forma results of operations reflecting these acquisitions have not been presented because the results of operations of the acquired companies, either individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the Company's results of operations.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-19

Back to Contents


Note 6. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets at December 31, 2007 consisted of the following:

 
  Year ended December 31, 2007

  Year ended December 31, 2006

 
(in thousands)

  Gross

  Accumulated amortization

  Net

  Gross

  Accumulated amortization

  Net

 
Software   272,616   (131,422 ) 141,194   268,191   (115,411 ) 152,780  
Customer relationships     238,394     (40,372 )   198,022     236,007     (21,340 )   214,667  
Other     14,741     (6,137 )   8,604     15,514     (4,740 )   10,774  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total intangible assets   525,751   (177,931 ) 347,820   519,712   (141,491 ) 378,221  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

The change in the carrying amount of intangible assets as of December 31, 2007 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Software

  Customer relationships

  Other intangible assets

  Total intangible assets

   
Net intangible assets as of January 1, 2007   152,780   214,667   10,774   378,221    
   
 
 
 
   
ICEM acquisition     11,700     22,800     3,300     37,800    
Other additions     14,018     4,000         18,018    
Disposals, net             (5 )   (5 )  
Write-offs of IPR&D(1)             (1,900 )   (1,900 )  
Amortization for the period(1)     (26,329 )   (22,491 )   (1,711 )   (50,531 )  
Exchange differences     (10,975 )   (20,954 )   (1,854 )   (33,783 )  
   
 
 
 
   
Net intangible assets as of December 31, 2007   141,194   198,022   8,604   347,820    
   
 
 
 
   
(1)
IPR&D write-offs amounting to €1.9 million and amortization amounting to €44.9 million are recorded on the line "Amortization of acquired intangibles" in the consolidated statements of income.

Other additions to intangible assets in 2007 resulted primarily from the acquisition of Seemage (€14.0 million).

The change in the carrying amount of intangible assets as of December 31, 2006 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Software

  Customer relationships

  Other intangible assets

  Total intangible assets

   
Net intangible assets as of January 1, 2006   105,452   117,728   7,438   230,618    
DS Enovia Corp. acquisition     44,161     104,629     4,837     153,627    
Other additions     33,905     25,586     3,189     62,680    
Disposals, net     (719 )       (197 )   (916 )  
Write-offs of IPR&D(1)             (2,723 )   (2,723 )  
Amortization for the period(1)     (20,909 )   (18,757 )   (1,074 )   (40,740 )  
Exchange differences     (9,110 )   (14,519 )   (696 )   (24,325 )  
   
 
 
 
   
Net intangible assets as of December 31, 2006   152,780   214,667   10,774   378,221    
   
 
 
 
   
(1)
IPR&D write-offs amounting to €2.7 million and amortization amounting to €36.3 million are recorded on the line "Amortization of acquired intangibles" in the consolidated statements of income.

Other additions to intangible assets in 2006 resulted primarily from the acquisition of Dynasim (€4.0 million), GCS (€3.0 million) and from the purchase of certain minority interests in SolidWorks in connection with the buy-back of SolidWorks mature shares (€46.6 million; see Note 12. Share-based Payments).

F-20    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Total intangible amortization expense was €50.5 million, €40.7 million, and €13.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The future amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years relating to all intangible assets that are currently recorded on the consolidated balance sheets is estimated to be the following at December 31, 2007:

(in thousands)

  Estimated amortization expense

 
2008   48,866  
2009     46,686  
2010     43,403  
2011     40,315  
2012     36,943  

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2007 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Goodwill

   
Goodwill as of January 1, 2007   455,836    
   
   
ICEM acquisition     33,483    
Other additions, net     13,273    
Exchange differences     (39,099 )  
   
   
Goodwill as of December 31, 2007   463,493    
   
   

Other additions to goodwill in 2007 resulted primarily from the acquisition of Seemage (€14.7 million).

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2006 is as follows:

(in thousands)

  Goodwill

   
Goodwill as of January 1, 2006   326,617    
   
   
DS Enovia Corp. acquisition     124,094    
Other additions, net     34,719    
Exchange differences     (29,594 )  
   
   
Goodwill as of December 31, 2006   455,836    
   
   

Other additions to goodwill in 2006 resulted primarily from the acquisition of Dynasim (€4.6 million) and from the purchase of certain minority interests in SolidWorks in connection with the buy-back of SolidWorks mature shares (€27.6 million; see Note 12. Share-based Payments).

The Company performed an annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2007, 2006 and 2005; no impairment of goodwill was indicated as a result of these tests.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-21

Back to Contents


Note 7. Software Revenue and Transactions with IBM

Software revenue

Software revenue was comprised of the following:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
New licenses revenue   417,506   432,170   375,520  
Periodic licenses and maintenance revenue     634,920     512,126     389,311  
Product development revenue     10,926     18,822     18,724  
   
 
 
 
Software revenue   1,063,352   963,118   783,555  
   
 
 
 


Transactions with IBM

Pursuant to the Company's long-standing, mutually non-exclusive agreement with IBM, IBM markets and distributes a substantial portion of the Company's PLM products worldwide, primarily CATIA and ENOVIA.

Revenue obtained through the commercial relationship with IBM represents 35%, 45% and 52% of consolidated revenues of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. There is no contractual obligation for either IBM or the Company to continue to market and distribute the Company's products according to the present agreement. Changes in roles and responsibilities could cause disruptions and negatively affect the sales organization performance, which could have a material adverse impact on the revenues generated through IBM.

