Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2003-- Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPN) today announced that its AspenWorld 2004 international process industry conference, set for October 10--15, 2004, in Orlando, Florida, will feature more than 250 presentations by a mix of business leaders and senior executives, managers, and technical leaders from the process industries. With an expected attendance of over 2,000 professionals from more than 60 countries, AspenWorld 2004 will focus on how process companies can maximize operational profitability by optimizing their strategic business processes, and by exploiting the latest software solutions for enterprise operations management (EOM).

The leading keynote speakers confirmed for AspenWorld 2004 include:

Lou Gerstner - Former Chairman and CEO, IBM
Alan Boeckmann - Chairman and CEO, Fluor Corporation
Geoffrey Colvin - Senior Editorial Director, FORTUNE
David McQuillin - President and CEO, AspenTech
Larry Evans - Principal founder and Chairman, AspenTech

"AspenWorld has become one of the premier conferences attended by thought leaders in the process industries, and we look forward to welcoming them to Orlando in October," said David McQuillin, President and CEO of AspenTech. "As the theme of Driving Process Profitability highlights, AspenWorld 2004 will provide process industry executives with an outstanding opportunity to spend time with their peers, sharing different ways of improving their operating performance. The event will be a showcase for innovative new business processes and technologies, and we are confident that attendees will derive tremendous value from the presentations and meetings."

The key facts about AspenWorld 2004 are:

Location Marriott Orlando World Center Hotel; Orlando, Florida 32821, USA

Timing Sunday October 10 -- Friday October 15, 2004

Website www.aspenworld2004.com

Conference delegates will be able to choose from an extensive range of tracks covering important industry, business and technology themes. These include sessions addressing the special needs of the major process industries including: oil & gas, petroleum, chemicals, polymers, pharmaceuticals, power and utilities, pulp & paper, consumer goods and minerals.

The conference website (www.aspenworld2004.com) provides full details about the event, and enables delegates to register on-line. Abstract submissions are currently being accepted for AspenWorld 2004 presentations via the site: all invited speakers will receive a complimentary registration for the event.

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. provides industry-leading software and implementation services that enable process companies to increase efficiency and profitability. AspenTech's engineering product line is used to design and improve plants and processes, maximizing returns throughout an asset's operating life. Its manufacturing/supply chain product line allows companies to increase margins in their plants and supply chains, by managing customer demand, optimizing production, and streamlining the delivery of finished products. These two offerings are combined to create solutions for enterprise operations management (EOM), integrated enterprise-wide systems that provide process manufacturers with the capability to dramatically improve their operating performance. Over 1,500 leading companies already rely on AspenTech's software, including Aventis, Bayer, BASF, BP, ChevronTexaco, Dow Chemical, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Fluor, Foster Wheeler, GlaxoSmithKline, Shell, and Total. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.

Certain paragraphs of this press release contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statement using the term "will," "should," "could," "anticipates," "believes" or a comparable term is a forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary significantly from AspenTech's expectations based on a number of risks and uncertainties, including: AspenTech's lengthy sales cycle which makes it difficult to predict quarterly operating results; fluctuations in AspenTech's quarterly operating results; AspenTech's dependence on customers in cyclical industries; adverse global economic conditions; AspenTech's ability to raise additional capital as required; the FTC's investigation of the Hyprotech acquisition; the outcome of AspenTech's restructuring plans; intense competition; AspenTech's need to develop and market products successfully; and other risk factors described from time to time in AspenTech's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AspenTech cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Moreover, neither AspenTech nor anyone else assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking statements. AspenTech undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

AspenTech and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.

CONTACT: For Media:
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Peter Watt, +44 1223 819-752
peter.watt@aspentech.com

Marie Telepneff, 617/949-1324
marie.telepneff@aspentech.com

For Investors:
Joshua Young, 617-949-1274
joshua.young@aspentech.com