News Release

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2021-- Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY) (“Bentley Systems” or the “Company”), the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced operating results for its quarter ended March 31, 2021.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results:

• Total revenues were $222.0 million, up 14.0% year-over-year;
• Subscriptions revenues were $188.1 million, up 10.5% year-over-year;
• Last twelve-month recurring revenues were $716.9 million, up 10.7% year-over-year;
• Last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate was 107% (calculated under Topic 606), compared to 109% (calculated under Topic 605) for the same period last year;
• Last twelve-month account retention rate was 98% (calculated under Topic 606), compared to 98% (calculated under Topic 605) for the same period last year;
• Annualized Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) was $760.2 million as of March 31, 2021, representing a constant currency ARR growth rate of 10% from March 31, 2020;
• GAAP operating income was $55.6 million, compared to $46.0 million for the same period last year;
• GAAP net income was $57.0 million, compared to $29.7 million for the same period last year. GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.18, compared to $0.10 for the same period last year;
• Adjusted Net Income was $64.0 million, compared to $43.2 million for the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income per diluted share was $0.20 compared to $0.15 for the same period last year;
• Adjusted EBITDA was $82.8 million, compared to $57.9 million for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 37.3%, compared to 29.8% for the same period last year;
• Cash flow from operations was $132.8 million, compared to $72.6 million for the same period last year.

Definitions of the non‑GAAP financial measures used in this press release and reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures are included below under the heading “Use and Reconciliation of Non‑GAAP Financial Measures.”

“Our first quarter operating results were broadly consistent with the progression of the same mildly improving application usage trends we reported earlier this year, with our established quarterly seasonalization, and with the outlook we have previously expressed for the unfolding of full-year 2021. On the other hand, the quarter’s unprecedented operating margins and operating cash flows benefited from circumstances likely unique to this unusual year. Of note, we are pleased by the indicated market demand for our applications within our newly-targeted ‘SMB’ prospects— our Virtuosity subscriptions have attracted over a thousand accounts new to Bentley Systems, since inception less than a year ago,” said Greg Bentley, CEO.

“I believe the long-term potential of infrastructure digital twins will be accelerated by the ‘programmatic’ acquisitions we announced last month, of INRO to add multi-modal and dynamic simulation capabilities for mobility digital twins, and of sensemetrics and Vista Data Vision to extend our iTwin platform for infrastructure IoT. Anticipating the closing later in this quarter of our largest acquisition to date, Seequent, subject to the completion of regulatory review, when we announce our second quarter operating results we will update our financial outlook for 2021 to reflect acquisition impacts,” concluded Mr. Bentley.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Developments:

• In January 2021, we entered into the Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated December 19, 2017, which increased the senior secured revolving loan facility from $500.0 million to $850.0 million and extended the maturity date from December 18, 2022 to November 15, 2025.
• In January 2021, we completed a private offering of $690.0 million of 0.125% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”). We incurred $18.1 million of expenses in connection with the 2026 Notes offering consisting of the payment of initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions, professional fees, and other expenses (“transaction costs”). Transaction costs were recorded as a direct deduction from the related debt liability in the consolidated balance sheet and are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the 2026 Notes.
• In connection with the pricing of the 2026 Notes, we entered into capped call options with certain of the initial purchasers or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions. The capped call options are expected to reduce potential dilution to our Class B Common Stock upon any conversion of 2026 Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. We paid premiums of $25.5 million in connection with the capped call options and they have been included as a net reduction to Additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheet.
• On March 11, 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Seequent, a leader in software for geological and geophysical modeling, geotechnical stability, and cloud services for geodata management and collaboration, for approximately $900.0 million in cash, net of cash acquired and subject to customary adjustments, including for working capital, plus 3,141,361 shares of our Class B Common Stock. Seequent is expected to deepen the potential of our infrastructure digital twins offerings to help understand and mitigate environmental risks, advancing resilience, and sustainability. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2021. We expect to use readily available cash, including a portion of the net proceeds from the 2026 Notes, and borrowings under our Credit Facility to fund the cash component of the transaction. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we incurred $6.7 million of expenses related to entering into the definitive agreement to acquire Seequent.
• For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company reported an effective tax rate of 15.3%. The unusually low effective tax rate was primarily due to the tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation, partially offset by the impact from officer compensation limitation provisions.