For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, IBM met certain annual sales and growth targets and the Company charged a sales incentive to software revenue of €6.1 million, €6.0 million, and €7.6 million, respectively. The related liability on the balance sheet will be settled in U.S. dollars.

The balances of trade accounts receivable with IBM were €84.3 million and €90.5 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, substantially all of which relates to software revenue. Management believes that the financial position of IBM mitigates the potential credit risk related to the concentration of its trade accounts receivable with IBM. At December 31, 2007, 89% of such accounts receivable were denominated in U.S. dollars (2006: 88%), with the remainder mainly denominated in euros.

Note 8. Borrowings

In December 2005, the Company entered into a €200 million multicurrency revolving loan facility (the "Loan Facility"). This agreement provides for revolving credit for a period of five years, which can be extended by two additional years at the Company's option. Borrowings under the Loan Facility bear interest at Euribor plus 0.18% per annum. The annual commitment fee in effect on the unused portion of the Loan Facility is 0.055%.

In March 2006, the Company drew down €200 million under the Loan Facility. In 2006 and in 2007, the Company exercised its options to extend the revolving loan facility for two additional years.

F-22    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in litigation incidental to normal operations. It is not possible to determine the ultimate liability, if any, in these matters. In the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the resolution of such litigation and proceedings will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

Lease commitments are disclosed in Note 10. Leases.

Note 10. Leases

The Company leases computer equipment, premises and office equipment under operating leases. Rent expense under operating leases was €45.6 million, €46.9 million and €38.5 million, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

At December 31, 2007, future minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable lease obligations were as follows:

(in thousands)

  Operating leases

 
2008   36,337  
2009     23,453  
2010     25,875  
2011     27,806  
2012     25,514  
Thereafter     145,834  
   
 
Total minimum lease payments   284,819  
   
 

In March 2006, the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease agreement for new headquarters facilities which will take effect when the construction is completed, which is expected to be in mid-2008. Under this agreement, the Company has committed to lease approximately 55,000 square meters of office space located in Vélizy, outside Paris, France, for a non-cancelable initial term of 12 years, with options to renew for additional periods. When construction is completed, this lease is expected to be classified as an operating lease. Future minimum rental payments over the initial term amount to approximately €188.9 million in the aggregate and have been included in the table presented above.

The Company also leased land and buildings related to its premises in Suresnes, France, under capital leases. In March 2007, the Company exercised the option to purchase these assets for a total consideration of €1.

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

   
Land     5,680    
Buildings       27,188    
Accumulated depreciation       (13,367 )  
   
 
   
Total     19,501    
   
 
   

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-23

Back to Contents


Note 11. Personnel Costs

Personnel Costs

Personnel costs excluding share-based payments (see Note 12. Share-based Payments) were €573.9 million, €515.0 million and €400.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively and included social security costs of €112.6 million, €101.3 million, and €87.4 million for the same periods.

Compensation excluding share-based compensation (see Note 12. Share-based Payments) for key management personnel, composed of our executive officers (12 persons), was €6.9 million, €5.8 million and €5.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.


Individual right to training for employees in France

French law provides employees employed under indefinite-term employment contracts by French entities within the Company with the right to receive individual training of at least 20 hours per year ("Individual Training Rights"). Individual Training Rights can be accumulated over six years and the related costs are expensed as incurred. As of December 31, 2007, accumulated Individual Training Rights were approximately 133,000 hours.

Note 12. Share-Based Payments

The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based payment awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award in accordance with SFAS 123(R). SFAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. Share-based payment expense was recorded net of estimated forfeitures for the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 such that expense was recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to vest. In addition, SAB 107 requires share-based compensation to be classified in the same expense line items as cash compensation.

As of December 31, 2007, compensation expense related to the share-based payment awards of €20.5 million is recorded respectively in cost of services and other revenue for €0.8 million, in research and development for €11.3 million, in marketing and sales for €4.4 million, and in general and administrative for €4.0 million. Income tax benefits recognized against compensation expense are immaterial since beneficiaries are located in tax jurisdictions where the Company will not receive tax deductions.

As of December 31, 2006, compensation expense related to the share-based payment awards of €11.6 million is recorded respectively in cost of services and other revenue for €0.4 million, in research and development for €6.8 million, in marketing and sales for €2.5 million, and in general and administrative for €1.9 million. Income tax benefits recognized against compensation expense are immaterial since beneficiaries are located in tax jurisdictions where the Company will not receive tax deductions.

F-24    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


The following table summarizes the unvested options and restricted awards as of December 31, 2007 and changes during 2007 and 2006:

 
  Number of awards

   
 
Unvested at January 1, 2006   1,660,941      
  Granted   1,864,712      
  Vested   (171,558 )    
  Forfeited   (94,164 )    
Unvested at December 31, 2006   3,259,931      
  Granted   1,881,766      
  Vested   (1,193,951 )    
  Forfeited   (173,563 )    
Unvested at December 31, 2007   3,774,182      

As of December 31, 2007, total compensation cost related to unvested awards expected to vest but not yet recognized was €35.7 million, and the Company expects to recognize this expense over a weighted average period of 1.86 years.

In addition, upon the adoption of SFAS 123(R) in fiscal year 2006, the Company included as part of cash flows from financing activities the gross benefit of tax deductions related to share-based awards in excess of the grant date fair value of the related share-based awards. This amount is shown as a reduction to cash flows from operating activities and an increase to cash flows from financing activities. In fiscal year 2005, prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), these tax benefits were classified as operating cash flows.

