Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2006-- Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPN) today announced that aspenONE 2004 Update 2, now commercially available, offers process companies an unparalleled ability to meet many of their most difficult challenges - safely maximizing throughput, ensuring consistent product quality, managing energy costs, and speeding product innovation. Featuring several important new applications and a significant number of enhancements to existing products, Update 2 is the third in a series of synchronized releases for AspenTech's aspenONE integrated software solutions.

"The growing adoption of our integrated aspenONE solutions validates the value we have delivered to our customers by unifying our industry-standard applications into vertically-focused offerings, and we are extremely gratified with our progress to date," said Blair Wheeler, Senior Vice President, AspenTech. "We are pleased to announce the availability of aspenONE 2004 Update 2, which features many of the enhancements our customers told us they require to meet new market demands and improve their competitive positions.

"Integrating our best-in-class applications into aspenONE solutions enables process companies to make quicker, more profitable decisions," added Wheeler. "By continuing to improve the underlying applications that are the foundation for these solutions, we ensure that customers realize maximum value from their investments in our software."

New Products

Among the new products available in Update 2 are Aspen Tasc+(TM) and Aspen Acol+(TM), intended for designing, rating and simulating shell & tube and cross-flow heat exchangers, respectively. Both products offer a comprehensive interface to the Aspen Plus(R) and Aspen HYSYS(R) simulation and modeling applications.

Aspen Energy Cost Manager(TM), also available for the first time, helps process manufacturers reduce energy costs by as much as 8 percent. Since operating costs associated with supplying energy typically make up 30 percent to 60 percent of a plant's operating budget, improvements in energy management provide immediate financial benefits that are sustainable with little to no capital investment.

Aspen Golden Batch Profiler(TM), targeted at specialty chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, allows operators to monitor tags in real-time against an ideal, or "golden," batch profile, and automatically selects the correct profile for each batch. In a related development, Aspen Q(TM) for Aspen Process Explorer has been enhanced to support batch-to-batch statistical process control (SPC) using characteristic values from Aspen Batch.21(TM).

Aspen OpsKPI(TM), designed for batch and continuous processes, enables process manufacturers to measure plant progress against real-time, operational key performance indicators (KPIs). This new application provides out-of-the-box operator dashboard and target display capabilities and is tightly integrated with Aspen Process Explorer, Aspen Calc(TM), Aspen Batch.21 and Aspen InfoPlus.21(R). Aspen OpsKPI puts the cost of KPI non-compliance directly in the operator's hands for improved decision making.

Enhancements to Existing Products

Update 2 also includes significant enhancements to many of AspenTech's existing applications, including some of the widely accepted new products introduced in aspenONE 2004 Update 1. Among these products is Aspen Simulation Workbook(TM), an important component of AspenTech's strategy to dramatically improve the interoperability between AspenTech's simulation products and the Microsoft Office Suite. Built on the integration capabilities of Aspen Open Simulation Environment (OSE(TM)), which allows users to share the same internal and third-party engineering and operations models, Aspen Simulation Workbook enables users in the plant to reliably predict plant performance with the power of process simulation without requiring any simulation expertise.

Enhancements to Aspen Icarus(TM) help manufacturers estimate current and future projects with new capabilities for building civil and structural models and estimating larger electrical systems. Aspen Zyqad(TM) provides unique new features that support widely-encountered revamp and retrofit projects, as well as new facilities, and also offers out-of-the box capabilities for integrating with Intergraph applications.

In addition, technical enhancements have been made to Aspen InfoPlus.21, AspenTech's core historian and real-time applications platform; Aspen RateSep(TM), an application for rate-based separation; Aspen State Space Controller(TM), a multi-variable controller for non-olefin bulk chemicals and continuous specialty chemicals; Aspen BatchSep(TM), a simulation tool for designing and optimizing batch distillation processes; and Aspen RefSYS(R), a multi-unit refinery modeling application, which features the addition of a hydrocracker reactor model.

aspenONE is delivered on a single set of DVDs with a common installation procedure and license manager and is built on the Microsoft(R) platform.

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. provides industry-leading software and professional services that help process companies improve efficiency and profitability by enabling them to model, manage and control their operations. AspenTech's integrated aspenONE(TM) solutions are aligned with the key industry business processes, providing manufacturers the capabilities they need to optimize operational performance, make real-time decisions and synchronize the plant and supply chain. Over 1,500 leading companies already rely on AspenTech's software, including Bayer, BASF, BP, Chevron Corporation, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Fluor, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Shell, and Total. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may vary significantly from AspenTech's expectations based on a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: AspenTech's plan to improve operational performance may not be implemented effectively; AspenTech has identified material weaknesses in its internal controls with respect to software license revenue recognition and other matters, that, if not remedied effectively, could result in material misstatements; risks around securities litigation and investigations; AspenTech's lengthy sales cycle makes it difficult to predict quarterly operating results; fluctuations in AspenTech's quarterly operating results; AspenTech's dependence on customers in the cyclical chemicals, petrochemicals and petroleum industries; the possibility of new accounting standards or the interpretation of existing accounting standards affecting our financial results; AspenTech's ability to raise additional capital as required; intense competition; AspenTech's need to develop and market products successfully; reliance on relationships with strategic partners; challenges associated with international operations; and other risk factors described from time to time in AspenTech's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AspenTech cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. AspenTech expressly disclaims any current intention to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

AspenTech, aspenONE, Aspen Tasc+, Aspen Acol+, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Energy Cost Manager, Aspen Golden Batch Profiler, Aspen Q for Aspen Process Explorer, Aspen Batch.21, Aspen OpsKPI, Aspen Calc, Aspen InfoPlus.21, Aspen Simulation Workbook, Aspen Open Simulation Environment, Aspen Icarus, Aspen Zyqad, Aspen Process Explorer, Aspen RateSep, Aspen State Space Controller, Aspen BatchSep, Aspen RefSYS and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. All other trademarks referenced herein are the properties of their respective owners.

CONTACT:
Aspen Technology, Inc.
For Media:
Marie Telepneff, 617-949-1324
marie.telepneff@aspentech.com

For Investors:
AspenTech Investor Relations
617-949-1624 / 888-996-7080