Advent Software introduces a powerful, accessible, custom report writing module.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 1995--Advent Software Inc. has introduced Axys Report Writer, an easy-to-use report writing module that works with Axys, the firm's Windows-based portfolio management system.

With Axys Report Writer, Advent's 1100 plus Axys clients can now create their own reports in-house to meet the specialized needs of their firm and their clients.

"Investment professionals are handling growing volumes of business and, at the same time, they are required to give their clients increasingly personalized, customized service. Better, smarter technology is the only way they can keep ahead of these demands," said Stephanie DiMarco, Advent president and chief executive officer.

"We're putting more software tools, and more powerful tools, directly in the hands of our clients. Report Writer will enable them to design their own reports: they can select and order columns, change headings, sort and filter data, and more. And, it's very simple to use -- that is key, because our clients need to be able to use the tools, not just have them."

Advent anticipates investment professionals will use Axys Report Writer to sharpen their reports' presentation style and tailor content to answer each of their clients' interests and concerns. Axys users will be able to furnish their individual clients with highly customized service -- an advantage in the competition for increasingly demanding investor clients.

Axys Report Writer is also used internally to generate informational reports that support decision-making. Users can filter and sort data, run calculations, create ad hoc reports to help solve one-time issues, or design reference reports to be used regularly.

Advent client Tom Thomas of Thomas Lechlitner Asset Management Inc. said: "When my partner Norman Lechlitner and I began this firm, we consciously decided we'd sell customized service. That's how we differentiate ourselves. The Axys Report Writer helps us accomplish this.

"Most of our clients think we show them too much with standard reports -- but they all want to see different things. So we use the Report Writer to simplify the reports for each client -- to avoid overloading them with unnecessary information."

Brian Ferrantino, of Coast Asset Management said: "Axys is my introduction to Windows (I come from a DOS background) and I'm just getting into it. It's been very easy, particularly learning the Report Writer. I haven't even had to refer to the manual. I just work through it using the pull-down menus and on-line help. Simple."

Ferrantino said that his firm is already applying Axys Report Writer to internal reporting. "Many of the reports we used to create for the behind the scenes work -- the research that backs up our decisions -- were on Lotus 1-2-3," he said.

"We gather data from many different sources to give us what we want to know. Now the Report Writer makes that easy. The parsing feature lets us filter and sort through all our data and then consolidate it into information -- in one report."

Jack Griffin, Advent's V.P. of Marketing, commented on Axys Report Writers' reception among the firm's Axys clients: "Our clients are excited because they see immediately how Report Writer will take their own client service to a whole new level. They can create their own custom reports in hours, even minutes, instead of the weeks they would normally have to wait to commission a custom designed report.

"The time and money savings are considerable. They can use the reports to both make their current clients happier and to win new clients through better marketing presentation."

Advent Software provides software solutions for automating investment management. Investment professionals rely on Advent's systems to integrate portfolio accounting, trading and order management, client reporting, custom report writing, and performance measurement.

With more than 12,000 investment professionals at more than 2,800 firms managing over $750 billion in assets, Advent's solutions are the most widely used in the industry. Advent Software's clients include investment advisors, brokerage firms, banks, corporations, plan sponsors, insurance companies, foundations, and universities. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Axys is a trademark of Advent Software Inc. Windows is a trade mark of Microsoft Corp. and Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of the Lotus Development Corp.

CONTACT: Advent Software, San Francisco 

Laura Atkins, 415/543-7696