Operating Results Call Details

Bentley Systems will host a live Zoom Video Webinar on May 11, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial and operating results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Those wishing to participate should access the live Zoom Video Webinar of the event through a direct registration link at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XcHUVJklTrCeRvyQUGNxNg. Alternatively, the event can be accessed from the Events & Presentations page on Bentley Systems’ Investor Relations website at https://investors.bentley.com. Presentation materials will be posted prior to the webinar on Bentley Systems’ Investor Relations website. In addition, a replay and transcript will be available after the conclusion of the live event on Bentley Systems’ Investor Relations website for one year.

Definitions of Certain Key Business Metrics

Definitions of the non‑GAAP financial measures used in this earnings release and reconciliations of such measures to their nearest GAAP equivalents are included below under “Use and Reconciliation of Non‑GAAP Financial Measures.” Certain non‑GAAP measures included in our financial outlook are not being reconciled to the comparable GAAP financial measures because the GAAP measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis. The Company is unable to reconcile these forward-looking non‑GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts because the Company is currently unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the type and extent of certain items that would be expected for these periods not to impact the non‑GAAP measures, but would impact GAAP measures. Such unavailable information, which could have a significant impact on the Company’s GAAP financial results, may include stock‑based compensation charges, depreciation and amortization of capitalized software costs and of acquired intangible assets, realignment expenses, and other items.

Last twelve-month recurring revenues are calculated as recurring revenues recognized over the preceding twelve-month period. We define recurring revenues as subscription revenues that recur monthly, quarterly, or annually with specific or automatic renewal clauses and professional services revenues in which the underlying contract is based on a fixed fee and contains automatic annual renewal provisions.

Constant Currency Metrics

In reporting period-over-period results, we calculate the effects of foreign currency fluctuations and constant currency information by translating current period results using prior period average foreign currency exchange rates. Our definition of constant currency may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures, and these constant currency performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

• Our last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate is calculated, using the average exchange rates for the prior period, as follows: the recurring revenues for the current period, including any growth or reductions from accounts with recurring revenues in the prior period (“existing accounts”), but excluding recurring revenues from any new accounts added during the current period, divided by the total recurring revenues from all accounts during the prior period. A period is defined as any trailing twelve months. Prior to the year ended December 31, 2020, the recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate was calculated using revenues recognized pursuant to Topic 605 for all periods in order to enhance comparability during our transition to Topic 606 as we did not have all information that was necessary to calculate account retention rate pursuant to Topic 606 for earlier periods.
• Our last twelve-month account retention rate for any given twelve-month period is calculated using the average currency exchange rates for the prior period, as follows: the prior period recurring revenues from all accounts with recurring revenues in the current and prior period, divided by total recurring revenues from all accounts during the prior period. Prior to the year ended December 31, 2020, the account retention rate was calculated using revenues recognized pursuant to Topic 605 for all periods in order to enhance comparability during our transition to Topic 606 as we did not have all information that was necessary to calculate account retention rate pursuant to Topic 606 for earlier periods.
• Our constant currency ARR growth rate is the growth rate of our ARR, measured on a constant currency basis. Our ARR is defined as the sum of the annualized value of our portfolio of contracts that produce recurring revenue as of the last day of the reporting period, and the annualized value of the last three months of recognized revenues for our contractually recurring consumption-based software subscriptions with consumption measurement durations of less than one year.

