Aspen Technology Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2011

May 3, 2011

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 03, 2011 (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 2011, ended March 31, 2011.

Mark Fusco, Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech, said, "The company continued to execute at a high level during the third quarter, delivering solid growth and strong cash flow. As AspenTech's revenue model transition continues, we believe the company is well positioned to emerge with a combination of scale, growth, best-in-class margins, cash flow and a recurring revenue model."

"The license portion of our total contract value grew by approximately 1.5% sequentially during the third quarter, leading to growth of approximately 7% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from the end of fiscal 2010. With one quarter remaining, we are already within our full year license growth guidance range, and we are optimistic about our outlook based on continued high customer interest levels entering our seasonally stronger fourth quarter." Fusco added, "Free cash flow of approximately $49 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 represents an increase of 128% year-over-year. We believe the company is on track to achieve our free cash flow guidance for fiscal 2011, as well as our goal of generating free cash flow in the mid-$90 million range during fiscal 2013."

Third Quarter Business Highlights

Total contract value, including the value of bundled maintenance, grew approximately 2.4% sequentially during the third quarter, while the license portion of total contract value grew approximately 1.5% sequentially.
Bookings were approximately $79 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Within bookings, new and expanded adoption drove the above mentioned sequential increase in the license portion of total contract value, and solid renewal activity contributed the remainder of total bookings.
The value of future cash collections associated with the company's subscription and multi-year term contracts was $695 million at the end of the third quarter, an increase from $688 million at the end of last quarter and $537 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
The company closed 16 bookings of over $1 million during the third quarter, compared to 21 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, and 47 bookings between $250,000 and $1 million, compared to 39 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
Average deal size for bookings over $100,000 was approximately $609,000 in the third quarter, compared to approximately $807,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Summary of Third Quarter Financial Results

AspenTech's total revenue of $52.6 million increased 15% from $45.6 million in the third quarter of the prior year.

Subscription revenue includes all revenue associated with the company's aspenONE subscription offering. Subscription revenue was $17.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, an increase from $4.0 million in the third 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 $13.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to $14.7 million in the year ago period.
Services & other revenue, which includes professional services, maintenance and other revenue, was $21.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to $26.9 million in the year ago period.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, AspenTech reported a loss from operations of $7.2 million due primarily to the multi-year revenue model transition following the introduction of the company's aspenONE subscription offering, which has ratable revenue recognition, at the beginning of fiscal 2010. For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the company reported a loss from operations of $19.6 million.

Net loss was $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, leading to net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.06, compared to net loss per diluted share of $0.24 in the same period last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP loss from operations, which adds back stock-based compensation expense and restructuring charges, was $5.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to a non-GAAP loss from operations of $17.9 million in the same period last fiscal year. Non-GAAP net loss was $3.8 million, or ($0.04) per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $20.1 million, or ($0.22) 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 balance of $151.0 million at March 31, 2011, an increase of $19.4 million from the end of the prior quarter. The company generated $31.7 million in cash flows from operations and invested $1.7 million in capital expenditures, leading to free cash flow of $30.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The company continued to reduce its secured borrowings balance, which was $55.5 million at the end of the third quarter, down $11.3 million compared to $66.8 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011. During the quarter, the company used $2.9 million in cash as it executed against the previously announced share repurchase programs.

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, for the next few years, a number of AspenTech's performance indicators based on GAAP, including revenue, gross profit, operating income (loss) and net income (loss), will be of limited value in assessing AspenTech's performance, growth and financial condition. Accordingly, management instead is focusing on certain 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, May 3, 2011, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the third quarter fiscal year 2011 as well as the company's business outlook. The live dial-in number is (877) 245-0126, conference ID code 58336688. 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 58336688 through May 10, 2011.

