SEC Filing | Aspen Technology, Inc.

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2018

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware		04-2739697
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)



20 Crosby Drive,
Bedford, MA		01730
(Address of principal executive offices)		(zip code)

2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Antonio J. Pietri

President and Chief Executive Officer

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

20 Crosby Drive

Bedford, MA 01730

(781) 221-6400

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area

code, of agent for service)

With Copies to:



Frederic G. Hammond		Mark L. Johnson
Senior Vice President and General Counsel		K&L GATES LLP
ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.		State Street Financial Center
20 Crosby Drive,		One Lincoln Street
Bedford, MA 01730		Boston, MA 02111
(781) 221-6400		(617) 261-3260

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.



Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	o
Non-accelerated filer	o	Smaller reporting company	o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE




Title of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be registered (1)	Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)	Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)	Amount of registration fee
Common stock, $0.10 par value per share	250,000	$83.61	$20,902,500	$2,533.38

(1) In accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities that may from time to time be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933 and based upon the average of the high and low prices of the registrant’s common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on December 14, 2018.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The information required by Item 1 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plan covered by this registration statement, and is omitted from this registration statement, in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The written statement required by Item 2 is included in documents sent or given to participants in the plan covered by this registration statement, and is omitted from this registration statement, pursuant to Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The following filings of the registrant with the SEC are incorporated in this registration statement by reference:


•	Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, filed on August 8, 2018;


•	Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018, filed on October 24, 2018;


•	Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on August 10, 2018 and December 10, 2018;


•	the description of common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34630) filed pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act on June 12, 1998, as amended as of the date hereof and including any further amendment or report filed hereafter for the purpose of updating such description; and

All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. The registrant is not incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof that are not considered to be “filed” with the SEC.

Any statement contained in this registration statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Frederic G. Hammond, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the registrant, has opined as to the legality of the shares of common stock being offered by this registration statement. As of December 21, 2018, Mr. Hammond owned or had the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, a

n aggregate of less than 0.1% of the common stock of the registrant. Mr. Hammond is eligible to participate in the plan covered by this registration statement.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The registrant has included such a provision in its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances. Section 145 of the DGCL further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.

Article SEVENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that no director of the registrant shall be personally liable for any monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty.

Article EIGHTH of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director or officer of the registrant shall be indemnified by the registrant against:

(a)

all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the registrant) brought against him or her by virtue of his or her position as a director or officer of the registrant if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; and

(b)

all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and amounts paid in the settlement incurred in connection with any action by or in the right of the registrant brought against him or her by virtue of his or her position as a director or officer of the registrant if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the registrant, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a director or officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, including the dismissal of an action without prejudice, he or she is required to be indemnified by the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith. Expenses shall be advanced to a director or officer at his or her request, provided that he or she undertakes to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses. Indemnification is required to be made unless the registrant determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification has not been met. In the event of a determination by the registrant that the director or officer did not meet the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification, or if the registrant fails to make an indemnification payment within sixty days after such payment is claimed by such person, such person is permitted to petition the court to make an independent determination as to whether such person is entitled to indemnification. As a condition precedent to the right of indemnification, the director or officer must give the registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is sought and the registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume the defense thereof.

Article EIGHTH of the Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the indemnification provided therein is not exclusive and that, in the event the DGCL is amended to expand the indemnification permitted to directors or officers, the registrant must indemnify those persons to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.

The registrant has purchased and intends to maintain insurance insurance that indemnifies its directors and officers against damages arising out of certain kinds of claims that might be made against them based on their negligent acts or omissions while acting in their capacity as such.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.




Exhibit Number		Description

4.1*		Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Aspen Technology, Inc.

4.2*		Amended and Restated Bylaws of Aspen Technology, Inc.

4.3*		Specimen certificate representing shares of common stock of Aspen Technology, Inc.

4.4		Aspen Technology, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

5.1		Opinion of Frederic G. Hammond, Vice President and General Counsel of Aspen Technology, Inc.

23.1		Consent of KPMG LLP

23.2		Consent of Frederic G. Hammond, Vice President and General Counsel of Aspen Technology, Inc. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)

___________________

* Previously filed and incorporated in this registration statement by reference.

Item 9. Undertakings

1. The registrant hereby undertakes:


(a)	to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:


(i)	to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;


(ii)	to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and


(iii)	to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S‑8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement;


(b)	that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered hereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and


(c)	to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

The registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered hereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bedford, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as of December 21, 2018.



	ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.


