SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 BMC Software Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 055921100 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2008 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: This Schedule is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) The information required in the remainder of this cover page (except any items to which the form provides a cross-reference) shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act. CUSIP NO. 871607107 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person Ameriprise Financial, Inc. IRS No. 13-3180631 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [X]* * This filing describes the reporting person's relationship with other persons, but the reporting person does not affirm the existence of a group. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Sole Voting Power -0- ----------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 6) Shared Voting Power SHARES BENEFICIALLY 33,326 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH 7) Sole Dispositive Power REPORTING PERSON WITH -0- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Shared Dispositive Power 13,448,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 13,448,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares Not Applicable -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount In Row (9) 7.17% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Type of Reporting Person CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP NO. 871607107 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Name of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person RiverSource Investments, LLC IRS No. 13-3180631 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [X]* * This filing describes the reporting person's relationship with other persons, but the reporting person does not affirm the existence of a group. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Minnesota -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) Sole Voting Power -0- ----------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 6) Shared Voting Power SHARES BENEFICIALLY 33,326 OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------------- EACH 7) Sole Dispositive Power REPORTING PERSON WITH -0- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8) Shared Dispositive Power 13,448,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 13,448,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares Not Applicable -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount In Row (9) 7.17% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Type of Reporting Person IA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1(a) Name of Issuer: BMC Software Inc. 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal 2101 Citywest Boulevard Suite 2015A Executive Offices: Houston, TX 77042 2(a) Name of Person Filing: (a) Ameriprise Financial, Inc. ("AFI") (b) RiverSource Investments, LLC ("RvS") 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office: c/o Ameriprise Financial, Inc. 145 Ameriprise Financial Center Minneapolis, MN 55474 2(c) Citizenship: (a) Delaware (b) Minnesota 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock 2(e) Cusip Number: 055921100 3 Information if statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b): (a) Ameriprise Financial, Inc. A parent holding company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). (Note: See Item 7) (b) RiverSource Investments, LLC An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E) 4 Incorporated by reference to Items (5)-(9) and (11) of the cover page pertaining to each reporting person. AFI, as the parent company of RvS, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares reported herein by RvS. Accordingly, the shares reported herein by AFI include those shares separately reported herein by RvS. Each of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and RiverSource Investments, LLC, disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares reported on this Schedule. 5 Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: Not Applicable 6 Ownership of more than 5% on Behalf of Another Person: Not Applicable 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company: AFI: See Exhibit I 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: Not Applicable 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not Applicable 10 Certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: February 10, 2009 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. By /s/ Wade M. Voigt ------------------------------------- Name: Wade M. Voigt Title: Director - Fund Administration Contact Information Wade M. Voigt Director - Fund Administration Telephone: (612) 671-5682 Exhibit Index Exhibit I Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Exhibit II Joint Filing Agreement Exhibit I to Schedule 13G Ameriprise Financial, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, is a parent holding company. The classification and identity of the relevant subsidiaries is as follows: Investment Adviser - RiverSource Investments, LLC, is investment adviser registered under section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Exhibit II to Schedule 13G Joint Filing Agreement The undersigned persons agree and consent to the joint filing on their behalf of this Schedule 13G dated February 10, 2009 in connection with their beneficial ownership of BMC Software Inc. RiverSource Investments, LLC authorizes Ameriprise Financial, Inc. to execute the Schedule 13G to which this Exhibit is attached and make any necessary amendments thereto. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. By: /s/ Wade M. Voigt Wade M. Voigt Director - Fund Administration RiverSource Investments, LLC By: /s/ Peter A. Gallus Peter A. Gallus Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer