SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated July 17, 2003
Commission File No. 0-28578
DASSAULT SYSTEMES S.A.
(Name of Registrant)
9, Quai Marcel Dassault, B.P. 310, 92156 Suresnes Cedex, France
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes No X
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes No X
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Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained
in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-___________
ENCLOSURE:
Dassault Systemes S.A. (the "Company") is furnishing under cover of Form 6-K a
press release dated July 17, 2003, announcing that its skills initiative has
created a global education program for product lifecycle management.
[Dassault Systemes logo]
Dassault Systemes' PLM Skills Initiative Creates Global Education Program
for Product Lifecycle Management
Education Partners Program includes more than 500 instructors.
CATIA Certification Program now available in multiple languages.
Paris, France and Tokyo, Japan - July 17, 2003 - Dassault Systemes (Nasdaq:
DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world's leading developer of product
lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, today announced that its Education Partner
Program (EPP) has achieved record reach and that its Certified Professional
Program (CPP) is now available in multiple languages. Both programs are part of
an integrated PLM skills initiative to help companies and individuals maximize
the value of Dassault Systemes solutions.
Six months after the launch of the EPP, 45 companies have joined the program and
offer training services on Dassault Systemes PLM solutions CATIA(R), ENOVIA(TM)
and SMARTEAM(R). EPP courseware is developed concurrently with Dassault
Systemes' software, reflecting its design intent and maximizing system
utilization. Therefore, companies with the EPP label can deliver, in the local
language of 30 countries, via more than 500 experienced instructors and 250
classrooms, up-to-date and consistent education to help users maximize their PLM
skills.
Dassault Systemes' CATIA Certified Professional Program provides customers and
users with a globally valuable index for measuring and promoting their CATIA
knowledge. The certification exams are now available in English, Japanese,
French and German and can be taken in more than 3,500 testing centers.
Companies, including Dassault Systemes itself, use the CPP as a means to manage
the CATIA skills of their employees.
"While we had some concern over an approach based on multiple-choice questions
for the exams, I'm glad to say that we now whole heartedly endorse it," said Tim
Draper, CAD Manager, Boc Edwards. "The exams provide a very rigorous and
challenging assessment of the candidate's knowledge. I am certainly now
considering using them for both internal professional development of our
designers and for screening of prospective new employees."
"Not only are the exams thorough and challenging, they are a great way to
internationally certify your CATIA skill set," said Craig A. Larson, a certified
CATIA specialist and an experienced CATIA instructor at MSC Software. "I thought
the test was very well done, with multiple-choice questions that are very
visual."
"The ever-growing coverage of the Education Partner Program, combined with the
enthusiastic adoption of the Certified Professional Program, has created a
pervasive PLM knowledge ecosystem," said Philippe Forestier, executive vice
president Alliances, Marketing, and Communications, Dassault Systemes. "It
strongly increases the value of PLM to our customers by helping them make the
most of our solutions. The success of these programs has encouraged us to invest
in them further."
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Dassault Systemes courseware is available only through Dassault Systemes or its
EPP members. Details about the Education Partner Program and Certified
Professional Program are available at http://plm.3ds.com/en/education.
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About Dassault Systemes
As world leader in PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault
Systemes group brings value to more than 65,000 customers in 80 countries. A
pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and
markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes
and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to
retirement. It's offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product
development (CATIA, ENOVIA, DELMIA, SMARTEAM), general-use 3D solutions
(SolidWorks), and 3D components (SPATIAL). Dassault Systemes is listed on the
Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more
information, visit http://www.3ds.com.
Dassault Systemes Press Contacts: Dassault Systemes Investor Relations Contacts:
Anthony Marechal Emma Rutherford and Harriet Keen
Financial Dynamics
+33 1 55 49 84 21
anthony_marechal@ds-fr.com +44 207 831 3113
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
DASSAULT SYSTEMES S.A.
Date: July 17, 2003 By: /s/ Thibault de Tersant
-----------------------
Name: Thibault de Tersant
Title: Executive Vice President,
Finance and Administration
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