Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) said it is engaging with Starboard Value in “good faith” after the activist investor launched a proxy fight and nominated three of its own candidates to the construction software firm's board of directors.

Starboard Value on Wednesday nominated three director candidates, including its chief executive and founder, Jeff Smith, to Autodesk's 13-member board, rekindling its proxy battle with the engineering and design software maker over margin growth.

Autodesk said in response that the company has had constructive engagement with Starboard over the past year. Should Starboard proceed with nominating a slate of directors, the co