Stock Option Plans

Since 1996 the Board of Directors has adopted several stock option plans for eligible employees and executives. Options generally vest over various periods ranging from one to five years, subject to continued employment. Options generally expire seven to ten years from grant date or shortly after termination of employment, whichever is earlier. To date options have been granted at an exercise price equal to or greater than the grant-date market value of the Company's share.

A summary of the Company's stock option activity is as follows:

 
  2007

  2006

  2005

 
 
  Number of shares

  Weighted average exercise price

  Number of shares

  Weighted average exercise price

  Number of shares

  Weighted average exercise price

 
Outstanding at beginning of year   17,842,323   36.71   17,328,241   35.68   17,609,016   34.14  
Granted   1,325,900     47.50   1,405,700     47.00   1,200,000     39.79  
Exercised   (1,834,263 )   26.97   (749,725 )   25.15   (1,284,374 )   25.50  
Forfeited   (120,638 )   43.27   (141,893 )   34.02   (196,401 )   33.96  
Outstanding at end of year   17,213,322     38.33   17,842,323     36.71   17,328,241     35.68  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable   14,526,122   36.68   15,389,498   35.58   15,733,716   35.14  

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-25

Back to Contents


A summary of the weighted average remaining contractual life and the weighted average exercise price of options outstanding as of December 31, 2007 is presented below:

 
  Outstanding options

  Exercisable options

 
Range of exercise price

  Number of
shares


  Weighted
average
remaining
life (years)


  Weighted
average
exercise
price


  Number of
shares


  Weighted
average
exercise
price


 
€16 to €26   2,999,548   4.96   22.68   2,999,548   22.68  
€26 to €30   1,715,913   1.30     29.24   1,715,913     29.24  
€30 to €35   1,650,161   3.73     34.49   1,650,161     34.49  
€35 to €40   4,023,161   2.29     37.58   4,023,161     37.58  
€40 to €46   1,317,849   4.41     45.50   1, 317,849     45.50  
€46 to €52   5,506,690   4.64     49.68   2,819,490     52.00  
   
 
 
 
 
 
€16 to €52   17,213,322   3.71   38.33   14,526,122   36.68  
   
 
 
 
 
 

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005 was €14.81, €14.90 and €12.24, respectively.

The fair values of stock options granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005 were estimated on the date of grant using a finite difference option pricing model. Assumptions used in 2007 are as follows: weighted-average expected life of 5.8 years, expected volatility rate of 35.0%, expected dividend yield of 1.4% and risk-free interest rate of 4.71%. Assumptions used in 2006 are as follows: weighted-average expected life of 6 years, expected volatility rate of 38.4%, expected dividend yield of 1.4% and risk-free interest rate of 3.91%. Assumptions used in 2005 are as follows: weighted-average expected life of 5.2 years, expected volatility rate of 41.6%, expected dividend yield of 1.4% and risk-free interest rate of 3.53%.

The expected volatility was determined using a combination of the historical volatility of the Company's stock and the implied volatility of the Company's exchange-traded options adjusted for other factors, such as a comparison to the Company's peer group.

Long Term Incentive Plans ("LTIP")

The Company implemented a series of three-year long term incentive plans where participants are granted individual awards based on the Company's stock price and on achieving annual operating profit and revenue targets. The portion of potential payout associated with the Company's stock price is determined at the end of the three-year period.

The portion of the LTIP attributable to the Company's stock falls under the scope of SFAS 123(R) and qualifies as a liability-classified award. Liability-classified awards are remeasured at each reporting period at fair value using a Black-Sholes model. The Company recognized compensation cost ratably over a three-year period and true-up compensation cost each reporting period for changes in fair value pro-rated for the portion of the requisite service period rendered. Deferred compensation liability attributable to the Company's stock was €3.7 million and €1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

Executive Stock Grants

Pursuant to an authorization granted by the shareholders at shareholders' meetings held on June 8, 2005, June 14, 2006 and June 6, 2007, the Board of Directors decided to grant to our Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") 150,000 shares, 150,000 shares and 150,000 shares, respectively. Such shares shall be vested at the end of an acquisition period of 3 years, 2 years and 2 years, respectively, subject to the condition that the CEO shall be a director of the Company at the acquisition date. In addition, the CEO is required to hold the vested shares until the end of a 2-year lock-up period and may not sell or transfer them during that period.

Stock grants are measured at fair value on the date of grant based on the quoted price of the Company's common stock.

SolidWorks Buy-back Plan

Pursuant to a 1998 stock option plan, 6,787,365 stock options giving the right to subscribe to shares of SolidWorks were granted to employees of SolidWorks and its affiliates, including 2,800,000 stock options granted to certain of our executive officers. In 2002, SolidWorks instituted a buy-back plan for the SolidWorks shares held by its employees under which (1) an employee can put his mature shares (i.e., shares that have been owned by an employee for a period greater than 6 months) to SolidWorks on specific dates at their then fair market value as determined by an independent valuation expert, and (2) SolidWorks can call such mature shares in this same timeframe at the same fair market value. The adoption of this amendment did not create any compensation charge.

F-26    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


In 2006 and 2005, the SolidWorks stock option and buy-back plan resulted in a cash inflow of approximately €8.5 million and €12.7 million, respectively, and a cash outflow of approximately €71.7 million and €41.9 million, respectively. At December 31, 2006, all shares were repurchased under the plan and no additional cash outflow is expected to occur in subsequent years.

The terms of the SolidWorks stock option and share buy-back plan did not result in the recognition of compensation expense. The net gain resulting from the exercise of SolidWorks stock options at prices greater than the corresponding carrying value was recorded as an equity transaction. The repurchase of SolidWorks stock was recorded in accordance with the purchase method. Accordingly, the excess of share repurchase price over the carrying value of minority interest was first allocated to fair value adjustments to SolidWorks assets and liabilities (primarily consisting of developed technology and contractual customer relationship intangibles, subject to an amortization period of ten years), with any residual difference allocated to goodwill.

Note 13. Financial Revenue and Other, Net

Financial revenue and other for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
 
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
 
Interest income   23,414   16,701   15,240      
Interest expense(1)     (7,697 )   (5,663 )   (1,264 )    
Foreign exchange (losses) gains, net     (8,748 )   (6,857 )   (1,472 )    
Other, net(2)     (916 )   (601 )   2,404      
Total   6,053   3,580   14,908      
(1)
In March 2006, the Company borrowed €200 million under the loan facility (see Note 8. Borrowings), which bears interest at Euribor plus 0.18% per annum and entered into interest rate swap agreements (see Note 14. Derivatives). The Company recorded interest expense of €6.7 million and €5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 respectively.
(2)
In 2005, the Company sold its investment in MSC.Software, thereby generating a gain of €14.7 million. The Company recorded an impairment charge amounting to €14.3 million in 2005 to reflect an other-than-temporary decline in the value of its investment portfolio. This gain and the impairment charge are both included in "Other, net" in the table above.

Note 14. Derivatives

Fair values

The fair market values of derivative instruments were determined by financial institutions using quoted market prices and option pricing models.

All financial instruments that relate to the foreign currency hedging strategy of the Company usually have a maturity date of less than 24 months when maturity of interest rate swap instruments is equal to 3 years. Management believes counter-party risk on financial instruments is minimal since the Company deals with major banks and financial institutions.

Foreign currency risk

The Company transacts in various foreign currencies, primarily U.S. dollars and Japanese yen. To manage this currency exposure, the Company generally uses foreign exchange forward contracts, currency options and collars. Except as noted below, the derivative instruments held by the Company are designated as accounting hedges, have high correlation with the underlying exposure and are highly effective in offsetting underlying price movements.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-27

Back to Contents


The effectiveness of forward contracts is measured using forward rates and the forward value of the underlying hedged transaction. For currency options, effectiveness is measured by the change in the option's intrinsic value, which represents the change in the option's strike price compared to the spot price of the underlying hedged transaction. During 2007, 2006, and 2005, the portion of hedging instruments' gains or losses excluded from the assessment of effectiveness and the ineffective portions of hedges had no material impact on earnings and was recorded in financial revenue in the statement of income.

No cash flow hedges were discontinued for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
 
 
  2007

  2006

   
 
(in thousands)

  Nominal amount

  Fair value

  Nominal amount

  Fair value

   
 
Forward exchange contract U.S. dollars/euros   37,703   356   38,883   179      
Forward exchange contract Japanese yen/euros     8,489     496     1,483     204      
Collars U.S. dollars/euros             3,846     69      
Forward exchange contract GB pounds/euros             1,426     (60 )    
Forward exchange contract GB pounds or U.S dollars/euros             1,000     (7 )    

Interest rate risk

The Company entered into a €200 million multicurrency revolving loan facility which bears interest at variable rates (see Note 8. Borrowings). In December 2005, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements that have the economic effect of modifying a portion of its forecasted interest obligations relating to this facility so that the interest payable effectively becomes fixed at 3.36%.

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
 
  2007

  2006

 
(in thousands)

  Nominal amount

  Fair value

  Nominal amount

  Fair value

 
Interest rate swaps   200,000   6,386   200,000   5,672  

F-28    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Note 15. Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and (liabilities) are as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

   
Deferred tax assets:                
Accelerated depreciation and amortization for financial statement purposes   21,092   12,023    
Profit sharing and pension accruals not yet deductible     5,750     5,430    
Provisions and other expenses not currently deductible     36,954     51,619    
Net tax loss and tax credit carryforward assets     56,692     73,875    
Valuation reserves     (27,878 )   (25,806 )  
   
 
   
Total deferred tax assets     92,610     117,141    
   
 
   
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Accelerated depreciation and amortization for tax purposes     (22,622 )   (18,362 )  
Acquired intangibles     (78,240 )   (78,360 )  
Other     (5,628 )   (3,945 )  
   
 
   
Total deferred tax liabilities     (106,490 )   (100,667 )  
   
 
   
Net deferred tax asset   (13,880 ) 16,474    
   
 
   

The decrease in deferred tax assets is primarily attributable to the utilization of tax operating losses following the tax reorganization in the United States of America.

In 2007 and 2006, deferred tax liabilities relate primarily to intangible assets acquired in business combinations.

The balance sheet classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities is as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

   
Current deferred tax assets   18,218   38,000    
Non current deferred tax assets     15,476     79,141    
Total deferred tax assets     33,694     117,141    
Current deferred tax liabilities     (8,329 )   (8,036 )  
Non current deferred tax liabilities     (39,245 )   (92,631 )  
   
 
   
Total deferred tax liabilities     (47,574 )   (100,667 )  
Net deferred tax asset   (13,880 ) 16,474    
   
 
   

Current deferred tax assets relate primarily to profit sharing expenses and reserves not currently deductible.

Non current deferred tax liabilities mainly include the tax effect of intangible assets created through acquisitions (primarily DS Enovia Corp. and SolidWorks).

