content: <PAGE>
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                        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 (Date of earliest event reported)       November 2, 2000
                                                         ------------------------
  
                               Portal Software, Inc.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
            Delaware                   000-25829                 77-0369737
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission              (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)              File Number)           Identification No.)
  
  10200 South De Anza Boulevard, Cupertino, California                  95014
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (408) 572-2000
                                                              -------------------
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
  
  ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
  
  Item 2(a).  Date, Manner and Description of Transaction.
  
  On November 2, 2000, Portal Software, Inc. acquired solution42 AG, a German
  company, pursuant to an Investment Agreement dated the same date (a copy of
  which is being filed herewith as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K).
  In connection with this acquisition, Portal's newly created German subsidiary
  issued ordinary shares to the shareholders of solution42 in exchange for all of
  the outstanding shares of solution42; these shares of Portal's German subsidiary
  may be exchanged for up to 7,500,000 shares of Portal common stock pursuant to
  an option Portal granted to the shareholders of solution42 in the Investment
  Agreement. Portal also has the option under certain circumstances, to force such
  an exchange. 681,812 of the 7,500,000 shares of Portal common stock which are
  issuable in connection with the acquisition are subject to an earn-out which is
  contingent upon retention of solution42's key employees for two years. The earn-
  out is proportionately reduced for each such employee that leaves the employ of
  Portal prior to the end of such two year period. This acquisition will be
  accounted for by Portal as a purchase. Portal will take a one-time charge for
  purchased in-process research and development expenses and certain acquisition
  costs in the fourth quarter of its 2001 fiscal year.
  
  The foregoing description of the Investment Agreement and the transactions
  contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
  entirety by reference to the full text of such document.  A copy of the
  Investment Agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
       Item 7(a).  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
            The required financial information of solution42 AG will be filed by
            Portal Software by amendment within the prescribed time period.
  
       Item 7(b).  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
            The required financial information of solution42 AG will be filed by
            Portal Software by amendment within the prescribed time period.
  
       Item 7(c).  Exhibits.  The following exhibits are being filed with this
       Current Report on Form 8-K:
  
            Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------
  
            2.1            Investment Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by
                           and among Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH and the
                           shareholders of solution42 AG.
  
            2.2            Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by and among
                           Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH, Arno Schlosser,
                           as Shareholder Agent for the shareholders of solution42
                           AG, and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Escrow
                           Agent.
  
            99.1           Press release issued by Portal Software, Inc. on
                           November 2, 2000.
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    SIGNATURES
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated:  November 9, 2000
  
                                   PORTAL SOFTWARE, INC.
  
                                   By:   /s/   Jack L. Acosta
                                      -----------------------------------
                                         Jack L. Acosta
                                         Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  
            Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------
  
            2.1            Investment Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by
                           and among Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH and the
                           shareholders of solution42 AG.
  
            2.2            Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by and among
                           Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH, Arno Schlosser,
                           as Shareholder Agent for the shareholders of solution42
                           AG, and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Escrow
                           Agent.
  
            99.1           Press release issued by Portal Software, Inc. on
                           November 2, 2000.
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6326}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PORTAL SOFTWARE INC", "cik": "0001080306", "assigned-sic": "7371", "irs-number": "77036737", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0131"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-25829", "film-number": "758031"}, "business-address": {"street1": "20883 STEVENS CREEK BLVD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014", "phone": "4083434400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "20883 STEVENS CREEK BLVD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014"}}
text: UNITED STATES
                        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 (Date of earliest event reported)       November 2, 2000
                                                         ------------------------
  
                               Portal Software, Inc.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
            Delaware                   000-25829                 77-0369737
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission              (IRS Employer
       of Incorporation)              File Number)           Identification No.)
  
  10200 South De Anza Boulevard, Cupertino, California                  95014
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (408) 572-2000
                                                              -------------------
  
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
  
  Item 2(a).  Date, Manner and Description of Transaction.
  
  On November 2, 2000, Portal Software, Inc. acquired solution42 AG, a German
  company, pursuant to an Investment Agreement dated the same date (a copy of
  which is being filed herewith as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K).
  In connection with this acquisition, Portal's newly created German subsidiary
  issued ordinary shares to the shareholders of solution42 in exchange for all of
  the outstanding shares of solution42; these shares of Portal's German subsidiary
  may be exchanged for up to 7,500,000 shares of Portal common stock pursuant to
  an option Portal granted to the shareholders of solution42 in the Investment
  Agreement. Portal also has the option under certain circumstances, to force such
  an exchange. 681,812 of the 7,500,000 shares of Portal common stock which are
  issuable in connection with the acquisition are subject to an earn-out which is
  contingent upon retention of solution42's key employees for two years. The earn-
  out is proportionately reduced for each such employee that leaves the employ of
  Portal prior to the end of such two year period. This acquisition will be
  accounted for by Portal as a purchase. Portal will take a one-time charge for
  purchased in-process research and development expenses and certain acquisition
  costs in the fourth quarter of its 2001 fiscal year.
  
  The foregoing description of the Investment Agreement and the transactions
  contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
  entirety by reference to the full text of such document.  A copy of the
  Investment Agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
  
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  
       Item 7(a).  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
  
            The required financial information of solution42 AG will be filed by
            Portal Software by amendment within the prescribed time period.
  
       Item 7(b).  Pro Forma Financial Information.
  
            The required financial information of solution42 AG will be filed by
            Portal Software by amendment within the prescribed time period.
  
       Item 7(c).  Exhibits.  The following exhibits are being filed with this
       Current Report on Form 8-K:
  
            Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------
  
            2.1            Investment Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by
                           and among Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH and the
                           shareholders of solution42 AG.
  
            2.2            Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by and among
                           Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH, Arno Schlosser,
                           as Shareholder Agent for the shareholders of solution42
                           AG, and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Escrow
                           Agent.
  
            99.1           Press release issued by Portal Software, Inc. on
                           November 2, 2000.
  SIGNATURES
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  as amended, the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated:  November 9, 2000
  
                                   PORTAL SOFTWARE, INC.
  
                                   By:   /s/   Jack L. Acosta
                                      -----------------------------------
                                         Jack L. Acosta
                                         Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
            Exhibit No.    Description
            -----------    -----------
  
            2.1            Investment Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by
                           and among Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH and the
                           shareholders of solution42 AG.
  
            2.2            Agreement dated as of November 2, 2000 by and among
                           Portal Software, Inc., Helianthus
                           Vermoegensverwaltunggesellschaft mbH, Arno Schlosser,
                           as Shareholder Agent for the shareholders of solution42
                           AG, and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Escrow
                           Agent.
  
            99.1           Press release issued by Portal Software, Inc. on
                           November 2, 2000.