About AspenTech

AspenTech is a leading global provider of mission-critical process optimization software solutions, which are designed to manage and optimize plant and process design, operational performance, and supply chain planning. AspenTech's aspenONE(R) software and related services have been developed specifically for companies in the process industries, including energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and engineering and construction. Customers use AspenTech's solutions to improve their competitiveness and profitability by increasing throughput and productivity, reducing operating costs, enhancing capital efficiency, and decreasing working capital requirements. To see how the world's leading process manufacturers rely on AspenTech to achieve their operational excellence goals, visit http://www.aspentech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The second and third 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. 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 aspenONE subscription offering at the rate expected by AspenTech; AspenTech's failure to realize the anticipated financial (including cash flow) and operational benefits of the aspenONE subscription offering; unforeseen difficulties or uncertainties in the application of accounting standards; weaknesses in AspenTech's internal controls; 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,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Revenue:
Subscription	$	17,241		$	3,959		$	38,744		$	5,198
Software		13,414			14,714			36,211			34,772
Total subscription and software		30,655			18,673			74,955			39,970
Services and other		21,946			26,945			70,554			88,130
Total revenue		52,601			45,618			145,509			128,100
Cost of revenue:
Subscription and software		(1,725	)		1,437			2,369			4,887
Services and other		12,117			13,237			34,826			43,725
Total cost of revenue		10,392			14,674			37,195			48,612
Gross profit		42,209			30,944			108,314			79,488
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing		22,922			25,267			63,227			69,576
Research and development		12,331			12,719			37,002			36,128
General and administrative		14,515			12,648			44,497			47,290
Restructuring charges		(315	)		(43	)		(160	)		260
Total operating expenses		49,453			50,591			144,566			153,254
Loss from operations		(7,244	)		(19,647	)		(36,252	)		(73,766	)
Interest income		3,093			4,584			10,329			15,116
Interest expense		(1,182	)		(1,834	)		(4,079	)		(6,725	)
Other income, net		7			(2,144	)		1,936			(97	)
Loss before income taxes		(5,326	)		(19,041	)		(28,066	)		(65,472	)
Provision for income taxes		361			2,713			3,358			8,001
Net loss	$	(5,687	)	$	(21,754	)	$	(31,424	)	$	(73,473	)
Loss per common share:
Basic	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.24	)	$	(0.34	)	$	(0.81	)
Diluted	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.24	)	$	(0.34	)	$	(0.81	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		93,862			91,835			93,298			90,923
Diluted		93,862			91,835			93,298			90,923

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

	March 31,			June 30,
	2011			2010

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	151,038		$	124,945
Accounts receivable, net		27,269			31,738
Current portion of installments receivable, net		36,453			51,729
Current portion of collateralized receivables		20,654			25,675
Unbilled services		1,678			1,860
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		7,626			5,236
Prepaid income taxes		1,244			7,468
Deferred tax assets		1,691			1,632
Total current assets		247,653			250,283
Non-current installments receivable, net		58,132			76,869
Non-current collateralized receivables		13,518			25,755
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		7,179			8,057
Computer software development costs, net		2,949			2,367
Goodwill		18,546			17,361
Non-current deferred tax assets		11,861			11,597
Other non-current assets		2,246			2,424
Total assets	$	362,084		$	394,713

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of secured borrowing	$	24,981		$	30,424
Accounts payable		4,090			6,092
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		30,081			49,890
Income taxes payable		861			1,161
Deferred revenue		93,355			67,852
Current deferred tax liability		426			398
Total current liabilities		153,794			155,817
Long-term secured borrowing		30,530			45,711
Long-term deferred revenue		29,231			19,427
Non-current deferred tax liability		953			956
Other non-current liabilities		28,483			31,832
Commitments and contingencies
Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.10 par value--
Authorized-- 3,636 shares as of March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2010
Issued and outstanding-- none as of March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2010		-			-
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.10 par value-- Authorized--210,000,000 shares
Issued-- 94,486,882 shares at March 31, 2011 and 92,668,280 shares at June 30, 2010
Outstanding-- 94,190,152 shares at March 31, 2011 and 92,434,816 shares at June 30, 2010		9,449			9,267
Additional paid-in capital		527,893			515,729
Accumulated deficit		(422,952	)		(391,038	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		8,866			7,525
Treasury stock, at cost--296,730 shares of common stock at March 31, 2011 and 233,464 at June 30, 2010		(4,163	)		(513	)
Total stockholders' equity		119,093			140,970
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	362,084		$	394,713