The components of income before income taxes are as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
France   140,491   190,276   191,460  
Foreign     119,561     60,282     75,446  
Income before income taxes   260,052   250,558   266,906  
   
 
 
 

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-29

Back to Contents


The significant components of income tax expense are as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
France   51,659   64,248   64,926    
Foreign     13,697     36,933     33,231    
   
 
 
   
Current taxes     65,356     101,181     98,157    
Change in deferred taxes     15,923     (30,371 )   (7,310 )  
   
 
 
   
Income tax expense   81,279   70,810   90,847    
   
 
 
   

The differences between the income tax provision and the provision computed using the statutory French income tax rate are as follows:

 
  Year ended December 31,

   
(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Taxes computed at the statutory rate of 34.43% for 2007, 34.43% for 2006 and 34.93% for 2005   89,536   86,267   93,230    
Foreign losses     2,312     3,491     2,510    
Foreign tax rate differentials     2,826     4,048     3,441    
Change in valuation allowance(1)     (703 )   (11,804 )   (564 )  
R&D tax credit and other tax credits(2)     (4,820 )   (11,605 )   (1,210 )  
Share-based payments(3)     6,185     4,493        
Tax exempt income(4)     (10,976 )   (5,770 )      
Other     (3,081 )   1,690     (6,560 )  
Income tax expense   81,279   70,810   90,847    
Effective tax rate     31.3%     28.3%     34.0%    
   
 
 
   
(1)
In 2006, the Company implemented a tax restructuring plan in the United States of America that enabled the Company to utilize tax losses carried forward that were reserved for as of December 31, 2005.
(2)
R&D tax credit and other tax credits derived mainly from DS Simulia Corp. in 2006.
(3)
In accordance with SFAS 123(R), the Company began to record share-based payment expense in 2006. In certain tax jurisdictions, the Company will not receive tax deductions relating to share-based payments. Therefore, no deferred tax asset is recognized on the related compensation expense.
(4)
Income received by the Company in connection with certain intercompany financing arrangements is taxed at a reduced rate.

At December 31, 2007, there were net tax operating losses and tax credit carryforwards of €121.2 and €14.6 million respectively, which are scheduled to expire in the following years:

(in thousands)

  Net operating losses

  Tax credits

 
2008      
2009         548  
2010          
2011          
2012          
2013 and later     121,201     14,062  
   
 
 
Total   121,201   14,610  
   
 
 

The Company has not provided any deferred income taxes on the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries based upon its determination that such earnings will be indefinitely reinvested. Company management has decided that the determination of the amount of any unrecognized deferred tax liability for the cumulative undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries is not practical since it would depend on a number of factors that cannot be known until such time as a decision to repatriate earnings might be made.

In connection with the exercise of stock options, U.S. entities (mainly SolidWorks, Delmia Corp. and DSAC) realized tax benefits of €1.0 million, €14.2 million and €3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, which have been reflected in shareholders' equity.

F-30    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


The Company is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions and the use of estimates is required in determining the Company's provision for income taxes. Although the Company believes its tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax determination involves significant judgment that could become subject to audit by tax authorities in the ordinary course of business. Due to the Company's size, it contemplates it will regularly be audited by tax authorities in many jurisdictions.

FIN 48 requires that the classification of a liability associated with an unrecognized tax benefit as a current liability to the extent the enterprise anticipates payment of cash within one year. The Company has classified the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as a long term liability since payment is not expected within one year.

We classify interest on tax deficiencies and income tax penalties as income tax expense. At January 1, 2007, before any tax benefits, our accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits amounted to €0.5 million and related accrued penalties amounted to €1.2 million.

The reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits and the amount of related interest and penalties we have provided is as follows:

 
 

   
Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007   22,254    
   
   
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year     4,194    
Additions for tax positions of prior years        
Reductions for tax positions of prior years     (4,566 )  
Settlements        
Interest and penalties     170    
Exchange differences     (1,622 )  
   
   
Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007   20,430    
   
   

As of December 31, 2007, the Company's unrecognized tax benefits, that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements amounted to €20.4 million. If recognized, €14.3 million of our unrecognized tax benefits would reduce our income tax expense and effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2007, changes to the Company's tax contingencies that are reasonably possible in the next 12 months are not material.

During 2007, the Company received from the French tax authorities an assessment of tax of approximately €2.9 million including interest and penalties for the 2004 and 2005 fiscal years. The Company believes in the technical merit of its tax positions and intends to vigorously defend the payment of additional taxes. 2006 and 2007 remain open for examinations by the French tax authorities.

In the United States of America, SolidWorks is under examination by the U.S. tax authorities for the tax year 2005. The outcome cannot be determined at this time since the examination is still in its early stages. The Company anticipates that the examination may be completed during fiscal year 2008 or early 2009. As of December 31, 2007, the tax years 2004 through 2007 remain open for examination by the U.S. tax authorities.

Note 16. Shareholders' Equity and Earnings per Share

Shareholder's equity activity

As of December 31, 2007, Dassault Systèmes had 117,604,553 common shares issued of which 117,349,344 were outstanding with a calculated nominal value of €1 per share.

The primary objective of the Group's capital management is to ensure that it maintains a strong credit rating and healthy capital ratios in order to support its business and for the purpose of increasing the profitability of shareholders' equity and earnings per share. The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-31

Back to Contents


Accumulated other comprehensive income includes foreign currency translation adjustment of €191.7 and €91.4 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.


Dividend Rights

The Company is required to maintain a legal reserve equal to 10% of the aggregate nominal value of its issued share capital. The legal reserve balance was €11.6 million and €11.5 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and represents a component of retained earnings in the balance sheet. The legal reserve is distributable only upon the liquidation of the Company.

