Autodesk 2007 Annual Report Download - page 209

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2007 Annual Report
and profitability. In addition, stock options are required to compete effectively for talent in the
software and technology industry. Vesting periods encourage employees and executives to remain
with Autodesk and to focus on longer-term results.
• Perquisites and Other Benefits
• Benefits Program
Autodesk offers a variety of benefits programs to executives and regular employees alike.
For example in the United States, benefits include medical (with prescription coverage), vision,
dental, employee and dependent life insurance, employee and dependent accidental death and
dismemberment insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and financial programs such
as a 401(k) plan and flexible spending accounts. Autodesk also provides a variety of relocation
benefits to eligible participants.
• Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
US-based executives are eligible to participate in Autodesk’s Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Plan. The plan is designed to allow eligible employees to make pretax contributions
through compensation deferrals to the plan and receive tax-deferred investment returns on the
contributions similar to the 401(k) plan. This benefit is incremental to the 401(k) plan and is
available to a limited group of Autodesk U.S.–based senior management employees. Similar to
the 401(k) plan, earnings are not guaranteed.
Investment options are a subset of those available in the Autodesk 401(k) plan and include 22
funds. See the chart in the Summary Compensation Tables section on page 157.
• Perquisites
Carol Bartz is provided a personal driver for her business transportation needs. George Bado
has been provided a local apartment on an extended basis as part of his relocation assistance.
Otherwise, the Company does not as a general practice provide benefits or special considerations
to its executives that it does not provide to other employees.
Stock Plans and Stock Grant Policies/Practices
Autodesk maintains the 2006 Employee Stock Plan for stock option grants exclusively for Autodesk
employees, including executive officers. In addition, the Company’s employees are eligible to participate
in Autodesk’s 1998 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan.
Our broad-based employee stock option program is designed to promote long-term retention and
recognize individual performance. Generally, all employees are eligible to participate. Approximately
80 percent of the options granted during fiscal 2007 were awarded to employees other than Named
Executive Officers.
Guidelines are based on competitive market practice for grants for new hires, promotions, and ongoing
performance-related grants. Typically, an employee is eligible for a stock option grant upon beginning
employment with the Company (if the stock option program is available in that country location) and is
eligible to be considered for periodic grants thereafter. The size of grants is influenced by the prevailing
guidelines and the individual’s performance or particular requirements at the time of hire.
• Voluntary Stock Option Review
During fiscal 2007, the Audit Committee of Autodesk’s Board of Directors conducted a voluntary
review of Autodesk’s historical stock option granting practices and related issues. For a full discussion
of our voluntary stock option review, please refer to the “Explanatory Note,” “Note 2. Restatement of
Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” in our fiscal year 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K.