ADVENT SOFTWARE INC /DE/
S-3, 1998-03-24
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES
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As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March __, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form S-3
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                              ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                DELAWARE                           94-2901952
    (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation organization)           Identification Number)


                               301 Brannan Street
                             San Francisco, CA 94107
                                 (415) 543-7696
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)
                              
                              --------------------


                               IRV H. LICHTENWALD
                        Senior Vice President of Finance,
                      Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                     
                             ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
                               301 Brannan Street
                         San Francisco, California 94107
                                 (415) 543-7696
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                              --------------------

                             MARK A. BERTELSEN, ESQ.
                              DON S. WILLIAMS, ESQ.
                            MELISSA V. HOLLATZ, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                              --------------------
                                                                     
    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as
        practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================

                                     Proposed         Proposed
     Title of                        Maximum           Maximum
  Securities to   Amount to be    Offering Price      Aggregate     Amount of
  be Registered    Registered      Per Share(1)        Offering    Registration
                                                       Price (1)       Fee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, 
$0.01 par value        75,000       $42.19         $ 3,164,063       $ 934
================================================================================
(1)      Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) solely for the purpose of calculating
         the  registration  fee, based on the average of the high and low prices
         of the Registrant's Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on March
         18, 1998. 

     The Registrant  hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further  amendment  which  specifically  states  that  this  Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933 or until the  Registration  Statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.



<PAGE>



                                   PROSPECTUS

                                  75,000 Shares

                              ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
                              --------------------

                                  Common Stock
                                 $0.01 par value

                   -------------------------------------------

               This  Prospectus  relates  to the public  offering,  which is not
being  underwritten,  of shares of the common stock  ("Common  Stock") of Advent
Software,   Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation   (together  with  its  consolidated
subsidiaries,  "Advent"  or the  "Company")  offered  from  time  to time by the
Selling  Shareholders  named herein (the "Selling  Shareholders")  for their own
benefit.  It is anticipated that the Selling  Shareholders  will generally offer
shares of Common  Stock for sale at  prevailing  prices in the  over-the-counter
market on the date of sale.  The Company will receive no part of the proceeds of
sales made  hereunder.  The Common  Stock to which this  Prospectus  relates was
received by the Selling  Shareholders  pursuant to the acquisition of all of the
outstanding  capital stock of MicroEdge,  Inc., a New York  corporation,  by the
Company (the "Acquisition"). The Common Stock issued to the Selling Shareholders
in the  Acquisition  was issued  pursuant to an exemption from the  registration
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),
provided by Rule 506 of  Regulation  D  promulgated  under  Section  4(2) of the
Securities  Act. All expenses of  registration  incurred in connection with this
offering  are being borne by the  Company,  but all  selling and other  expenses
incurred by Selling Shareholder will be borne by such Selling Shareholder.  None
of the shares offered  pursuant to this Prospectus have been registered prior to
the filing of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.

     The Common  Stock of the  Company is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market
(Nasdaq  Symbol:  ADVS).  On April __, 1998,  the closing price of the Company's
Common Stock was $_______.

               See  "Risk  Factors"  beginning  on  page 4 for a  discussion  of
certain  factors that should be  considered  by  prospective  purchasers  of the
Common Stock offered hereby.

               The Selling  Shareholders and any broker executing selling orders
on  behalf of the  Selling  Shareholders  may be  deemed to be an  "underwriter"
within the  meaning of the  Securities  Act.  Commissions  received  by any such
broker may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act.

                   -------------------------------------------

    THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
       AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
         THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
               COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
                   THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                         CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                   -------------------------------------------

                 The date of this Prospectus is April __, 1998.



                                       -1-

<PAGE>



               No person is  authorized to give any  information  or to make any
representations,  other than those contained in this  Prospectus,  in connection
with the offering  described herein,  and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or the Selling  Shareholders.  This  Prospectus  does not constitute an offer to
sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these
securities  by any person in any  jurisdiction  in which it is unlawful for such
person to make such offer,  solicitation  or sale.  Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any  circumstances  create an
implication  that the  information  contained  herein is  correct as of any time
subsequent to the date hereof.

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

               The Company hereby  undertakes to provide  without charge to each
person to whom a copy of this  Prospectus  is  delivered,  upon  written or oral
request of any such person,  a copy of any and all of the  information  that has
been or may be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, other than exhibits
to such  documents  (unless  such  exhibits  are  specifically  incorporated  by
reference into such  documents).  Requests for such copies should be directed to
Advent Software,  Inc., 301 Brannan St., San Francisco, CA 94107, Attn: Investor
Relations (telephone (415) 543-7696).

               The   Company   is  subject   to  the   informational   reporting
requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"),  and in accordance  therewith files reports,  proxy  statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such
reports,  proxy statements and other  information may be inspected and copied at
the public  reference  facilities of the  Commission at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's  regional offices at Seven World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, and 500 West Madison Street,
Suite  1400,  Chicago,  Illinois  60661-2511.  Copies  of such  material  can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission,  450 Fifth Street,
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission  maintains a
Website  that  contains  reports,  proxy and  information  statements  and other
information  regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission.
The address of the site is  http://www.sec.gov.  The Common Stock of the Company
is  quoted  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market.  Reports,  proxy  and  information
statements and other information  concerning the Company may be inspected at The
Nasdaq Stock Market at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. Information,
as of particular dates,  concerning directors and officers of the Company, their
remuneration,  options granted to them, and the principal  holders of securities
of the  Company  has been  disclosed  in the  proxy  statements  distributed  to
shareholders of the Company and filed with the Commission.

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

               This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits,  referred to as the
"Registration  Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement,  certain parts of which are
omitted in accordance  with the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission.  For
further  information  with respect to the Company and the shares of Common Stock
offered  hereby,  reference  is  hereby  made  to  the  Registration  Statement.
Statements  contained  herein  concerning the provisions of any document are not
necessarily  complete,  and each such  statement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the copy of such document filed with the Commission.




                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

               The following  documents filed by the Company with the Commission
are hereby  incorporated  by reference  in this  Prospectus:  (i) the  Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997,  filed pursuant
to Section 13 of the Exchange Act; (ii) the  Company's  Proxy  Statement for the
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 30, 1998, filed pursuant
to Section 14 of the Exchange  Act; and (iii) the  description  of the Company's
Common Stock contained in its  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A as filed with
the Commission on October 18, 1995.

               All reports and other documents filed by the Company  pursuant to
Section  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus  and prior to the  termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such reports and documents. Any statement incorporated herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this  Prospectus to the extent that
a statement  contained herein or in any other  subsequently filed document which
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed,  except as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of this
Prospectus.


                                   THE COMPANY

               Advent  Software,  Inc. is a leading  provider of stand-alone and
client/server  software  products,  data  interfaces  and related  services that
automate  and  integrate  certain   mission-critical   functions  of  investment
management  organizations.  Advent's  suite of  complementary  products  for the
front,  middle  and  back  office  include  Advent's  portfolio  accounting  and
management  systems;  a trading and order management system; a client management
system; and an automated transaction and position  reconciliation  system. These
products address the need to facilitate the management of increasingly large and
complex   information   and  data  flows  both  within   investment   management
organizations  and  between  such  organizations  and  third  parties,  such  as
brokerage firms,  clients,  custodians,  banks,  pricing services and other data
providers.  Advent's  products are designed to reduce client costs,  improve the
accuracy of client information, and generally enable clients to devote more time
to improving the service they provide to their customers rather than focusing on
operational   details.   Advent's   strategy  is  to  develop  long-term  client
relationships and to maintain a high level of lifetime client satisfaction which
Advent  believes will result in additional  recurring  revenues from new product
licenses,  renewals of maintenance  contracts and the  introduction  of new data
products.

               Advent's  clients include many of the world's leading  investment
management organizations. These organizations vary significantly in size, assets
under  management  and the  complexity  of  their  investment  environments.  At
present,  Advent has  licensed  its  products to over 4,500  institutions  in 22
countries for use by more than 25,000 concurrent users.

Recent Developments

               In February  1998,  Advent  acquired  MicroEdge,  Inc., a private
company  based  in New  York,  New  York,  for  stock  valued  at  approximately
$8,737,500,  based upon  multiplying  the number of shares issued by the average
closing  price  of the  shares  for the  five  days  prior  to the  close of the
transaction. The transaction was accounted for as a pooling.

               Advent was founded in 1983. Its principal  executive  offices are
located at 301 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, and its telephone number
at that  location  is (415)  543-7696.  As used in this  Prospectus,  the  terms
"Advent" and the "Company" refer to Advent  Software,  Inc. and its consolidated
subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated.

               Advent  and the  Advent  logo are  registered  trademarks  of the
Company.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This  Prospectus  and the  documents  incorporated  herein by  reference
contain  forward-looking   statements  that  have  been  made  pursuant  to  the
provisions  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of  1995.  Such
forward-looking  statements  are based on current  expectations,  estimates  and
projections about the Company's industry,  management's beliefs, and assumptions
made by management.  Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans,"
"believes,"  "seeks,"  "estimates"  and  variations  of such  words and  similar
expressions  are intended to identify  such  forward-looking  statements.  These
statements are not guarantees of future  performance  and are subject to certain
risks,  uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict;  therefore,
actual results may differ  materially  from those expressed or forecasted in any
such  forward-looking  statements.  Such risks and  uncertainties  include those
noted in the documents incorporated herein by reference. Unless required by law,
the Company  undertakes  no obligation  to update  publicly any  forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information,  future events or otherwise.
However,   investors   should  carefully  review  the  risk  factors  and  other
information  set forth in the reports and other documents the Company files from
time to time with the Commission.

                                  RISK FACTORS

        In addition to reviewing  the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the other documents incorporated herein
by reference and the other information in this Prospectus, the following factors
should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business before
purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby:

        Period to Period  Fluctuations.  As Advent's  licenses  into  multi-user
networked  environments  have increased both in individual size and number,  the
timing and size of individual  license  transactions  are becoming  increasingly
important factors in Advent's quarterly operating results.  The sales cycles for
transactions of this size are often lengthy and  unpredictable.  There can be no
assurance  that Advent will be successful in closing large license  transactions
such as  these  on a  timely  basis  or at all.  Accordingly,  if in the  future
revenues from large site licenses  constitute a material portion of Advent's net
revenues,  the timing of such licenses  could cause  additional  variability  in
Advent's quarterly  operating results.  Advent's software products typically are
shipped shortly after receipt of a signed license  agreement and initial payment
and,  consequently,  software  product  backlog at the  beginning of any quarter
typically  represents only a small portion of that quarter's  expected revenues.
Advent's expense levels are based in significant  part on Advent's  expectations
of future revenues and therefore are relatively  fixed in the short term. Due to
the fixed  nature of these  expenses  combined  with the  relatively  high gross
margin   historically   achieved  by  Advent  on  products  and   services,   an
unanticipated  decline in net  revenues in any  particular  quarter is likely to
disproportionately adversely affect operating results.

        Advent  generally has realized  lower  revenues from license fees in the
first  quarter of the year than in the  immediately  preceding  quarter.  Advent
believes that this has been due primarily to the  concentration  by some clients
of larger capital purchases in the fourth quarter of the calendar year and their
lower  purchasing  activity during the subsequent  first quarter,  compounded by
Advent's annual incentive  compensation plans which result in increased year-end
sales activity.  Furthermore,  Advent has often recognized a substantial portion
of its license revenues in the last month of a quarter.

        Due to all of the  foregoing  factors,  Advent  believes  that period to
period  comparisons of its operating results are not necessarily  meaningful and
that such comparisons cannot be relied upon as indicators of future performance.

        Advent's  stock  price has  fluctuated  significantly  since the initial
public  offering in November  1995.  Like many  companies in the  technology and
emerging   growth   sector,   Advent's  stock  price  may  be  subject  to  wide
fluctuations.  If net  revenues  or  earnings  in any  quarter  fail to meet the
investment  community's  expectations,  there  could be an  immediate  impact on
Advent's  stock price.  In addition,  the stock price may be affected by broader
market trends unrelated to Advent's performance.

        Product  Concentration.  During 1995,  1996 and 1997,  Advent  derived a
substantial  majority of its net revenues from the licensing of Axys and related
products and services.  In addition,  many of Advent's other  products,  such as
Moxy,  Qube and various data  interfaces,  were designed to operate with Axys to
provide an integrated solution.  As a result, Advent believes that a majority of
its net revenues, at least through 1998, will be dependent upon continued market
acceptance of Axys,  enhancements  or upgrades to Axys and related  products and
services.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



        Geneva. In 1995, Advent introduced Geneva to target  organizations  with
complex  international  accounting  and  reporting  requirements,  and, in 1997,
announced  its full  commercial  availability.  To date,  revenues  derived from
licenses of Geneva have not been  material.  Advent is  directing a  significant
amount of its product  development  expenditures to the on-going  development of
Geneva  and  plans to  devote a  significant  amount  of its  future  sales  and
marketing  resources  to Geneva.  Advent has limited  experience  in  developing
products for this market.  Because of such limited client experience,  there can
be no assurance that Geneva will not require substantial  software  enhancements
or modifications to satisfy performance requirements of clients or to fix design
defects or previously undetected errors. Further, there can be no assurance that
Advent will be successful in marketing Geneva.  Advent's failure to successfully
market Geneva could adversely affect Advent's business and operating results.

        Internet  Initiative.  To take  advantage  of the  Internet,  Advent has
launched  an  Internet  Initiative  whereby  it  is  developing  services,  both
announced and  unannounced,  to bring  Internet  based  products and services to
clients.  The first of these  services,  Rex,  was  launched  during  the second
quarter of 1997. As Advent begins development of new products and services under
its  Internet  Initiative,  it has and will  continue to enter into  development
agreements with information  providers,  clients, or other companies in order to
accelerate the delivery of new products and services.  There can be no assurance
that Advent will be successful in marketing Rex or in developing  other Internet
services. Advent's failure to do so could adversely affect Advent's business and
operating results.

        New  Products and Product  Enhancements.  Advent's  future  success will
continue to depend upon its ability to develop  new  products  that  address the
future needs of its target markets and to respond to emerging industry standards
and  practices.  Delays  in the  commencement  of  commercial  shipments  of new
products or enhancements may result in client  dissatisfaction and delay or loss
of product revenues.  In addition,  Advent's ability to develop new products and
product  enhancements is dependent upon the products of other software  vendors,
including  certain  system  software  vendors,  such as  Microsoft  Corporation,
database vendors and development tool vendors. In the event that the products of
such vendors have design defects or flaws, or if such products are  unexpectedly
delayed  in  their  introduction,   Advent's  business,  operating  results  and
financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

        Financial  Markets.  The target clients for Advent's  products include a
range of organizations that manage investment  portfolios,  including investment
advisors,  brokerage firms,  banks and hedge funds. In addition,  Advent targets
corporations, public funds, universities and non-profit organizations which also
manage  investment  portfolios  and have many of the same needs.  The success of
many of Advent's clients is intrinsically  linked to the health of the financial
markets.   Advent   believes   that   demand   for   its   products   could   be
disproportionately  affected  by  fluctuations,   disruptions,   instability  or
downturns in the financial markets which may cause clients and potential clients
to exit the  industry or delay,  cancel or reduce any planned  expenditures  for
investment management systems and software products.

        Relationship  with  Interactive  Data.  Many  of  Advent's  clients  use
Advent's proprietary interface to electronically retrieve pricing and other data
from  Interactive  Data.  Interactive  Data pays  Advent a  commission  based on
Interactive  Data's  revenues  from  providing  such  data to  Advent's  client.
Advent's   software   products  have  been  customized  to  be  compatible  with
Interactive  Data's  system and such  software  would need to be  redesigned  if
Interactive  Data's services were unavailable for any reason.  In the event that
Advent's  relationship  with  Interactive  Data were  terminated or  Interactive
Data's services were unavailable to Advent's  clients for any reason,  replacing
these services could be costly and time consuming.

        Competition.  The market for investment management software is segmented
by the relative size of the organizations that manage investment portfolios.  In
addition,  the  market in each  segment  is  intensely  competitive  and  highly
fragmented,  subject  to  rapid  change  and  highly  sensitive  to new  product
introductions   and  marketing  efforts  by  industry   participants.   Advent's
competitors  include  providers  of  software  and  related  services as well as
providers of timeshare  services.  Competitors  vary in size,  scope of services
offered and platforms  supported.  In addition,  Advent competes indirectly with
existing and  potential  clients,  many of whom  develop  their own software for
their  particular  needs and  therefore  may be  reluctant  to license  software
products  offered  by  independent  vendors  such as  Advent.  Many of  Advent's
competitors have longer operating  histories and greater  financial,  technical,
sales and marketing resources than Advent. There can be no assurance that Advent
will be able to compete  successfully  against current and future competitors or
that  competitive  pressures  will  not  result  in  price  reductions,  reduced
operating  margins and loss of market share,  any one of which could  materially
adversely affect Advent's business, operating results and financial condition.



