content: <PAGE>
   
                        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    August 22, 1996
  
  
                                 -----------------
  
  
                                META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                      0-27040
                             (Commission File Number)
  
         California                            94-2654873
         (State or other jurisdiction of      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
          incorporation or organization)
  
  
                               1300 White Oaks Road
                              Campbell, CA 95008-6758
              (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
  
  
                                  (408) 369-5400
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5.   Other Events
  
         On August 22, 1996, Meta-Software, Inc., a California corporation (the
  "Company") announced the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
  whereby the Company would be acquired by Avant! Corporation.  Further details
  regarding this announcement are contained in the Company's press release dated
  August 22, 1996 attached as an exhibit hereto and incorporated by reference
  herein.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
         (c)  Exhibits.
  
         Exhibit 99   Meta-Software, Inc. Press Release dated August 22, 1996.
  <PAGE>
   
                                     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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                   META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
  
  Date:  September 13, 1996  By:   /s/ WILLIAM C. SMITH
                                  ---------------------
                                   William C. Smith
                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                   (Duly Authorized and Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)
  <PAGE>
   
                                META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
   
   
   Exhibit Number               Description              Sequential Page Number
  - ----------------  -----------------------------------  ----------------------
   
  <S>               <C>                                  <C>
  99                Press Release dated August 22, 1996
   
  </TABLE>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "META SOFTWARE INC", "cik": "0000724470", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "942654873", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27040", "film-number": "96630063"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1300 WHITE OAKS ROAD", "city": "CAMPBELL", "state": "CA", "zip": "95008", "phone": "4083685400"}, "mail-address": {"street2": "1300 WHITE OAKS ROAD", "city": "CAMPELL", "state": "CA", "zip": "95008"}}
text: 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    August 22, 1996
  
                                 -----------------
  
                                META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                      0-27040
                             (Commission File Number)
  
         California                            94-2654873
         (State or other jurisdiction of      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
          incorporation or organization)
  
                               1300 White Oaks Road
                              Campbell, CA 95008-6758
              (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)
  
                                  (408) 369-5400
  Item 5.   Other Events
  
         On August 22, 1996, Meta-Software, Inc., a California corporation (the
  "Company") announced the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
  whereby the Company would be acquired by Avant! Corporation.  Further details
  regarding this announcement are contained in the Company's press release dated
  August 22, 1996 attached as an exhibit hereto and incorporated by reference
  herein.
  
  Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
         (c)  Exhibits.
  
         Exhibit 99   Meta-Software, Inc. Press Release dated August 22, 1996.
  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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                   META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
  Date:  September 13, 1996  By:   /s/ WILLIAM C. SMITH
                                  ---------------------
                                   William C. Smith
                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                   (Duly Authorized and Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)
  META-SOFTWARE, INC.
  
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  Exhibit Number               Description              Sequential Page Number
  - ----------------  -----------------------------------  ----------------------
  99                Press Release dated August 22, 1996