Industry Summary Articles

ANSYS, Inc. reported third quarter 2023 GAAP and non-GAAP revenue of $458.8 million, a decrease of 3% in reported currency, or 4% in constant currency, when compared to the third quarter of 2022. For the third quarter of 2023, the Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.64 and $1.41 on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, respectively, compared to $1.10 and $1.77 on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, respectively, for the third quarter of 2022. Additionally, the Company reported third quarter ACV growth of 12% in reported currency, or 10% in constant currency, when compared to the third quarter of 2022.

In the context of broader U.S. foreign policy shifts, the U.S. Department of Commerce is continuing to apply controls to the export to China of certain technologies. Ansys maintains a robust global compliance program. Compliance and cooperation with the U.S. government’s evolving requirements are paramount to Ansys. Our third quarter results were negatively impacted by incremental approval processes and export restrictions, including additional restrictions on sales to certain Chinese entities, which created a $20 million headwind to ACV and revenue that was not contemplated in our third quarter guidance provided in August. We continue to collaborate with the Department of Commerce to adhere to the new requirements, and we have internally aligned our business operations to adjust to these requirements. Please see the ‘Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance’ section for more details.

“Ansys continues to see robust, broad-based demand for our technology and products. We were tracking to deliver on our third quarter guidance commitments when we were notified by the U.S. Department of Commerce of incremental export restrictions and enhanced approval processes for certain products and services. This disrupted our business in the quarter by adding restrictions on sales to certain Chinese entities and elongating the transaction cycle for certain prospects. Despite these developments, Ansys delivered a strong quarter, marked by double-digit growth in ACV. Given the critical role that Ansys solutions play in our customers’ product development initiatives and the strength of the underlying foundation of our business, I am confident in our ability to execute on our short- and long-term objectives," stated Ajei Gopal, Ansys president and CEO.

Nicole Anasenes, Ansys CFO, stated, “Our ability to deliver double-digit ACV constant currency growth in Q3, despite the disruption from changes required for export compliance, is a testament to the resilience of our business model. Our highly recurring business model, significant base of renewal business, market-leading simulation portfolio and deep customer relationships create a strong financial foundation and contribute to unwavering demand for our product. Despite the disruption in Q3, our results year-to-date are strong with ACV growth of 12% in constant currency. With our double-digit performance year-to-date and the continued strong pipeline and momentum in our business, we are confident in our ability to achieve our short- and long-term guidance.”

The non-GAAP financial results highlighted, and the non-GAAP financial outlook for 2023 discussed below, represent non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of these measures to the comparable GAAP measures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, and for the 2023 financial outlook, can be found later in this release.

/ Financial Results
Ansys' third quarter and year-to-date (YTD) 2023 and 2022 financial results are presented below. The 2023 and 2022 non-GAAP results exclude the income statement effects of stock-based compensation, excess payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, expenses related to business combinations and adjustments for the income tax effect of the excluded items. The 2022 period non-GAAP results also exclude the income statement effects of acquisition accounting adjustments to deferred revenue from business combinations closed prior to 2022. There is no adjustment in 2023 as the impact is not material.

GAAP and non-GAAP results are as follows:

/ Other Performance Metrics

ACV is a key performance metric and is useful to investors in assessing the strength and trajectory of our business. ACV is a supplemental metric to help evaluate the annual performance of the business. Over the life of the contract, ACV equals the total value realized from a customer. ACV is not impacted by the timing of license revenue recognition. ACV is used by management in financial and operational decision-making and in setting sales targets used for compensation. ACV is not a replacement for, and should be viewed independently of, GAAP revenue and deferred revenue as ACV is a performance metric and is not intended to be combined with any of these items. There is no GAAP measure comparable to ACV. ACV is composed of the following:

• the annualized value of maintenance and subscription lease contracts with start dates or anniversary dates during the period, plus 
• the value of perpetual license contracts with start dates during the period, plus 
• the annualized value of fixed-term services contracts with start dates or anniversary dates during the period, plus 
• the value of work performed during the period on fixed-deliverable services contracts.

When we refer to the anniversary dates in the definition of ACV above, we are referencing the date of the beginning of the next twelve-month period in a contractually committed multi-year contract. If a contract is three years in duration, with a start date of July 1, 2023, the anniversary dates would be July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025. We label these anniversary dates as they are contractually committed. While this contract would be up for renewal on July 1, 2026, our ACV performance metric does not assume any contract renewals.

Example 1: For purposes of calculating ACV, a $100,000 subscription lease contract or a $100,000 maintenance contract with a term of July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, would each contribute $100,000 to ACV for fiscal year 2023 with no contribution to ACV for fiscal year 2024.

Example 2: For purposes of calculating ACV, a $300,000 subscription lease contract or a $300,000 maintenance contract with a term of July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026, would each contribute $100,000 to ACV in each of fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025. There would be no contribution to ACV for fiscal year 2026 as each period captures the full annual value upon the anniversary date.

