Bentley Systems Announces Operating Results for the Third Quarter of 2021

Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq:BSY) (“Bentley Systems” or the “Company”), the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced operating results for its third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results:

• GAAP total revenues were $248.5 million, and adjusted total revenues were $251.4 million, up 23.7% year-over-year;
• GAAP subscriptions revenues were $212.2 million, and adjusted subscriptions revenues were $215.1 million, up 24.0% year-over-year;
• Last twelve-month recurring revenues were $786.1 million, up 15.1% year-over-year;
• Last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate was 106% (calculated under Topic 606), compared to 110% (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 $903.8 million as of September 30, 2021, representing a constant currency ARR growth rate of 26% from September 30, 2020;
• GAAP operating loss was $40.4 million, compared to GAAP operating income of $5.3 million for the same period last year. The third quarter of 2021 GAAP operating loss was due to a one-time compensation charge of $90.7 million resulting from a modification of our deferred compensation plan;
• GAAP net loss was $50.1 million, compared to GAAP net income of $5.8 million for the same period last year. GAAP net loss per diluted share was $0.16, compared to GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.02 for the same period last year. The third quarter of 2021 GAAP net loss was due to a one-time compensation charge of $83.4 million, net of tax, resulting from a modification of our deferred compensation plan;
• Adjusted Net Income was $56.3 million, compared to $51.4 million for the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income per diluted share was $0.17 compared to $0.17 for the same period last year;
• Adjusted EBITDA was $84.5 million, compared to $73.7 million for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 33.6%, compared to 36.2% for the same period last year;
• Cash flow from operations was $58.4 million, compared to $39.8 million for the same period last year.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Financial Results:

• GAAP total revenues were $693.4 million, and adjusted total revenues were $697.3 million, up 19.7% year-over-year;
• GAAP subscriptions revenues were $585.8 million, and adjusted subscriptions revenues were $589.7 million, up 17.6% year-over-year;
• GAAP operating income was $47.4 million, compared to $95.9 million for the same period last year. The nine months ended September 30, 2021 GAAP operating income includes a one-time compensation charge of $90.7 million resulting from a modification of our deferred compensation plan;
• GAAP net income was $51.8 million, compared to $74.6 million for the same period last year. GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.16, compared to $0.25 for the same period last year. The nine months ended September 30, 2021 GAAP net income includes a one-time compensation charge of $83.4 million, net of tax, resulting from a modification of our deferred compensation plan;
• Adjusted Net Income was $195.0 million, compared to $140.5 million for the same period last year. Adjusted Net Income per diluted share was $0.62 compared to $0.47 for the same period last year;
• Adjusted EBITDA was $236.8 million, compared to $189.0 million for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 34.0%, compared to 32.4% for the same period last year;
• Cash flow from operations was $207.4 million, compared to $176.0 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 third-quarter operating results continued to track consistently with last quarter’s qualitative observations and with the expectations for full-year 2021 presented then. Significantly, BSY’s investments since 2020 in our new User Success organization (now numbering about 600 colleagues) and in our Virtuosity inside-sales group (now over 200 colleagues focused on SMB new business), seem to have served effectively to strengthen our underlying growth rate of business performance. While the industrial / resources ‘CAPEX’ downturn remains an enduring headwind globally, we do begin to discern new business improvement, presumably due to an energy price rebound, in regions dependent on such revenue sources,” said CEO Greg Bentley.

“With infrastructure spending increases anticipated, including pursuant to legislation finally advancing in the U.S., public works / utility sector, participants everywhere are fully anticipating hiring challenges and are acknowledging that going digital is ever more necessary to sustain growth, and infrastructure resilience and adaptation. The executive promotions that BSY has announced today, along with a carefully considered change to our deferred compensation plan for certain key executives of long standing, reflect our own prioritization of top talent retention and development,” he concluded.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Developments:

In August 2021, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to our unfunded Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”), which offered to certain active executives in the DCP a one-time, short-term election to reallocate a limited portion of their DCP holdings from phantom shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock into other DCP phantom investment funds. This one-time reallocation opportunity was offered only to certain active executives (but not to Directors or Bentley family members) in order to encourage retention, as otherwise these executives could only have materially diversified their investments in Company equity (primarily held in the DCP) by voluntarily terminating employment to trigger DCP distributions. These executives in aggregate accordingly diversified 24% of their phantom shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. This resulted in a reduction of 1,500,000 shares in both the basic and diluted count of Company shares.

