Bentley Systems Announces Operating Results for the First Quarter of 2023

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY) (“Bentley Systems” or the “Company”), the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced operating results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

• Total revenues were $314.4 million, up 14.1% or 17.1% on a constant currency basis, year-over-year;
• Subscriptions revenues were $277.8 million, up 15.2% or 18.0% on a constant currency basis, year-over-year;
• Annualized Recurring Revenues (“ARR”) was $1,071.0 million as of March 31, 2023, representing a constant currency ARR growth rate of 13% from March 31, 2022;
• Last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate was 110%, compared to 108% for the same period last year;
• Operating income margin was 20.9%, compared to 20.5% for the same period last year;
• Adjusted operating income inclusive of stock-based compensation expense (“Adjusted OI w/SBC”) margin was 28.8%, compared to 28.4% for the same period last year;
• Net income per diluted share was $0.14, compared to $0.18 for the same period last year;
• Adjusted net income per diluted share (“Adjusted EPS”) was $0.25, consistent with the same period last year; and
• Cash flow from operations was $176.2 million, compared to $101.7 million for the same period last year.

CEO Greg Bentley said, “Our robust operating results for 23Q1 continue to demonstrate the resilience of our end-markets, the predictability of our accretive business model, and the consistency of our execution. Most notably, ARR growth (year-over-year business performance, in constant currency) accelerated to 13%. Among infrastructure sectors, the trends were consistent with the previous quarter, with very strong growth in resources, strong growth in public works / utilities, solid growth in industrial, and commercial / facilities flat. Application consumption seasonally regained growth momentum, and our E365 and Virtuosity initiatives continue their upward inflection.

For the most part regions performed as expected, with continued strong growth in India and continued solid growth in Europe, as well as solid growth in the Americas. In China this first quarter was better than in recent years, but our strategic shift there towards more localized indirect go-to-market structure, and to on-premise perpetual licenses, will lead to an increasing ARR headwind.

In sum, our strong start to 2023 serves to enhance confidence in our annual financial outlook.”

CFO Werner Andre said, “We believe our 2023 financial outlook is appropriately balanced between our favorable business momentum and a cautious approach towards China and the commercial / facilities sector, due to geopolitical and macro uncertainties. In our initial quarter with this as a key profitability metric, we met our expectations for Adjusted operating income inclusive of stock-based compensation expense margin. Moreover, 22Q4 timing shortfalls in our operating cash flows were fully offset in early 2023, resulting in 23Q1 being a strong cash flow quarter. However, given the current interest rate and tax environment, on a trailing twelve-month basis we anticipate cash flow from operations at an approximately 80% conversion rate from Adjusted EBITDA, consistent with prior guidance.”

Recent Financial Developments

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, to offset dilution from stock-based compensation, we spent approximately $20.9 million on de-facto share repurchases associated mainly with deferred compensation plan distributions.

Operating Results Call Details

Bentley Systems will host a live Zoom video webinar on May 9, 2023 at 8:15 a.m. Eastern time to discuss operating results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Those wishing to participate should access the live Zoom video webinar of the event through a direct registration link at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OZ8XitGTQ5mR60Ty0Xrc_g. 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this operating results press release, we sometimes refer to financial measures that are not presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Certain of these measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations; those rules require the supplemental explanations and reconciliations that are in Bentley Systems Form 8-K (Quarterly Earnings Release) furnished to the SEC.

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: adverse changes in global economic and/or political conditions; the impact of current and future sanctions, embargoes and other similar laws at the state and/or federal level that impose restrictions on our counterparties or upon our ability to operate our business within the subject jurisdictions; 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; our ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully; and our ability to identify and consummate future investments on terms satisfactory to us or at all.

