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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BcDUxcfzk0L8Lw1hXt+epTpd+T1lklOnIGwrVGpi5ZeIHUcHwQo0l1dDd5vC2+WD
 k45rprdQhj7t4SJliQtLug==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-017663.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-017663.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818165313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-017663
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASPEN TECHNOLOGY INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000929940
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES [7371]
		IRS NUMBER:				042739697
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEN CANAL PARK
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179491000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TEN CANAL PARK
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02141

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORP/MA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034196
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24786
		FILM NUMBER:		03853610

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179519400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b47504a1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000929940</issuerCik><issuerName>ASPEN TECHNOLOGY INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AZPN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001034196</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ADVENT INTERNATIONAL CORP/MA</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>75 STATE STREET, 29TH FL</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Member of group that&gt;10% owner</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></r
eportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30030000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnotes 4 and 5</value><footnoteId id="F4" /><footnoteId id="F5" /><footnoteId id="F6" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Warrant to purchase common stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerci
seDate><value>2003-08-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-08-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6006006</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>see footnotes 4 and 5</value><footnoteId id="F4" /><footnoteId id="F5" /><footnoteId id="F6" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Each of the Series D-1 shares is convertible into a number of shares of common stock equal to its stated value of $333.00 per share (subject to adjustment) divided by the conversion price of $3.33 per share (subject to adjustment).</footnote><footnote id="F2">Each of the Series D-1 shares is convertible into a number of shares of common stock equal to its stated value of $333.00 per share (subject to adjust
ment) divided by the conversion price of $3.33 per share (subject to adjustment).</footnote><footnote id="F3">Shares may be converted into common stock on a perpetual basis.</footnote><footnote id="F4">These securities are indirectly beneficially owned in the following capacities:  as General Partner of Advent Partners II Limited Partnership, Advent Partners GPE-III Limited Partnership, Advent Partners (NA) GPE-III Limited Partnership, Advent Partners DMC-III Limited Partnership, and Advent Partners GPE-IV Limited Partnership</footnote><footnote id="F5">and as General Partner of Advent International Limited Partnership, which in turn is General Partner of the following entities: Advent Energy II Limited Partnership, Advent PGGM Global Limited Partnership, Digital Media &amp; Communications III Limited Partnership, Digital Media &amp; Communications III-A Limited Partnership, Digital Media &amp; Communications III-B Limited Partnership, Digital Media &amp; Communications III-C Limited Partnership, Digital Med
ia &amp; Communications III-D C.V., Digital Media &amp; Communications III-E C.V., Global Private Equity III Limited Partnership, and Global Private Equity IV Limited Partnership</footnote><footnote id="F6">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares because the reporting person's indirect pecuniary interest is subject to indeterminable future events.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Janet L. Hennessy, Vice President</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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