Net income in each year after deduction for legal reserves is available for distribution to shareholders of the Company as dividends, subject to the requirements of French law and the Company's bylaws. Dividends may also be distributed from reserves of the Company, subject to approval by the shareholders and certain limitations.

Payment of dividends is fixed by the ordinary general meeting of shareholders at which the annual accounts are approved following recommendations of the Board of Directors.

Dividends per share, which were paid in immediately subsequent year, were €0.44, €0.42 and €0.38 as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.


Stock repurchase programs

The general meeting of shareholders authorized the Board to implement a share repurchase program limited to 10 percent of the Company's share capital. Under this authorization, the Company may not buy shares at a price exceeding €60 per share or above a maximum aggregate amount of €500 million. No shares have been repurchased for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.


Earnings per share

Basic income per share is determined by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is determined by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of applying the treasury stock method of computing dilution for the stock options outstanding during the period.

The following table presents the calculation for both basic and diluted earnings per share:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
(in units, except net income in thousands and per share data)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Net income   178,483   179,802   175,462  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding     116,429,031     115,184,258     113,999,639  
Dilutive effect of stock options     3,206,009     3,903,228     3,608,520  
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding     119,635,040     119,087,486     117,608,159  
Basic net income per share   1.53   1.56   1.54  
Diluted net income per share   1.49   1.51   1.49  

For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, 2,687,200, 6,630,536 and 2,856,730 options, respectively, were excluded from the earnings per share calculation as their effects would have been anti-dilutive.

F-32    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


Note 17. Related-party Transactions

The Company licenses its products for internal use to Dassault Aviation, a former direct shareholder of the Company whose Chief Executive Officer is the Chairman of the Company. Dassault Aviation licenses the Company's products on commercial terms consistent with those granted to the Company's other customers of similar size. Software revenue amounted to €13.9 million, €12.5 million and €7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

The Company also provides service and support to Dassault Aviation. Such activity generated service revenues of €10.1 million, €8.2 million and €7.5 million in the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

The balances of trade accounts receivable with Dassault Aviation were €11.1 million, €4.0 million and €10.8 million at December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively.

Most of our development organizations subcontract software development work to 3D PLM Software Solutions Limited ("3D PLM"), a company located in India in which the Company owns 30% interest and which is accounted for under the equity method. Services purchased from 3D PLM amounted to €16.0 million in 2007 (€12.7 million and €10.3 million in 2006 and 2005, respectively).

Note 18. Pension Benefits

The Company provides defined benefit retirement indemnities to the employees of its French operations, and sponsors defined benefit pension plans for certain employees in the United States. In addition, the Company has certain other plans in countries other than the United States, which are not significant and are combined with the French plans for presentation purposes.

The Company applied SFAS No. 158, Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) ("SFAS 158"), for the first time in 2006. SFAS 158 requires the recognition of the funded status of each defined benefit pension plan on the Company's balance sheet. Each overfunded plan is recognized as an asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a liability. The initial impact of SFAS 158 due to previously unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs or credits, as well as subsequent changes in the funded status, was recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (net of tax) in Shareholders' equity.

The measurement date for all defined benefit plans is December 31.


French plans and other

In France, defined employee benefits include certain gratifications paid upon anniversary of employment and retirement indemnities that are based upon an individual's years of credited service and annualized salary at retirement. Retirement indemnity benefits vest, and are settled as a lump sum paid to the employee upon the employee's retirement.

ASSUMPTIONS

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
French plans and other

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Discount rate   5.25%   4.60%   4.30%  
Expected return on plan assets   5.00%   5.00%   5.25%  
Rate of compensation increase   3.00%   3.00%   3.00%  

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-33

Back to Contents


Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
French plans and other

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Discount rate   4.60%   4.25%   3.70%  
Expected return on plan assets   5.00%   5.00%   5.00%  
Rate of compensation increase   3.00%   3.00%   3.00%  

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets assumption, the Company considers the current and expected asset allocations, as well as historical and expected returns on each category of plan assets.

COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC COSTS

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

   
French plans and other

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Service cost   1,885   1,728   1,486    
Interest cost     1,116     616     559    
Expected return on plan assets     (527 )   (413 )   (409 )  
Net amortization and deferral     (490 )   (422 )   (280 )  
   
 
 
   
Net periodic benefit cost   1,984   1,509   1,356    
   
 
 
   

OBLIGATIONS AND FUNDED STATUS

Changes in the funded status of the benefit plans were as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

   
French plans and other

  2007

  2006

   
Change in benefit obligations                
Benefit obligations at beginning of year   17,803   15,624    
Service cost     1,885     1,728    
Interest cost     1,116     616    
Plan amendments            
Change in scope     8,501        
Actuarial (gain) loss     (2,184 )   512    
Exchange rate differences     (33 )   (253 )  
Benefits paid     (583 )   (424 )  
   
 
   
Benefit obligations at end of year   26,505   17,803    
   
 
   
Change in plan assets                
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year     9,115     8,537    
Employer contribution     77     425    
Actual return on plan assets     615     577    
Change in scope     1,776        
Benefits paid     (583 )   (424 )  
   
 
   
Fair value of plan assets at end of year   11,000   9,115    
   
 
   
Funded status     €(15,505 )   €(8,688 )  
   
 
   

The accumulated benefit obligation for the French defined benefit plans was €20.4 million and €12.4 million at December 31, 2007, and 2006, respectively.

F-34    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


PLAN ASSETS

All plan assets for the French plans are invested in an insurance contract with Sogecap, a life-insurance company that is part of the Société Générale group, a high credit-quality financial institution. To date, the Company has contributed €6.8 million to this insurance contract.

