Gümligen, May 2005
Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire c-plan
Acquisition Enhances Autodesk’s Infrastructure Solutions for
Government, Utilities, and Engineering Firms
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 3, 2005— Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK)
today announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of c-plan AG,
a leader in the European geographic information system (GIS) market, whose
customers include more than 2,000 users in 700 municipalities and utility
companies.
The purchase price for the shares of the Gümligen, Switzerland-based
developer of the TOPOBASE™ family of geospatial applications and data
management solutions will be approximately $18 million plus net working capital.
Autodesk will offer c-plan solutions in key European markets and will continue
supporting TOPOBASE software customers. In addition, Autodesk intends to incorporate
c-plan’s expertise in its continued development of data management solutions
built with open industry standards and featuring Autodesk Map® 3D software
and Autodesk MapGuide® software.
Through the combination of Autodesk and c-plan expertise, technology and partners,
Autodesk will help customers realize their ideas by better enabling them to
integrate computer-aided design (CAD) and GIS technology. Customers may benefit
from closer integration of Autodesk products with c-plan’s industry-specific
municipal, utility, and engineering applications built on top of an open,
relational geospatial database. The combined technologies are expected to
provide users with both the engineering precision and information management
flexibility required for today’s multi-user infrastructure applications.
The acquisition, expected to close in June, is designed to allow Autodesk
to more quickly deliver on its commitment to provide comprehensive industry
applications for government and utility agencies.
“We are pleased to welcome and integrate c-plan’s employees and
technology with ours,” said Chris Bradshaw, vice president of Autodesk
Infrastructure Solutions Division. “Since 1998, c-plan has grown more
than 20 percent every year by offering open geospatial solutions based on
Oracle that work with Autodesk, ESRI, Intergraph, and other GIS applications.
c-plan’s superior database technology and targeted applications strengthen
our suite of geospatial solutions and enable us to better serve our European
customers.”
Frank Von Arx, chief executive officer of c-plan, added “This is a great
combination of Autodesk’s ability to integrate CAD and GIS technologies
on top of Oracle with our industry solutions for municipal government and
utility companies. We are pleased to join the Autodesk family.”

