for immediate release

AspenTech to Supply Next-Generation Plant Optimization Technology to TotalFinaElf

Integrated oil major signs strategic agreement to standardize on optimization solutions to increase production, reduce variability and cut energy consumption

Cambridge, MA—March 15, 2002—Aspen Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZPN) today announced that it will supply TotalFinaElf, one of the world’s largest integrated oil majors, with production optimization solutions to improve the performance of its manufacturing sites.

Under a strategic ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ signed by both companies, these solutions will be deployed by TotalFinaElf over a five-year period. The first stage of the agreement is a corporate license contract to implement AspenTech’s advanced process control and real-time optimization solutions in TotalFinaElf’s European refineries and petrochemical plants.

The solutions will enable TotalFinaElf to increase production, reduce variability and achieve more efficient energy consumption. These benefits can be achieved by using the control and optimization technology to enable the plants to be run at optimum economic conditions, while simultaneously and safely adhering to plant constraints. For example, in its cracker operations, the solution will help TFE identify the most economic production set-points depending on the feedstock quality, production targets for ethylene and propylene, and the plant’s energy requirements.

Advanced process control and real-time optimization are key parts of the production optimization component of Aspen ProfitAdvantage, the end-to-end solution which enables process manufacturers to identify and maximize profit opportunities. AspenTech's production optimization technologies allow companies to transform the way they manage their manufacturing operations, by enabling them to focus on the business impact rather than simply controlling the process.

"Through this strategic relationship, TotalFinaElf will be able to improve operating margins and achieve a significant return on its investment," said Larry Evans, Chairman and CEO of AspenTech. "The decision by TotalFinaElf to adopt our production optimization solutions is a strong endorsement of the substantial value AspenTech can create for refining and petrochemical companies."

About TotalFinaElf
TotalFinaElf is a top-ranked international oil group with a large number of production and marketing businesses in the oil, gas and chemicals sectors. Based in Paris, France, TotalFinaElf operates through three segments: Upstream for oil and gas exploration and development, Downstream for refining and marketing, and Chemicals. TotalFinaElf's oil and gas production of nearly 2.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day is supported by proved reserves of 10.98 billion barrels of oil equivalent and a portfolio of geographically diversified assets. The Group is Europe's leading refiner and petroleum product marketer with interests in 27 refineries and a network of 17,700 service stations, mainly in Europe and Africa. The activities of Atofina, TotalFinaElf's chemicals segment encompass petrochemicals and plastics, intermediates and performance polymers, as well as specialty chemicals focused on rubber processing, resins paints and electroplating.

About AspenTech
Aspen Technology, Inc. is a leading supplier of integrated software and solutions to the process industries. The company's Aspen ProfitAdvantage(tm) solution enables companies to identify and maximize profit opportunities throughout their entire value chain - from the supply of raw materials, through the production of goods, to the delivery of final products to customers. Aspen ProfitAdvantage encompasses engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and e-business collaboration technologies, providing the tools that enable manufacturers to design, optimize and execute business processes in real time. Over 1,200 leading process companies already rely on AspenTech's 20 years of process industry experience to increase revenues, reduce costs and improve capital efficiency. AspenTech's customers include: Air Liquide, AstraZeneca, Bayer, BASF, BP, Chevron, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Lyondell Equistar, ExxonMobil, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Unilever. For more information, visit http://www.aspentech.com.

Certain 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. For this purpose, any statement using the term "will," "should," "could," "anticipates," "believes" or a comparable term is a forward-looking statement. Actual results may vary significantly from AspenTech's expectations based on a number of risks and uncertainties, including: AspenTech's lengthy sales cycle which makes it difficult to predict quarterly operating results; fluctuations in AspenTech's quarterly operating results; AspenTech's dependence on customers in the cyclical chemicals, petrochemicals and petroleum industries; AspenTech's need to hire additional qualified personnel and its dependence on key current employees; intense competition; AspenTech's dependence on systems integrators and other strategic partners; changes in the market for e-business solutions for AspenTech’s customers; increased governmental regulation and taxation of e-commerce and the Internet; information security and privacy concerns relating to e-commerce; and other risk factors described from time to time in AspenTech's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AspenTech cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Moreover, neither AspenTech nor anyone else assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking statements. AspenTech undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

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