Aspen Technology Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2007 and First Quarter Fiscal 2008; Announces Selected Preliminary Financial Results for Third Quarter Fiscal 2008

April 14, 2008
  • Files Fiscal 2007 10-K and First Quarter Fiscal 2008 10-Q with SEC
  • Completes Previously Announced Restatement of Prior Period Results
  • Announces license bookings of $63 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2008, an increase of 31% on a year-over-year basis

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2008--Aspen Technology, Inc. (OTC: AZPN.PK), a leading provider of software and services to the process industries, today announced that it has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, including the previously announced restatement of prior period results. In addition, the company has filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, ending September 30, 2007.

Brad Miller, Chief Financial Officer of AspenTech, said "We are pleased to bring approximately nine months of comprehensive review of our financial accounts to a close with the filing of our fiscal 2007 10-K and first quarter fiscal 2008 10-Q financial statements. Our work included a detailed examination and restatement of prior financial statements, as well as a review of all significant accounting policies and processes. Although it took longer than expected, we believe it was in the long-term interest of our shareholders and will benefit the company as we look to scale the business in the years ahead. With this significant body of work now behind us, we are highly focused on completing our overall goal of bringing our financial statements current and becoming relisted on a national securities exchange."

Mark Fusco, Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech, said "While the finance department has been focused on completing our financial statement filings, the company's customer facing operations have continued to execute at a high level. Following a record fiscal 2007 performance, the company has generated year-over-year license bookings growth of 25% during the first nine months of fiscal 2008, including 31% year-over-year growth during the third quarter." Fusco added, "The company ended the third fiscal quarter with a strong financial position highlighted by $137 million in cash, an increase from $132 million at December 31, 2007 and net of $12 million used during the third quarter to retire our previously existing Key Bank secured borrowing facility. We continue to be optimistic about the company's long-term fundamental outlook based on our industry leading domain expertise, unique suite of aspenONE solutions and solid demand in our core markets."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2007 Financial Results

For the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2007, AspenTech reported total revenue of $101.4 million, an increase of 27% from the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year, and above the company's original guidance of $85 million to $89 million. Within total revenue, license revenue was $68.0 million, an increase of 52%, and services revenue was $33.4 million, a decrease of 4%, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, respectively.

AspenTech's income from operations, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), was $24.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, exceeding the mid-point of the company's original guidance of approximately $16 million and representing an operating margin of 23.7%. This compares to operating income of $7.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, which represented an operating margin of 9.7%.

GAAP operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 included $3.1 million of non-cash stock-based compensation, $1.3 million of non-cash amortization of intangibles associated with previous acquisitions, $1.0 million in restructuring charges due to the company's continued office consolidations, and $0.8 million in incremental auditing and professional fees associated with bringing the company's financial statements current - the combination of which reduced the company's operating margin by approximately 6 percentage points. These items reduced the prior year's operating margin by approximately 8 percentage points.

Net income was $17.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. This represented a significant increase compared to net income of $3.9 million in the same period of fiscal 2006. Preferred stock discounts and dividends totaled $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 and zero in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, resulting in net income applicable to common shareholders of $17.9 million and $52 thousand in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Net income per share applicable to common shareholders was $0.19 for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, a significant increase compared to $0.00 in the same period of fiscal 2006. Fully diluted weighted shares outstanding were 93.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase compared to 58.6 million in the same period of fiscal 2006 due to the conversion of preferred shares to common shares in December 2006 and January 2007. The above mentioned stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles associated with previous acquisitions, restructuring charges, and incremental professional services fees had a net, negative impact of $6.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2007, or $0.07 per share, and $6.0 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2006, or $0.10 per share.

Fiscal Year 2007 Financial Results

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, AspenTech reported total revenue of $341.0 million, an increase of 16% from fiscal 2006. Within total revenue, license revenue was $199.8 million, an increase of 30%, and services revenue was $141.3 million, an increase compared to $140.7 million, in fiscal 2006, respectively.

AspenTech's income from operations, determined in accordance with GAAP, was $55.4 million in fiscal 2007, representing an operating margin of 16.2%. This compares to operating income of $18.8 million in fiscal 2006, which represented an operating margin of 6.4%.

GAAP operating expenses in fiscal 2007 included $11.1 million of non-cash stock-based compensation, $6.5 million of non-cash amortization of intangibles associated with previous acquisitions, $4.6 million in restructuring charges due to the company's continued office consolidations, and $0.8 million in incremental auditing and professional fees associated with bringing the company's financial statements current - the combination of which reduced the company's operating margin by approximately 7 percentage points. These items reduced the prior fiscal year's operating margin by approximately 7 percentage points.