                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

        The following  table shows, as of the date of this  Prospectus,  (i) the
name of the  Selling  Shareholders,  (ii) the  number of shares of Common  Stock
beneficially  owned prior to the offering,  (iii) the number of shares of Common
Stock to be sold by the Selling  Shareholders  pursuant to this  Prospectus  and
(iv) the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering:


                          Shares                       
                        Beneficially      Shares to be           Shares
                       Owned Prior to     Sold in the      Beneficially Owned 
Name                      Offering         Offering       After the Offering (1)
- ------------------   ---------------    --------------   -----------------------
Ximena Florez (2)           38,250           38,250                 0
Dov Torenberg (3)           36,750           36,750                 0
- ------------------
(1)  The  Selling  Shareholders  own less than 1% of the  outstanding  shares of
     Common Stock of the Company.  
(2)  Ms. Florez is currently a Vice President, Sales and Marketing of MicroEdge,
     Inc.,. a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
(3)  Mr.  Torenberg is currently  President of MicroEdge,  Inc., a  wholly-owned
     subsidiary of the Company.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Company  has been  advised by the  Selling  Shareholders  that they
intend to sell all or a portion of the shares  offered  hereby from time to time
in the over-the-counter  market and that sales will be made at prices prevailing
at the times of such sales. The Selling Shareholders may also make private sales
directly or through a broker or brokers,  who may act as agent or as  principal.
In  connection  with  any  sales,  the  Selling  Shareholders  and  any  brokers
participating in such sales may be deemed to be underwriters  within the meaning
of the Securities Act. The Company will receive no part of the proceeds of sales
made hereunder.

         Any  broker-dealer  participating  in such  transactions  as agent  may
receive commissions from the Selling Shareholders (and, if they act as agent for
the  purchaser  of such  shares,  from  such  purchaser).  Usual  and  customary
brokerage  fees will be paid by the  Selling  Shareholders.  Broker-dealers  may
agree with the Selling  Shareholders  to sell a specified  number of shares at a
stipulated price per share, and, to the extent such a broker-dealer is unable to
do so acting as agent for the Selling Shareholders, to purchase as principal any
unsold shares at the price required to fulfill the  broker-dealer  commitment to
the Selling  Shareholders.  Broker-dealers  who acquire  shares as principal may
thereafter  resell  such  shares  from time to time in  transactions  (which may
involve cross and block  transactions and which may involve sales to and through
other broker-dealers,  including  transactions of the nature described above) in
the over-the-counter  market, in negotiated  transactions or otherwise at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection
with such  resales  may pay to or receive  from the  purchasers  of such  shares
commissions computed as described above.

         The   Company  has   advised   the   Selling   Shareholders   that  the
anti-manipulation  rules of  Regulation M under the  Exchange  Act, may apply to
their sales in the market, has furnished the Selling Shareholders with a copy of
these Rules and has informed the Selling  Shareholders  of the need for delivery
of copies  of this  Prospectus.  The  Selling  Shareholders  may  indemnify  any
broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares
against certain liabilities,  including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act. Any  commissions  paid or any discounts or concessions  allowed to any such
broker-dealers,  and any profits  received on the resale of such shares,  may be
deemed to be underwriting  discounts and commissions under the Securities Act if
any such broker-dealers purchase shares as principal.

         Upon  notification by the Selling  Shareholders to the Company that any
material  arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of
shares through a cross or block trade, a supplemental  prospectus  will be filed
under  Rule  424(c)  under  the  Securities  Act  setting  forth the name of the
participating  broker-dealer(s),  the  number of shares  involved,  the price at
which such shares were sold by the Selling Shareholders, the commissions paid or
discounts  or  concessions   allowed  by  the  Selling   Shareholders   to  such
broker-dealer(s),  and  where  applicable,  that such  broker-dealer(s)  did not
conduct any investigation to verify the information set out in this Prospectus.

         Any  securities  covered  by this  Prospectus  which  qualify  for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under that Rule rather
than pursuant to this Prospectus.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



         There can be no assurance that the Selling  Shareholders  will sell any
or all of the shares of Common Stock offered by them hereunder.

                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  limits the liability of
directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides
that  directors  of a  corporation  will not be  personally  liable for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors,  except for liability
(i)  for  any  breach  of  their  duty  of  loyalty  to the  corporation  or its
stockholders,  (ii)  for acts or  omissions  not in good  faith or that  involve
intentional  misconduct  or a  knowing  violation  of law,  (iii)  for  unlawful
payments of dividends or unlawful  stock  repurchases or redemptions as provided
in Section 174 of the Delaware Code, or (iv) for any transaction  from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.