The weighted average asset allocations, by asset category, are as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

 
French plans and other

  2007

  2006

 
Debt securities   65%   66%  
Equity securities   35%   34%  
   
 
 
Total   100%   100%  
   
 
 

CASH FLOWS

The Company does not expect to make any additional contributions to its French pension plans in 2008.

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:


(in thousands)



 

 


 

French plans and other

   
 
2008   1,560  
2009     628  
2010     526  
2011     582  
2012     1,648  
2013-2017     5,001  


U.S. Plans

In the United States, pension benefits are based upon years of credited service and the employee's average final earnings. Retirement benefits are funded by the Company's contributions to segregated pension plan assets, in an amount that is sufficient to meet or exceed the minimum annual funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The projected benefit obligation was determined using the prospective method. Weighted-average assumptions used for the U.S. plans were as follows:

ASSUMPTIONS

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
U.S. plans

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Discount rate   6.00%   6.25%   5.75%  
Expected return on plan assets   8.50%   8.50%   8.50%  
Rate of compensation increase   3.00%   3.25%   3.00%  

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-35

Back to Contents


Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost:

 
  Year ended December 31,

 
U.S. plans

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
Discount rate   6.25%   5.75%   5.75%  
Expected return on plan assets   8.50%   8.50%   8.50%  
Rate of compensation increase   3.00%   3.00%   3.00%  

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets assumption, the Company considers the current and expected asset allocations, as well as historical and expected returns on each category of plan assets.

COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC COSTS

The components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

   
U.S. plans

  2007

  2006

  2005

   
Service cost   1,033   1,169   942    
Interest cost     988     1,027     919    
Expected return on plan assets     (1,190 )   (1,160 )   (1,017 )  
Net amortization and deferral     150     314     230    
   
 
 
   
Net periodic benefit cost – U.S. plans   981   1,350   1,074    
   
 
 
   

OBLIGATIONS AND FUNDED STATUS

Changes in the funded status of the benefit plan were as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

   
U.S. plans

  2007

  2006

   
Change in benefit obligations                
Benefit obligations at beginning of year   17,563   18,717    
Service cost     1,033     1,169    
Interest cost     988     1,027    
Actuarial loss (gain)     2,020     (1,143 )  
Benefits paid     (268 )   (302 )  
Exchange rate differences     (407 )   (1,905 )  
   
 
   
Benefit obligations at end of year   20,929   17,563    
   
 
   
Change in plan assets                
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year     14,828     13,901    
Employer contribution     1,835     1,640    
Actual return on plan assets     756     1,155    
Benefits paid     (268 )   (302 )  
Exchange rate differences     (408 )   (1,566 )  
   
 
   
Fair value of plan assets at end of year   16,743   14,828    
         
   
Funded status   (4,186 ) (2,735 )  
         
   

F-36    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


PLAN ASSETS

The weighted average asset allocations, by asset category, are as follows:

(in thousands)

  Year ended December 31,

 
U.S. plans

  2007

  2006

 
Equity securities   50%   52%  
Debt securities   46%   44%  
Other   4%   4%  
   
 
 
Total   100%   100%  
   
 
 

CASH FLOWS

The Company expects to contribute €1.5 million to its U.S. pension plans in 2008. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:


(in thousands)



 

 


 

U.S. plans

   
 
2008   321  
2009     369  
2010     412  
2011     465  
2012     2,109  
2013-2017     4,535  

Note 19. Segment and Geographic Information

Operating segments are components of the Company for which discrete financial information is available and whose operating results are regularly reviewed by management to assess performance and allocate resources. The Company operates in two reportable segments: the "PLM" segment and the "Mainstream 3D" segment. The "PLM" market serves customers seeking to optimize their industrial processes from the design stage through to manufacturing and maintenance. The "Mainstream 3D" market serves companies seeking to support product design. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

During 2007 the Company changed CosmosWorks to its Mainstream 3D segment from PLM where it had historically been grouped with the Company's other analysis and simulation applications. Data for 2006 and 2005 have been restated to reflect this change. The change did not have a material impact on either segment.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-37

Back to Contents


Data by reportable segment is as follows:

 
  2007

   
(in thousands)

  PLM

  Mainstream 3D

  Elim.

  Total

   
Revenue:                            
Software revenue   811,217   252,387   (252 ) 1,063,352    
Services and other revenue     199,840     1,182     (5,525 )   195,497    
   
 
 
 
   
Total revenue     1,011,057     253,569     (5,777 )   1,258,849    
   
 
 
 
   
Operating income     169,660     83,062         252,722    
   
 
 
 
   
Income tax expense     (47,241 )   (34,039 )       (81,279 )  
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of intangible assets     (61,097 )   (14,122 )       (75,219 )  
Non-cash share-based payment expense     (17,963 )           (17,963 )  
Total assets     1,582,952     368,194         1,951,146    
Liabilities     576,249     179,141         755,390    
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets     23,630     6,493         30,123    
Goodwill     394,783     68,710         463,493    
 
  2006

   
(in thousands)

  PLM

  Mainstream 3D

  Elim.