Net income applicable to common shareholders was $38.2 million in fiscal 2007, which was net of $7.3 million in preferred stock discounts and dividends. This represented a significant increase compared to a loss attributable to common shareholders of $8.9 million in fiscal 2006, which was net of $15.4 million in preferred stock discounts and dividends.

Net income per diluted share applicable to common shareholders was $0.50 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, a significant increase from a loss per share of $0.20 in fiscal 2006. Weighted shares outstanding were 91.9 million in fiscal 2007, an increase compared to 44.6 million in fiscal 2006 due to the conversion of preferred shares to common shares in December 2006 and January 2007. The above mentioned stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles associated with previous acquisitions, restructuring charges and incremental professional services fees had a net, negative impact of $23.0 million in the year ended June 30, 2007 and $20.8 million in fiscal 2006.

AspenTech had cash and cash equivalents of $132.3 million at June 30, 2007, an increase of approximately $31.5 million from $100.8 million at the end of March 31, 2007.

First Quarter Fiscal 2008 Financial Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, AspenTech reported total revenue of $64.8 million, compared to $64.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Within total revenue, license revenue was $31.1 million, an increase of 11%, and services revenue was $33.7 million, a decrease of 6%, compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2007, respectively.

AspenTech's loss from operations, determined in accordance with GAAP, was $8.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. This compares to an operating loss of $17 thousand in the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

GAAP operating expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 included $2.5 million of non-cash stock-based compensation, $7.2 million in restructuring charges due to the previously announced move of the company's headquarters, and $1.5 million in incremental professional services fees associated with completing the financial restatement. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the company's GAAP operating expenses included $1.7 million in non-cash stock-based compensation, $1.9 million in amortization in intangibles and $1.4 million in restructuring charges.

Net loss applicable to common shareholders was $9.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to net loss applicable to common shareholders of $5.3 million in the same period in fiscal 2007.

Net loss per share applicable to common shareholders was $0.10 for the quarter ended September 31, 2007, which was consistent with the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Weighted shares outstanding were 89.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, an increase compared to 52.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 due to the conversion of preferred shares to common shares in December 2006 and January 2007. The above mentioned stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles associated with previous acquisitions, restructuring charges, and incremental professional services fees had a net, negative impact of $0.13 per share in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to a net, negative impact of $0.09 per share in the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

AspenTech had cash and cash equivalents of $129.5 million at September 30, 2007, a decrease of approximately $2.8 million from $132.3 million at the end of June 30, 2007.

Summary of Restatement Effects of Prior Period Financial Results

The company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2007 included the restatement of its financial statements for fiscal years ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, in addition to the first three quarters of the year ended June 30, 2007. On June 11, 2007, the company announced that it had identified errors related to the accounting for sales of installment receivables. In particular, it was determined that certain sales of installments receivable did not meet criteria for true sale accounting on an ongoing basis.

As a result, two new balance sheet accounts were created - Collateralized Receivables and the related Secured Borrowing liability. The restated consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2006 includes the recording of $211.3 million in collateralized receivables, the related recording of $182.4 million in secured borrowings, and the elimination of $19.0 million in retained interest in sold receivables. As previously stated, the company views this newly reported liability as self funding, with collections of collateralized receivables servicing the liability. The company does not believe that this accounting conclusion alters its arrangements with its customers, and it has not changed its economic relationship with the financial institutions.

The summary impact to income/loss from operations related to the restatement of installments receivable, in addition to correcting other errors in the company's previously reported financial statements, was as follows:

  • Income from operations improved from $28.1 million as previously reported to $31.4 million as restated for the nine months ended March 31, 2007;
  • Income from operations in fiscal 2006 was $18.8 million both as previously reported and as restated;
  • Loss from operations in fiscal 2005 improved from a previously reported operating loss of $70.0 million to a restated operating loss of $59.0 million.

On February 11, 2008, the company announced it had identified errors relating to its historical accounting for income taxes for certain international tax obligations, primarily arising from transactions among consolidated subsidiaries or from revaluation of foreign currencies. As a result, the company increased tax provisions for these potential obligations in the applicable period in the amounts of $4.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2007, $3.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2006, $6.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2005, and $4.6 million as of June 30, 2004.

The summary impact on net income or loss as a result of the restatement was:

  • Net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2007 as restated was $27.6 million, a decrease from $31.9 million as previously reported;
  • Net income for fiscal 2006 as restated was $6.5 million, a decrease from $12.8 million as previously reported; -- Net loss for fiscal 2005 as restated was $69.1 million, an improvement from $73.6 million as previously reported.

In addition, in the calculation and disclosure of deferred tax balances, errors were identified for the book or tax accounting treatment for certain items. These errors resulted in the incorrect disclosure of components of the company's deferred taxes and the related offsetting valuation allowance within the income tax footnote. Accordingly, the deferred tax balances included in the income tax footnote and the offsetting valuation allowance has been restated as of June 30, 2006. As these net deferred tax assets had a full valuation allowance, the adjustments to deferred tax assets had no net impact on the company's consolidated balance sheet or statements of operations.