	By:	/s/ ANTONIO J. PIETRI
		Antonio J. Pietri
		President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Antonio J. Pietri, Karl E. Johnsen and Frederic G. Hammond, and each or any of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her, and in his or her name in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post- effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



Signature	Title	Date

/s/ ANTONIO J. PIETRI	President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	December 21, 2018
Antonio J. Pietri

/s/ KARL E. JOHNSEN	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	December 21, 2018
Karl E. Johnsen

/s/ ROBERT M. WHELAN, JR.	Chairman of the Board of Directors	December 21, 2018
Robert M. Whelan, Jr.	Chairman of the Board of Directors

/s/ DONALD P. CASEY	Director	December 21, 2018
Donald P. Casey	Director

/s/ GARY E. HAROIAN	Director	December 21, 2018
Gary E. Haroian	Director

/s/ JOAN C. MCARDLE	Director	December 21, 2018
Joan C. McArdle	Director

/s/ SIMON OREBI GANN	Director	December 21, 2018
Simon Orebi Gann	Director

/s/ R. HALSEY WISE	Director	December 21, 2018
R. Halsey Wise	Director

Exhibit

Exhibit 4.4

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

2018 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1. Purpose

This Aspen Technology, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to provide employees of the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of shares of Common Stock. The Company intends that this Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Code Section 423 and this Plan shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with that intent.

2. Definitions

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Code” means the U. S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

“Committee” means the committee appointed by the Board to administer this Plan from time to time. As of the Effective Date, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall be the Committee.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.10 per share.

“Company” means Aspen Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor or assign.

“Compensation” means base salary, wages, annual and recurring bonuses, and commissions paid to an Eligible Employee by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary as compensation for services to the Company or Participating Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Eligible Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, including overtime, vacation pay, holiday pay, jury duty pay, other cash compensation earned while on an authorized leave of absence, and funeral leave pay, but excluding education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and relocation expenses, income received in connection with stock options or other equity-based awards, and any other non-cash remuneration.

“Corporate Transaction” means a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization, or other corporate event described in Code Section 424.

“Designated Broker” means the financial services firm or other agent designated by the Company to maintain ESPP Share Accounts on behalf of Participants who have purchased shares of Common Stock under this Plan.

“Effective Date” means the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to this Plan obtaining stockholder approval in accordance with Section 19.11.

“Employee” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Participating Subsidiary as an employee pursuant to an employment relationship with such employer. For purposes of this Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave, or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months, or such other period of time specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed by statute or contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately after such three (3)-month period, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).

“Eligible Employee” means each Employee; provided, however, that the Company may exclude from participation in this Plan or any Offering any Employee who (i) has been employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for less than two (2) years, (ii) is customarily employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for twenty (20) hours per week or less, (iii) is customarily employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for not more than five (5) months per calendar year, or (iv) is a “highly compensated employee” of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)). Consistent with the requirements of Code Section 423, the Committee may (A) select a shorter time period than those specified in clauses (i) - (iii), and (B) exclude highly compensated employees with compensation above a specified level or who are subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case to be applied in an identical manner for an Offering.

“Enrollment Form” means an agreement authorized by the Company (which agreement may be in electronic form) pursuant to which an Eligible Employee may elect to enroll in this Plan, to authorize a new level of payroll deductions, or to stop payroll deductions and withdraw from an Offering Period.

“ESPP Share Account” means an account into which Common Stock purchased with accumulated payroll deductions at the end of an Offering Period are held on behalf of a Participant.

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the shares of Common Stock as determined in the immediately following sentences. If the shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share (or if no sales were reported, the closing price on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal. In the absence of an established market for the shares, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

“Grant Date” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period as designated by the Committee.

“Offering or Offering Period” means a period of six (6) months beginning January 1 and July 1 of each year; provided, however, that, pursuant to Section 5, the Committee may change the duration of future Offering Periods (subject to a maximum Offering Period of twenty-seven (27) months) and/or the start and end dates of future Offering Periods.

“Participant” means an Eligible Employee who is actively participating in this Plan.

“Participating Subsidiaries” means the Subsidiaries that have been designated as eligible to participate in this Plan, and such other Subsidiaries that may be designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion.

“Plan” means this Aspen Technology, Inc. 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

“Purchase Date” for an Offering Period means the last Trading Day of the Offering Period, or such other Trading Day(s) during the Offering Period as determined by the Committee.

“Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the lesser of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date and (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date, provided that the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock will in no event be less than the par value of the Common Stock.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not less than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power is held by the Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation exists now or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary. In all cases, the determination of whether an entity is a Subsidiary shall be made in accordance with Code Section 424(f).

