VIGNETTE CORP
10-K, 2000-03-30
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
Previous: AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC, 10-K405, 2000-03-30
Next: VIGNETTE CORP, 8-K/A, 2000-03-30



<PAGE>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ----------------

                                   FORM 10-K

[X]ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
   ACT OF 1934

                     For the year ended December 31, 1999

                                      OR

[_]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
   EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       Commission file number 000-25375

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                              74-2769415
    (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)             Identification Number)

                          901 South Mopac Expressway
                              Austin, Texas 78746
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

                               ----------------

                                (512) 306-4300
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                               ----------------

       Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                         Common Stock, $.01 par value
                             (Title of each class)

                               ----------------

  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days

    (1) Yes [X] No [_]

    (2) Yes [X] No [_]

  Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K [_]

  As of February 29, 2000 the aggregate market value of the voting stock held
by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $10,985,000,000.

  As of February 29, 2000 there were 63,637,096 shares of the Registrant's
common stock outstanding.

                               ----------------

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

  Parts of the Proxy Statement for Registrant's 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held May 15, 2000 are incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K Report.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION
                            FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
Part I
  Item 1. Business........................................................   3
  Item 2. Properties......................................................  32
  Item 3. Legal Proceedings...............................................  32
  Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of the Security Holders.........  32
  Item 4a. Executive Officers of the Registrant...........................  32

Part II
  Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
   Matters................................................................  35
  Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data............................  36
  Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
           Results of Operations..........................................  37
  Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.....  46
  Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data........  47
  Item 9.  Changes in Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
           Financial Disclosures..........................................  47

Part III
  Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.............  47
  Item 11. Executive Compensation.........................................  47
  Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
   Management.............................................................  47
  Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.................  47

Part IV
  Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-
   K......................................................................  48

SIGNATURES................................................................  50
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                    PART I.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

  The statements contained in this Report on Form 10-K that are not purely
historical statements are forward looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, including statements
regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding
the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-
looking statements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this filing on Form 10-K to conform these
statements to actual results. See "Risk Factors that May Affect Future
Results," and the factors and risks discussed in our Registration Statement
filed on Form S-1 on December 9, 1999 (File No. 333-91085) with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Overview

  We are a leading global provider of e-Business application software products
and services. Our e-Business solutions are designed to enable businesses to
build successful and sustainable online businesses. Our e-Business solutions
allow both traditional brick-and-mortar and startup dot-com businesses to
create and manage Internet business channels that are designed to attract,
engage and retain their customers, partners, and suppliers online. Using our
solutions, our clients build e-Business applications which are focused on
personalized and mass-customized interaction across multiple touchpoints and
communication channels. Since shipping our first products in 1997, we have
received numerous awards for our industry leadership and product capabilities,
including the Crossroads A-list Award and Red Herring Magazine's Top 50 Public
Companies and Best Product Award.

  Our V/5 E-Business Platform (also "V/5 Platform" and the "Platform") is an
application platform that provides the business insight, rapid business
reconfiguration and integration across multiple touchpoints required for
online success. By providing a single view across customers, partners,
products and interactions, the Vignette V/5 E-Business Platform provides our
customers the ability to measure the return on investment of all of their
online relationships and initiatives. This allows our customers to drive
continuous improvement by providing measurable, closed-loop execution,
interaction and analysis. The platform's rapid configuration capabilities not
only improve our customers' time-to-deployment, but just as importantly, their
time-to-adapt, by significantly advancing the starting point, for e-Business
applications. Our open and modular architecture makes this possible by
allowing our customers to leverage existing investments and quickly integrate
new technology that is based on industry standards. Finally, the V/5 Platform
allows our customers to stay connected with customers and partners regardless
of the communication channel, device or touchpoint.

  The Vignette V/5 E-Business Platform is built upon a proven, enterprise-
ready architectural foundation that powers some of the largest and most
successful e-Business applications today. It is unique in providing a modular
and reusable e-Business applications architecture that helps you respond and
adapt quickly to changing market demands. It leverages your existing IT
investment in open standards, component models, technical skills and best
practices. The Platform provides a scalable, reliable and high-performance
foundation for delivering content, profiling, and managing interactions across
multiple communication channels such as the web pagers, mobile phones, and e-
mail.

  The V/5 E-Business Platform incorporates the Vignette Application Foundation
(VAF) - an open application framework and methodology for rapidly assembling,
deploying, and managing best-of-breed, componentized e-Business applications.
The VAF enables our customers to reduce their time-to-adapt - the ability to
rapidly reconfigure re-usable applications in response to changing business
needs and market conditions.

  We complement our products with a professional services organization that
offers a range of services including strategic planning, project management
and implementation. We designed these services to improve our clients'
competitive position, shorten time-to-market and reduce project implementation
risk. We believe that our ability to successfully deliver an integrated
solution to our clients provides us with a significant competitive advantage
in the market for e-Business software products and services.

                                       3
<PAGE>

  We market our products and services globally through our direct sales force,
resellers and systems integrators to businesses seeking to enhance the value
of their Web-based relationships, maximize the return on their Internet-
related investments and capitalize on the substantial growth of the Internet
as a new marketing and distribution channel. We also leverage strategic
alliances with a number of technology and Internet organizations to increase
the penetration and market acceptance of our e-Business software and
professional services. To date, we have licensed our platform to more than 515
clients worldwide in a variety of industries including retail, financial
services, telecommunications, technology, media and entertainment. Our clients
include American Express, AT&T, Bank One, Charles Schwab and Company, Chicago
Tribune, Lands' End, Merrill Lynch, National Semiconductor, Nokia, Preview
Travel, Siebel Systems, Snap.com, StarMedia Network, Sun Microsystems and
TheStreet.com.

Industry Background

  The emergence and acceptance of the Internet and the World Wide Web has
fundamentally changed the way that consumers and businesses communicate,
obtain information, purchase goods and transact business. International Data
Corporation, or IDC, estimates that the number of Internet users worldwide
will grow from approximately 142 million in 1998 to 502 million in 2003. IDC
also estimates that revenue generated from Internet commerce will exceed $1.3
trillion by 2003. As the Internet has become more accessible, functional and
widely used, it has emerged as a primary business channel alongside the
telephone, paper-based communication and face-to-face interaction. Businesses
are increasingly using the Web as both a marketing tool and distribution
channel to communicate and conduct business with partners, customers and
employees.

Origins of Online Business

  The growth in the number of Internet users, as well as the open nature of
the Internet, has led many businesses to seek new ways to take advantage of
this global platform. The earliest business use of the Internet was the
creation of informational Web sites, which typically involved merely
reformatting existing marketing materials to create an online brochure. This
simple use of the Internet to present static information was quickly
supplanted by the first generation of electronic commerce businesses. The
introduction of new technology enabled businesses to create Web sites for
online publishing, which were financed by advertising, and electronic catalog
businesses where hard goods such as books or computers could be sold. These
Internet businesses focused on developing a basic advertising and transaction
infrastructure rather than capitalizing on the unique aspects of Internet
commerce. In addition, these first generation online businesses were based on
traditional, physical world business models and were differentiated only by
wider selection and lower prices. Success for these businesses was measured by
the total amount of Web site traffic.

  Advertising-based and transaction-based Internet business models have been
successful in generating online transactions. However, as the number of
companies attempting to conduct business online has increased, the Web has
become a highly competitive business environment in which customers have a
large number of easily accessible choices, eroding customer loyalty. As a
result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses on the Internet
to reach their target audiences, build customer loyalty and differentiate
themselves from their competitors using business strategies taken from the
physical world. Consequently, online businesses are finding it increasingly
expensive to locate and attract the right types of Web site visitors and
increasingly difficult to convert these visitors into profitable and long-term
customers.

Evolution of Online Business

  As the next generation of online business models evolve, companies are
changing the ways they measure their success online. Both advertising-based
and transaction-based businesses have begun to use the percentage of Web site
visitors that actually convert from browsing a site to transacting business,
or the conversion rate, as the key gauge of their effectiveness in attracting
and retaining loyal customers out of their total Web site visitor population.
According to Forrester Research, the estimated average conversion rate for
first-time visitors to an electronic commerce Web site is 2.7%, a rate similar
to unsolicited direct mailings. To address this problem,

                                       4
<PAGE>

businesses are beginning to focus their strategies on increasing online
conversion rates by more effectively engaging a new type of "connected
customer." Connected customers are individuals who place more value on
information convenience, online advisory services and improved access to
products and services, than on price and physical geographic location.

  To capture the connected customer, businesses must focus on developing and
executing a new set of online strategies to build long-term customer
relationships and strengthen customer loyalty. To attract connected customers,
businesses must provide users with more relevant and targeted experiences each
time they interact with the company online. To achieve this objective,
businesses must provide potential customers with greater information
convenience, online advisory services and improved access to products and
services.

  For the connected customer, information convenience means having all of the
data necessary to make a decision at one Web site. As a result, businesses are
finding it necessary to broaden their Web offerings beyond their own products
and services. Many online businesses are acquiring rich, third-party content
and product lines that allow them to deliver highly interactive, topical
portals that provide the convenience of one-stop shopping. For example, an
online stock brokerage firm might license daily industry news, company
analyses, and financial planning articles to provide their customers with a
complete set of financial management information on a single Web site.

  Increasingly, businesses must also offer online advisory services to provide
the expertise the customer needs to make an informed purchasing decision. For
example, an online travel agency might add advisory services that help
vacation travelers perform extensive pre-purchase research on their favorite
destinations. Through highly personalized services based on the collection and
analysis of customer profiles, businesses can enhance the lifetime value of
each customer, increase customer switching costs and create strong competitive
barriers.

  To offer improved access to products and services, businesses are extending
their online reach to engage potential customers in more online locations than
just their own Web sites. To increase Web-based revenues, businesses need to
maximize not only the number of visitors and customers coming to their own Web
sites, but also their total online reach across their entire Customer Chain.
For example, a business that sells books online needs to reach not only the
buyers that come to its own Web site, but also visitors to other book-related
sites, such as locations dedicated to authors, book reviews and literature. In
effect, it is as necessary for businesses to create broad distribution and
reseller relationships online as it is in the physical world in order to have
as many points of contact with the customer as possible. The creation of such
a super-distribution model forms an instantaneous, worldwide distribution
system. The Internet has made it possible for all companies to have a
worldwide online distribution system, a system that was previously available
only to large companies that could afford to build out such a network in the
physical world.

Need for Comprehensive e-Business Solutions

  As online business models evolve and the amount of business transacted on
the Web increases, enterprises are seeking new e-Business solutions that will
enable them to develop, maintain and leverage relationships with customers and
affiliates. Just as companies adopted Enterprise Resource Planning software in
the late-1980s to manage back-office operations and Sales Force Automation
software in the mid-1990s to manage front-office operations, many businesses
are now searching for e-Business solutions to help them manage their online
customer relationships. Businesses realize that e-Business solutions, like
other enterprise solutions, are mission-critical and pose significant
technological challenges that require large resource commitments. For example,
early adopters of e-Business strategies, such as Amazon.com, built in-house
solutions that required significant custom development, evaluation,
implementation and integration of disparate technologies and platforms.
Companies building these solutions internally face long development cycles,
high ongoing maintenance costs, and limited functionality and scalability.

  Accelerated adoption of the Internet as a business channel is driving
businesses to seek enterprise software providers that have the expertise to
deliver solutions that minimize their time to market and maximize the value

                                       5
<PAGE>

of their Internet investment. To date, software providers have focused on
developing applications that managed discrete portions of a comprehensive e-
Business solution, such as transaction management, catalog tools,
collaborative filtering/personalization, authoring, site management and
application development. Today, however, businesses are increasingly demanding
an integrated package of platforms, tools and applications that address all
aspects of e-Business, rather than point products and toolkits. A fully
integrated e-Business solution must include the ability to attract, engage and
retain customers and understand their needs and preferences via a direct
relationship through a company's Web site. This solution also must enable
companies to create and manage Customer Chains, value-added distribution
networks whereby a company can distribute its electronic goods and services
outside of its own Web site through a network of reseller, affiliate and
partner Web sites. These solutions must be able to transcend the traditional
boundaries of the Internet as an information delivery mechanism. These
requirements demand an e-Business solution that supports advanced content
management and syndication, personalization and decision support capabilities.

The Vignette Solution

  We are a leading global provider of e-Business software products and
services specifically designed to enable businesses to enhance the value of
their Web-based relationships, maximize the return on their Internet-related
investments and capitalize on the substantial growth of the Internet as a new
business channel. Our solutions enable businesses to create and manage
Internet business channels that are designed to enable businesses to rapidly
adapt their e-Business applications to market changes, to reach customers,
partners, and employees through multiple electronic touchpoints, and to
provide insight into the relative success of their e-Business strategies. We
believe our solutions allow our clients to increase their online effectiveness
and improve customer conversion rates, resulting in opportunities for greater
Web-based revenues and market share. Our integrated solution set includes an
enterprise-class e-Business application platform, as well as a set of tools
for business and technical managers to interact with customers through the Web
site and control its operation.

  We have enhanced our e-Business application platform with the introduction
of the V/Series architecture, expected to ship in the first half of 2000. The
V/Series architecture expands on Vignette's past successes by migrating the
Vignette platform services to a next-generation achitecture based on Internet
standards. The V/Series architecture is leveraged by the Vignette V/5 products
including the V/5 Content Management Server, V/5 Lifecycle Personalization
Server, V/5 Syndication Server, V/5 Communication Server, V/5 Relationship
Marketing Server, and V/5 Advanced Deployment Server. These products are
designed to support the creation of applications that can be reconfigured
easily and quickly to account for changing market conditions, that can
interact with users through multiple electronic touchpoints, and which provide
insight as to the relative success of a company's e-Business strategies. We
are focused on continuing to develop and extend our product and service
offering to provide our clients with a comprehensive means for building,
managing, and delivering sophisticated e-Business applications, thereby
increasing our client's return on their Internet investments.

  We believe our comprehensive, integrated e-Business solutions represent a
fundamentally new approach to doing business on the Internet and provide our
clients with the following benefits:

  Increased e-Business Insight. Our products and services enable our clients
to use the Internet as a channel to build profitable, long-term customer and
partner relationships and to use those relationships to create new marketing
opportunities to drive revenue growth. Businesses that use our solutions can
develop Internet applications that interact, as opposed to solely transact,
with visitors, employees, and business partners via both the wired and
wireless Web. For instance, our e-Business software platform incorporates
unique technologies that allow our clients to create engaging, personalized
experiences that enhance a company's ability to leverage the Web as a first-
class business channel. At the same time, our platform enables you to gather,
analyze and mine in-depth customer and operational data from your e-Business
and across the enterprise to determine the effectiveness and profitability of
your e-Business strategies.

  Rapid e-Business Reconfiguration. Businesses using our solutions can develop
e-Business applications more rapidly than most other third-party or in-house
alternatives. As a result, our solutions permit businesses to

                                       6
<PAGE>

expand their existing online business and enter into new online markets on an
accelerated time frame. Vignette's products provide a unique architecture and
methodology that enables your e-Business to be built in re-useable components
that can be easily re-configured to keep pace with changing market demands and
competitive pressures. This approach not only lets your e-Business strategy be
more nimble, but also reduces overall maintenance cost in the long run and
protects your investment in people, systems, and information.

  Increased Customer Reach through Multiple Electronic Touchpoints. Vignette's
e-Business software platform can unify closed-loop interaction with your e-
Business audience across multiple electronic touchpoints- web, e-mail, pagers,
and WAP wireless devices. Businesses can now gain insight into what your
audience wants, develop personalized interactions across multiple touchpoints,
and track behavior and responses in real-time to close the loop. This approach
enhances utility and service to the end customer, increases the efficiency of
customer service and support systems, and increases revenue opportunities with
existing customers.

  Increased Revenue Opportunities Through a More Flexible Business Model. Our
solutions are designed to enable our clients to pursue a broad range of
business opportunities that enhance Web-based revenues, such as co-branding,
multiple Web site production and super-distribution. Our clients have obtained
partner license fees in return for co-branding their Web sites with partner
logos, content and navigation. For example, a major portal provider has co-
branded its destination with over 100 Internet service providers, or ISPs,
with each version of the Web site targeted specifically for that ISP's
customer base. In return, this portal receives royalty payments from each ISP
with very little actual cost to produce the branded Web site. Our multiple Web
site production capabilities have enabled a major online news provider to use
a small team to create over 200 online community Web sites that are specific
to urban areas in and around their local community. Each community has its own
Web site that contains local advertising and content. The news provider was
able to generate increased advertising revenue from these localized Web sites.

  Increased Operational Control of Internet Applications at a Lower Effective
Cost. Our e-Business solutions permit clients to manage their Internet
business channels more efficiently and with greater control than most in-house
or other third-party alternatives. Our product features also dramatically
reduce the amount of labor and capital expenditure required to operate and
maintain sites on the Internet. Our solutions incorporate: (a) content
management capabilities designed to increase the efficiency of team-based Web
site production, enhance application developer productivity and reduce
maintenance costs; (b) decision support capabilities that allow businesses to
analyze customer preferences, examine demographic segmentation and determine
the popularity of individual products and services; and (c) a scalable
application server platform that is capable of handling a very large number of
Web site visitors with optimized performance while substantially curtailing
Web server hardware expenditures. Our products and services provide clients
with greater operational control and compelling cost advantages in operating
and maintaining their Web sites, as well as in the cost of customer
acquisition and retention.

Strategy

  Our objective is to enhance our position as a leading global provider of e-
Business solutions. To achieve this objective, we have adopted the following
strategies:

  Maintain Leadership in the e-Business Solutions Market. Our industry-leading
solutions for e-Business applications enable enterprises to build and rapidly
deploy effective online businesses. Our V/5 e-Business Platform allows
businesses to maximize their online potential by offering relevant products
and services to the appropriate audience, thereby increasing customer
conversion rates and strengthening the loyalty of customers and partners. Our
Vignette V/5 Syndication Server offers a platform for creating a new category
of easily-deployed, enterprise applications that will enable businesses of any
size to achieve instantaneous, online distribution of their products and
services across an extensive network of reseller, affiliate and partner Web
sites. With Vignette V/5 Communications Server, we enable the creation of
automated and personalized customer communication using multiple interactive
communication channels, including 2-way pager, email, and wireless web. Our
upcoming Vignette V/5 Relationship Marketing Server provides capabilities for
building and measuring the effectiveness of closed-loop interactive marketing
programs across multiple electronic touchpoints. The Vignette V/5 Advanced
Deployment Server provides content and application distribution and "n-tier"
staging

                                       7
<PAGE>

capabilities. We intend to maintain our leadership position by developing new
e-Business software products and services that will help businesses generate
new online revenue opportunities.

  Expand Sales Channels to Drive Market Penetration. We are working to
increase customer adoption of our solutions by expanding our direct sales
operations and our indirect sales channels through additional relationships
and strategic alliances with key systems integrators, value-added resellers,
or VARs, and original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. We believe that by
establishing these relationships with key e-commerce partners, we can target a
broader client base and help our clients more rapidly deploy powerful e-
Business applications.

  Expand International Presence. We believe that there will be significant
international opportunities for our products and services and that we will
continue to expand our global marketing and distribution efforts to address
the range of markets and applications for our e-Business solutions. We plan to
continue aggressive expansion of our international presence by adding direct
sales personnel and increasing our indirect sales channels to fully capitalize
on international market opportunities. We have opened sales offices in
Hamburg, Germany; London, England; Paris, France; Singapore; and in Melbourne
and Sydney, Australia and intend to continue our expansion throughout Europe,
Asia and those regions where businesses and other institutional clients are
using distributed networks and the Internet to create sales opportunities.

  Leverage Professional Services Capabilities. We have established successful
relationships with our clients by serving as an advisor in developing and
deploying e-Business applications. We are extending our direct professional
services capabilities to provide an expanded set of services to address such
areas as online business strategy, project management and application
development. In addition, we offer similar high-quality professional services
capabilities through third-party alliances and are currently focused on the
development of relationships with VARs and Global/National systems
integrators. By offering our clients a full range of professional services on
a global basis, we believe we can broaden market awareness about the
advantages of our e-Business solutions and create opportunities to sell new or
enhanced products to clients.

Products

  Our integrated solution set includes an enterprise-class Internet
application platform and tools for both business and technical managers to
interact with customers through the Web site. The following table summarizes
our current and future products:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Category                                     Features                         Shipment Dates
- --------                  ---------------------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                       <C>                                            <C>
Platform/Products
 .  V/5 E-Business         Products run on Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, or       First version of
   Platform Products:     Microsoft Windows NT/2000 servers and          StoryServer shipped
                          supports Oracle, Sybase, IBM, and Microsoft    January 1997. V/5 E-
                          SQL databases.                                 business Platform
                                                                         products available
                                                                         first-half of 2000.
 .  V/5 Content            (Capabilities previously available as part of  StoryServer 5.0
   Management Server      StoryServer 5.0) Supports the creation and     available December 1999.
                          management of                                  V/5 Content Management
                          e-Business applications with project           Server anticipated July
                          management, production management, asset       2000.
                          management, workflow, and meta-data
                          management.
 . V/5 Lifecycle                                                          StoryServer 5.0
  Personalization Server  (Capabilities previously available as part of  available December 1999.
                          StoryServer 5.0) Supports the delivery of      V/5 Lifecycle
                          personalized e-Business applications with a    Personalization Server
                          wide array of personalization technologies.    anticipated July 2000.
 .  V/5 Syndication        Designed to enable businesses to automate and  Vignette Syndication
   Server                 manage the creation of Customer Chains--       Server 5.0 shipped
                          networks of valuable business-to-business      December 1999. V/5
                          relationships which enhance customer reach     Synidcation Server
                          through partner, affiliate, and resellers      anticipated first half
                          sites.                                         of 2000.
</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Category                                    Features                         Shipment Dates
- --------                 ---------------------------------------------  ------------------------
<S>                      <C>                                            <C>
 .  V/5 Communication     Designed to enable businesses to personalize   Anticipated first half
   Server                and automate communication with their          of 2000.
                         customers using multiple communication
                         channels, including wireless Web, telephone,
                         pager, email, fax or mail.
 .  V/5 Relationship      Provides a complete closed-loop e-marketing    Anticipated first half
   Marketing Server      solution. It enables businesses to gain        of 2000.
                         critical insights by measuring and analyzing
                         customer interactions across multiple
                         business touchpoints and to automatically
                         deliver highly targeted content to those
                         groups in the form of interactive marketing
                         campaigns.
 .  V/5 Advanced          Supports enterprise-wide distributed           Anticipated first half
   Deployment Server     development, testing, and production           of 2000.
                         environments for eBusiness applications. It
                         enables geographically distributed teams of
                         application developers, content contributors,
                         editors, and administrators to connect their
                         distinct Vignette environments to create an
                         n-tiered deployment system with a simple
                         browser-based interface.
 .  Vignette Application  Provides a comprehensive set of reusable,      Anticipated first half
   Power Pack            cross-platform, packaged application modules   of 2000.
                         designed to accelerate the assembly,
                         deployment, and managment of eBusiness
                         applications. These modules provide browser-
                         based user interfaces and API's for managing
                         and finding information, enabling
                         personalized interactions, and building
                         online communities.
Tools
 .  Production Center     Designed for team-based project and content    First version shipped in
                         management. Allows authors, managers,          September 1997. Shipped
                         developers, editors, designers, and business   with StoryServer 5.0 in
                         analysts to work collaboratively in the        December 1999.
                         production of their e-Business applications.
 .  Development Center    A visual development tool designed to reduce   First version shipped
                         the time to deploy critical e-Business         April 1999. Shipped with
                         applications by simplifying programming and    StoryServer 5.0 in
                         permitting a wider range of users to           December 1999.
                         participate in application development.
 .  Business Center       Enables business managers to analyze and       First version shipped
                         report on customer demographics and behavior,  July 1998. Anticipated
                         and to create, manage and monitor the success  shipment of latest
                         of interactive marketing campaigns across      version first half of
                         multiple customer touchpoints.                 2000.
 .  Vignette Development  Provides software developers with              First version shipped
   Kit for Microsoft     capabilities for integrating Microsoft Office  March 2000.
   Office 2000           applications with Vignette V/5 E-Business
                         applications. Provides end users with the
                         ability to use standard content development
                         tools with Vignette's plartform products.
</TABLE>