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 Form 10-Qs, which are on file with the SEC. 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, powered by the iTwin Platform for infrastructure digital twins, include MicroStation and Bentley Open applications for modeling and simulation, Seequent’s software for geoprofessionals, and Bentley Infrastructure Cloud encompassing ProjectWise for project delivery, SYNCHRO for construction management, and AssetWise for asset operations. Bentley Systems’ 5,000 colleagues generate annual revenues of more than $1 billion in 194 countries.
www.bentley.com

© 2023 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the Bentley logo, AssetWise, Bentley Infrastructure Cloud, Bentley Open, iTwin, MicroStation, ProjectWise, Seequent, SYNCHRO, and Virtuosity, 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.

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	March 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	93,567		$	71,684
Accounts receivable		285,192			296,376
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(8,036	)		(9,303	)
Prepaid income taxes		21,169			18,406
Prepaid and other current assets		39,849			38,732
Total current assets		431,741			415,895
Property and equipment, net		33,038			32,251
Operating lease right-of-use assets		38,946			40,249
Intangible assets, net		283,969			292,271
Goodwill		2,247,797			2,237,184
Investments		32,010			22,270
Deferred income taxes		52,484			52,636
Other assets		68,037			72,249
Total assets	$	3,188,022		$	3,165,005
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	28,781		$	15,176
Accruals and other current liabilities		420,935			362,048
Deferred revenues		234,775			226,955
Operating lease liabilities		14,147			14,672
Income taxes payable		14,862			4,507
Current portion of long-term debt		6,250			5,000
Total current liabilities		719,750			628,358
Long-term debt		1,668,781			1,775,696
Deferred compensation plan liabilities		80,674			77,014
Long-term operating lease liabilities		26,651			27,670
Deferred revenues		15,972			16,118
Deferred income taxes		46,564			51,235
Income taxes payable		8,127			8,105
Other liabilities		7,313			7,355
Total liabilities		2,573,832			2,591,551
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		2,915			2,890
Additional paid-in capital		1,060,842			1,030,466
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(89,374	)		(89,740	)
Accumulated deficit		(360,897	)		(370,866	)
Non-controlling interest		704			704
Total stockholders’ equity		614,190			573,454
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,188,022		$	3,165,005

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2023			2022
Revenues:
Subscriptions	$	277,845		$	241,233
Perpetual licenses		9,547			10,205
Subscriptions and licenses		287,392			251,438
Services		27,019			24,079
Total revenues		314,411			275,517
Cost of revenues:
Cost of subscriptions and licenses		40,931			33,727
Cost of services		26,253			22,058
Total cost of revenues		67,184			55,785
Gross profit		247,227			219,732
Operating expense (income):
Research and development		67,800			61,273
Selling and marketing		52,141			45,945
General and administrative		46,807			51,154
Deferred compensation plan		4,146			(5,138	)
Amortization of purchased intangibles		10,548			9,906
Total operating expenses		181,442			163,140
Income from operations		65,785			56,592
Interest expense, net		(11,092	)		(6,748	)
Other income, net		289			10,347
Income before income taxes		54,982			60,191
Provision for income taxes		(9,492	)		(3,231	)
Loss from investments accounted for using the equity method, net of tax		—			(572	)
Net income	$	45,490		$	56,388
Per share information:
Net income per share, basic	$	0.15		$	0.18
Net income per share, diluted	$	0.14		$	0.18
Weighted average shares, basic		310,758,802			307,969,672
Weighted average shares, diluted		331,251,884			331,330,256

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2023			2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	45,490		$	56,388
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		18,057			17,212
Deferred income taxes		(4,178	)		9,042
Stock-based compensation expense		19,484			15,099
Deferred compensation plan		4,146			(5,138	)
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs		1,823			1,778
Change in fair value of derivative		4,489			(12,084	)
Foreign currency remeasurement loss		1,018			1,677
Other non-cash items, net		(4,411	)		(114	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		15,420			8,691
Prepaid and other assets		12,137			5,718
Accounts payable, accruals, and other liabilities		53,127			26,791
Deferred revenues		1,942			(12,515	)
Income taxes payable, net of prepaid income taxes		7,679			(10,814	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		176,223			101,731
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment and investment in capitalized software		(4,284	)		(4,176	)
Proceeds from sale of aircraft		—			2,380
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(10,299	)		(695,968	)
Purchases of investments		(6,178	)		(2,811	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(20,761	)		(700,575	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from credit facilities		117,139			563,912
Payments of credit facilities		(223,124	)		(123,696	)
Repayments from term loan		(1,250	)		(1,250	)
Payments of contingent and non-contingent consideration		(249	)		(2,721	)
Payments of dividends		(14,522	)		(8,528	)
Proceeds from stock purchases under employee stock purchase plan		4,557			4,611
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		4,202			2,768
Payments for shares acquired including shares withheld for taxes		(20,948	)		(35,117	)
Other financing activities		(46	)		(48	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(134,241	)		399,931
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		662			(807	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		21,883			(199,720	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		71,684			329,337
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	93,567		$	129,617