“Trading Day” means any day on which the established stock exchange or national market system upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange or national market system, a business day, as determined by the Committee in good faith.

3. Administration

3.1 General. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have the authority to construe and interpret this Plan, prescribe, amend, and rescind rules relating to this Plan’s administration, and take any other actions necessary or desirable for the administration of this Plan, including adopting sub-plans applicable to particular Participating Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Code Section 423. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency or ambiguity in this Plan. All decisions of the Committee in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be in the Committee’s sole discretion, and such decisions shall be final and binding on all persons. All expenses of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Board may take any action under this Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.

3.2 Delegation. To the extent necessary or appropriate, the Committee may delegate any of its duties or responsibilities under the Plan as they pertain to a Participating Subsidiary to such Participating Subsidiary. The Committee (or any Participating Subsidiary with the consent of the Committee) may appoint or engage any person or persons as a third party administrator to perform ministerial functions pertaining to the issuance, accounting, recordkeeping, forfeiture, exercise, communication, transfer, or any other functions or activities necessary or appropriate to administer and operate this Plan.

4. Eligibility

4.1 General. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in a manner that is consistent with Code Section 423, any individual who is an Eligible Employee as of the first day of the enrollment period designated by the Committee for a particular Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Code Section 423.

4.2 Eligibility Restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted an option under this Plan if (i) immediately after the grant of the option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Code Section 424(d)) would own capital stock of the Company or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) such option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (described in Code Section 423) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate that exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of the Fair Market Value of such stock (determined at the time the option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

5. Offering Periods

This Plan shall be implemented by a series of Offering Periods, each of which shall be six (6) months in duration, with new Offering Periods commencing on or about January 1 and July 1 of each year (or such other times as determined by the Committee). The Committee shall have the authority to change the duration, frequency, start date, and end date of Offering Periods.

6. Participation

6.1 Enrollment; Payroll Deductions. An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in this Plan by properly completing an Enrollment Form, which may be electronic, and submitting it to the Company, in accordance with the enrollment procedures established by the Company. Participation in this Plan is entirely voluntary. By submitting an Enrollment Form, the Eligible Employee authorizes payroll deductions from his or her paycheck in an amount equal to at least one percent (1%), but not more than ten percent (10%) (or such other maximum percentage as the Committee may establish from time to time before an Offering Period begins) of his or her Compensation on each pay day occurring during an Offering Period, provided that a Participant may not have more than $10,000 in payroll deductions withheld during any one calendar year (or such other amount as the Committee may determine before the beginning of the calendar year). Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll date after the Grant Date and end on the last payroll date on or before the Purchase Date. The Company shall maintain records of all payroll deductions but shall have no obligation to pay interest on payroll deductions or to hold such amounts in a trust or in any segregated account. Unless expressly permitted by the Committee, a Participant may not make any separate contributions or payments to this Plan.

6.2 Election Changes. During an Offering Period, a Participant may not change his or her rate of payroll deductions applicable to such Offering Period unless the Committee determines otherwise. A Participant may decrease or increase his or her rate of payroll deductions for future Offering Periods by submitting a new Enrollment Form authorizing the new rate of payroll deductions at least fifteen (15) days before the start of the next Offering Period.

6.3 Automatic Re-enrollment. Enrollment and the deduction rate selected in the Enrollment Form shall remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods unless the Participant (i) submits a new Enrollment Form authorizing a new level of payroll deductions in accordance with Section 6.2, (ii) withdraws from this Plan in accordance with Section 10, or (iii) terminates employment or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in this Plan.

7. Grant of Option

On each Grant Date, each Participant in the applicable Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase, on the Purchase Date, a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions by the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that in no event shall any Participant purchase more than one thousand (1,000) shares of Common Stock during an Offering Period (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 18 and the limitations set forth in Section 4.2 and 13).

8. Exercise of Option/Purchase of Shares

A Participant’s option to purchase shares of Common Stock shall be exercised automatically on the Purchase Date of each Offering Period. The Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions shall be used to purchase the maximum number of whole shares that can be purchased with the amounts in the Participant’s notional account, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan. Unused payroll deductions remaining in a Participant’s notional account at the end of an Offering Period, by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional share, shall be carried forward to the next Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant in accordance with Section 10 or termination of employment in accordance with Section 11. Any accumulated payroll deductions that remain in a Participant’s notional account after applying the limitations of Section 4.2 and Section 7 shall be returned to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable.