Platforms

  V/5 e-Business Platform -- Provides an open, secure, scalable, and reliable
foundation for e-Business. It natively supports the two major paradigms --
ASP/Windows DNA 2000 and JSP/J2EE for application

                                       9
<PAGE>

development and enterprise deployment. This allows businesses to leverage
existing IT investments in open standards, component models, technical skills
and best practices. It also supports a number of integration mechanisms --
COM, EJB, C/C++, HTTP/Servlets, XML, SQL -- for legacy systems, application
servers and 3rd party applications.

  V/5 Content Management Server -- Previously available as part of Vignette
StoryServer 5.0, the V/5 Content Management Server provides tightly integrated
content management, scalable content delivery and personalization. With
comprehensive support for managing content stored in databases, XML
repositories, and static files, it is the de facto standard for team-based
enterprise-wide collaboration for e-Business today.

  V/5 Lifecycle Personalization Server -- Previously available as part of
Vignette StoryServer 5.0, the V/5 Lifecycle Personalization Server brings a
wide array of proven personalization capabilities for e-Business to provide
highly personalized service to customers, employees and business partners. It
is tightly integrated with content management and empowers business owners
with the capabilities necessary for planning and executing a winning
personalization strategy.

  V/5 Relationship Marketing Server -- In January 2000 in connection with our
acquisition of DataSage, Inc., a leader in e-Marketing and personalization
solutions, we announced the development of the V/5 Relationship Marketing
Server. It provides a complete, closed-loop e-marketing solution that enables
business users to gain critical business insight by measuring and analyzing
customer interactions across multiple business touchpoints, deliver highly-
targeted content across multiple communication channels, measure the success
of e-marketing initiatives and drive continuous improvement to e-business
strategy.

  V/5 Communication Server -- In July 1999 in connection with our acquisition
of Diffusion, Inc., a leader in multi-channel information delivery solutions,
we announced the development of V/5 Communication Server. This product,
anticipated to be available in the first half of 2000, empowers a business to
connect to a mobile audience and manage relationships with customers,
partners, and employees via multiple electronic touchpoints such as e-mail,
pagers, PDAs, and WAP enabled mobile phones. It enables the proactive
distribution of personalized content, and provides complete close-loop
interaction with the mobile e-Business audience.

  V/5 Syndication Server -- Enables businesses to expand their e-Business
offerings to and through a scalable network of affiliated e-Businesses. Built
using open protocols, XML and ICE (Information & Content Exchange), it enables
the packaging and distribution of digital assets such as content,
applications, supplier information, and product catalogs to a large number of
affiliated e-Businesses.

  V/5 Advanced Development Server -- Allows businesses to manage enterprise-
wide development, testing, and production environments for e-business
applications. It enables geographically distributed teams of application
developers, content contributors, editors, and administrators to connect their
distinct Vignette environments to create a secure, "n-tiered" staging system.

  V/5 Relationship Marketing Server. The Vignette V/5 Relationship Marketing
Server utilizes a number of proprietary technologies to deliver complete
closed-loop e-marketing capabilities. These capabilities consist of 1)
measurement and analysis of customer interactions across multiple business
touchpoints; 2) segmentation of customers and web site visitors into relevant
groups for purposes of analysis and targeted communications; and 3) campaign
management to enable automated delivery of highly targeted communications
across a variety of digital channels. The result is that communications with
customers become more effective at achieving business objectives, such as
delivery of timely and relevant information, larger and more frequent online
purchases, and increased customer loyalty. The first two capabilities above --
 measurement/analysis and segmentation -- were obtained through the
acquisition of DataSage. Segmentation algorithms incorporated into the V/5
Relationship Marketing Server include Kmeans, leader clustering, Kohonen
neural networks, top-down hierarchical clustering, and cellular clustering
(proprietary). Classification and estimation algorithms include C4.5 decision
tree,

                                      10
<PAGE>

RegressionTree, linear/polynomial regression, nearest neighbor classification,
backpropagation neural networks, and CirrusNet (proprietary).

  With the development of the V/Series product architecture and the release of
the V/5 E-Business Platform we have also invested significantly in adapting
our products to comply with emerging Internet architecture standards --
specifically the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2BE) standard and with
Microsoft's Windows DNA 2000 architecture. Our efforts in these directions
enable our customers to leverage JSP and ASP programming models, COM and EJB
as integration models, as well as the services provided by compliant
application servers in each respective architectural standard.

Tools

  Production Center. Production Center provides an environment for team-based
project and content management by centralizing the elements of content
application development and deployment. This tool allows authors, editors,
designers, developers and business managers to work collaboratively. With
Production Center, each type of user involved in content development and
deployment is dedicated a different area of the desktop application.

  Business Center. Business Center enables business managers to analyze and
report on visitor demographic and behavior data collected by StoryServer 4.
This tool allows business managers to gain an in-depth understanding of the
needs and preferences of their Web site visitors and customers. With this
knowledge, managers can improve the design of and visitor interaction with the
Web site, thereby increasing conversion rates and revenues.

  Development Center. Development Center is a visual environment for building
Internet applications. Development Center is designed to reduce the time to
deploy e-Business applications by simplifying programming and permitting a
wider range of users to develop e-Business applications.

Vignette Professional Services

  The Vignette Professional Services, or VPS, organization is integral to our
ability to provide our clients with an innovative and comprehensive e-Business
solution. VPS has over 200 staff years of combined software project management
experience. VPS helps clients plan, design and rapidly implement successful
Internet businesses with innovative e-Business applications. VPS focuses its
consulting services on influencing the client's ability to understand and
build online relationships with their customers. The goals of the VPS
organization are to mitigate client implementation risks, improve the time to
market and integrity of the solution and provide competitive advantages to and
share best practices with client project teams. We charge for our services on
either a time and materials basis or on a fixed fee basis, and provide our
services through our VPS practices in San Francisco, California; Austin,
Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta,
Georgia; Bellevue, Washington; Denver, Colorado; London, England; Hamburg,
Germany; Singapore; and Sydney, Australia.

  We currently offer our customers a broad spectrum of services across the
design, implementation and ongoing support stages of an e-Business solution
deployment including the following:

  .  strategic business consultation;

  .  needs analysis;

  .  architectural analysis and performance planning;

  .  project management;

  .  technical site design;

  .  development and deployment;

                                      11
<PAGE>

  .  software integration; and

  .  client education and training.

  In the design stage, VPS provides a variety of services that help ensure that
the client and VPS understand the client's business objectives and determine
the technical requirements of the e-Business solution implementation. In the
implementation stage, we utilize our Site Development Methodology to ensure
that the project is well managed. At this stage, VPS's extensive experience
with Web site design reduces technical project risk and ensures proper
integration of any third-party software. Finally, VPS offers comprehensive
basic and advanced education and training to enable a client's internal team to
seamlessly assume control over ongoing support of the Web site.

  The following graphic depicts the services that we provide during the three
stages of a system deployment:

                             [GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]

  We have established complementary relationships with several service partners
including Agency.com, Andersen Consulting, Cambridge Technology Partners, CSC
Consulting, debis Systemhaus, IBM, KPMG, Oracle, Perficient,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sapient, Scient, Viant Corporation and Web Connections,
as well as a number of leading graphic design firms and other business
integrators. These partners provide VPS with a substantial network of
expertise, as well as the ability to lead large and complex projects and
deliver a complete solution.

Clients

  To date, we have licensed versions of our products to over 515 clients. Our
clients represent a broad spectrum of enterprises within diverse sectors,
including financial services, health, education and government, media, retail,
services, technology, telecommunications and entertainment.

                                       12
<PAGE>

  The following is a partial list of our clients that have purchased licenses
and/or services from us and that we believe are representative of our overall
client base.

Financial Services                     Manufacturing
Allianz                                Otis Elevator Company
American Express                       Volkswagon of America, Inc.

Autoloan.com, Inc.                     Media
Bank One                               Bertelsmann
Baan                                   BET.com LCC
Ceridian                               The Bureau of National Affairs
Charles Schwab and Company             CBS Broadcasting
Chase Manhattan Bank                   CBS Sportsline
CheckFree                              Chicago Tribune
Citicorp                               City Online BV
Credit Suisse                          CNET
Dain Rauscher                          Deseret News Publishing
Egg Financial Services                 Direct Medical Knowledge
Fidelity Investments                   E! Online
First Chicago                          EHow, Inc.
First Union National                   Electronic Newsstand
Interactive Investor International     Entreprenuer Online
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
                                       Encyclopaedia Britannica
Merrill Lynch                          The E.W. Scripps, Co.
Michigan National Bank                 The Guardian
Morningstar                            The Houston Chronicle
The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York
                                       IDG Corporation
NASD                                   The Industry Standard
New York Life Insurance Company        iVillage, Inc.
PaineWebber                            La Republica
PeoplesBank                            Lycos
Postbank                               Mecklermedia Corporation
PricewaterhouseCoopers                 On Health Networks
RBC Dominion (Royal Bank of Canada)    Orlando Sentinel
Salomon Smith Barney                   Playboy Enterprises
TheStreet.com                          Que Pasa.com
Zacks

                                       Road Runner Group
Health, Education, and Government      R.R. Donnelley & Sons
American Medical Association           The Seattle Times
Asymetrix                              Simon & Schuster
City of San Carlos                     Sitestuff.com
Columbia University                    Spiegel Online
The Family Education Co.               StarMedia Network
HealthPartners, Inc.                   Time Inc. New Media
Kaplan Education Centers               Tribune Media Services
Lifescape.com                          World Media Online
National Cancer Institute              Ziff Davis Publishing
United Healthcare Services             ZineZone.com
USDA Graduate School

                                      13
<PAGE>

Retail                                 Headland Digital Media
Amway Corporation                      Hewlett-Packard
Beyond.com                             I3S
Bookcraft                              Ingram Micro, Inc.
Brain.com                              Juniper Networks
BuyDirect, Inc.                        Motorola
Checkout.com                           National Semiconductor
Holiday Channel Santa.com              Promega Corp.
Inc.com                                Sabre Technology
Lands' End                             Sales Logix
Living.com                             Seagate Technology
Oakley                                 Siebel Systems
Stationary Office                      Siemens Business Communication Systems
Webvan Group, Inc.                     Sun Microsystems
Wherehouse Entertainment               Sybase
Whole Foods

                                       Tektronix, Inc.
Services                               Tpuppy.com
American Business Information          Vantive
Atevo                                  WebMethods, Inc.
                                       Xircom

Browning-Ferris Services
Daimler Chrysler                       Telecommunications
Deutsche Post                          Ameritech
DHL Worldwide Express                  AT&T
EDS                                    British Telecom
FedEx                                  Cincinnati Bell Directory
Forrester Research                     Interpath
Hoover's                               Nokia
Intelliquest                           Sonera
Lufthansa Executive Network            Sprint Corp.
PECO Energy                            Southwestern Bell Mobile
Preview Travel                         Telstra
Shell                                  US West

The Trip.com                           Travel
Volvo

                                       United Airlines, Inc.

