QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: July 17, 2001

ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

State of Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 0-26994
(Commission File Number) 94-2901952
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

301 Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94107
(Address of Principal Executive Office and Zip code)

(415) 543-7696
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
FORM 8-K

Item 5. Other Events

    On July 17, 2001 Advent Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), reported its preliminary operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001. The Company announced that revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001 increased to $41.9 million, from $32.7 million in the same quarter last year, fueled by a 34% increase in license revenue. Net income rose 41% to $8.2 million or $0.24 per share, compared with $5.8 million, or $0.17 per share, in the first quarter of 2000.

    For the six months ended June 30, 2001, revenues were $78.6 million, compared to revenues of $60.3 million for the first six months of 2000. Net income was up 47% to $14.2 million or $0.41 per share for the first half of 2001, compared with $9.7 million or $0.29 per share for the same period of 2000.

    The Company's unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2000, and unaudited consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2001 were reported as follows:

ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

			Quarter Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30
			2001		2000		2001		2000
			(unaudited)		(unaudited)		(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Revenues:
License and development fees			$	20,596	$	15,375	$	37,682	$	28,478
Maintenance and other recurring				16,337		12,338		31,275		23,221
Professional services and other				5,003		4,964		9,671		8,587
	Net revenues			41,936		32,677		78,628		60,286
Cost of revenues:
License and development fees				1,642		1,273		3,142		2,458
Maintenance and other recurring				4,101		3,259		7,982		6,369
Professional services and other				1,549		1,541		3,121		2,801
	Total cost of revenues			7,292		6,073		14,245		11,628
	Gross margin			34,644		26,604		64,383		48,658
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing				12,903		10,494		24,991		19,733
Product development				6,205		5,561		12,131		10,485
General and administrative				3,362		2,976		6,891		5,911
Amortization of intangibles				1,390		382		2,055		764
	Total operating expenses			23,860		19,413		46,068		36,893
		Income from operations		10,784		7,191		18,315		11,765
Interest and other income, net				1,645		1,604		3,262		2,964
		Income before income taxes		12,429		8,795		21,577		14,729
Provision for income taxes				4,225		2,990		7,335		5,008
		Net income	$	8,204	$	5,805	$	14,242	$	9,721
Net income per share data:
Basic:
Net income per share			$	0.26	$	0.19	$	0.46	$	0.33
Shares used in per share calculations				31,160		29,882		30,931		29,664
Diluted:
Net income per share			$	0.24	$	0.17	$	0.41	$	0.29
Shares used in per share calculations				34,719		34,103		34,437		33,948

ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

				June 30, 2001		December 31, 2000
				(unaudited)		(audited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash, cash equivalents, and short -term investments			$	159,684	$	152,432
	Accounts receivable, net				37,445		35,710
	Prepaid expenses and other				7,267		4,462
	Deferred income taxes				3,259		3,259
		Total current assets			207,655		195,863
Fixed assets, net					23,659		22,351
Other assets, net					52,773		27,487
Total assets				$	284,087	$	245,701
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable			$	1,061	$	855
	Accrued liabilities				9,330		10,224
	Deferred revenues				24,000		21,078
	Income taxes payable				8,269		2,712
		Total current liabilities			42,660		34,869
Long-term liabilities					1,536		1,231
		Total liabilities			44,196		36,100
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock				314		305
	Additional paid-in capital				170,149		154,070
	Retained earnings				69,398		55,156
	Cumulative other comprehensive income				30		70
		Total stockholders' equity			239,891		209,601
			Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	284,087	$	245,701

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

    None.

SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC.
	By:	/s/ Irv H. Lichtenwald Irv H. Lichtenwald Chief Financial Officer
Date: July 27, 2001

QuickLinks

Item 5. Other Events

ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
ADVENT SOFTWARE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

SIGNATURES