9. Transfer of Shares

As soon as reasonably practicable after each Purchase Date, the Company shall arrange for the delivery to each Participant of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of his or her option. The Committee may permit or require that the shares be deposited directly into an ESPP Share Account established in the name of the Participant with a Designated Broker. A Participant may not sell or otherwise dispose of shares deposited in his or her ESPP Share Account earlier than twelve (12) months following the applicable Purchase Date (or such shorter periods as the Committee may establish). In addition, in the absence of a permitted disposition and if the shares are held with a Designated Broker, the shares must be held in the ESPP Share Account with the Designated Broker until eighteen (18) months after the Purchase Date (or such other period as established by the Committee at the beginning of the Offering Period for which the shares were purchased).

10. Withdrawal

10.1 Withdrawal Procedure. A Participant may withdraw from an Offering by submitting to the Company a revised Enrollment Form indicating his or her election to withdraw at least fifteen (15) days before the Purchase Date. The accumulated payroll deductions held on behalf of a Participant in his or her notional account (that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock) shall be paid to the Participant promptly after receipt of the Participant’s Enrollment Form indicating his or her election to withdraw and the Participant’s option shall be automatically terminated. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, no payroll deductions shall be made during any succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in accordance with Section 6.1.

10.2 Effect on Succeeding Offering Periods. A Participant’s election to withdraw from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in succeeding Offering Periods that commence after the completion of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

11. Termination of Employment; Change in Employment Status

Upon termination of a Participant’s employment from the Company and the Participating Subsidiaries for any reason or at any time, or a change in the Participant’s employment status after which the Participant is no longer an Eligible Employee, the Participant shall be deemed to have withdrawn from this Plan and the payroll deductions in the Participant’s notional account (that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock) shall be returned to the Participant, or in the case of the Participant’s death, to the person(s) entitled to such amounts under Section 17, and the Participant’s option shall be automatically terminated.

12. Interest

No interest shall accrue on or be payable with respect to the payroll deductions of a Participant in this Plan.

13. Shares Reserved for Plan

13.1 Number of Shares. A total of two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares of Common Stock have been reserved as authorized for the grant of options under this Plan. The shares of Common Stock may be newly issued shares, treasury shares, or shares acquired on the open market. If an option under this Plan expires or is terminated unexercised for any reason, the shares as to which such option so expired or terminated again may be made subject to an option under this Plan.

13.2 Oversubscribed Offerings. The number of shares of Common Stock that a Participant may purchase in an Offering under this Plan may be reduced if the Offering is oversubscribed. No option granted under this Plan shall permit a Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock that, if added together with the total number of shares of Common Stock purchased by all other Participants in such Offering, would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock remaining available under this Plan. If, on a particular Purchase Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then available under this Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as practicable and as the Committee determines to be equitable.

14. Transferability

No payroll deductions credited to a Participant, nor any rights with respect to the exercise of an option or any rights to receive Common Stock hereunder, may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 17) by the Participant. Any attempt to assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of such rights or amounts shall be without effect.

15. Application of Funds

All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under this Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose to the extent permitted by applicable law, and the Company shall not be required to segregate such payroll deductions or contributions.

16. Statements

Participants shall be provided with statements at least annually that shall set forth the contributions made by the Participant to this Plan, the Purchase Price of any shares of Common Stock purchased with accumulated funds, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased, and any payroll deduction amounts remaining in the Participant’s notional account.

17. Designation of Beneficiary

A Participant may file, on forms supplied by the Company, a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Common Stock and cash in respect of any fractional shares of Common Stock, if any, from the Participant’s ESPP Share Account under this Plan in the event of such Participant’s death. In addition, a Participant may file, on forms supplied by the Committee, a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any cash withheld through payroll deductions and credited to the Participant’s notional account in the event of the Participant’s death before the Purchase Date of an Offering Period.


18.	Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization; Dissolution or Liquidation; Corporate Transactions

18.1 Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other change in the Company’s structure affecting the Common Stock occurs, then in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, the Committee shall, in such manner as it deems equitable, adjust the number of shares and class of Common Stock that may be delivered under this Plan, the Purchase Price per share, and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option under this Plan, and the numerical limits of Section 7 and Section 13.

18.2 Dissolution or Liquidation. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date and the Offering Period shall end immediately before the proposed dissolution or liquidation. The new Purchase Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. Before the new Purchase Date, the Committee shall provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

18.3 Corporate Transactions. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the then-current Offering Period shall be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date on which the Offering Period shall end. The new Purchase Date shall occur before the date of the Corporate Transaction. Before the new Purchase Date, the Committee shall provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option shall be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

19. General Provisions

19.1 Equal Rights and Privileges. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary and in accordance with Code Section 423, all Eligible Employees who are granted options under this Plan for an Offering shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to that Offering.