Technology                             Entertainment
Advanced Micro Devices                 Cablevision (CSC Holdings)
Bay Networks                           Children's Television Network
Cendant Software Online Services       Hollywood Online
Compaq Computer Corporation            LAUNCH Media
Emprise Corporation                    Turner Entertainment Group
Excite, Inc.

Case Studies

  The following case studies illustrate the issues faced by three
representative clients in deploying e-Business applications, and the benefits
derived from developing and deploying these applications using StoryServer.

 Online Travel Services Company

  A highly successful online travel services company selling an increasingly
commoditized product faced intense competition from two large online
competitors. The firm elected to focus its business on vacation

                                      14
<PAGE>

travelers who make highly considered purchases and need value-added travel
planning assistance before making purchasing decisions. To increase its
revenue targets and customer conversion rates, the firm needed an e-Business
solution that delivered interactive travel planning assistance to facilitate
vacation purchases through its Web site. Such a system would have to handle a
multi-million member customer base and support tens of thousands of
personalized visitor sessions each day. In addition, to meet the firm's
application goals, the system also would have to automatically integrate a
series of travel-related resources licensed and syndicated from other Web
sites, and integrate this content within the firm's travel planning
application. An internally built system would have been too expensive, and
most packaged solutions did not provide an application architecture that would
accommodate the necessary content flexibility or deliver adequate system
performance.

  The travel services firm deployed Vignette's platform and worked with VPS to
launch a major new version of their Web site in less than six months. The firm
was first to market with a Web-based vacation travel planning service that
integrated syndicated travel guide content and delivered it as an integral
part of their e-Business applications. The firm was immediately able to
process significantly more visitor sessions because Web server utilization
dropped from 90% to 10%. By reducing Web server utilization, the firm was able
to delay significant planned hardware expenditures. The Vignette platform also
enabled the firm to reduce its time to deployment for new versions of the
travel planning application, creating significant advantages over its online
competitors. The firm's marketing staff is now considering additional
syndication arrangements to further increase the customer value of the travel
planning application. Vignette provided the company with an e-Business
solution that significantly increased its customer conversion rates.

 Financial Services Company

  A major retail banking company planned an extensive Internet banking
initiative in which the Internet would become a primary business channel for
its retail customers. The bank's existing Web site was a simple system that
allowed customers to check account balances and read information about its
banking products. The bank needed to position the new version of its Web site
as a daily financial gateway that would assist customers with loan selection,
college planning, house purchases and managing personal stock portfolios. The
problem was that the bank's existing Web systems were designed as either a
means of delivering simple brochure content, or as Web-enabled front ends on
top of its proprietary transaction systems. Neither of these systems by
themselves could create an integrated advisory experience that would
reasonably engage clients on a daily basis and allow the bank to better retain
customers. The bank's new Web-based business required an Internet application
platform that could deliver a set of highly interactive, content-rich
applications to a large, diverse population of customers, and be managed on a
real-time basis by the bank's marketing managers. The bank knew that its
competitors were working on a similar project, and that time to market was
critical in order to increase market share and establish itself as an Internet
banking leader.

  The bank selected our products as the strategic technology platform for the
future of its relationship-based banking business on the Web. By engaging VPS,
the bank was able to meet its application functional requirements and launch
dates, going online within months of its investment in the Vignette solution.
The bank's new Web site delivers a broad personal banking experience, offering
planning tools for products and services ranging from money management to auto
loans to insurance, as well as an individual investor portfolio management
system. In addition, the Web site delivers a news and research section that
syndicates daily investor information from the Dow Jones news service. The
success of this venture recently resulted in the bank's new parent deciding to
invest in another deployment of Vignette's platform for its next generation
retail banking Web site due to be launched early next year.

 Worldwide Provider of News and Information

  A major news and information publishing company planned on entering the
online regional communities business to compete with CitySearch and
Microsoft's (now CitySearch's) Sidewalk. The company's business plan called
for a major regional Web site accompanied by up to 250 local community Web
sites targeted to reach the local online communities. Existing technologies
made delivering multiple online communities cost-prohibitive

                                      15
<PAGE>

because the cost of producing and managing each new Web site outweighed the
revenue potential. The company needed a platform that would enable it to
rapidly and cost-effectively deliver new online services across dozens of
regional Web sites, target local businesses as advertisers and let local
community leaders as well as staff editors produce editorial content while
controlling the overall production of each property at a central location.
Likewise, the development team needed a highly scalable application
architecture that would allow new online properties to be designed and
deployed using reusable applications and content yet allow each online
community Web site to uniquely interact with its visitors on topics of local
interest.

  The client chose us because our platform offered a complete end-to-end
solution for hosting multiple Web sites from a single environment and content
base, and automating content management so that the control over the
production of each property was centralized. Using Vignette's products, the
company was able to build a broad base of advertising slots and maximize the
revenue potential of each Web site without the expense of running each
property individually. The production team now produces enhanced application
functionality from a central location for the various Web sites. At the same
time, community leaders retain control over their own presentation, navigation
and content. As a result, the company has been able to increase its market
share position for interactive community Web sites in its regions. It has
rapidly deployed dozens of local properties, and established a fixed-cost
business model that limits the growth in developer, producer and editor
headcount required to support the opportunity.

Technology

  We believe our advanced technology enables our clients, partners and
consultants to build, deliver and manage enterprise-class e-Business
applications in less time, at lower cost and with better business results than
existing alternatives.

Product Architecture

  We believe that we have developed a unique architecture for meeting the
technical demands of applications designed for e-Business. By emphasizing an
application architecture based on content management, a lifecycle
personalization model that effectively accommodates both Web customer
acquisition and retention, and a patented design for scalable and high-
performance Web page delivery, our solution provides an efficient architecture
for clients to build and deploy scalable e-Business applications quickly and
cost-effectively. We believe that this architecture also provides a strong
foundation on which we can develop future products.

  V/5 Content Management Server. We have developed proprietary content
management technology designed to manage the high volume of dynamic
interactions that occur between many concurrent Web site visitors and the
relationship management application. The content management system provides
three key functions:

  .  Content Abstraction Services. Allow application developers to build and
     deploy applications that can access and manage any type of content, such
     as relational data, flat files, or XML (Extensible Markup Language) data
     through a single Application Programming Interface, or API, model. This
     simplifies application development and significantly reduces time-to-
     deployment by uncoupling decisions about storage repositories and data
     formats from application logic and protects existing database repository
     investments. Our Development Center tool, a visual data modeling and
     drag-and-drop application builder tool, takes further advantage of these
     content abstraction services.

  .  Automated Asset Management. Provides a broad set of functionality for
     managing and automating most tasks associated with managing content
     assets, including production team access control, asset-specific
     workflow, version control, launch and expiration scheduling, and visual
     project management.

  .  Content Components. Greatly enhance the template-based approach to
     Internet application development. Components allow Internet applications
     to be built and operated in an object-oriented fashion, with components
     serving as the building blocks for dynamic assembly and adaptive
     navigation. Unlike other products that require complex programming to
     support interactivity, StoryServer 4 provides native support for
     interactive content components. This approach eliminates the problem of
     inflexible application structures associated with existing template-
     based dynamic architectures.

                                      16
<PAGE>

  V/5 Lifecycle Personalization Server. Our Lifecycle Personalization Server
is designed to help clients substantially increase their conversion rates and
increase the lifetime value of the typical online customer by managing
relationships through their complete lifecycle. These services, which are
described below, enable clients to personalize Web experiences by adapting the
site's presentation, navigation and content based on implicitly observed
behavior and explicitly stated preferences as the relationship evolves over a
number of interactions from anonymous visitor to well-known customer. We
believe that our approach requires less time and effort to deploy and
maintain, and requires substantially less investment in Web server hardware
than competing alternatives.

  Our Lifecycle Personalization Server consists of five primary components,
which when utilized in combination with V/5 Content Management Server enables
clients and partners to develop applications that are effective for both
online customer acquisition and customer retention.

  .  Presentation Agent for System Targeting. Automatically adapts the
     application's presentation to accommodate a new, anonymous visitor's
     environment to present content that is suited to the visitor's browser
     capabilities, operating system, and local language.

  .  Matching Agent for Behavior Targeting. As a new visitor becomes familiar
     with the site, the Matching Agent uses observations about a visitor's
     behavior on the Web site to infer the visitor's interest and to adapt
     navigation and content to observed affinities. With the Matching Agent,
     businesses can implement targeted merchandising over the Web without
     requiring visitors to explicitly divulge information about themselves.

  .  Recommendation Agent for Needs Targeting. The Recommendation Agent is
     utilized when visitors become sufficiently familiar with the site to
     facilitate targeted suggestions. The Recommendation Agent recommends
     content to a visitor that others with similar tastes found interesting.

  .  Personal Pages for Customization. Useful at the well-known stage, the
     site can offer the capability for visitors to define personal pages that
     are explicitly tailored to their needs each time they return to the
     site.

  .  Open Profiling Services. Open Profiling Services manage and populate a
     centralized repository of visitor profile and content information. This
     feature provides a visitor registry for storing visitor information, a
     content catalog for creating taxonomy of content on the Web site for use
     in personalization, and an Observation Manager that observes, tracks and
     records visitor behavior and preferences without impacting site
     performance.

  V/5 Syndication Server. The Vignette V/5 Syndication Server utilizes a
proprietary set of technologies that allows customers to build online reseller
channels through affiliate Web sites. V/5 Syndication Server allows the
creation of these channels by using a logical set of content, or packages,
business rules for governing affiliate relationships, or subscriptions, and
automated remote management services for managing content within affiliate Web
sites. These proprietary services have been based on the emerging Information
and Content Exchange, or ICE, specification standard for content syndication,
which is an XML-based specification being jointly developed by us and over
seventy other companies including Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and Adobe. None
of the companies involved in the development of the ICE specification have any
proprietary rights with respect to the technology. Although we have no
obligation, as the initial member of the authoring group, to continue
developing ICE for the World Wide Web Consortium, or W3C, it is our intention
to continue to assist in the development and use of the ICE protocol. We
believe that by fostering the creation and adoption of an open standard for
content syndication, and being the first company to provide proprietary value-
added services in the delivery of a product that embodies these concepts, we
will be able to quickly establish technology leadership in this arena.

  V/5 Communication Server. Vignette V/5 Communication Server is designed to
extend the Web beyond the Web site. It will enhance e-Business applications
with the ability to automatically reach out to the customer via wireless web,
e-mail, 2-way pager, and other communication media. An open architecture
allows dynamic integration of new communication options, such as instant
messaging systems and palmtop organizers. Customer interaction can be tailored
by customer preferences and by organizational policies. Communication
initiated by the server, as well as responses by the customer, can be
monitored and tracked. V/5 Communication Server originated from technology
obtained through the acquisition of Diffusion.

