UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||
(415 ) 507-5000
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company [☐ ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Election of Director
On August 20, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Autodesk, Inc. (the “Company”) increased the number of authorized Board members by one to eleven and appointed Rami Rahim to the Board, effective August 22, 2022, to fill the newly created vacancy.
Mr. Rahim is Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Juniper Networks, Inc. ("Juniper Networks") and a member of Juniper Networks' Board of Directors. Mr. Rahim joined Juniper Networks in January 1997 and was appointed as CEO in November 2014. Prior to being appointed to CEO, Mr. Rahim served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Juniper Development and Innovation organization, overseeing the company's entire product and technology portfolio. Other leadership positions held at Juniper Networks include Executive Vice President and General Manager of Platform Systems Division for routing and switching, Senior Vice President of the Edge and Aggregation Business Unit ("EABU"), and Vice President and General Manager of EABU.
As a non-employee director, Mr. Rahim will be compensated for his services in accordance with the Company’s Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”) and a Restricted Stock Unit award agreement for directors (the “Director RSU Agreement”), each of which the Board approved on August 20, 2022, attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, and are each incorporated herein by reference. The Director Compensation Policy codifies the Company’s existing compensation practices for non-employee directors disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2022.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Rahim and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Rahim was named a director of the Company. Mr. Rahim does not have any family relationship with any of the Company's directors or executive officers or any persons nominated or chosen by the Company to be a director or executive officer. In addition, Mr. Rahim will execute the Company's standard form of indemnification agreement. Mr. Rahim has not entered into any other material plan, contract, arrangement or amendment in connection with his appointment to the Board.
Mr. Rahim is not a party to any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
On August 23, 2022, the Company issued a press release regarding the appointment of Mr. Rahim to the Board. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Director Committee Assignments
On August 20, 2022, The Board also appointed Mr. Rahim to serve as a member of the Compensation Committee, effective August 22, 2022.
In addition, effective as of August 22, 2022, director Blake Irving will join the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and no longer serve on the Compensation Committee.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
99.3 Press release, dated as of August 23, 2022, entitled "Autodesk Appoints Rami Rahim to Board of Directors."
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 hereunto duly authorized.
| AUTODESK, INC. | |||||
| By: /s/ Ruth Ann Keene | |||||
| Ruth Ann Keene Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer | |||||
Date: August 23, 2022
AUTODESK, INC.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY
Adopted and approved on August 20, 2022
Autodesk, Inc. (the “Company”) believes that providing cash and equity compensation to its members of the Board of Directors (the “Board,” and members of the Board who are not employees of the Company, the “Directors”) represents an effective tool to attract, retain and reward Directors. This Director Compensation Policy (the “Policy”) is intended to formalize the Company’s policy regarding the compensation to its Directors. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Policy will have the meaning given to such terms in the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), or if the Plan is no longer in place, the meaning given to such terms or any similar terms in the equity plan then in place. Each Director will be solely responsible for any tax obligations incurred by such Director as a result of the equity and cash payments such Director receives under this Policy.
Notwithstanding anything in this Policy to the contrary, members of the Board who are Company employees do not receive additional compensation for service on the Board and are not considered “Directors” for purposes of this Policy.
1.Retainers
Annual Board Service Retainer
Each Director will be paid an annual retainer with a value of $75,000. There are no per-meeting attendance fees for attending Board meetings.
Annual Committee Service Retainer
Each Director who serves as the chair of the Board or the chair of a committee of the Board listed below will be eligible to earn additional annual retainers with values as follows:
Non-Executive Chair of the Board $75,000
Chair of Audit Committee: $25,000
Chair of Compensation and Human Resources Committee: $20,000
Chair of Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee: $10,000
Retainers Paid in Cash
Each annual retainer paid in cash under this Policy will be paid quarterly in arrears on a prorated basis to each Director who has served in the relevant capacity at any point during the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, and such payment shall be made no later than the quarterly meeting of the Board in the following fiscal quarter. For purposes of clarification, a Director who has served as a Director, as a non-executive chair of the board, or as chair of an applicable committee during only a portion of the relevant Company fiscal quarter will receive a pro-rated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable annual cash retainer(s), calculated based on the number of days during such fiscal quarter such Director has served in the relevant capacities.
