Aspen Technology Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2010

May 6, 2010

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 06, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), a leading provider of software and services to the process industries, today announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2010, ended March 31, 2010.

Mark Fusco, Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech, said, "The positive momentum of AspenTech's business continued during the third quarter. Product related bookings of approximately $94 million were consistent with the level of our seasonally stronger second quarter due primarily to customer interest in moving to our new aspenONE licensing model, in addition to expanded usage across our customer base. On a fiscal year-to-date basis, the company's license bookings are up approximately 10% compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2009, which we believe is a strong performance considering fiscal 2010 is the first year of our new aspenONE licensing model."

Fusco added, "We are pleased with the company's cash flow in the third quarter. We generated $19.4 million in cash flows from operations, which enabled the company to grow its cash balance by nearly $10 million at the same time secured borrowings were reduced by $9.1 million. We are at the early stages of ramping the company's subscription cash flow model and we are encouraged by our progress and long-term outlook."

AspenTech's total revenue of $45.6 million decreased from $71.3 million in the third quarter of the prior year, due primarily to the ratable revenue recognition associated with the company's new aspenONE licensing model.

 

  • Subscription revenue includes all revenue associated with the company's new aspenONE licensing model. Subscription revenue was approximately $4.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, an increase from $1.2 million last quarter. No subscription revenue was recorded in the year ago period as the company's new aspenONE licensing model was launched during the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Subscription revenue is recognized over the course of the multi-year agreement, and recognition begins when the first payment is due, which is typically 30 days after the contract is signed.
  • Software revenue includes all non-subscription-based license revenue, including term-based contracts for point products as well as perpetual licenses. Software revenue was $14.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, compared to $41.1 million in the year ago period. In fiscal year 2010, software revenue related to term contracts is recognized over the contract term, generally as payments become due. In prior fiscal year periods, the company recognized term license revenue predominantly on an up-front basis, and the majority of license bookings were recognized as license revenue in the same period.
  • Services & other revenue, which includes professional services, maintenance and other revenue, was $26.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, a decrease compared to $30.2 million in the year ago period.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, AspenTech reported a loss from operations of $19.6 million due primarily to the ratable revenue recognition associated with the company's new aspenONE licensing model. For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the company reported income from operations of $4.5 million. Net loss was $21.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, leading to net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.24 compared to net income per diluted share of $0.09 in the same period last year.

AspenTech had a cash balance of $119.1 million at March 31, 2010, an increase of $9.6 million from the end of the prior quarter. The company did not sell any installments receivable to raise cash during the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and it continued to reduce its secured borrowings balance, which was $87.4 million at the end of the quarter, down $9.1 million compared to $96.5 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

Other Third Quarter Business Metrics

 

  • The company closed 21 product related bookings of over $1 million during the third quarter, and 39 product related bookings between $250,000 and $1 million.
  • Average deal size for product related bookings over $100,000 was $807,000 in the third quarter.

 

Conference Call and Webcast

AspenTech will host a conference call and webcast today, May 6, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 as well as the company's business outlook. The live dial-in number is (877) 245-0126, conference ID code 70000573. 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 (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291, conference ID code 70000573 through May 13, 2010.

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading supplier of software that optimizes process manufacturing - for energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, 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.