                                      17
<PAGE>

  V/5 Relationship Marketing Server. The Vignette V/5 Relationship Marketing
Server utilizes a number of proprietary technologies to deliver complete
closed-loop e-marketing capabilities. These capabilities consist of
1) measurement and analysis of customer interactions across multiple business
touchpoints; 2) segmentation of customers and web site visitors into relevant
groups for purposes of analysis and targeted communications; and 3) campaign
management to enable automated delivery of highly targeted communications
across a variety of digital channels. The result is that communications with
customers become more effective at achieving business objectives, such as
delivery of timely and relevant information, larger and more frequent online
purchases, and increased customer loyalty. The first two capabilities above--
measurement/analysis and segmentation--were obtained through the acquisition
of DataSage. Segmentation algorithms incorporated into the V/5 Relationship
Marketing Server include Kmeans, leader clustering, Kohonen neural networks,
top-down hierarchical clustering, and cellular clustering (proprietary).
Classification and estimation algorithms include C4.5 decision tree,
RegressionTree, linear/polynomial regression, nearest neighbor classification,
backpropagation neural networks, and CirrusNet (proprietary).

Scalability and Performance

  We believe that one of our key technological strengths is the Vignette V/5
E-Business Platform's ability to deliver industry-leading Web page delivery
performance and scalability while running on low-cost Web server hardware.
Internet applications that are built with competing products that dynamically
generate Web pages can be significantly slower (depending on the server
configuration) than first generation static Web sites. This degrades the
overall Web site experience for the site visitor, lowers the visitor's
interest in returning to the Web site, reduces the client's ability to handle
large visitor traffic volumes, and creates a requirement for the client to
significantly increase Web server capital equipment expenditures.

  The V/5 Platform's ability to deliver unique performance characteristics is
achieved using three techniques:

  .  A patented caching mechanism is integrated with the product's content
     component architecture and allows applications to deliver dynamically
     generated and personalized Web pages at speeds nearly equivalent to the
     performance of static Web page delivery.

  .  Integration of this patented caching mechanism with our personalization
     technologies, so highly personalized Web pages can be delivered without
     the cost and real-time delay of significant transactional computation
     required by other solutions attempting to offer personalization
     capabilities.

  .  The ability to distribute server-side application components of the
     platform product across multiple physical Web servers allows high-end
     sites to scale up performance and gain increased system availability as
     a result.

Adherence to Industry Standards

  We have invested significant resources in developing our architecture to
comply with widely accepted commercial software industry standards for
building large scale Internet applications. Our products use SQL (Structured
Query Language) for accessing RDBMSs (Relational Database Management Systems),
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) for Internet access, NSAPI (Netscape
Application Programming Interface) for access to Netscape's Internet servers,
ISAPI (Information Server Application Programming Interface) for access to
Microsoft's Internet servers, and XML for representing and processing content.
Adherence to these industry standards provides compatibility with existing
applications, enables ease of modification and reduces the need for software
to be rewritten, thus protecting the client's investment. Furthermore, our
products can be operated in conjunction with RDBMSs provided by Oracle, IBM,
Microsoft or Sybase, utilizing their native, high-performance interfaces. With
the development of the V/Series product architecture and the release of the
V/5 E-Business Platform we have also invested significantly in adapting our
products to comply with emerging Internet architecture standards--specifically
the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) standard and with Microsoft's Windows DNA
2000 architecture. Our efforts in these directions enable our customers to
leverage ASP and JSP programming models, COM and EJB as integration models, as
well as the services provided by compliant application servers in each
respective architectural standard.

                                      18
<PAGE>

  We have focused our investments in particular on developing our architecture
to comply with XML, a recently approved standard for data representation being
adopted by the industry. Software systems that are XML-compliant provide
customers with the ability to reduce application development time, easily
integrate with legacy enterprise systems, and build applications that span the
business processes of the company, its suppliers, distributors and customers.
We believe that our rapid adoption of XML and our leadership position in
building applications based on XML will allow us to further our technology
leadership as this standard becomes the de facto data representation model for
enterprise applications delivery. Specifically, we first introduced XML
services in the 3.2 release of StoryServer and built our Vignette Syndication
Server on top of an XML-based protocol known as ICE. We continue to invest in
XML technologies and participate as a member of the W3C standards committee,
with representation on the W3C Advisory Committee.

  We develop most of our software in Java or C++, two widely accepted standard
programming languages for developing object-oriented applications. We choose
whichever language is best suited to the requirements of a particular
component.

Research and Development

  We have made substantial investments in research and development through
both internal development and technology acquisitions. Although we plan to
continue to evaluate externally developed technologies for integration into
our product lines, we expect that most enhancements to existing and new
products will be developed internally.

  The majority of our research and development activity has been directed
towards feature extensions to our family of products. This development
consists primarily of adding new competitive product features and additional
tools and products as we expand into new markets.

  Our research and development expenditures, including the write-off of
acquired in-process research and development, for fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999
were approximately $2.9 million, $7.0 million and $16.4 million, respectively.
We expect that we will continue to commit significant resources to research
and development in the future. All research and development expenses have been
expensed as incurred. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."

  The market for our products and services is characterized by rapid
technological change, frequent new product introductions and enhancements,
evolving industry standards, and rapidly changing customer requirements. The
introduction of products incorporating new technologies and the emergence of
new industry standards could render existing products obsolete and
unmarketable. Our future success will depend in part on our ability to
anticipate changes, enhance our current products, develop and introduce new
products that keep pace with technological advancements and address the
increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers. See "Risk Factors--Risks
Related to Our Business--If We are Unable to Meet the Rapid Changes in e-
Business Applications Technology Our Existing Products Could Become Obsolete."

Sales and Marketing

  We market our products primarily through our direct sales force and also
intend to expand our indirect sales through additional relationships with
systems integrators, VARs and OEMs. We generate leads from a variety of
sources, including businesses seeking partners to develop interactive
marketing and selling applications. Initial sales activities typically include
a demonstration of our product capabilities followed by one or more detailed
technical reviews. As of December 31, 1999, the direct sales force consisted
of 166 sales executives and support personnel.

  We seek to establish partnerships with major industry vendors that will add
value to our products and expand distribution opportunities. We also pursue
marketing agreements with premier content authoring vendors, site usage
analysis vendors and vertically aligned Web server vendors.

                                      19
<PAGE>

  We use a variety of marketing programs to build market awareness of us, our
brand name and our products, as well as to attract potential clients for our
products. A broad mix of programs are used to accomplish these goals,
including market research, product and strategy updates with industry
analysts, public relations activities, direct mail and relationship marketing
programs, seminars, trade shows, speaking engagements and Web site marketing.
Our marketing organization also produces marketing materials in support of
sales to prospective clients that include brochures, data sheets, white
papers, presentations and demonstrations.

Strategic Alliances

  A critical element of our sales strategy is to establish strategic alliances
to assist us in marketing, selling and developing customer applications, as
well as to increase product interoperability within the industry. This
approach is intended to increase the number of personnel available to perform
application design and development services for our clients and provide
additional marketing expertise and technical expertise in certain vertical
industry segments. These alliances fall into four categories: (a) the
Information & Content Exchange alliance, (b) platform alliances, (c) e-
commerce and technology alliances and (d) design alliances.

  Information and Content Exchange Alliance. To facilitate the adoption of
Web-based content syndication technologies in the marketplace, we co-founded
the ICE working group to create an industry-standard protocol for enabling
cross-Website syndication capabilities. In January 1998, we formed the ICE
Authoring Group comprising 12 additional companies: Adobe, CNET, Firefly,
Hollinger International, Microsoft, National Semiconductor, Net Perceptions,
News Internet Services, Preview Travel, Sun Microsystems (JavaSoft), Tribune
Media Services and Ziff Davis. In support of this protocol creation, we have
also co-founded the ICE Advisory Council comprising over 70 companies that
provide input and feedback to the Authoring Group during the creation of the
protocol.

  Customer Profile Exchange Alliance. In September of 1999 Vignette founded
the CPExchange working group to create a standard for customer information
across enterprise applications. CPExchange offers a vendor-neutral, open
standard for facilitating the privacy-enabled interchange of customer
information across disparate enterprise applications and systems. The
CPExchange standard integrates online and offline customer data in an
XML-based data model for use within various enterprise applications both on
and off the Web. Chaired by Siebel Systems, CPExchange now counts among its
70+ members companies such as IBM, Oracle, Intuit, Acxiom, Lucent Technologies
and Sun/Netscape.

  Platform Alliances. To ensure that our products are based on industry
standards and take advantage of current and emerging technologies, we
emphasize strategic platform alliances. The benefits of this approach include
enabling us to focus on our core competencies, reducing time to market and
simplifying the task of designing and developing applications by both our
customers and us. Key strategic platform alliances to date have included
strategic relationships with IBM, provider of industry-leading e-Business
software; Sun Microsystems, developer of the Java language; Oracle and Sybase,
providers of industry-standard relational databases; and Hewlett-Packard, a
leading Internet server hardware manufacturer.

  e-Commerce and Technology Alliances. To assure that our products are
compatible with the latest e-commerce and technology trends, we have formed
alliances with many of the leading companies serving the Web. We exchange
marketing and sales information, sales leads, and technology integration
practices with our partners. Our e-commerce and technology alliance categories
include: e-commerce transactions; ad management; site traffic management;
multi-lingual site support and translations; personalization; operations
management; security; information architecture and navigation; high value
content loading and maintenance and building online communities.
Representative alliance partners include Vitessa for e-commerce transactions,
BizRate.com for consumer reporting and iSyndicate for Web content syndication.

  Design Alliances. Our prospective customers often retain the services of Web
design firms. These companies' primary business is to provide design services
rather than software resale. However, many are regarded as thought leaders in
the field and have influence over technology choices for the customer. We have
established relationships with 36 of these design firms.

                                      20
<PAGE>

  Our strategy is to establish additional alliances as new technologies and
standards emerge, although no assurance can be given that we will be
successful in establishing such alliances.

Competition

  The market for our products is intensely competitive, subject to rapid
technological change and significantly affected by new product introductions
and other market activities of industry participants. We expect competition to
persist and intensify in the future. We have three primary sources of
competition: in-house development efforts by potential clients or partners;
other vendors of software that directly address e-Business solutions, such as
BroadVision; and developers of point solution software that address only
certain technology components of e-Business solutions (e.g., content
management), such as Interwoven.

  Many of our competitors have longer operating histories and significantly
greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do and
thus may be able to respond more quickly to new or changing opportunities,
technologies and customer requirements. Also, many current and potential
competitors have wider name recognition and more extensive customer bases that
could be leveraged, thereby gaining market share to our detriment. Such
competitors may be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities,
adopt more aggressive pricing policies, and offer more attractive terms to
purchasers than we can. In addition, current and potential competitors have
established or may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or
with third parties to enhance their products. Accordingly, it is possible that
new competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire
significant market share.

  Such competition could materially and adversely affect our ability to obtain
revenues from either license or service fees from new or existing customers on
terms favorable to us. Further, competitive pressures may require us to reduce
the price of our software. In either case, our business, operating results and
financial condition would be materially and adversely affected. There can be
no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully with existing or new
competitors or that competition will not have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and operating results. See "Risk Factors--Risks
Related to Our Business--We Face Intense Competition for e-Business
Applications Software Which Could Make it Difficult to Acquire and Retain
Clients Now and in the Future."

