UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 29, 2015

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 221-6400

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02.                Events Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 29, 2015, we issued a press release announcing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2016, which ended September 30, 2015. The full text of the press release issued in connection with this announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01                   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)         Exhibits.

The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:

Aspen Technology Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of

Fiscal 2016

Bedford, Mass. — October 29, 2015 — Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), a leading provider of software and services to the process industries, today announced financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2016, ended September 30, 2015.

Antonio Pietri, President and Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech, said, “AspenTech delivered solid first quarter results highlighted by 50% non-GAAP operating margin and 10% year-over-year annual spend growth. Our first quarter performance reflects the strength of our business model, including long-term contracts, positive demand trends from owner-operator customers and continued best-in-class profitability, despite a challenging macro environment.”

Pietri added, “We remain focused on operational excellence and working with customers to drive increased usage across the aspenONE suite.  At the same time we continued to generate shareholder value through our financial and operational performance and by returning $55 million to shareholders through our stock repurchase program.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2016 and Recent Business Highlights

·                  Annual spend, which the company defines as the annualized value of all term license and maintenance revenue contracts at the end of the quarter, was approximately $423 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016, which increased 10.0% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and 1.0% sequentially.

·                  GAAP operating margin was 46.1%, compared to 41.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.  Non-GAAP operating margin was 50.1%, compared to 45.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

·                  AspenTech repurchased 1.3 million shares of its common stock for $55.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Summary of First Quarter Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $120.3 million increased 12.3% from $107.1 million in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.

·                  Subscription and software revenue was $111.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, an increase from $98.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

·                  Services and other revenue was $8.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $8.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2015, AspenTech reported income from operations of $55.4 million, compared to income from operations of $44.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Net income was $36.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, leading to net income per share of $0.44, compared to net income per share of $0.32 in the same period last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP income from operations, which adds back stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles associated with acquisitions and non-capitalized acquired technology, was $60.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $49.1 million in the same period last fiscal year.  Non-GAAP net income was $39.8 million, or $0.47 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to non-GAAP net income of $31.8 million, or $0.35 per share, in the same period last fiscal year.  A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial tables included in this press release.

AspenTech had a cash and marketable securities balance of $181.5 million at September 30, 2015, a decrease of $37.0 million from the end of the prior quarter after using $55.0 million in cash to repurchase shares of common stock.

During the first quarter, the company generated $18.4 million in cash flow from operations and $20.2 million in free cash flow after taking into consideration the net impact of $1.1 million in capital expenditures and capitalized software, $1.6 million in excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation and $1.3 million in non-capitalized acquired technology (including a $1 million final payment related to non-capitalized acquired technology from fiscal year 2014).

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. This non-GAAP information supplements, and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with, disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.  Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial tables included in this press release.

Management considers both GAAP and non-GAAP financial results in managing AspenTech’s business.  As the result of adoption of new licensing models, management believes that a number of AspenTech’s performance indicators based on GAAP, including revenue, gross profit, operating income and net income, should be viewed in conjunction with certain non-GAAP and other business measures in assessing AspenTech’s performance, growth and financial condition. Accordingly, management utilizes a number of non-GAAP and other business metrics, including the non-GAAP metrics set forth in this press release, to track AspenTech’s business performance. None of these non-GAAP metrics should be considered as an alternative to any measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call and Webcast

AspenTech will host a conference call and webcast today, October 29, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company’s financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2016 as well as the company’s business outlook.

The live dial-in number is (866) 604-6127 or (706) 634-5625, conference ID code 61971015. Interested parties may also listen to a live webcast of the call by logging on to the Investor Relations section of AspenTech’s website, http://www.aspentech.com/corporate/investor.cfm, and clicking on the “webcast” link.  A replay of the call will be archived on AspenTech’s website and will also be available via telephone at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID code 61971015, through November 29, 2015.

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading supplier of software that optimizes process manufacturing — for energy, chemicals, engineering and construction, and other industries that manufacture and produce products from a chemical process. With integrated aspenONE solutions, process manufacturers can implement best practices for optimizing their engineering, manufacturing and supply chain operations. As a result, AspenTech customers are better able to increase capacity, improve margins, reduce costs and become more energy efficient. To see how the world’s leading process manufacturers rely on AspenTech to achieve their operational excellence goals, visit www.aspentech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The third paragraph of this press release contains 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 failure to increase usage and product adoption of aspenONE offerings, and failure to continue to provide innovative, market-leading solutions; demand for, or usage of, aspenONE software declines for any reason; unfavorable economic and market conditions or a lessening demand in the market for process optimization software; 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 obligation to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

© 2015 Aspen Technology, Inc.  AspenTech, aspenONE and the Aspen leaf logo are registered trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Aspen Technology, Inc.

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited in thousands, except per share data)

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited in thousands, except share data)

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited in thousands)

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results of Operations and Free Cash Flow

The following tables reflect a reconciliation of selected Aspen Technology GAAP to Non-GAAP results of operations and cash flow.
(unaudited in thousands, except per share data)

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results of Operations and Free Cash Flow

The following tables reflect a reconciliation of selected Aspen Technology GAAP to Non-GAAP results of operations and cash flow.
(unaudited in thousands, except per share data)

(a) GAAP total expenses

(b) Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:

(c) The income tax effect on non-GAAP items for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is calculated utilizing the Company’s estimated federal and state tax rate of 36%.

(d) Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation are included in free cash flow to be consistent with the treatment of other tax benefits. Refer to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015 for additional details.

(e) During the three months ended September 30, 2015, we acquired certain technology for $0.3 million as a part of projects initiated during the period to develop commercially available products. At the time of these purchases, the projects did not meet the accounting definition of having reached technological feasibility, and, as such, the costs of the acquired technology were expensed during the three months ended September 30, 2015. During the three months ended September 30, 2015, we excluded the payments of $1.3 million for the non-capitalized acquired technology (including a $1 million final payment related to non-capitalized acquired technology from fiscal year 2014) from free cash flow to be consistent with the the treatment of other transactions where acquired assets are capitalized.