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)

Reconciliation of operating income to Adjusted OI w/SBC and to Adjusted operating income:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2023			2022
Operating income	$	65,785		$	56,592
Amortization of purchased intangibles		13,735			12,928
Deferred compensation plan		4,146			(5,138	)
Acquisition expenses		8,777			13,997
Realignment expenses (income)		(1,979	)		—
Adjusted OI w/SBC		90,464			78,379
Stock-based compensation expense		19,198			14,953
Adjusted operating income	$	109,662		$	93,332

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted net income:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2023						2022
	$			EPS^(1)			$			EPS^(1)
Net income	$	45,490		$	0.14		$	56,388		$	0.18
Non-GAAP adjustments, prior to income taxes:
Amortization of purchased intangibles		13,735			0.04			12,928			0.04
Stock-based compensation expense		19,198			0.06			14,953			0.05
Deferred compensation plan		4,146			0.01			(5,138	)		(0.02	)
Acquisition expenses		8,777			0.03			13,997			0.04
Realignment expenses (income)		(1,979	)		(0.01	)		—			—
Other income, net		(289	)		—			(10,347	)		(0.03	)
Total non-GAAP adjustments, prior to income taxes		43,588			0.13			26,393			0.08
Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments		(7,389	)		(0.02	)		(3,577	)		(0.01	)
Loss from investments accounted for using the equity method, net of tax		—			—			572			—
Adjusted net income^(2)(3)	$	81,689		$	0.25		$	79,776		$	0.25
Adjusted weighted average shares, diluted	331,251,884						331,330,256

_____________________________
(1)	Adjusted EPS was computed independently for each reconciling item presented; therefore, the sum of Adjusted EPS for each line item may not equal total Adjusted EPS due to rounding.
(2)	Total Adjusted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2022 has been corrected to reflect the dilutive effect of convertible senior notes.
(3)	Adjusted EPS numerator includes $1,717 and $1,695 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to interest expense, net of tax, attributable to the convertible senior notes using the if-converted method.

Reconciliation of cash flow from operations to Adjusted EBITDA:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2023			2022
Cash flow from operations	$	176,223		$	101,731
Cash interest		10,473			5,296
Cash taxes		6,033			5,968
Cash deferred compensation plan distributions		421			—
Cash acquisition expenses		11,053			17,466
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		(88,299	)		(33,139	)
Other^(1)		(1,920	)		294
Adjusted EBITDA	$	113,984		$	97,616

_____________________________
(1)	Includes (receipts) payments related to interest rate swap.

Explanation of Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

Constant currency

Constant currency and constant currency growth rates are non-GAAP financial measures that present our results of operations excluding the estimated effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We have operations outside the United States that are conducted in local currencies. As a result, the comparability of the financial results reported in U.S. dollars is affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We use constant currency and constant currency growth rates to evaluate the underlying performance of the business, and we believe it is helpful for investors to present operating results on a comparable basis period over period to evaluate its underlying performance.

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.

Recurring revenues

Recurring revenues are the basis for our other revenue-related key business metrics. We believe this measure is useful in evaluating our ability to consistently retain and grow our revenues from accounts with revenues in the prior period (“existing accounts”).

Recurring revenues are subscriptions 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.