Retainers Paid in Restricted Stock Units
On or before December 31 of the calendar year prior to the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) during the term of this Policy, each Director may make an election (the “Election”) to receive any or all of his or her annual cash retainer that will be earned for services performed as a Director in calendar years after the calendar year in which the election is made in the form of a Restricted Stock Unit Award. The Election must be in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the Company on or prior to December 31 of the calendar year prior to such Annual Meeting. Any such Election made by a Director shall be irrevocable and shall comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable unless otherwise determined by the Board. Effective as of immediately following the Annual Meeting, the Director shall automatically receive, without the need for further Board action, a Restricted Stock Unit Award for that number of Shares determined by dividing (1) the product of (a) the amount of his or her annual retainer as a Director covered by the Election, multiplied by (b) 1.2, by (2) the Fair Market Value of a Share on that date, rounded down to the nearest whole Share, provided that on the Date of Grant of any such Restricted Stock Unit Award such person is a Director; and provided further that sufficient Shares are available under the Plan for the grant of such Restricted Stock Unit Award. Such Restricted Stock Unit Award shall vest on the date of the following year’s Annual Meeting, provided that the Participant is a Director on such date.
2.Equity Compensation other than Retainers
Directors will be eligible to receive all types of Awards (except Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan (or the applicable equity plan in place at the time of grant), including discretionary Awards not covered under this Policy. All grants of Awards to Directors pursuant to Section 2 of this Policy will be automatic and nondiscretionary, except as otherwise provided herein, without the need for further Board action, and will be made in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) Initial Award. Each Director who first joins the Board on or after the effective date of this Policy shall be automatically granted Restricted Stock Units upon the effective date on which such person first serves as a Director, for that number of Shares as determined by dividing (1) the product of (a) $250,000 multiplied by (b) the ratio of (i) the number of calendar days from the Date of Grant to the Company’s next Annual Meeting, if scheduled, or the first anniversary of the Company’s last Annual Meeting, if the next Annual Meeting is not yet scheduled, divided by (ii) 365; by (2) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, rounded down to the nearest whole Share (the “Initial Restricted Stock Units”) as illustrated below:
; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to a grant of Initial Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to review and revision by the Board on an annual basis; and provided further, however, that if a Director’s effective date of first service on the Board falls on the date of an Annual Meeting, such Director shall not receive an award of Initial Restricted Stock Units.
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(b) Annual Award. On the date of each Annual Meeting during the term of this Policy, each Director shall automatically receive an additional award of Restricted Stock Units for that number of Shares as determined by dividing $250,000 by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, rounded down to the nearest whole Share (the “Annual Restricted Stock Units”), provided that the grant of Annual Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the Director’s continued service; and provided further, that the number of Shares subject to a grant of Annual Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to review and revision by the Board on an annual basis.
(c) Each grant of Initial Restricted Stock Units and Annual Restricted Stock Units shall vest on the date of the Annual Meeting following the Date of Grant, provided that the Participant is a Director on such date.
3.Limitations
Any compensation granted to a Director shall be subject to the limits provided in Section 12 of the Plan.
4.Travel Expenses
Each Director’s reasonable, customary and documented travel expenses to Board or Board committee meetings will be reimbursed by the Company, subject to any applicable Company policies that may be in effect from time to time.
5.Continuing Education Expenses
Each Director’s reasonable, customary and documented expenses for continuing education programs focused on the legal and ethical responsibilities of board members will be reimbursed by the Company.
6.Additional Provisions
All provisions of the Plan not inconsistent with this Policy will apply to Awards granted to Directors.
7.Revisions
The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate this Policy at any time and for any reason. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of this Policy will materially impair the rights of a Director with respect to compensation that already has been paid or awarded, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the Director and the Company. Termination of this Policy will not affect the Board’s or the Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it under the Plan with respect to Awards granted under the Plan pursuant to this Policy prior to the date of such termination.
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AUTODESK, INC.
2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
(Settled in Shares)
(Settled in Shares)
1.Grant. The Company hereby grants to the participant (the “Participant”) named in the Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units (the “Notice of Grant”) under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”) the number of Restricted Stock Units indicated on the Notice of Grant, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this agreement (together with the Notice of Grant, this “Agreement”), the director deferral election form (the “Director Deferral Election Form”), as applicable, and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. When shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Shares”) are issued to Participant in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, par value shall be deemed paid by Participant for each Restricted Stock Unit by past services rendered by Participant. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan.
2.Company’s Obligation to Settle. Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units shall have vested in the manner set forth in paragraphs 3 or 4 of this Agreement or Section 15 of the Plan, Participant shall have no right to settlement of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual settlement of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such Restricted Stock Units shall represent an unsecured obligation of the Company. Settlement of any vested Restricted Stock Units will be made in whole Shares only.
3.Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in paragraph 4 of this Agreement and Section 15 of the Plan, and subject to paragraph 5 of this Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by this Agreement shall vest in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant. Restricted Stock Units scheduled to vest on a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition shall vest in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company as a Director.
4.Administrator Discretion. Except to the extent doing so would result in the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, the balance, or such lesser portion of the balance as applicable, of the Restricted Stock Units shall be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator.