Proprietary Rights and Licensing

  Our success and ability to compete is dependent on our ability to develop
and maintain the proprietary aspects of our technology and operate without
infringing on the proprietary rights of others. We rely on a combination of
patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright law and contractual
restrictions to protect the proprietary aspects of our technology. These legal
protections afford only limited protection for our technology. We presently
own two patents and have two patent applications pending in the United States.
We have one registered trademark in the United States, seven pending trademark
applications in the United States, six registered trademarks in foreign
countries, and 38 pending trademark applications in foreign countries. We seek
to protect our source code for our software, documentation and other written
materials under trade secret and copyright laws. We license our software
pursuant to signed license or "shrinkwrap" agreements, which impose certain
restrictions on the licensee's ability to utilize the software. Finally, we
seek to avoid disclosure of our intellectual property by requiring employees
and consultants with access to our proprietary information to execute
confidentiality agreements with us and by restricting access to our source
code. Due to rapid technological change, we believe that factors such as the
technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments
and enhancements to existing products are more important than the various
legal protections of our technology to establishing and maintaining a
technology leadership position.

  Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties
may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information
that we regard as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use of our products is
difficult and while we are unable to determine the extent to which piracy of
our software exists, software piracy can be expected to be a persistent
problem. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual
property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity and
scope of the proprietary

                                      21
<PAGE>

rights of others or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity.
However, the laws of many countries do not protect our proprietary rights to
as great an extent as do the laws of the United States. Any such resulting
litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and
could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and
financial condition. There can be no assurance that our means of protecting
our proprietary rights will be adequate or that our competitors will not
independently develop similar technology. Any failure by us to meaningfully
protect our property could have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.

  To date, we have not been notified that our products infringe the
proprietary rights of third parties, but there can be no assurance that third
parties will not claim infringement with respect to our current or future
products. We expect that developers of Web-based commerce software products
will increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products
and competitors in our industry segment grows and as the functionality of
products in different segments of the software industry increasingly overlaps.
Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming to defend,
result in costly litigation, divert management's attention and resources,
cause product shipment delays or require us to enter into royalty or licensing
agreements. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be
available on terms acceptable to us or at all. A successful claim of product
infringement against us and our failure or inability to license the infringed
technology or develop or license technology with comparable functionality
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
operating results. See "Risk Factors--Risks Related to Our Business--Our
Business is Based on Our Intellectual Property and We Could Incur Substantial
Costs Defending Our Intellectual Property From Infringement or a Claim of
Infringement."

  We integrate third-party software into our products. This third-party
software may not continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms. We
license RSA BSAFE software under a perpetual license agreement for security
functionality in our StoryServer software. We license software from Net
Perceptions for certain personalization functionality in our StoryServer
software. We license the Autonomy KnowledgeBuilder product for the development
of certain concept and keyword search functionality. The agreement expires in
October 2001, but it is renewed automatically for successive one-year terms
unless one party gives six months notice prior to the renewal date. We license
the Vitessa Internet Product Code and related technology for product
identification and related functions in an e-commerce environment. The
agreement continues in force indefinitely, but may be terminated for any
reason upon 90 days notice, provided such termination may not occur before
October 2002. In addition, we license RogueWave Software to provide embedded
low-level C++ utility functions in its software under a perpetual license
agreement accompanied by annual maintenance renewals. If we cannot maintain
licenses to this third-party software, shipments of our products could be
delayed until equivalent software could be developed or licensed and
integrated into our products, which could materially adversely affect our
business, operating results and financial condition.

Employees

  As of December 31, 1999, we had a total of 757 employees. Of the total
employees, 187 were in engineering, 243 in sales and marketing, 246 in
professional services and 81 in finance and administration. Our future success
will depend in part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly
qualified technical and management personnel, for whom competition is intense.
From time to time we also employ independent contractors to support our
professional services, product development, sales, marketing and business
development organizations. Our employees are not represented by any collective
bargaining unit, and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe our
relations with our employees are good.

                                      22
<PAGE>

                  RISK FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

  In addition to the other information in this Report, the following risk
factors should be considered carefully in evaluating our business and us.

Risks Related to Our Business

 We Expect to Incur Future Losses

  We incurred net losses of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1996,
$7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, $26.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 1998, and $42.5 million for the year ended December 31,
1999. As of December 31, 1999, we had an accumulated deficit of $79.8 million.
We have not achieved profitability and we expect to incur net losses for the
foreseeable future. To date, we have primarily funded our operations from the
sale of equity securities and have not generated cash from operations. We
expect to continue to incur significant product development, sales and
marketing, and administrative expenses and, as a result, we will need to
generate significant revenues to achieve and maintain profitability. Although
our revenues have grown significantly in recent quarters, we cannot be certain
that we can sustain these growth rates or that we will achieve sufficient
revenues for profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we cannot be
certain that we can sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual
basis in the future.

 Our Limited Operating History Makes Financial Forecasting Difficult

  We were founded in December 1995 and thus have a limited operating history.
As a result of our limited operating history, we cannot forecast operating
expenses based on our historical results. Accordingly, we base our expenses in
part on future revenue projections. Most of our expenses are fixed in the
short term and we may not be able to quickly reduce spending if our revenues
are lower than we had projected. Our ability to forecast accurately our
quarterly revenue is limited because our software products have a long sales
cycle that makes it difficult to predict the quarter in which sales will
occur. We would expect our business, operating results and financial condition
to be materially adversely affected if our revenues do not meet our
projections and that net losses in a given quarter would be even greater than
expected.

 We Expect Our Quarterly Revenues and Operating Results to Fluctuate

  Our revenues and operating results are likely to vary significantly from
quarter to quarter. A number of factors are likely to cause these variations,
including:

  .  Demand for our products and services;

  .  The timing of sales of our products and services;

  .  The timing of customer orders and product implementations;

  .  Unexpected delays in introducing new products and services;

  .  Increased expenses, whether related to sales and marketing, product
     development or administration;

  .  Changes in the rapidly evolving market for e-Business applications
     solutions;

  .  The mix of product license and services revenue, as well as the mix of
     products licensed;

  .  The mix of services provided and whether services are provided by our
     own staff or third-party contractors;

  .  The mix of domestic and international sales; and

  .  Costs related to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses.

  Accordingly, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating
results are not necessarily meaningful. Investors should not rely on the
results of one quarter as an indication of our future performance.

                                      23
<PAGE>

  We plan to increase our operating expenses to expand our sales and marketing
operations, develop new distribution channels, fund greater levels of research
and development, broaden professional services and support and improve
operational and financial systems. If our revenues do not increase along with
these expenses, our business, operating results or financial condition could
be materially adversely affected and net losses in a given quarter would be
even greater than expected.

  Although we have limited historical financial data, we believe that our
quarterly operating results may experience seasonal fluctuations. For
instance, quarterly results may fluctuate based on our clients' calendar year
budgeting cycles, slow summer purchasing patterns in Europe and our
compensation policies that tend to compensate sales personnel, typically in
the latter half of the year, for achieving annual quotas.

 Our Quarterly Results Often Depend on a Small Number of Large Orders

  We derive a significant portion of our software license revenues in each
quarter from a small number of relatively large orders. Although we do not
believe that the loss of any particular customer would have an adverse effect
on our business, our operating results could be materially adversely affected
if we were unable to complete one or more substantial license sales in any
future period. For example, in five of the last twelve quarters in the period
ended December 31, 1999, we had at least one customer that accounted for at
least 10% of total revenue in such quarter.

 We Depend on Increased Business from Our Current and New Customers and If We
Fail to Grow Our Customer Base or Generate Repeat Business, Our Operating
Results Could Be Harmed

  If we fail to grow our customer base or generate repeat and expanded
business from our current and new customers, our business and operating
results would be seriously harmed. Most of our customers initially make a
limited purchase of our products and services for pilot programs. Many of
these customers may not choose to purchase additional licenses to expand their
use of our products. Many of these customers have not yet developed or
deployed initial applications based on our products. If these customers do not
successfully develop and deploy such initial applications, they may not choose
to purchase deployment licenses or additional development licenses. Our
business model depends on the expanded use of our products within our
customers' organizations.

  In addition, as we introduce new versions of our products or new products,
our current customers may not require the functionality of our new products
and may not ultimately license these products. Because the total amount of
maintenance and support fees we receive in any period depends in large part on
the size and number of licenses that we have previously sold, any downturn in
our software license revenue would negatively impact our future services
revenue. In addition, if customers elect not to renew their maintenance
agreements, our services revenue could be significantly adversely affected.

 Our Operating Results May Be Adversely Affected By Small Delays in Customer
Orders or Product Implementations

  Small delays in customer orders or product implementations can cause
significant variability in our license revenues and operating results for any
particular period. We derive a substantial portion of our revenue from the
sale of products with related services. In these cases, our revenue
recognition policy requires us to substantially complete the implementation of
our product before we can recognize software license revenue, and any end of
quarter delays in product implementation could materially adversely affect
operating results for that quarter.

 In Order to Increase Market Awareness of Our Products and Generate Increased
Revenue We Need to Expand Our Sales and Distribution Capabilities

  We must expand our direct and indirect sales operations to increase market
awareness of our products and generate increased revenue. We cannot be certain
that we will be successful in these efforts. We have recently expanded our
direct sales force and plan to hire additional sales personnel. Our products
and services require a sophisticated sales effort targeted at the senior
management of our prospective clients. New hires will require

                                      24
<PAGE>

training and take time to achieve full productivity. We cannot be certain that
our recent hires will become as productive as necessary or that we will be
able to hire enough qualified individuals in the future. We also plan to
expand our relationships with value-added resellers, systems integrators and
other third-party resellers to build an indirect sales channel. In addition,
we will need to manage potential conflicts between our direct sales force and
third-party reselling efforts.

 Failure To Maintain The Support Of Third Party e-Business Consultants May
Limit Our Ability To Penetrate Our Markets

  A significant portion of our sales are influenced by the recommendations of
our products made by systems integrators, consulting firms and other third
parties that help develop and deploy e-business applications for our clients.
Losing the support of these third parties may limit our ability to penetrate
our markets. These third parties are under no obligation to recommend or
support our products. These companies could recommend or give higher priority
to the products of other companies or to their own products. A significant
shift by these companies toward favoring competing products could negatively
affect our license and service revenue.

 Our Lengthy Sales Cycle and Product Implementation Makes It Difficult to
Predict Our Quarterly Results

  We have a long sales cycle because we generally need to educate potential
clients regarding the use and benefits of e-Business applications. Our long
sales cycle makes it difficult to predict the quarter in which sales may fall.
In addition, since we recognize the majority of our revenue from product sales
upon implementation of our product, the timing of product implementation could
cause significant variability in our license revenues and operating results
for any particular period. The implementation of our products requires a
significant commitment of resources by our clients, third-party professional
services organizations or our professional services organization, which makes
it difficult to predict the quarter when implementation will be completed.

 We May Be Unable to Adequately Develop A Profitable Professional Services
Organization Which Could Affect Both Our Operating Results and Our Ability to
Assist Our Clients with the Implementation of Our

Products.

  We cannot be certain that we can attract or retain a sufficient number of
the highly qualified services personnel that our business needs and we cannot
be certain that our services business will ever achieve profitability. Clients
that license our software typically engage our professional services
organization to assist with support, training, consulting and implementation
of their Web solutions. We believe that growth in our product sales depends on
our ability to provide our clients with these services and to educate third-
party resellers on how to use our products. As a result, we plan to increase
the number of service personnel to meet these needs. New services personnel
will require training and education and take time to reach full productivity.
To meet our needs for services personnel, we may also need to use more costly
third-party consultants to supplement our own professional services
organization. We expect our services revenue to increase in absolute dollars
as we continue to provide consulting and training services that complement our
products and as our installed base of clients grows. To date, services costs
related to professional services have exceeded, or have been substantially
equal to, professional services-related revenue. Although we expect that our
professional services-related revenue will exceed professional services-
related costs in future periods, we cannot be certain that this will occur. We
generally bill our clients for our services on a "time and materials" basis.
However, from time to time we enter into fixed-price contracts for services.
On occasion, the costs of providing the services have exceeded our fees from
these contracts and, from time to time, we may misprice future contracts to
our detriment. In addition, competition for qualified services personnel with
the appropriate Internet specific knowledge is intense. We are in a new market
and there is a limited number of people who have acquired the skills needed to
provide the services that our clients demand.

