Aspen Technology Becomes Microsoft Certified Solution Provider, Licenses Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications

Business Wire, Sept 10, 1998

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 10, 1998--

Moves strengthen AspenTech's commitment to open development

architecture, support for Windows in process manufacturing

Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZPN), the leading provider of Smart Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management software and services for the process industries, today announced that its services organization has achieved Microsoft(R) Certified Solution Provider status and that it has licensed Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications for use in Aspen Process Explorer(tm). In an associated announcement, AspenTech announced that it will support Microsoft Windows(R) Distributed interNet Architecture (DNA) in future versions of the Plantelligence(tm) suite. (See related news release.) Together, AspenTech's moves underscore its commitment to standards-based product development and support for the Windows NT environment, the platform of choice for most new process plant systems.

AspenTech estimates that nearly 80 percent of its customers are now looking to purchase plant solutions for the Windows NT environment. By becoming a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider, AspenTech assures these customers that it has proven Microsoft product expertise. Its customer support and project engineers are now fully trained on Microsoft tools and technology, enabling them to effectively and efficiently implement AspenTech solutions for Windows NT.

To allow application developers to customize Aspen Process Explorer--the client for AspenTech's Windows-based plant information management software--the company will include Visual Basic for Applications in all new versions of the product. Visual Basic for Applications is a scripting language that allows developers to more easily modify or link programs based on end users' specifications. AspenTech worked with Jamesville, N.Y.-based Summit Software to license the technology. In addition, the licensing agreement allows AspenTech to expand the use of Visual Basic for Applications into other products.

"AspenTech is fully committed to a strategy of product integration and interoperability," said Brian Harkins, vice president of information management products at Aspen Technology, Inc. "We believe our customers will find that open, customizable applications provide the greatest return on their investment because they can be tuned to support precise company and user requirements."

About AspenTech

Aspen Technology, Inc. (www.aspentech.com) is a leading supplier of software and services for the design and automation of process manufacturing plants and the optimization of the supply chain in process industries including chemicals, petrochemicals, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, metals and minerals, electric power, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor, consumer packaged goods, and food and beverage. Process manufacturers use AspenTech's solutions to improve the way they design, operate and manage their plants and global supply chain. These solutions enable manufacturers to reduce their raw material, energy and capital expenses; meet environmental and safety regulations; improve customer service levels; reduce inventory requirements; improve product quality; and shorten the time required to get new production processes on stream. AspenTech employs more than 1,500 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with offices in 22 countries worldwide.

AspenTech's software and services include the Plantelligence(tm) and Aspen Supply Chain suites, the process manufacturing industry's only complete solution for optimizing manufacturing enterprises. Deep process knowledge, combined with world-leading optimization expertise and integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and open control systems, brings AspenTech manufacturing customers' businesses closer to their true potential.

AspenTech, Plantelligence, Aspen Process Explorer and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Aspen Technology, Inc.

Toni Lee Rudnicki

(617) 949-1472

tonilee.rudnicki@aspentech.com

or

Schwartz Communications, Inc.

Laura Kempke

(781) 684-0770

laurak@schwartz-pr.com