While DCP participants’ investments in phantom shares remain equity classified, as they will be settled in shares of Class B Common Stock upon eventual distribution, the amendment and elections resulted in a change to liability classification for the reallocated phantom investments, as they will be settled in cash upon eventual distribution. As a result, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized a one-time compensation charge of $90.7 million to Deferred compensation plan expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and reclassified cumulative compensation cost of $4.7 million from Additional paid-in capital to Accruals and other current liabilities or Deferred compensation plan liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet to record the reallocated deferred compensation plan liabilities at their fair value of $95.5 million.

Subsequent to the one-time reallocation, these diversified deferred compensation plan liabilities will be marked to market at the end of each reporting period, with changes in the liabilities recorded as an expense (income) to Deferred compensation plan in the consolidated statements of operations.

Operating Results Call Details

Bentley Systems will host a live Zoom video webinar on November 9, 2021 at 8:15 a.m. EST to discuss operating results for its third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 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_m9k8Z07RTJGKt7iv-maurQ. Alternatively, the event can be accessed from the Events & Presentations page on Bentley Systems’ Investor Relations website at https://investors.bentley.com. 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 operating results press 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 total revenues, adjusted subscriptions revenues, 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. 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 and prospects 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 United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

We calculate these non-GAAP financial measures as follows:

• Adjusted total revenues is determined by adding back to GAAP total revenues the fair value adjustment of acquired deferred revenues for the respective periods;
• Adjusted subscriptions revenues is determined by adding back to GAAP subscriptions revenues the fair value adjustment of acquired deferred revenues for the respective periods;
• 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 (loss) income, amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies, stock-based compensation, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses, and expenses associated with initial public offering (“IPO”) for the respective periods;
• Adjusted Net Income is defined as net (loss) income adjusted for the following: amortization of purchased intangibles and developed technologies, stock-based compensation, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses, expenses associated with IPO, other non-operating (income) expense, net, the tax effect of the above adjustments to net (loss) income, and (income) loss from investment accounted for using the equity method, net of tax. The tax effect of adjustments to net (loss) 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 (loss) income adjusted for interest expense, net, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses, expenses associated with IPO, other non-operating (income) expense, net, and (income) loss from investment accounted for using the equity method, net of tax;
• Adjusted EBITDA margin is determined by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by adjusted 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. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company modified its definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to adjust for expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities and amounts for all periods herein reflect application of the modified definition.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives for future operations of Bentley Systems, Incorporated (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and words of similar import). All such statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations, projections, and assumptions about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and there are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release including: current and potential future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and our business, and consolidated financial statements; adverse changes in global economic and/or political conditions; political, economic, regulatory and public health and safety risks and uncertainties in the countries and regions in which we operate; failure to retain personnel necessary for the operation of our business or those that we acquire; changes in the industries in which our accounts operate; the competitive environment in which we operate; the quality of our products; our ability to develop and market new products to address our accounts’ rapidly changing technological needs; changes in capital markets and our ability to access financing on terms satisfactory to us or at all; and our ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully.

Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of the Company are included in the Company’s Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, which are on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

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, mining, and industrial facilities. Our offerings include MicroStation-based applications for modeling and simulation, ProjectWise for project delivery, AssetWise for asset and network performance, Seequent’s leading geosciences software portfolio, 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, iTwin, MicroStation, ProjectWise, and Seequent are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. All other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.}

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211109005628/en/