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 2017, ended September 30, 2016.

Antonio Pietri, President and Chief Executive Officer of AspenTech, said, “AspenTech delivered solid first quarter fiscal 2017 financial results that exceeded expectations from both a revenue and profitability perspective. We also made significant progress against our Asset Optimization strategy, completing two technology acquisitions during the quarter and today announcing the acquisition of Mtell. We believe these acquisitions will greatly enhance the capabilities of our analytics and maintenance solutions and further strengthen the value of the aspenONE offering for our customers.”

Pietri continued, “We also repurchased $130 million of stock during the first quarter as part of our share repurchase program. Our disciplined execution enables us to continue investing in product innovation while also maintaining our share repurchase program, generating significant value for customers and shareholders.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2017 and 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 $446 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2017, which increased 5.4% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and 1.1% sequentially.

• GAAP operating margin was 45.6%, compared to 46.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.  Non-GAAP operating margin was 50.4%, compared to 50.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

•  AspenTech repurchased 2.9 million shares of its common stock for $130.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

Summary of First Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results

AspenTech’s total revenue of $120.1 million included: 

Subscription and software revenue was $113.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, an increase from $111.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. 

• Services and other revenue was $6.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to $8.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2016, AspenTech reported income from operations of $54.7 million, compared to income from operations of $55.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. 

Net income was $35.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, leading to net income per share of $0.44, consistent with net income per share of $0.44 in the same period last fiscal year. 

Non-GAAP income from operations, which adds back the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles associated with acquisitions, acquisition-related expenses and non-capitalized acquired technology was $60.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $60.2 million in the same period last fiscal year.  Non-GAAP net income was $38.7 million, or $0.49 per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to non-GAAP net income of $39.8 million, or $0.47 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 cash and marketable securities of $191.6 million and borrowings of $140 million at September 30, 2016. 

During the first quarter, the company generated $26.3 million in cash flow from operations and $26.7 million in free cash flow.

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 27, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), to discuss the company's financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2017 as well as the company’s business outlook. 

The live dial-in number is (866) 604-6127 or (443) 961-0460, conference ID code 99548515. 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 99548515, through November 27, 2016.

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 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:  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, including declines due to adverse changes in the process industries; 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.

© 2016 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.