5.Forfeiture upon Termination of Service as a Director. Subject to Section 7, the balance of the Restricted Stock Units that have not vested as of the time of Participant’s termination as a Director for any or no reason shall be forfeited and automatically transferred to and reacquired by the Company at no cost to the Company and Participant’s right to acquire any Shares hereunder shall immediately terminate.
6.Distribution after Vesting. Unless the Participant has elected otherwise by timely executing a valid deferral election in a form acceptable to the Company with respect to Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder, any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Plan will be distributed to Participant (or in the event of Participant’s death, to his or her estate) in whole Shares as soon as administratively practicable after vesting, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, but, subject to Applicable Law, in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of (i) the Company’s fiscal year in which the Restricted Stock Units vest or (ii) the calendar year in which the
Restricted Stock Units vest, whichever is later. Any Restricted Stock Units that vest in accordance with paragraph 4 will be settled at the time(s) provided in paragraph 4, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement.
7.Disability or Death of Participant.
(a)If Participant ceases to be a Director by reason of his or her Disability during the term of this Award, all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall vest in full as of the date of such cessation of service due to such Disability.
(b)In the event of the death of Participant during the term of this Award and while a Director, all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall vest in full as of the date of death. Upon such death, any distribution or delivery to be made to Participant under this Agreement shall be made to Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator or, if no such beneficiary has been designated or survives Participant, the administrator or executor of Participant’s estate. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.
8.Rights as Stockholder; Dividend Equivalents. Subject to Applicable Law, neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant shall have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) shall have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant. After such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares, subject to Applicable Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may grant to the Participant dividend equivalents on the underlying Shares which shall accrue and only be paid to the extent this Award of Restricted Stock Units becomes vested.
9.Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Agreement will be addressed to the Company at Autodesk, Inc., c/o Stock Administrator, The Landmark @ One Market, 1 Market Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.
10.Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in paragraph 7, this Award and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this Award, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment or similar process, this Award and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately shall become null and void.
11.Binding Agreement. Subject to the limitation on the transferability of this grant contained herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
12.Additional Conditions to Issuance of Stock. The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for Shares (in book entry form or otherwise) hereunder prior to fulfillment of all the following conditions: (a) the admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed; (b) the completion of any
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registration or other qualification of such Shares under any Applicable Law or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any governmental agency, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; and (d) the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of vesting of the Restricted Stock Units as the Administrator may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience.
If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to the issuance of Shares to Participant (or his or her estate), such issuance shall not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. The Company shall make all reasonable efforts to meet the requirements of any such state or federal law or securities exchange and to obtain any such consent or approval of any such governmental authority. Participant’s sale of Shares may be subject to any market blackout period that may be imposed by the Company and must comply with the Company’s insider trading policies and any other applicable securities laws.
13.Plan Governs. This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between one or more provisions of this Agreement and one or more provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.
14.Administrator Authority. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. The Administrator shall not be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or this Agreement. The Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine when such conditions have been fulfilled.
15.Electronic Delivery. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.
16.Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
17.Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
18.Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and,
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accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated service with the Company and its affiliates for purposes of this Agreement until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in this Agreement that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payment (including Share delivery) is to be made upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual penalty tax and late interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or upon the Participant’s death, if earlier).
19.Modifications to the Agreement. This Agreement, the Plan, the Notice of Grant and, if any, the Director Deferral Election Form, constitute the entire understanding of the parties on the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Agreement in reliance on any promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Agreement or the Plan can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Agreement as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Participant, to comply with Section 409A of the Code or to otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A of the Code prior to the actual issuance of Shares pursuant to this Award of Restricted Stock Units.
20.Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly warrants that he or she has received an Award of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and has received, read and understood a description of the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time.
21.Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Award of Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of San Francisco County, California, or the federal courts for the United States for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this Award of Restricted Stock Units is made and/or to be performed.
22.Acknowledgements. In accepting this Restricted Stock Unit Award, Participant acknowledges that:
(a)Any notice period mandated under Applicable Laws shall not be treated as continuous service for the purpose of determining the vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award; and Participant’s right to receive Shares in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award after termination of service, if any, will be measured by the date of termination of Participant’s service and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under Applicable Laws. Subject to the foregoing and the provisions of the Plan, the Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether Participant’s service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.
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(b)The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company. It is discretionary in nature and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement.
(c)The grant of this Restricted Stock Unit Award is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units. All decisions with respect to future Restricted Stock Unit grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.
(d)Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to continued service with the Company (or any Subsidiary).
(e)Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan.
(f)The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty. If Participant obtains Shares upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award, the value of those Shares may increase or decrease.
(g)This Restricted Stock Unit Award has been granted to Participant in Participant’s status as a Director of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(h)Any claims resulting from this Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be enforceable, if at all, against the Company.
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