Ending cash balances were not affected as a result of the restatement; however, the presentation of the cash flow statement was restated. The net proceeds from the sale of installments receivable were previously classified in cash flows from operations and have been restated as cash flows from financing activities. Payments made on secured borrowings are now similarly classified as cash flows from financing activities. Annual collections relating to installments receivable that were previously transferred to a financing institution are recognized as cash flows from operations. The company did not previously recognize these collections within its cash flow statement following the transfer of the installments receivable to the financing institution.

Investors can find additional details on all income statement and balance sheet results, on a "previously reported" and "as restated" basis, in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2007.

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading provider of award-winning process optimization software and services. AspenTech's integrated aspenONE(TM) solutions enable manufacturers to reduce costs, increase capacity, and optimize operational performance end-to-end throughout the engineering, plant operations, and supply chain management processes. For more information, visit www.aspentech.com.

(C) 2008 Aspen Technology, Inc. AspenTech, aspenONE and the Aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

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; AspenTech may incur substantial damages and expenses as the result of pending and future securities litigation and government investigations, including securities litigation based on the restatements of the company's financial statements as well as any future action associated with a determination that the company has failed to comply with its existing consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission; 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; risks associated with AspenTech's delisting from The Nasdaq Stock Exchange and the trading of AspenTech's common stock over the counter; 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.

                        ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                 (in thousands except per share data)

                           Three Months Ended         Year Ended
                            June           June     June          June
                              30,
                             2007          2006     2007          2006
                          -------       ------- --------      --------
                               (Unaudited)            (Audited)
REVENUES:
 Software licenses        $67,883       $44,561 $199,761      $153,730
 Service and other         33,487        34,996  141,268       140,686
                          -------       ------- --------      --------
 Total revenues           101,370        79,557  341,029       294,416
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

COST OF REVENUES:
 Cost of software
  licenses                  4,159         4,168   14,588        16,805
 Cost of service and
  other                    17,862        18,843   72,426        72,690
 Amortization of
  technology related
  intangible assets         1,340         2,163    6,546         8,559
                          -------       ------- --------      --------
 Total cost of revenues    23,361        25,174   93,560        98,054
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

 Gross profit              78,009        54,383  247,469       196,362

OPERATING COSTS:
 Selling and marketing     26,554        23,373   93,387        84,505
 Research and development  11,364        10,308   42,703        44,322
 General and
  administrative           14,983        12,579   51,010        44,408
 Restructuring charges      1,002           265    4,634         3,993
 Loss on sales and
  disposals of assets          98           166      332           300
                          -------       ------- --------      --------
 Total operating costs     54,001        46,691  192,066       177,528
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

 Income from operations    24,008         7,692   55,403        18,834

 Interest income, net       5,802         4,850   21,909        19,978
 Interest expense         (4,618)       (4,632) (18,613)      (19,532)
 Other income (expense),
  net                     (3,605)       (1,261)    (734)       (2,874)
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

 Income before income tax
  provision                21,587         6,649   57,965        16,406

 Income tax provision     (3,650)       (2,723) (12,447)       (9,941)
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

 Net income                17,937         3,926   45,518         6,465

  Accretion of preferred
   stock discount and
   dividend                     -       (3,874)  (7,290)      (15,383)
                          -------       ------- --------      --------

 Income (loss) applicable
  to common shareholders  $17,937           $52  $38,228      $(8,918)
                          =======       ======= ========      ========

EARNINGS PER SHARE:
 Income (loss) per share
  applicable to common
  shareholders - Basic      $0.20         $0.00    $0.54       $(0.20)
                          =======       ======= ========      ========
 Income (loss) per share
  applicable to common
  shareholders - Diluted    $0.19         $0.00    $0.50       $(0.20)
                          =======       ======= ========      ========

 Weighted average shares
  outstanding - Basic      88,472        46,989   70,879        44,627
                          =======       ======= ========      ========
 Weighted average shares
  outstanding - Diluted    93,299        58,646   91,869        44,627
                          =======       ======= ========      ========
                        ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                 (in thousands except per share data)

                                                Three Months Ended
                                             September       September
                                                  2007            2006
                                             ---------       ---------
                                                    (Unaudited)
REVENUES:
 Software licenses                             $31,119         $28,118
 Service and other                              33,719          36,047
                                             ---------       ---------
 Total revenues                                 64,838          64,165
                                             ---------       ---------

