Autodesk Inc. provides software and services for more than 6 million users in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media and wireless data services fields. The company's first and perhaps most widely known product is its AutoCAD drafting and design program for architects and engineers. Its 3ds Max software is used in 3-D animation for game development, design visualization, visual effects and education. Autodesk's Combustion 4 software is a professional compositing program designed for desktop video artists. Other products include land surveying software and crisis-response programs for emergency-response professionals.
History
John Walker founded the San Rafael, Calif.-based company in 1982, the same year it introduced and began shipping AutoCAD. In 1985, the company made its initial public offering of 1.6 million shares priced at $11 per share. Walker relinquished management to Alvar Green in 1989. Three years later, Carol Bartz took over as chairman, president and CEO. By 1994, the company shipped its 1 millionth copy of AutoCAD. From 1997 through 2005, Autodesk made several acquisitions, including Discreet Logic, Revit Technology, Unreal Pictures and, most recently, COMPASS and Alias Systems. In 2005, the company exceeded $1 billion in revenue.
Officers
Carol Bartz assumed the roles of Autodesk's chairman, president and CEO in 1992. Since then, the company has diversified its product line and more than quadrupled revenues to $1.2 billion in 2005. An appointee to President Bush's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Bartz is expected to play a key role in shaping and setting the government's high-tech agenda. Carl Bass is Autodesk's COO. He is responsible for product development for the company's core lines of business and worldwide marketing and sales of these products. Autodesk Senior Vice President and CFO Alfred Castino oversees the company's departments of finance, treasury, business development and investor relations. Andrew Miller is Autodesk's vice president of finance and chief accounting officer. He leads Autodesk's worldwide accounting and SEC reporting activities.
In The News: New And Improved Products
Autodesk's Oct. 4 acquisition of Toronto-based Alias Systems Corp. was viewed by company executives as an opportunity to offer its customers a wider range of products and to become a leader in various markets. The purchase adds an Academy Award winning 3-D character animation application to Autodesk's product line. Shortly after the acquisition, Autodesk introduced the latest version of its 3ds Max modeling, rendering and animation development program. The 3ds Max 8 program was created to address growing 3-D pipeline complexity with new data management, character animation and speed/performance advancements. On Oct. 13, the company also announced its latest version of DWF Writer, an open, standards-based file format designed for sharing complex mechanical drawings and 3-D models via e-mail or the Internet.
-- Compiled By Jonathan Katz. This appeared in IW's Dec. 16, 2005 issue.
Primary Industry
Publishing And Printing
Executive 1
Carol A. Bartz, Chmn., Pres., CEO
Executive 2
Carl Bass, COO
Revenues (US$ Millions)
1233.77
Revenue Growth (%)
29.65
Earnings Per Share (US$)
0.9
Total Equity (US$ Millions)
648.08
Profit Margin (%)
17.95
Return On Equity (%)
35.63
Debt To Equity Ratio (%)
NA
Market Capitalization (US$ Millions)
NA
Revenue Growth (%)
29.65
Note: Financial data appeared in IW's August 2005 issue. Note: 2005 financial information.
IW 50 Best Manufacturing Company
