Bedford, Mass. – January 27, 2021 - Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AZPN), a global leader in asset optimization software, today announced financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2021 ended December 31, 2020.

“AspenTech’s second quarter results were solid in the context of the current economic environment and support our outlook for a strong performance in the fiscal year.  The quarter results were also highlighted by strong free cash flow generation,” said Antonio Pietri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Technology.  “Customers continued to make substantial long-term commitments with AspenTech, including a renewal in excess of $75 million with one of the largest global oil companies making it one of the biggest transactions in our history.”

Pietri continued, “Demand activity remains strong across our product portfolio and we believe we are on track to have a good second half of the fiscal year. The increasing importance of digitalization and sustainability in the process and other capital intensive industries, as well as customer feedback on recent product announcements like the Aspen AIoT Hub and aspenONE v12, give us confidence in our ability to return to double-digit annual spend growth once the economy normalizes.”

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Recent Business Highlights                                                                                                                                       

• Annual spend, which the company defines as the annualized value of all term license and maintenance contracts at the end of the quarter, was approximately $604 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, which increased 7.0% compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2020 and 1.3% sequentially.

Summary of Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $233.7 million included:

• License revenue, which represents the portion of a term license agreement allocated to the initial license, was $180.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $72.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

• Maintenance revenue, which represents the portion of the term license agreement related to on-going support and the right to future product enhancements, was $46.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $44.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

• Services and other revenue was $6.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to $9.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, AspenTech reported income from operations of $149.5 million, compared to income from operations of $42.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.

Net income was $129.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, leading to net income per share of $1.89, compared to net income per share of $0.58 in the same period last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP income from operations was $162.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $52.1 million in the same period last fiscal year.  Non-GAAP net income was $139.3 million, or $2.04 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to non-GAAP net income of $47.1 million, or $0.68 per share, in the same period last fiscal year. These non-GAAP results add back the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles and acquisition-related fees. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is presented in the financial tables included in this press release.

AspenTech had cash and cash equivalents of $217.5 million and total borrowings, net of debt issuance costs, of $300.8 million at December 31, 2020. During the second quarter the company paid down approximately $119.2 million on the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility. 

During the second quarter, the company generated $37.8 million in cash flow from operations and $38.0 million in free cash flow. Free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for the net impact of: purchases of property, equipment and leasehold improvements; payments for capitalized computer software development costs, and other nonrecurring items, such as acquisition-related payments.

Business Outlook

Based on information as of today, January 27, 2021, Aspen Technology is issuing the following guidance for fiscal year 2021:

• Annual spend growth of 6-8% year-over-year
• Free cash flow of $265 to $275 million
• Total bookings of $805 to $850 million
• Total revenue of $731 to $760 million
• GAAP total expense of $356 to $361 million
• Non-GAAP total expense of $313 to $318 million
• GAAP operating income of $375 to $399 million
• Non-GAAP operating income of $418 to $442 million
• GAAP net income of $328 to $347 million
• Non-GAAP net income of $362 million to $381 million
• GAAP net income per share of $4.80 to $5.08
• Non-GAAP net income per share of $5.29 to $5.58

These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Forward-Looking Statements safe harbor below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

AspenTech has not reconciled its expectations as to forward-looking non-GAAP total expense, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measure because certain items are out of AspenTech’s control or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, a reconciliation for forward-looking non-GAAP total expense, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share is not available without unreasonable effort.

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 Aspen Technology’s business.  As the result of adoption of new licensing models, management believes that a number of Aspen Technology’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 Aspen Technology’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 Aspen Technology’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

Aspen Technology will host a conference call and webcast today, January 27, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the second-quarter of fiscal year 2021 as well as the company’s business outlook. The live dial-in number is (866) 471-3828 or (678) 509-7573, conference ID code 8443369. Interested parties may also listen to a live webcast of the call by logging on to the Investor Relations section of Aspen Technology’s website, http://ir.aspentech.com/events-and-presentations, and clicking on the “webcast” link. A replay of the call will be archived on Aspen Technology’s website and will also be available via telephone at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID code 8443369, through February 3, 2021.

About Aspen Technology

Aspen Technology (AspenTech) is a global leader in asset optimization software. Its solutions address complex, industrial environments where it is critical to optimize the asset design, operation and maintenance lifecycle. AspenTech uniquely combines decades of process modelling expertise with artificial intelligence. Its purpose-built software platform automates knowledge work and builds sustainable competitive advantage by delivering high returns over the entire asset lifecycle. As a result, companies in capital-intensive industries can maximize uptime and push the limits of performance, running their assets safer, greener, longer and faster. Visit AspenTech.com to find out more.

Forward-Looking Statements

The third paragraph of this press release as well as the Business Outlook section 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: delays or reductions in demand for AspenTech solutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic; AspenTech’s failure to increase usage and product adoption of aspenONE offerings or grow the aspenONE APM business, and failure to continue to provide innovative, market-leading solutions; declines in the demand for, or usage of, aspenONE software for any reason, including declines due to adverse changes in the process or other capital-intensive industries and due to the drop in demand for oil due to the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the excess supply arising from producers’ failure to agree on production cuts; unfavorable economic and market conditions or a lessening demand in the market for asset process optimization software, including due to the significant drop in oil prices arising from drop in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and producers’ failure to agree on production cuts; risks of foreign operations or transacting business with customers outside the United States; risks of competition 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.

© 2021 Aspen Technology, Inc. AspenTech, aspenONE, asset optimization and the Aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Aspen Technology, Inc.