Example 3: A perpetual license valued at $200,000 with a contract start date of March 1, 2023 would contribute $200,000 to ACV in fiscal year 2023.

/ Management's 2023 Financial Outlook
The Company's fourth quarter and updated FY 2023 revenue, diluted earnings per share and ACV guidance is provided below. The diluted earnings per share guidance is provided on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. Non-GAAP financial measures exclude the income statement effects of stock-based compensation, excess payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, expenses related to business combinations and adjustments for the income tax effect of the excluded items.

This guidance is based on the Company's evaluation of factual information it has determined to be relevant and the application of certain assumptions made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's prepared remarks document for additional information regarding the Company's financial guidance, including its assumptions regarding overall business dynamics.

/ Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance
The Company currently expects the following for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2023:

The Company currently expects the following for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023:

Our FY 2023 guidance is inclusive of $47.1 million in interest expense. This compares to interest expense in FY 2022 of $22.7 million with the significant increase in FY 2023 driven by the interest rate environment and our floating interest rate on our term loan. Reconciliations of the GAAP to Non-GAAP diluted EPS outlook and the operating cash flow to unlevered operating cash flow outlook are available in our "Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" section found later in this document.

In the context of broader U.S. foreign policy shifts, the U.S. Department of Commerce is continuing to apply controls to the export to China of certain technologies. Ansys maintains a robust global compliance program. Compliance and cooperation with the U.S. government’s evolving requirements are paramount to Ansys. Ansys has and will continue to align our internal processes to comply with U.S. export laws and regulations and any changes to those laws and regulations. During the third quarter, the U.S. Department of Commerce informed Ansys of additional restrictions on sales to certain Chinese entities, and incremental approval processes and export restrictions on the sale of certain Ansys products and services to entities performing research & development and certain controlled activities in China. The incremental export restrictions and processes took effect during the third quarter and initially included a broad export license requirement for certain China sales, which was later replaced by an enhanced Ansys screening process that was approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on the final business day of the quarter. The new restrictions and processes have led to an elongated transaction cycle with certain prospects, which, in turn, is expected to lead to a delay in certain fourth quarter transactions and in some situations, could result in a loss of business. Ansys will continue to work collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Commerce to adhere to the new requirements, and we have internally aligned our business operations to adjust to these requirements.

For the full year 2023 guidance, we expect these incremental restrictions and processes to be a $25 million headwind to ACV and revenue relative to our full year guidance provided in August, which will mute our growth in China in 2023. The full year 2023 impact for ACV, revenue, diluted earnings per share and unlevered operating cash flows is summarized in the table below.

Despite these challenges, we are seeing operational momentum in the rest of our business and as a result are increasing ACV, revenue, diluted earnings per share and unlevered operating cash flows. The updated full year 2023 guidance reflects this incremental operational performance offset by China impacts. Additionally, meaningful U.S. Dollar strengthening in exchange rates has created continued headwinds since providing full year guidance in August. As a result, the guidance also assumes incremental adverse impacts from currency, primarily driven by substantial fluctuations in the Euro and Japanese Yen exchange rates.

The underlying foundation of our business remains strong and we continue to see momentum. The below chart captures the drivers of the update to our guidance since August:

*Incremental operational performance captures changes to our results and outlook, excluding the impact of fluctuations from exchange rates and of incremental China export restrictions and processes.

/ Fiscal Year 2024 Comments
As we look to the future, the updated export restrictions and incremental processes will also mute Ansys's ACV and revenue growth in China in 2024, after which we expect our growth in China to return to steady-state. Despite these headwinds, in February, we still expect to initiate full year 2024 guidance with ACV of around 10% constant currency growth excluding tuck-in M&A, which is consistent with our model. Ansys has a diverse and broad customer base, and we play a critical role in our customers’ product development. We continue to focus our efforts on areas of opportunity and innovation to ensure continued growth. As a result, we reaffirm our long-term outlook from 2022 to 2025 of 12% constant currency ACV growth, including tuck-in M&A, and $3 billion of cumulative unlevered operating cash flows.

/ Conference Call Information
Ansys will hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on November 2, 2023 to discuss third quarter results. The Company will provide its prepared remarks on the Company’s investor relations homepage and as an exhibit in its Form 8-K in advance of the call to provide stockholders and analysts with additional time and detail for analyzing its results in preparation for the conference call. The prepared remarks will not be read on the call, and only brief remarks will be made prior to the Q&A session.

To participate in the live conference call, dial 855-239-2942 (US) or 412-542-4124 (Canada & Int’l). The call will be recorded and a replay will be available within two hours after the call. The replay will be available by dialing (877) 344-7529 (US), (855) 669-9658 (Canada) or (412) 317-0088 (Int’l) and entering the access code 7702246. The archived webcast can be accessed, along with other financial information, on Ansys' website at https://investors.ansys.com/events-presentations/events. 

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