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited and in thousands)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	March 31,						March 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(5,687	)	$	(21,754	)	$	(31,424	)	$	(73,473	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,325			1,414			3,925			5,143
Net foreign currency (gain) loss		(633	)		1,218			(2,281	)		1,092
Stock-based compensation		2,356			1,820			7,398			13,352
Loss on the disposal of assets		12			7			427			50
Write-down of investment		600			-			600			-
Deferred income taxes		(30	)		(43	)		44			(2	)
Provision for bad debts		(1,024	)		(209	)		(927	)		(284	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		2,307			6,017			5,316			20,484
Unbilled services		(465	)		(164	)		165			(1,729	)
Prepaid expenses, other assets and prepaid income taxes		(2,450	)		(2,857	)		3,695			106
Installments and collateralized receivables		25,057			26,312			55,196			64,514
Income taxes payable		(1,144	)		(593	)		(436	)		844
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		(8,573	)		(4,549	)		(23,877	)		(12,970	)
Deferred revenue		20,034			12,765			35,077			6,903
Net cash provided by operating activities		31,685			19,384			52,898			24,030
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and leasehold improvements		(446	)		(507	)		(2,322	)		(2,099	)
Capitalized computer software development costs		(1,287	)		(171	)		(1,667	)		(436	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,733	)		(678	)		(3,989	)		(2,535	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Exercise of stock options		4,284			2,484			7,704			6,136
Proceeds from secured borrowings		-			9,501			2,500			9,501
Repayment of secured borrowings		(10,423	)		(20,288	)		(26,664	)		(36,653	)
Repurchases of common stock		(2,921	)		-			(4,163	)		-
Payment of tax withholding obligations related to restricted stock		(1,735	)		(659	)		(2,733	)		(3,353	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(10,795	)		(8,962	)		(23,356	)		(24,369	)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		239			(127	)		540			(285	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		19,396			9,617			26,093			(3,159	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		131,642			109,437			124,945			122,213
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	151,038		$	119,054		$	151,038		$	119,054

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	1,345		$	1,837		$	4,415		$	6,731
Income tax (refund) paid, net		1,963			2,853			(2,988	)		7,482

ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP Results Reconciled to Non-GAAP Results
The following table reflects selected Aspen Technology GAAP results reconciled to non-GAAP results. (Unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Nine Months Ended March 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Total expenses
GAAP total expenses (a)	$	59,845		$	65,265		$	181,761		$	201,866
Less:
Stock-based compensation (b)		(2,356	)		(1,820	)		(7,398	)		(13,352	)
Restructuring charges		315			43			160			(260	)

Non-GAAP total expenses	$	57,804		$	63,488		$	174,523		$	188,254

Loss from operations
GAAP loss from operations	$	(7,244	)	$	(19,647	)	$	(36,252	)	$	(73,766	)
Plus:
Stock-based compensation (b)		2,356			1,820			7,398			13,352
Restructuring charges		(315	)		(43	)		(160	)		260

Non-GAAP loss from operations	$	(5,203	)	$	(17,870	)	$	(29,014	)	$	(60,154	)

Net loss
GAAP net loss	$	(5,687	)	$	(21,754	)	$	(31,424	)	$	(73,473	)
Plus:
Stock-based compensation (b)		2,356			1,820			7,398			13,352
Restructuring charges		(315	)		(43	)		(160	)		260
Less:
Income tax effect on Non-GAAP items		(129	)		(120	)		(340	)		(683	)

Non-GAAP net loss	$	(3,775	)	$	(20,097	)	$	(24,526	)	$	(60,544	)

Diluted loss per share
GAAP diluted loss per share	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.24	)	$	(0.34	)	$	(0.81	)
Plus:
Stock-based compensation (b)		0.03			0.02			0.08			0.15
Restructuring charges		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		0.00
Less:
Income tax effect on Non-GAAP items		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		(0.01	)

Non-GAAP diluted loss per share	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.67	)

Shares used in computing diluted loss per share		93,862			91,835			93,298			90,923

(a) GAAP total expenses
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Nine Months Ended March 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Total costs of revenue	$	10,392		$	14,674		$	37,195		$	48,612
Total operating expenses		49,453			50,591			144,566			153,254
GAAP total expenses	$	59,845		$	65,265		$	181,761		$	201,866

(b) Stock-based compensation expense was as follows:
	Three Months Ended March 31,						Nine Months Ended March 31,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Cost of service and other	$	234		$	181		$	720		$	1,138
Selling and marketing		911			701			2,713			5,030
Research and development		297			246			874			1,637
General and administrative		914			692			3,091			5,547
Total stock-based compensation	$	2,356		$	1,820		$	7,398		$	13,352

SOURCE: Aspen Technology, Inc.

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

Release Details

Aspen Technology Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2011

Contact Investor Relations