© 2010 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

The second and third paragraphs of this press release may contain forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the anticipated benefits of AspenTech's new subscription-based licensing model. Actual results may vary significantly from AspenTech's expectations based on a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: customers' failure to adopt the new AspenONE licensing model at the rate expected by AspenTech or at all; AspenTech's failure to realize the anticipated financial and operational benefits of the new AspenONE licensing model; unforeseen difficulties or uncertainties in the application of accounting standards; weaknesses in our internal controls, including our controls over the recognition of license revenue; 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. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)
                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
      2010       2009       2010       2009  
Revenue:                
Subscription   $ 3,959     $ -     $ 5,198     $ -  
Software     14,714       41,070       34,772       137,979  
Total subscription and software     18,673       41,070       39,970       137,979  
Services and other     26,945       30,222       88,130       102,346  
Total revenue     45,618       71,292       128,100       240,325  
Cost of revenue:                
Subscription and software     1,437       3,063       4,887       8,587  
Services and other     13,237       15,333       43,725       47,139  
Total cost of revenue     14,674       18,396       48,612       55,726  
Gross profit     30,944       52,896       79,488       184,599  
Operating costs:                
Selling and marketing     25,267       20,494       69,576       62,519  
Research and development     12,719       11,738       36,128       34,904  
General and administrative     12,648       14,441       47,290       42,923  
Restructuring charges     (43 )     1,760       260       2,025  
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets     -       -       -       623  
Total operating costs     50,591       48,433       153,254       142,994  
(Loss) income from operations     (19,647 )     4,463       (73,766 )     41,605  
Interest income     4,584       5,176       15,116       17,046  
Interest expense     (1,834 )     (2,230 )     (6,725 )     (7,827 )
Other expense, net     (2,144 )     (3,308 )     (97 )     (3,969 )
(Loss) income before income taxes     (19,041 )     4,101       (65,472 )     46,855  
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes     (2,713 )     3,995       (8,001 )     (4,145 )
Net (loss) income   $ (21,754 )   $ 8,096     $ (73,473 )   $ 42,710  
(Loss) earnings per common share:                
Basic   $ (0.24 )   $ 0.09     $ (0.81 )   $ 0.47  
Diluted   $ (0.24 )   $ 0.09     $ (0.81 )   $ 0.46  
Weighted average shares outstanding:                
Basic     91,835       90,065       90,923       90,042  
Diluted     91,835       91,648       90,923       92,620  
ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)
 
    March 31,   June 30,
    2010   2009
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 119,054   $ 122,213
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,161 and $5,809   28,612   49,882
Current portion of installments receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $915 and $1,015   54,500   64,531
Current portion of collateralized receivables   28,849   38,695
Unbilled services   1,995   298
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   8,787   9,413
Prepaid income taxes   13,670   13,159
Deferred tax assets   3,850   3,795
Total current assets   259,317   301,986
Non-current installments receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,009 and $1,663   91,839   113,390
Non-current collateralized receivables   34,657   57,671
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation of $29,119 and $27,438   8,581   9,604
Computer software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $66,956 and $65,094   2,413   3,918
Goodwill   17,909   16,686
Non-current deferred tax assets   10,556   10,788
Other non-current assets   1,745   1,933
Total assets   $ 427,017   $ 515,976
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Current portion of secured borrowing   $ 33,175   $ 83,885
Accounts payable   4,688   5,135
Accrued expenses   36,744   47,882
Income taxes payable   2,733   1,888
Deferred revenue   72,637   62,801
Current deferred tax liability   2,496   2,481
Total current liabilities   152,473   204,072
Long-term secured borrowing   54,211   28,211
Long-term deferred revenue   12,923   16,070
Non-current deferred tax liability   2,368   2,354
Other non-current liabilities   32,056   35,859

Commitments and contingencies

       
Stockholders' equity:        
Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.10 par value--        
Authorized-- 3,636 shares as of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2009        
Issued and outstanding-- none as of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2009   -   -
Common stock, $0.10 par value-- Authorized--210,000,000 shares        

Issued-- 92,364,108 shares as of March 31, 2010 and 90,326,513 shares at June 30, 2009

       
Outstanding-- 92,130,644 shares at March 31, 2010 and 90,093,049 shares at June 30, 2009   9,236   9,033
Additional paid-in capital   513,496   497,478
Accumulated deficit   (357,066)   (283,593)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   7,833   7,005

Treasury stock, at cost--233,464 shares of common stock as of March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2009

  (513)   (513)
Total stockholders' equity   172,986   229,410
    $ 427,017   $ 515,976

SOURCE: Aspen Technology, Inc.

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