19.2 No Right to Continued Service. Neither this Plan nor any compensation paid hereunder shall confer on any Participant the right to continue as an Employee or in any other capacity.

19.3 Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall become a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock that are purchased pursuant to options granted under this Plan when the shares are transferred to the Participant’s ESPP Share Account. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock for which an election to participate in an Offering Period has been made until such Participant becomes a stockholder as provided above.

19.4 Successors and Assigns. This Plan shall be binding on the Company and its successors and assigns.

19.5 Entire Plan. This Plan constitutes the entire plan with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior plans with respect to the subject matter hereof.

19.6 Compliance with Law. The obligations of the Company with respect to payments under this Plan are subject to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option granted under this Plan unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of the shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed.

19.7 Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions. Each Participant shall give the Company prompt written notice of any disposition or other transfer of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option acquired under this Plan, if such disposition or transfer is made within two (2) years after the applicable Grant Date or within one (1) year after the applicable Purchase Date.

19.8 Term of Plan. This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date and, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 19.9, shall have a term of ten (10) years.

19.9 Amendment or Termination. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend, or terminate this Plan at any time and for any reason. If this Plan is terminated, the Committee may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or once shares of Common Stock have been purchased on the next Purchase Date (which may, in the discretion of the Committee, be accelerated) or permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment in accordance with Section 18). If any Offering Period is terminated before its scheduled expiration, all amounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock shall be returned to Participants (without interest, except as otherwise required by law) as soon as administratively practicable.

19.10 Applicable Law. The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity, and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.

19.11 Stockholder Approval. This Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.

19.12 Code Section 423. This Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Code Section 423. Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Code Section 423 shall be reformed to comply with Code Section 423.

19.13 Withholding. To the extent required by applicable Federal, state, or local law, a Participant must make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the payment of any withholding or similar tax obligations that arise in connection with this Plan.

19.14 Severability. If any provision of this Plan shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and this Plan shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

19.15 Plan Construction. In this Plan, unless otherwise stated, the following uses apply: (i) references to a statute or law shall refer to the statute or law and any amendments and any successor statutes or laws, and to all regulations promulgated under or implementing the statute or law, as amended, or its successors, as in effect at the relevant time; (ii) in computing periods from a specified date to a later specified date, the words “from” and “commencing on” (and the like) mean “from and including,” and the words “to,” “until” and “ending on” (and the like) mean “to and including”; (iii) indications of time of day shall be based upon the time applicable to the location of the principal headquarters of the Company; (iv) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” mean “include, without limitation,” “includes, without limitation” and “including, without limitation,” respectively; (v) all references to articles and sections are to articles and sections in this Plan; (vi) all words used shall be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances and context require; (vii) the captions and headings of articles and sections have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not be considered a part of this Plan, nor shall any of them affect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan or any of its provisions; (viii) any reference to an agreement, plan, policy, form, document, or set of documents, and the rights and obligations of the parties under any such agreement, plan, policy, form, document, or set of documents, shall mean such agreement, plan, policy, form, document, or set of documents as amended from time to time, and any and all modifications, extensions, renewals, substitutions, or replacements thereof; and (ix) all accounting terms not specifically defined shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.

As adopted by the Board on July 26, 2018.

As approved by the stockholders of the Company on December 7, 2018.

Exhibit

Exhibit 5.1

December 21, 2018

Aspen Technology, Inc.

20 Crosby Drive

Bedford, Massachusetts 01730

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In my capacity as General Counsel of Aspen Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of 250,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share, which Shares are to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

For purposes of rendering the opinion set forth below, I have examined copies of the ESPP, the Registration Statement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, and corporate actions of the Company providing for the approval of the ESPP and the issuance of the Shares thereunder, and I have made such additional investigation as I have deemed appropriate. I have also examined and relied upon certificates of public officials and, in rendering my opinion, have made the assumptions that are customary in opinion letters of this kind. I have not verified any of those assumptions.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the additional qualifications and other matters set forth below, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and that the Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the ESPP, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The opinion expressed in this opinion letter is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware. The foregoing opinion is rendered as of the date of this letter. I assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion in order to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur.

I am furnishing this opinion letter to you solely in connection with the Registration Statement. You may not rely on this opinion letter in any other connection, and it may not be furnished to or relied upon by any other person for any purpose, without my specific prior written consent. I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving my consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.



	Very truly yours,

	/s/ Frederic G. Hammond

Exhibit

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Aspen Technology, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports with respect to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference herein.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

December 21, 2018