Use and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we have calculated adjusted cost of subscriptions and licenses, adjusted cost of services, adjusted research and development, adjusted selling and marketing, adjusted general and administrative, adjusted income from operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per diluted share, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin, each of which are non‑GAAP financial measures. We have provided tabular reconciliations of each of these non‑GAAP financial measures to such measure’s most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Management uses these non‑GAAP financial measures to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, and to evaluate financial performance and liquidity. Our non‑GAAP financial measures are presented as supplemental disclosure as we believe they provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results, prospects, and liquidity period-over-period without the impact of certain items that do not directly correlate to our operating performance and that may vary significantly from period to period for reasons unrelated to our operating performance, as well as to compare our financial results to those of other companies. Our definitions of these non‑GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled measures presented by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar metrics. Thus, our non‑GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or in isolation from, the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We calculate these non‑GAAP financial measures as follows:

• Adjusted cost of subscriptions and licenses is determined by adding back to GAAP cost of subscriptions and licenses, amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies, stock-based compensation, and realignment expenses, for the respective periods;
• Adjusted cost of services is determined by adding back to GAAP cost of services, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses, for the respective periods;
• Adjusted research and development is determined by adding back to GAAP research and development, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses, for the respective periods;
• Adjusted selling and marketing is determined by adding back to GAAP selling and marketing, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses, for the respective periods;
• Adjusted general and administrative is determined by adding back to GAAP general and administrative, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses, for the respective periods;
• Adjusted income from operations is determined by adding back to GAAP operating income, amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies, stock-based compensation, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses for the respective periods;
• Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income adjusted for the following: amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses, other non-operating income and expense (primarily foreign exchange gain (loss)), net, the tax effect of the above adjustments to net income, and loss from investment accounted for using the equity method, net of tax. The tax effect of adjustments to net income is based on the estimated marginal effective tax rates in the jurisdictions impacted by such adjustments;
• Adjusted Net Income per diluted share is determined by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted average diluted shares;
• Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted for interest expense, net, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock‑based compensation, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses, other non-operating income and expense (primarily foreign exchange gain (loss)), net, and loss from investment accounted for using the equity method, net of tax;
• Adjusted EBITDA margin is determined by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by total revenues.

We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure, and to view these non‑GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the related GAAP financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release reflect Bentley Systems’ expectations as of today’s date. Given the number of risk factors, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed below, actual results may differ materially.

Any statements made in this earnings release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our 2021 financial outlook and our beliefs and expectations, the planned acquisition of Seequent and the timing thereof, the impact of the acquisition on Bentley’s financial condition and results of operations and the products, services, and business relationships of each of Bentley and Seequent, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, business plans, pending acquisitions and/or the integration of completed acquisitions, and business strategies. Forward-looking statements are based on Bentley Systems management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited, to macroeconomic conditions, pandemic consequences, Bentley’s ability to successfully integrate or operate Seequent’s business, any costs or delays attributable to obtaining required regulatory approvals for the acquisition, costs related to the acquisition, adverse changes in the capital markets environment and Bentley’s ability to access additional financing on terms acceptable to it or at all, changes in Seequent’s customer base or geographic footprint, failure to retain personnel necessary for the operation or integration of Seequent’s business, changes in the industries in which Seequent’s customers operate, the competitive environment in which both Bentley and Seequent operate and competitive responses to the acquisition, Bentley and Seequent’s ability to innovate, develop new products or modify existing products, general economic, market, and business conditions, unanticipated impact of accounting for acquisitions, and the ability to satisfy the conditions to the completion of the acquisition on the anticipated schedule, or at all.

Further information on factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Copies of each filing may be obtained from the Company or the SEC on their respective websites. All forward-looking statements reflect our beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

About Bentley Systems

Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY) is the infrastructure engineering software company. We provide innovative software to advance the world’s infrastructure – sustaining both the global economy and environment. Our industry-leading software solutions are used by professionals, and organizations of every size, for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, and industrial facilities. Our offerings include MicroStation-based applications for modeling and simulation, ProjectWise for project delivery, AssetWise for asset and network performance, and the iTwin platform for infrastructure digital twins. Bentley Systems employs more than 4,000 colleagues and generates annual revenues of more than $800 million in 172 countries. www.bentley.com.

© 2021 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the Bentley logo, AssetWise, INRO, iTwin, MicroStation, ProjectWise, and Vista Data Vision are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. sensemetrics is a registered trademark of sensemetrics Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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Investor Contact:
Ankit Hira or Ed Yuen
Solebury Trout for Bentley Systems
ir@bentley.com
1-610-458-2777

Media Contact:
Carey Mann
carey.mann@bentley.com
1-610-458-3170

Source: Bentley Systems, Incorporated