 We May Be Unable to Attract Necessary Third Party Service Providers Which
Could Affect Our Ability to Provide Support, Consulting and Implementation
Services for Our Products

  There may be a shortage of third party service providers to assist our
clients the implementation of our products. We do not believe our professional
services organization will be able to fulfill the expected demand for

                                      25
<PAGE>

support, consulting and implementation services for our products. We are
actively attempting to supplement the capabilities of our services
organization by attracting and educating third party service providers and
consultants to also provide these services. We may not be successful in
attracting these third party providers or maintaining the interest of current
third party providers. In addition, these third parties may not devote enough
resources to these activities. A shortfall in service capabilities may affect
our ability to sell our software.

 Our Business May Become Increasingly Susceptible to Numerous Risks Associated
with International Operations

  International operations are generally subject to a number of risks,
including:

  .  Expenses associated with customizing products for foreign countries;

  .  Protectionist laws and business practices that favor local competition;

  .  Dependence on local vendors;

  .  Multiple, conflicting and changing governmental laws and regulations;

  .  Longer sales cycles;

  .  Difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;

  .  Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and

  .  Political and economic instability.

  We received 15% of our total revenue in the year ended December 31, 1999,
respectively, through licenses and services sold to clients located outside of
the United States. We expect international revenue to account for a
significant percentage of total revenue in the future and we believe that we
must continue to expand our international sales activities in order to be
successful. Our international sales growth will be limited if we are unable to
establish additional foreign operations, expand international sales channel
management and support organizations, hire additional personnel, customize
products for local markets, develop relationships with international service
providers and establish relationships with additional distributors and third
party integrators. In that case, our business, operating results and financial
condition could be materially adversely affected. Even if we are able to
successfully expand international operations, we cannot be certain that we
will be able to maintain or increase international market demand for our
products.

  To date, a majority of our international revenues and costs have been
denominated in foreign currencies. We believe that an increasing portion of
our international revenues and costs will be denominated in foreign currencies
in the future. In addition, although we cannot predict the potential
consequences to our business as a result of the adoption of the Euro as a
common currency in Europe, the transition to the Euro presents a number of
risks, including increased competition from European firms as a result of
pricing transparency. To date, we have not engaged in any foreign exchange
hedging transactions and we are therefore subject to foreign currency risk.

 In Order to Properly Manage Growth, We May Need to Implement and Improve Our
Operational Systems on a Timely Basis

  We have expanded our operations rapidly since inception. We intend to
continue to expand in the foreseeable future to pursue existing and potential
market opportunities. This rapid growth places a significant demand on
management and operational resources. In order to manage growth effectively,
we must implement and improve our operational systems, procedures and controls
on a timely basis. If we fail to implement and improve these systems, our
business, operating results and financial condition will be materially
adversely affected.

 We May Be Adversely Affected If We Lose Key Personnel

  Our success depends largely on the skills, experience and performance of
some key members of our management. If we lose one or more of these key
employees, our business, operating results and financial

                                      26
<PAGE>

condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, our future
success will depend largely on our ability to continue attracting and
retaining highly skilled personnel. Like other software companies, we face
intense competition for qualified personnel, particularly in the Austin, Texas
area. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in attracting,
assimilating or retaining qualified personnel in the future.

 We Have Relied and Expect to Continue to Rely on Sales of Our StoryServer
Product Line for Our Revenue

  We currently derive substantially all of our revenues from the license and
related upgrades, professional services and support of our StoryServer
software products. We expect that we will continue to depend on revenue
related to new and enhanced versions of our StoryServer product line for at
least the next several quarters. We cannot be certain that we will be
successful in upgrading and marketing our products or that we will
successfully develop and market new products and services. If we do not
continue to increase revenue related to our existing products or generate
revenue from new products and services, our business, operating results and
financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

 Our Future Revenue is Dependent Upon Our Ability to Successfully Market Our
Vignette Syndication Server

  We expect that our future financial performance will depend significantly on
revenue from Vignette Syndication Server and the related tools that we plan to
develop, which is subject to significant risks. We began shipping Vignette
Syndication Server to clients in the first quarter of 1999. This is the first
version of a new product designed for a new market opportunity. There are
significant risks inherent in a product introduction such as Vignette
Syndication Server. Market acceptance of Vignette Syndication Server will
depend on a market developing for Internet syndication products and services
and the commercial adoption of standards on which Vignette Syndication Server
is based. We cannot be certain that either will occur. We cannot be certain
that Vignette Syndication Server will meet customer performance needs or
expectations when shipped or that it will be free of significant software
defects or bugs. If Vignette Syndication Server does not meet customer needs
or expectations, for whatever reason, upgrading or enhancing the product could
be costly and time consuming.

 If We are Unable to Meet the Rapid Changes in e-Business Applications
 Technology Our Existing Products Could Become Obsolete

  The market for our products is marked by rapid technological change,
frequent new product introductions and Internet-related technology
enhancements, uncertain product life cycles, changes in client demands and
evolving industry standards. We cannot be certain that we will successfully
develop and market new products, new product enhancements or new products
compliant with present or emerging Internet technology standards. New products
based on new technologies or new industry standards can render existing
products obsolete and unmarketable. To succeed, we will need to enhance our
current products and develop new products on a timely basis to keep pace with
developments related to Internet technology and to satisfy the increasingly
sophisticated requirements of our clients. Internet commerce technology,
particularly e-Business applications technology, is complex and new products
and product enhancements can require long development and testing periods. Any
delays in developing and releasing enhanced or new products could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.

 We Face Intense Competition for e-Business Applications Software Which Could
 Make it Difficult to Acquire and Retain Clients Now and in the Future

  The Internet software market is intensely competitive. Our clients'
requirements and the technology available to satisfy those requirements
continually change. We expect competition to persist and intensify in the
future.

  Our principal competitors include: in-house development efforts by potential
clients or partners; other vendors of software that directly address elements
of e-Business applications, such as BroadVision; and developers of software
that address only certain technology components of e-Business applications
(e.g., content management), such as Interwoven.


                                      27
<PAGE>

  Many of these companies, as well as some other competitors, have longer
operating histories and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing
and other resources than we do. Many of these companies can also leverage
extensive customer bases and adopt aggressive pricing policies to gain market
share. Potential competitors such as Netscape and Microsoft may bundle their
products in a manner that may discourage users from purchasing our products.
In addition, it is possible that new competitors or alliances among
competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share.

  Competitive pressures may make it difficult for us to acquire and retain
clients and may require us to reduce the price of our software. We cannot be
certain that we will be able to compete successfully with existing or new
competitors. If we fail to compete successfully against current or future
competitors, our business, operating results and financial condition would be
materially adversely affected.

 We Must Successfully Integrate Our Recent Acquisitions of Diffusion, Inc.,
Engine 5, Ltd. and DataSage, Inc.

  We acquired Diffusion, Inc., Engine 5, Ltd. and DataSage, Inc. on June 30,
1999, January 18, 2000 and February 15, 2000, respectively. Our failure to
successfully address the risks associated with our acquisitions of these
companies could have a material adverse affect on our ability to develop and
market products based on their respective technologies. In particular, we are
developing integrated products and, accordingly, are devoting significant
resources to product development, sales and marketing. The success of these
acquisitions will depend on our ability to:

  .  Successfully integrate and manage their operations;

  .  Retain their key employees; and

  .  Develop and market products based on the acquired technology.

 Potential Future Acquisitions Could Be Difficult to Integrate, Disrupt Our
Business, Dilute Stockholder Value and Adversely Affect Our Operating Results

  We may acquire other businesses in the future, which would complicate our
management tasks. We may need to integrate widely dispersed operations that
have different and unfamiliar corporate cultures. These integration efforts
may not succeed or may distract management's attention from existing business
operations. Our failure to successfully manage future acquisitions could
seriously harm our business. Also, our existing stockholders would be diluted
if we financed the acquisitions by issuing equity securities.

 The Internet is Generating Privacy Concerns in the Public and Within
Governments, Which Could Result in Legislation Materially and Adversely
Affecting Our Business or Result in Reduced Sales of Our Products, or Both

  Businesses use our StoryServer product to develop and maintain profiles to
tailor the content to be provided to Web site visitors. Typically, the
software captures profile information when consumers, business customers or
employees visit a Web site and volunteer information in response to survey
questions. Usage data collected over time augments the profiles. However,
privacy concerns may nevertheless cause visitors to resist providing the
personal data necessary to support this profiling capability. More
importantly, even the perception of security and privacy concerns, whether or
not valid, may indirectly inhibit market acceptance of our products. In
addition, legislative or regulatory requirements may heighten these concerns
if businesses must notify Web site users that the data captured after visiting
certain Web sites may be used by marketing entities to unilaterally direct
product promotion and advertising to that user. We are not aware of any such
legislation or regulatory requirements currently in effect in the United
States. Other countries and political entities, such as the European Economic
Community, have adopted such legislation or regulatory requirements. The
United States may adopt similar legislation or regulatory requirements. If
consumer privacy concerns are not adequately addressed, our business,
financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely
affected.

  Our StoryServer product uses "cookies" to track demographic information and
user preferences. A "cookie" is information keyed to a specific server, file
pathway or directory location that is stored on a user's

                                      28
<PAGE>

hard drive, possibly without the user's knowledge, but generally removable by
the user. Germany has imposed laws limiting the use of cookies, and a number
of Internet commentators, advocates and governmental bodies in the United
States and other countries have urged passage of laws limiting or abolishing
the use of cookies. If such laws are passed, our business, operating results
and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 We May Be Adversely Impacted by the Year 2000 and Other Information
Technology Issues

  The "Year 2000 Issue" refers generally to the problems that some software
may have in determining the correct century for the year. For example,
software with date-sensitive functions that is not Year 2000 compliant may not
be able to distinguish whether "00" means 1900 or 2000, which may result in
failures or the creation of erroneous results.

  We are exposed to the risk that the Year 2000 Issue could disrupt our
operations. However, as discussed in prior filings, we undertook certain
planning and implementation efforts. We did not experience any significant
system failures at the turning of the new millennium. We presently believe
that the Year 2000 Issue has been mitigated. The amounts incurred and expensed
for developing and carrying out the plans to complete the Year 2000
modifications did not have a material effect on our operations. See "Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Year 2000 Update."

 We Develop Complex Software Products Susceptible to Software Errors or
Defects that Could Result in Lost Revenues, or Delayed or Limited Market
Acceptance

  Complex software products such as ours often contain errors or defects,
particularly when first introduced or when new versions or enhancements are
released. Despite internal testing and testing by current and potential
customers, our current and future products may contain serious defects,
including Year 2000 errors. Serious defects or errors could result in lost
revenues or a delay in market acceptance, which would have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 If We Experienced a Product Liability Claim We Could Incur Substantial
Litigation Costs

  Since our clients use our products for mission critical applications such as
Internet commerce, errors, defects or other performance problems could result
in financial or other damages to our clients. They could seek damages for
losses from us, which, if successful, could have a material adverse effect on
our business, operating results or financial condition. Although our license
agreements typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to
product liability claims, existing or future laws or unfavorable judicial
decisions could negate such limitation of liability provisions. We have not
experienced any product liability claims to date. However, a product liability
claim brought against us, even if not successful, would likely be time
consuming and costly.