  Total

   
Revenue:                            
Software revenue   730,695   232,654   (231 ) 963,118    
Services and other revenue     197,981     1,052     (4,353 )   194,680    
   
 
 
 
   
Total revenue     928,676     233,706     (4,584 )   1,157,798    
   
 
 
 
   
Operating income     171,833     74,111         245,945    
Income tax expense     (45,892 )   (24,919 )       (70,810 )  
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of intangible assets     (53,936 )   (11,755 )       (65,691 )  
Non-cash share-based payment expense     (11,621 )           (11,621 )  
Total assets     1,520,427     335,612         1,856,039    
Liabilities     594,453     151,541         745,994    
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets     18,501     7,350         25,851    
Goodwill     379,923     75,913         455,836    
 
  2005

   
(in thousands)

  PLM

  Mainstream 3D

  Elim.

  Total

   
Revenue:                            
Software revenue   585,139   198,659   (244 ) 783,555    
Services and other revenue     152,347     935     (2,323 )   150,958    
   
 
 
 
   
Total revenue     737,486     199,594     (2,567 )   934,513    
   
 
 
 
   
Operating income     182,774     68,207         250,981    
   
 
 
 
   
Income tax expense     (67,707 )   (23,140 )       (90,847 )  
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of intangible assets     (24,566 )   (6,850 )       (31,416 )  
Total assets     1,146,259     267,058         1,413,317    
Liabilities     305,423     121,789         427,212    
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets     31,972     11,218         43,190    
Goodwill     276,373     50,244         326,617    

F-38    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents


The data by geographic operations of the Company is established according to the geographical location of the consolidated companies.

(in thousands)

France

  North America

  Other

  Total

 
2007                        
Revenue 462,827   677,006   119,016   1,258,849  
Long lived assets   95,712     637,066     139,667     872,445  
Total assets   521,706     1,202,578     226,862     1,951,146  
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets   9,463     17,339     3,321     30,123  
2006                        
Revenue 512,305   564,206   81,287   1,157,798  
Long lived assets   75,264     747,788     74,876     897,928  
Total assets   446,774     1,280,288     128,977     1,856,039  
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets   8,520     15,799     1,532     25,851  
2005                        
Revenue 490,102   376,918   67,493   934,513  
Long lived assets   83,159     475,401     68,059     626,619  
Total assets   449,696     852,014     111,607     1,413,317  
Acquisitions of property and equipment and intangible assets   23,936     15,917     3,337     43,190  

The Company also receives data from IBM that identifies the location of IBM's end-user customers. Using such information, revenue – including revenue not derived from IBM – by geographic area would be as follows:

(in thousands)

  2007

  2006

  2005

 
France   146,102   165,212   120,392  
Europe – other than France     429,949     376,658     317,790  
Americas     391,752     356,028     283,047  
Asia/Pacific     291,046     259,900     213,284  
   
 
 
 
    1,258,849   1,157,798   934,513  
   
 
 
 

Note 20. Subsequent Events

As of December 31, 2007, the Company owned part of its headquarters offices (a total of approximately 30,000 square meters) in Suresnes outside Paris, France. The Company sold this part in February 2008 for a basis consideration of 36 million euros subject to additional consideration. The Company will remain in these offices as lessee until the transfer of its headquarters to a new location in Vélizy, outside Paris, France, which is expected to occur by the end of 2008.

During the first quarter of 2008 the Company repurchased 961,986 shares for approximately €35 million.

DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007    F-39

Back to Contents


Note 21. Principal Dassault Systèmes Companies

The principal Dassault Systèmes' companies included in the scope of consolidation as at December 31, 2007 are as follows:

Country

  Consolidated companies

  % of interest

 
France   Athys SAS   100%  
France   Dassault Data Services SAS   95%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes Americas Corporation and its subsidiaries   100%  
Austria   Dassault Systèmes Austria Gmbh   100%  
Belgium   Dassault Systèmes Belgium SA   100%  
Canada   Dassault Systèmes Canada Inc   100%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes Corporation   100%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes Delmia Corporation and its subsidiaries   100%  
Germany   Dassault Systèmes Deutschland AG   100%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA Corp.   100%  
France   Dassault Systèmes Europe SAS   100%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes Holding LLC   100%  
Canada   Dassault Systèmes Inc.   100%  
India   Dassault Systèmes India Ltd   100%  
Israel   Dassault Systèmes Israel Ltd   100%  
Italy   Dassault Systèmes Italia S.r.l   100%  
Japan   Dassault Systèmes Kabushiki Kaisha and its subsidiaries   100%  
United Kingdom   Dassault Systèmes Ltd.   100%  
France   Dassault Systèmes Provence   100%  
Russia   Dassault Systèmes Russia Corporation   100%  
France   Dassault Systèmes SAS   100%  
Canada   Dassault Systèmes Services Llc   100%  
United States   Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp   100%  
Spain   Dassault Systèmes SL   100%  
Switzerland   Dassault Systèmes Switzerland Ltd   98%  
Germany   Delmia GmbH   100%  
Sweden   Dynasim AB   100%  
United Kingdom   ICEM Ltd   100%  
United States   Rand North America Corp.   70%  
Canada   Safework Inc.   100%  
France   Seemage SAS   100%  
United States   SolidWorks Corporation and its subsidiaries   100%  
United States   Spatial Corporation and its subsidiaries   100%  
Germany   TransCAT Verwaltungs GmbH   100%  
Germany   TransCAT Kunststofftechnik GmbH   60%  
Switzerland   TransCAT PLM AG   100%  
Germany   TransCAT PLM GmbH & Co.KG   100%  
United Kingdom   TransCAT PLM Ltd.   100%  
France   Virtools SA and its subsidiary   100%  
India   3DPLM Software Solutions Ltd.   30% (1)  
(1)
Accounted for under the equity method. All other entities are consolidated.

F-40    DASSAULT SYSTÈMES    Form 20-F 2007

Back to Contents