COST OF REVENUES:
 Cost of software licenses                       3,376           3,149
 Cost of service and other                      16,339          17,481
 Amortization of technology related
  intangible assets                                  -           1,902
                                             ---------       ---------
 Total cost of revenues                         19,715          22,532
                                             ---------       ---------

 Gross profit                                   45,123          41,633

OPERATING COSTS:
 Selling and marketing                          22,291          21,210
 Research and development                       11,677           8,490
 General and administrative                     12,288          10,519
 Restructuring charges                           7,226           1,446
 Loss on sales and disposals of assets              20            (15)
                                             ---------       ---------
 Total operating costs                          53,502          41,650
                                             ---------       ---------

 Income from operations                        (8,379)            (17)

 Interest income, net                            6,198           5,120
 Interest expense                              (4,394)         (4,588)
 Other income (expense), net                       163            (67)
                                             ---------       ---------

 Income before income tax provision            (6,412)             448

 Income tax provision                          (2,591)         (2,046)
                                             ---------       ---------

 Net income                                    (9,003)         (1,598)

  Accretion of preferred stock discount and
   dividend                                          -         (3,736)
                                             ---------       ---------

 Income (loss) applicable to common
  shareholders                                $(9,003)        $(5,334)
                                             =========       =========

EARNINGS PER SHARE:
 Loss per share applicable to common
  shareholders - Basic and Diluted             $(0.10)         $(0.10)
                                             =========       =========

 Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic
  and Diluted                                   88,995          52,801
                                             =========       =========
Supplemental information -

Stock-based compensation costs included in the Statements of
 Operations

                      Three Months Ended  Three Months    Year Ended
                                              Ended
                      September September  June    June    June   June
                                             30,
                           2007      2006   2007   2006    2007   2006
                      --------- --------- ------ ------ ------- ------
                          (Unaudited)      (Unaudited)    (Audited)



  Cost of service and
   other                   $323      $310   $408   $945  $1,522 $1,442
  Selling and
   marketing                734       621    859  1,072   3,424  2,534
  Research and
   development              444       199    609    667   1,915  1,239
  General and
   administrative         1,001       611  1,207    829   4,201  3,015
                      --------- --------- ------ ------ ------- ------

  Total stock-based
   compensation          $2,502    $1,741 $3,083 $3,513 $11,062 $8,230
                      ========= ========= ====== ====== ======= ======
                        ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (in thousands)

                                      September   June 30,    June 30,
                                             30,
                                            2007      2007        2006
                                     ----------- --------- -----------
ASSETS                               (Unaudited) (Audited)  (Audited)
Current assets:                                             (As
                                                             restated)
 Cash and cash equivalents              $129,468  $132,267     $86,272
 Accounts receivable, net                 46,093    47,200      48,332
 Unbilled services                         7,617    10,641       8,714
 Current portion of long-term
  installments receivable, net            13,326    14,214      14,516
 Current portion of collateralized
  receivables, net                        86,422   104,473      92,893
 Prepaid expenses and other current
  assets                                   8,944    10,163       8,829
                                     ----------- --------- -----------

    Total current assets                 291,870   318,958     259,556
                                     ----------- --------- -----------

Non-current installments receivable,
 net                                      37,476    28,613      32,894
Non-current collateralized
 receivables, net                        136,711   140,603     118,369
Property and leasehold improvements,
 net                                       8,859     6,535       8,674
Computer software development costs,
 net                                       9,192    11,104      15,456
Intangible assets, net                    20,711    19,697      24,911
Deferred tax assets                            -         -       2,589
Other assets                               3,124     3,387       3,502
                                     ----------- --------- -----------

 Total assets                           $507,943  $528,897    $465,951
                                     =========== ========= ===========


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
 Current portion of long-term debt          $133      $193        $247
 Current portion of secured
  borrowing                               78,413   101,826      91,646
 Accounts payable and accrued
  expenses                                95,522   101,575      99,691
 Deferred revenue                         63,478    62,345      57,532
                                     ----------- --------- -----------
   Total current liabilities             237,546   265,939     249,116
                                     ----------- --------- -----------

Long-term debt, less current
 maturities                                    -         -         149
Long-term secured borrowing              105,018   104,324      90,758
Deferred revenue, less current
 portion                                   4,396     4,761       2,609
Other liabilities                         31,097    16,667      20,446

Redeemable preferred stock                     -         -     125,475

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)     129,886   137,206    (22,602)
                                     ----------- --------- -----------

 Total liabilities and stockholders'
  equity (deficit)                      $507,943  $528,897    $465,951
                                     =========== ========= ===========

CONTACT:
Media
AspenTech
David Grip, +1 781-221-5273
david.grip@aspentech.com
or
Investors
ICR
Kori Doherty, +1 617-956-6730
kdoherty@icrinc.com

SOURCE: Aspen Technology, Inc.