Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

         This Security Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into effective as of
August 16, 2002 ("Effective Date") by and between Accenture LLP, an Illinois
general partnership registered as a limited liability partnership with an office
at 100 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 1300 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ("Accenture")
and Aspen Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation with an office at Ten Canal
Park, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141 ("AspenTech"). As used in this Amendment, a
"Party" may refer to either Accenture or AspenTech, and "Parties" refers to both
Accenture and AspenTech.

         WHEREAS, the Parties have previously entered into the Stock Issuance
Agreement for License Fees dated as of February 8, 2002 by and between the
Parties ("License Fee Agreement"), as amended, in which AspenTech agreed to
obtain certain developed products from Accenture and Accenture agreed to provide
such developed products on the terms set forth therein;

         WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1.3(b) of the License Fee Agreement,
AspenTech may elect to pay Accenture a total principal balance of $11,100,000.00
("Principal Amount") plus interest according to a schedule and terms as set
forth in the License Fee Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed and entered into amendments of even
date herewith to the Stock Issuance Agreement for License Fees, the Development
Agreement and Change Order, and the License Agreement (together the "Amended
Agreements");

         WHEREAS, AspenTech desires to secure its obligations to repay the
Principal Amount plus interest pursuant to terms set forth in the License Fee
Agreement by granting liens on certain collateral as set forth in this
Agreement; and

         FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the premises and mutual agreements in the
License Fee Agreement as amended and herein, Accenture and AspenTech agree as
follows:

         1.       In order to secure the full and prompt repayment of the
                  Principal Amount, or any unpaid portion thereof, plus interest
                  ("Outstanding Debt"), AspenTech hereby shall grant to
                  Accenture a lien on and security interest in the collateral
                  set forth in Exhibit A hereto ("Initial Collateral");

         2.       AspenTech shall use its good faith and best efforts to secure
                  a line of credit for an amount in excess of the Outstanding
                  Debt for its general business purposes from a qualified
                  lending institution or private lender ("Lender's Line of
                  Credit") and, in the event of and upon establishment of such
                  Lender's Line of Credit prior to the expiration of this
                  Agreement, AspenTech shall use best commercially reasonable
                  efforts to immediately issue a letter of credit to Accenture
                  in the amount of the Outstanding Debt ("Accenture Letter of
                  Credit"), which shall thereafter replace the Initial
                  Collateral such that the Outstanding Debt shall be thereafter
                  secured by the Accenture Letter of Credit;

         3.       If AspenTech has not established such Lender's Line of Credit
                  by December 31, 2002, then AspenTech shall grant to Accenture,
                  on a first priority basis, a lien and security interest in its
                  accounts receivables in such amount equal to 2 times of the
                  Outstanding Debt, which shall thereafter replace the Initial
                  Collateral such that the Outstanding Debt shall be thereafter
                  secured by the aforementioned amount of accounts receivables;

         4.       As long as the Principal Amount plus interest shall remain
                  outstanding and this Agreement has not terminated, Accenture
                  shall have the exclusive right, upon default by AspenTech of
                  the material provisions of the Amended Agreements, to enforce
                  the provisions of this Agreement and exercise remedies
                  hereunder in such manner as it may determine is

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                  reasonable, including without limitation, the rights to take
                  possession, sell or otherwise dispose of the Initial
                  Collateral or its subsequent replacement, to incur expenses
                  with respect to such possession, sale or disposition and to
                  exercise all rights and remedies as a secured lender under the
                  Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; and

         5.       This Agreement shall terminate upon full and final payment of
                  the Principal Amount plus interest according to the terms set
                  forth in the License Fee Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date above.

ACCENTURE LLP                                ASPEN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

By: /s/ DAVID A. CROW                        By: /s/ MARY A. PALERMO
    -----------------------------               -------------------------------
      (Authorized Signature)                          (Authorized Signature)

Name: David A. Crow                          Name: Mary A. Palermo
     ----------------------------                 -----------------------------
         (Printed or Typed)                             (Printed or Typed)

Title:         Partner                       Title: Co-Chief Operating Officer
      ---------------------------                   ---------------------------
                                                         (Printed or Typed)

                                       2

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                                    Exhibit A

Patents and software (including source code, object code, manuals, upgrades,
releases, and enhancements) wholly-owned by AspenTech subject however to liens
and encumbrances outstanding on the date hereof, if any, customer licensees,
third-party royalty agreements, software escrow agreements, and any and all
other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business.

                                       3<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 2

                                       to

                        5-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

          THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE 5-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (the
"Amendment") is made as of July 19, 2002 by and among THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
(the "Borrower"), BANK ONE, NA, in its capacity as contractual representative
(the "Administrative Agent") and SunTrust Bank, N.A. (the "New Lender") under
that certain 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 26, 2002 by and
among the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto, the Administrative
Agent, FLEET NATIONAL BANK and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as syndication agents (the
"Syndication Agents"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as
documentation agents (as amended, the "Credit Agreement"). Defined terms used
herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given to them in
the Credit Agreement.

                                   WITNESSETH

          WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent are parties to the
Credit Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, pursuant to SECTION 2.11(D) of the Credit Agreement, the
Borrower has requested that the Aggregate Commitment be increased from
$360,000,000 to $370,000,000;

          WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the New Lender
have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement to increase the Aggregate Commitment
to $370,000,000, and in connection therewith the New Lender has agreed to extend
a new Commitment in the amount of $10,000,000, in each case, on the terms and
conditions set forth herein;

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the
terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto have agreed to the following amendment to the Credit Agreement:

          1.   AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT. Effective as of July 19, 2002
(the "Effective Date") and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent set forth in SECTION 2 below, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
pursuant to SECTION 2.11(d) thereof to increase the Aggregate Commitment to
$370,000,000, and the Commitment of the New Lender shall be $10,000,000. From
and after the Effective Date, the New Lender shall be deemed to be a Lender for
all purposes under the Credit Agreement.

          2.   CONDITIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS. The effectiveness of this Amendment
is subject to the conditions precedent that the Administrative Agent shall have
received the following documents:

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     (a)  duly executed copies of this Amendment from each of the Borrower, the
          New Lender and the Administrative Agent, and duly executed
          acknowledgments from each of the Syndication Agents; and

     (b)  duly executed copies of a Reaffirmation in the form of EXHIBIT A
          attached hereto.

          3.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER. The Borrower
hereby represents and warrants as follows:

     3.1. This Amendment and the Credit Agreement as previously executed and as
          amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
          Borrower and are enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
          their terms (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
          insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor's
          rights generally).

     3.2. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment and after giving effect
          hereto, (i) the Borrower hereby reaffirms that all representations and
          warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement are correct
          in all material respects, as though made on and as of the date hereof
          (other than the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.5
          of the Credit Agreement, which shall only be made by the Borrower as
          of the date of the Credit Agreement), except to the extent any such
          representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier
          date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and
          correct on and as of such earlier date and (ii) no Default or
          Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing.

          4.   REFERENCE TO THE EFFECT ON THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

     4.1. Upon the effectiveness of SECTION 1 hereof, on and after the date
          hereof, each reference in the Credit Agreement or in any other Loan
          Document (including any reference therein to "this Credit Agreement,"
          "hereunder," "hereof," "herein" or words of like import referring
          thereto) shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as
          amended hereby.

     4.2. Except as specifically amended above, the Credit Agreement and all
          other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered
          in connection therewith, shall remain in full force and effect, and
          are hereby ratified and confirmed.

     4.3. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not
          operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the
          Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any
          provision of the Credit Agreement or any other documents, instruments
          and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

          5.   GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING 735 ILCS 105/5-1 ET SEQ., BUT
OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.

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          6.   HEADINGS. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein
for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this
Amendment for any other purpose.

          7.   COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of
the parties to the Amendment on any number of separate counterparts and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the
day and year first above written.

                                  THE TJX COMPANIES, INC., as the Borrower

                                  By: /s/ Mary B. Reynolds
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Mary B. Reynolds
                                  Title: Vice President - Finance, Treasurer

                                  BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago), as
                                  Administrative Agent

                                  By: /s/ Vincent R. Henchek
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Vincent R. Henchek
                                  Title: Director

                                  SunTrust Bank, N.A.

                                  By: /s/ Karen C. Copeland
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Karen C. Copeland
                                  Title: Vice President

Acknowledged as of the day and year first above written:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Syndication Agent

By: /s/ Charlotte Sohn Fuiks
   ------------------------------------
Name: Charlotte Sohn Fuiks
Title: Vice President

FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as a Syndication Agent

By: /s/ Linda Alto
   -----------------------------------
Name: Linda Alto
Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO 5-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
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EXHIBIT A

                                  REAFFIRMATION

          Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the
foregoing Amendment No. 2 to the 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
March 26, 2002 by and among The TJX Companies, Inc. (the "Borrower"), the
financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders"), Bank
One, NA, in its individual capacity as a Lender and in its capacity as
contractual representative (the "Administrative Agent"), FLEET NATIONAL BANK and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as syndication agents (the "Syndication Agents"), and BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A. and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as documentation agents (as the same
may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), which Amendment No. 2 is dated as of July __, 2002 (the
"Amendment"). Capitalized terms used in this Reaffirmation and not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. Without in
any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent, the
Syndication Agents or any Lender, each of the undersigned reaffirms the terms
and conditions of the Facility Guaranty and any other Loan Document executed by
it and acknowledges and agrees that such agreement and each and every such Loan
Document executed by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement
remains in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and
confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in the
above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so
modified by the Amendment and as the same may from time to time hereafter be
amended, modified or restated.

Dated:  July 19, 2002

T.J. MAXX OF CA, LLC                       MARSHALLS OF CA, LLC
T.J. MAXX OF IL, LLC                       MARSHALLS OF IL, LLC
MARMAXX OPERATING CORP.                    NBC TRUST
MARSHALLS OF MA, INC.
NBC OPERATING, LLC                         By: /s/ Mary B. Reynolds
MARSHALLS OF RICHFIELD, MN, INC.              ---------------------------------
NEWTON BUYING COMPANY OF CA, INC.          Name: Mary B. Reynolds
                                           Title: Treasurer

By: /s/ Mary B. Reynolds                   NBC FOURTH REALTY CORP.
   ---------------------------------       MARSHALL'S OF NEVADA, INC.
Name: Mary B. Reynolds
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                           By: /s/ Mary B. Reynolds
                                              ---------------------------------
                                           Name: Mary B. Reynolds
                                           Title: Vice President, Treasurer and
                                                  Secretary

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