         The  Company's  Bylaws  provide that the Company  shall  indemnify  its
directors  and  executive  officers  and may  indemnify  its other  officers and
employees and other agents to the fullest  extent  permitted by law. The Company
believes that  indemnification  under its Bylaws covers at least  negligence and
gross negligence on the part of indemnified  parties.  The Company's Bylaws also
permit  the  Company to secure  insurance  on behalf of any  officer,  director,
employee or other agent for any  liability  arising out of his or her actions in
such capacity, regardless of whether the Bylaws would permit indemnification.

         The Company has entered into  agreements to indemnify its directors and
officers,  in addition to indemnification  provided for in the Company's Bylaws.
These  agreements,  among other things,  indemnify  the Company's  directors and
officers for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines and
settlement  amounts  incurred  by any such  person in any action or  proceeding,
including  any  action by or in the right of the  Company,  arising  out of such
person's services as a director or officer of the Company, any subsidiary of the
Company or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services
at the request of the Company.  The Company  believes that these  provisions and
agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

         The Company  understands  that the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission is of the opinion that statutory,  charter and contractual provisions
as are  described  above  have no  effect on claims  arising  under the  federal
securities laws.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The  validity  of the shares of Common  Stock  offered  hereby  will be
passed upon for the Company by Wilson  Sonsini  Goodrich & Rosati,  Professional
Corporation, Palo Alto, California.


                                     EXPERTS

         The  consolidated  balance sheet as of December 31, 1995 and 1996,  and
the consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the three  years in the period  ended  December  31,  1996,  and the
related consolidated financial statement schedule,  incorporated by reference to
the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K,  have been  incorporated  herein by
reference  in reliance on the reports of Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.,  independent
accountants,  given on the authority of that firm as experts in  accounting  and
auditing.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                              ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3


                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 Item
Number
- ------

Item 14            Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.*
                   -------------------------------------------

                   The following table sets forth costs and expenses of the sale
and  distribution  of  the  securities  being  registered.  All  amounts  except
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  and Nasdaq  Stock Market  Listing fees are
estimates.


Registration fee--Securities and Exchange Commission....     $    934.00
Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Fee.........................     $  5,000.00
Accounting fees.........................................     $ 10,000.00
Legal fees..............................................     $ 15,000.00
Miscellaneous...........................................     $     66.00

Total...................................................     $ 31,000.00

- --------------------------------------------

*    Represents   expenses   relating  to  the   distribution   by  the  Selling
     Shareholders  pursuant to the  Prospectus  prepared in accordance  with the
     requirements  of Form S-3.  These  expenses will be borne by the Company on
     behalf of the Selling Shareholders.

Item 15            Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
                   -----------------------------------------

                   See "Indemnification of Directors and Officers."

Item 16            Exhibits.
                   --------
                   Exhibit
                   Number
                   ------

                    2.1  Stock Purchase Agreement  (incorporated by reference to
                         the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated March 13, 1998)

                    4.1  Restated Articles of Incorporation,  as amended, of the
                         Company  (incorporated  by reference  to the  Company's
                         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
                         31, 1997)

                    4.2  Amended   and   Restated    Bylaws   of   the   Company
                         (incorporated  by  reference  to the  Company's  Annual
                         Report on Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,
                         1997)

                    5.1  Opinion of counsel as to securities being registered

                    23.1 Consent  of  Coopers  &  Lybrand,  L.L.P.,  Independent
                         Accountants




                                      II-1

<PAGE>



                    23.2 Consent of Wilson Sonsini  Goodrich & Rosati  (included
                         in Exhibit 5.1)

                    24.1 Power of Attorney (contained on Page II-4)





                                      II-2

<PAGE>



Item 17            Undertakings.

                   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                   (1) To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are
being made, a  post-effective  amendment to this  registration  statement (i) to
include any  prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of the  Securities Act of
1933,  (ii) to reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration  statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment  thereof)  which,   individually  or  in  the  aggregate  represent  a
fundamental  change in the information set forth in the registration  statement,
and (iii) to  include  any  material  information  with  respect  to the plan of
distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration  statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement.

                   (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability under
the Securities  Act, each  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                   (3) To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

                   The  undersigned  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the registration  statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities as that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                   The undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes to deliver or
cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus
is sent  or  given,  the  latest  annual  report  to  security  holders  that is
incorporated  by  reference  in the  prospectus  and  furnished  pursuant to and
meeting  the  requirements  of Rule  14a-3 or Rule  14c-3  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim  financial  information  required to be
presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus,  to
deliver,  or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent
or given,  the latest  quarterly  report that is  specifically  incorporated  by
reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

                   Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against  public policy as expressed in the  Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-3

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



               Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant,  Advent Software,  Inc., a corporation  organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware,  certifies  that it has  reasonable  cause to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco,  State of
California, on the 24th day of March, 1998.


                                                           ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.


                                       By: /s/ Irv H. Lichtenwald
                                           ---------------------------------
                                      Irv H. Lichtenwald, Senior Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Secretary


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


               KNOW ALL  PERSONS  BY  THESE  PRESENTS  that  each  person  whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephanie G. DiMarco and Irv H.
Lichtenwald, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact,  each with the
power of  substitution,  for him or her in any and all  capacities,  to sign any
amendment to this Registration Statement on Form S-3, and to file the same, with
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that
each of said attorneys-in-fact,  or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration  Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.




SIGNATURE                            TITLE                          DATE      
- -------------------------------    --------------------------    ---------------
/s/ Stephanie G. DiMarco            Chairman of the Board         March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------        and Chief Executive
Stephanie G. DiMarco                 Officer (Principal 
                                     Executive Officer)

/s/ Irv H. Lichtenwald                Senior Vice President,      March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------        Chief Financial Officer
Irv H. Lichtenwald                   and Secretary (Principal
                                       Financial and
                                       Accounting Officer)

/s/ Frank H. Robinson                Director                     March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------
Frank H. Robinson

/s/ Wendell G. Van Auken             Director                     March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------
Wendell G. Van Auken

/s/ William F. Zuendt                Director                     March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------
William F. Zuendt

/s/ Monte Zweben                     Director                     March 24, 1998
- -----------------------------
Monte Zweben

<PAGE>
                                                                               
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
on  Form  S-3  of our  report  dated  January  23,  1997  on  our  audit  of the
consolidated  financial  statements of Advent Software,  Inc. as of December 31,
1996 and 1995,  and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1996,  which report is  incorporated by reference from the 1996 Annual Report of
Advent  Software,  Inc.,  and our report dated January 23, 1997, on our audit of
the consolidated  financial  statement  schedule which report is incorporated by
reference  from the Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
1996. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts."





                                                    /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

                                                        COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.



San Jose, California
March 23, 1998


                                      II-4

<PAGE>
















                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


             ------------------------------------------------------

                                    EXHIBITS
             ------------------------------------------------------


                       Registration Statement on Form S-3

                              ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.



<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit
Number


     4.1  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation,  as  amended,  of  the  Company
          (incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the year ended December 31, 1997)

     4.2  Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company  (incorporated by reference
          to the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
          December 31, 1997)

     5.1  Opinion of counsel as to securities being registered

     23.1 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand,  L.L.P.,  Independent  Accountants  (see
          Page II-5)

     23.2 Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (included in Exhibit 5.1)

     24.1 Power of Attorney (see Page II-3)



<PAGE>


                                   Exhibit 5.1
                               OPINION OF COUNSEL

                                 March 24, 1998


<PAGE>

Advent Software, Inc.
301 Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94107

               Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

               We have  examined  the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 to be
filed by you with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on or about March 24,
1998 (the  "Registration  Statement") in connection with the registration  under
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  of a total of 75,000  shares of your
Common  Stock,  $0.01 par value  (the  "Shares"),  all of which are  issued  and
outstanding  and  to be  offered  for  sale  for  the  benefit  of  the  selling
Shareholders.  The  Shares  are to be sold  from  time  to time in the  over-the
counter-market   at  prevailing   prices  or  as  otherwise   described  in  the
Registration  Statement.  As legal  counsel for Advent  Software,  Inc., we have
examined the  proceedings  taken and  proposed to be taken by you in  connection
with the sale of the Shares.

               It is our opinion that the Shares are legally and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

               We  consent  to the  use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement,  including the prospectus  constituting a part thereof,
and  further  consent  to  the  use of  our  name  wherever  it  appears  in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                                                               Very truly yours,

                                                WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                        Professional Corporation



<PAGE>




                                  Exhibit 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

                                 (See page II-5)



<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit 23.2
                              
                               CONSENT OF COUNSEL
                               
                               (See Exhibit 5.1)


<PAGE>






                                  Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                                 (see page II-3)





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