Annualized recurring revenues (“ARR”)

ARR is a key business metric that we believe is useful in evaluating the scale and growth of our business as well as to assist in the evaluation of underlying trends in our business. Furthermore, we believe ARR, considered in connection with our last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate, is a leading indicator of revenue growth.

ARR is defined as the sum of the annualized value of our portfolio of contracts that produce recurring revenues 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, calculated using the spot foreign exchange rates. We believe that the last three months of recognized revenues, on an annualized basis, for our recurring software subscriptions with consumption measurement period durations of less than one year is a reasonable estimate of the annual revenues, given our consistently high retention rate and stability of usage under such subscriptions.

Constant currency ARR growth rate is the growth rate of ARR measured on a constant currency basis. Constant currency ARR growth rate from business performance excludes the ARR onboarding of our platform acquisitions and includes the impact from the ARR onboarding of programmatic acquisitions, which generally are immaterial, individually and in the aggregate. We believe these ARR growth rates are important metrics indicating the scale and growth of our business.

Last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate

Last twelve-month recurring revenues dollar-based net retention rate is a key business metric that we believe is useful in evaluating our ability to consistently retain and grow our recurring revenues.

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 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. Related to our platform acquisitions, recurring revenues into new accounts will be captured as existing accounts starting with the second anniversary of the acquisition when such data conforms to the calculation methodology. This may cause variability in the comparison.

Adjusted operating income inclusive of stock-based compensation expense (“Adjusted OI w/SBC”)

Adjusted OI w/SBC is a non-GAAP financial measure and is used to measure the operational strength and performance of our business, as well as to assist in the evaluation of underlying trends in our business.

Adjusted OI w/SBC is our primary performance measure, which excludes certain expenses and charges, including the non-cash amortization expense resulting from the acquisition of intangible assets, as we believe these may not be indicative of the Company’s core business operating results. We intentionally include stock-based compensation expense in this measure as we believe it better captures the economic costs of our business.

Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes, to evaluate financial performance, and in our comparison of our financial results to those of other companies. It is also a significant performance measure in certain of our executive incentive compensation programs.

Adjusted OI w/SBC is defined as operating income adjusted for the following: amortization of purchased intangibles, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, and realignment expenses (income), for the respective periods.

Adjusted OI w/SBC margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted OI w/SBC by total revenues.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure that we believe is useful to investors in making comparisons to other companies, although this measure may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

Adjusted operating income is defined as operating income adjusted for the following: amortization of purchased intangibles, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses (income), and stock-based compensation expense, for the respective periods.

Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS

Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures presenting the earnings generated by our ongoing operations that we believe is useful to investors in making meaningful comparisons to other companies, although these measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies, and period-over-period comparisons.

Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted for the following: amortization of purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation expense, expense (income) relating to deferred compensation plan liabilities, acquisition expenses, realignment expenses (income), other non-operating (income) expense, net, the tax effect of the above adjustments to net income, and (income) loss from investments accounted for using the equity method, net of tax, for the respective periods. The income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments was determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred, and represent both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP adjustments, including the tax effects of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Adjusted EPS is calculated as Adjusted net income, less net income attributable to participating securities, plus interest expense, net of tax, attributable to the convertible senior notes using the if-converted method, if applicable, (numerator) divided by Adjusted weighted average shares, diluted (denominator). Adjusted weighted average shares, diluted is calculated by adding incremental shares related to the dilutive effect of convertible senior notes using the if-converted method, if applicable, to weighted average shares, diluted.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is our liquidity measure in the context of conversion of Adjusted EBITDA to cash flow from operations (i.e., the ratio of GAAP cash flow from operations to Adjusted EBITDA). We believe this non-GAAP financial measure provides a meaningful measure of liquidity and a useful basis for assessing our ability to repay debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, and return capital to investors.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as cash flow from operations adjusted for the following: cash interest, cash taxes, cash deferred compensation plan distributions, cash acquisition expenses, changes in operating assets and liabilities, and other cash items (such as those related to our interest rate swap). From time to time, we may exclude from Adjusted EBITDA the impact of certain cash receipts or payments that affect period-to-period comparability.