 Our Product Shipments Could Be Delayed if Third Party Software Incorporated
in Our Products is No Longer Available

  We integrate third-party software as a component of our software. The third-
party software may not continue to be available to us on commercially
reasonable terms. If we cannot maintain licenses to key third-party software,
such as GroupLens Express, shipments of our products could be delayed until
equivalent software could be developed or licensed and integrated into our
products, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating
results and financial condition.

 Our Business is Based on Our Intellectual Property and We Could Incur
Substantial Costs Defending Our Intellectual Property From Infringement or a
Claim of Infringement

  In recent years, there has been significant litigation in the United States
involving patents and other intellectual property rights. We could incur
substantial costs to prosecute or defend any such litigation. Although we are
not currently involved in any intellectual property litigation, we may be a
party to litigation in the future

                                      29
<PAGE>

to protect our intellectual property or as a result of an alleged infringement
of other's intellectual property, forcing us to do one or more of the
following:

  .  Cease selling, incorporating or using products or services that
     incorporate the challenged intellectual property;

  .  Obtain from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right a
     license to sell or use the relevant technology, which license may not be
     available on reasonable terms; and

  .  Redesign those products or services that incorporate such technology.

  We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright
law and contractual restrictions to protect our technology. These legal
protections provide only limited protection. If we litigated to enforce our
rights, it would be expensive, divert management resources and may not be
adequate to protect our business.

 Anti-Takeover Provisions in Our Charter Documents and Delaware Law Could
Prevent or Delay a Change in Control of Our Company

  Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may
discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that a stockholder may
consider favorable. Such provisions include:

  .  Authorizing the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock;

  .  Providing for a classified board of directors with staggered, three-year
     terms;

  .  Prohibiting cumulative voting in the election of directors;

  .  Requiring super-majority voting to effect certain amendments to our
     certificate of incorporation and bylaws;

  .  Limiting the persons who may call special meetings of stockholders;

  .  Prohibiting stockholder action by written consent; and

  .  Establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to
     the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by
     stockholders at stockholder meetings.

  Certain provisions of Delaware law and our stock incentive plans may also
discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us.

Risks Related to the Internet Industry

 Our Performance Will Depend on the Growth of the Internet for Commerce

  Our future success depends heavily on the Internet being accepted and widely
used for commerce. If Internet commerce does not continue to grow or grows
more slowly than expected, our business, operating results and financial
condition would be materially adversely affected. Consumers and businesses may
reject the Internet as a viable commercial medium for a number of reasons,
including potentially inadequate network infrastructure, slow development of
enabling technologies or insufficient commercial support. The Internet
infrastructure may not be able to support the demands placed on it by
increased Internet usage and bandwidth requirements. In addition, delays in
the development or adoption of new standards and protocols required to handle
increased levels of Internet activity, or increased government regulation
could cause the Internet to lose its viability as a commercial medium. Even if
the required infrastructure, standards, protocols or complementary products,
services or facilities are developed, we may incur substantial expenses
adapting our solutions to changing or emerging technologies.

 Our Performance Will Depend on the New Market for e-Business Applications
Software

  The market for e-Business applications software is new and rapidly evolving.
We expect that we will continue to need intensive marketing and sales efforts
to educate prospective clients about the uses and benefits

                                      30
<PAGE>

of our products and services. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that a viable
market for our products will emerge or be sustainable. Enterprises that have
already invested substantial resources in other methods of conducting business
may be reluctant or slow to adopt a new approach that may replace, limit or
compete with their existing systems. Similarly, individuals have established
patterns of purchasing goods and services. They may be reluctant to alter
those patterns. They may also resist providing the personal data necessary to
support our existing and potential product uses. Any of these factors could
inhibit the growth of online business generally and the market's acceptance of
our products and services in particular.

 There is Substantial Risk that Future Regulations Could Be Enacted that
Either Directly Restrict Our Business or Indirectly Impact Our Business By
Limiting the Growth of Internet Commerce

  As Internet commerce evolves, we expect that federal, state or foreign
agencies will adopt regulations covering issues such as user privacy, pricing,
content and quality of products and services. If enacted, such laws, rules or
regulations could limit the market for our products and services, which could
materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating
results. Although many of these regulations may not apply to our business
directly, we expect that laws regulating the solicitation, collection or
processing of personal/consumer information could indirectly affect our
business. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits certain types of
information and content from being transmitted over the Internet. The
prohibition's scope and the liability associated with a Telecommunications Act
violation are currently unsettled. In addition, although substantial portions
of the Communications Decency Act were held to be unconstitutional, we cannot
be certain that similar legislation will not be enacted and upheld in the
future. It is possible that such legislation could expose companies involved
in Internet commerce to liability, which could limit the growth of Internet
commerce generally. Legislation like the Telecommunications Act and the
Communications Decency Act could dampen the growth in Web usage and decrease
its acceptance as a communications and commercial medium.

  The United States government also regulates the export of encryption
technology, which our products incorporate. If our export authority is revoked
or modified, if our software is unlawfully exported or if the United States
government adopts new legislation or regulation restricting export of software
and encryption technology, our business, operating results and financial
condition could be materially adversely affected. Current or future export
regulations may limit our ability to distribute our software outside the
United States. Although we take precautions against unlawful export of our
software, we cannot effectively control the unauthorized distribution of
software across the Internet.

Risks Related to the Securities Markets

 Our Stock Price May Be Volatile

  The market price of our common stock has been highly volatile and has
fluctuated significantly in the past. We believe that it may continue to
fluctuate significantly in the future in response to the following factors,
some of which are beyond our control:

  .  Variations in quarterly operating results;

  .  Changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;

  .  Changes in market valuations of Internet software companies;

  .  Announcements by us of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic
     partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

  .  Loss of a major client or failure to complete significant license
     transactions;

  .  Additions or departures of key personnel;

  .  Sales of common stock in the future; and

  .  Fluctuations in stock market price and volume, which are particularly
     common among highly volatile securities of Internet and software
     companies.

                                      31
<PAGE>

 Our Business May Be Adversely Affected By Class Action Litigation Due to
Stock Price Volatility

  In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought
against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its
securities. We may in the future be the target of similar litigation.
Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert
management's attention and resources, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

 We May Be Unable to Meet Our Future Capital Requirements

  We expect the cash on hand, cash equivalents and commercial credit
facilities to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs for at
least the next 12 months. After that time, we may need to raise additional
funds and we cannot be certain that we would be able to obtain additional
financing on favorable terms, if at all. Further, if we issue equity
securities, stockholders may experience additional dilution or the new equity
securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of
existing holders of common stock. If we cannot raise funds, if needed, on
acceptable terms, we may not be able to develop or enhance our products, take
advantage of future opportunities or respond to competitive pressures or
unanticipated requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, operating results and financial condition.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

  Our headquarters are currently located in a leased facility in Austin,
Texas, consisting of approximately 97,000 square feet under a five-year lease
with expansion options. We have also leased offices in Alexandria, Virginia;
Atlanta, Georgia; Bellevue, Washington; Bethesda, Maryland; Boston,
Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Fairfax,
Virginia; Mountain View, California; Newport Beach, California; New York, New
York; Oakbrook, Illinois; Redwood City, California; San Mateo, California;
Valencia, California; Hamburg, Germany; London, England; Paris, France;
Singapore; and Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  We are not a party to any material legal proceedings.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSIONS OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF THE SECURITY HOLDERS

  We did not submit any matters to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

  The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive
officers and directors of Vignette as of December 31, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                      Age                     Position
- ----                      ---                     --------
<S>                       <C> <C>
Gregory A. Peters.......   39 Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
William R. Daniel.......   44 Senior Vice President, Products
Joel G. Katz............   36 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Laurie Frick............   44 Senior Vice President, Marketing
Calvin B. Killen........   48 Senior Vice President, Engineering
Philip C. Powers........   41 Senior Vice President, Professional Services
Richard L. Schwartz.....   45 Vice President, Emerging Technology
Michael J. Vollman......   42 Senior Vice President, Sales and Services
Robert E. Davoli(2).....   51 Director
Joseph A. Marengi.......   46 Director
Steven G.
 Papermaster(1).........   41 Director
John D. Thornton(1)(2)..   34 Director
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Member of Audit Committee
(2) Member of Compensation Committee

                                      32
<PAGE>

  Gregory A. Peters has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President
and as a director since June 1998. From October 1997 to May 1998, Mr. Peters
served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Logic Works, Inc., a
software company. Mr. Peters joined Logic Works as Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations in August 1996 and served as
Acting President and Chief Executive Officer from April 1997 to October 1997.
From April 1994 to August 1996, Mr. Peters served as Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Senior Vice President, and from 1992 to March 1994, as
Controller and Treasurer, at Micrografx, Inc., a Windows-based graphics
software company. From 1990 to 1992, Mr. Peters held various financial
positions at DSC Communications Corporation, a telecommunications company. Mr.
Peters is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in Business Administration from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

  William R. Daniel has served as our Senior Vice President, Products since
September 1999. From November 1998 to August 1999, he served as our Vice
President, Business Development. From August 1995 to May 1998, Mr. Daniel
served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and was a co-founder of Wallop
Software, Inc., a provider of web application development and assembly
solutions. From June 1988 until July 1995, he served as Chief Operating
Officer and Senior Vice President with Datis Corporation (acquired by HCIA,
Inc. in 1995), a healthcare information provider. Mr. Daniel received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Engineering Sciences with honors from Dartmouth
College and a Masters of Business Administration degree in finance with honors
from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

  Joel G. Katz has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since
April 1999. From December 1990 to April 1999, Mr. Katz served as Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary of Harbinger Corporation, an e-commerce
software and services company. From December 1985 to December 1990, Mr. Katz
held various financial positions at Arthur Andersen, a professional services
organization, where he was a certified public accountant. Mr. Katz received
his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with honors from the
University of Georgia.

  Laurie Frick has served as our Senior Vice President, Marketing since
December 1999. Before joining Vignette, Ms. Frick most recently served as Vice
President and General Manager for Compaq's Internet Services and eTronics
Division. She also held positions as Vice President and General Manager,
Consumer Peripherals Division and as Vice President and General Manager of
Compaq's Consumer Emerging Markets Division. Prior to joining Compaq in 1995,
Ms. Frick held several sales and marketing management positions during her 13-
year tenure at the Hewlett-Packard Company. Ms. Frick earned a Masters of
Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a
Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from California State University.

  Calvin B. Killen has served as our Senior Vice President, Engineering since
August 1999. From 1974 to August 1999, Mr. Killen held various positions at
IBM. From 1992 to 1996 he was Director of AIX Development and from 1996 to
1999 he was Vice President of Development, Distribution and Industrial
Sectors. Mr. Killen received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master
of Science in Engineering from Purdue University.

  Philip C. Powers has served as our Senior Vice President, Professional
Services since September 1999 and as our Vice President, Professional Services
from August 1998 to September 1999. From February 1997 to August 1998 he
served as Vice President, Worldwide Professional Services at Tivoli Systems,
Inc., a client/server software company. From January 1981 to February 1997 he
held several management roles at IBM which most recently included Director of
Worldwide Channel Marketing for IBM's software group and Director of Worldwide
Marketing, LAN systems for IBM's personal software products division. Mr.
Powers received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Management from
the University of Dayton.

  Richard L. Schwartz has served as our Vice President, Emerging Technology
since July 1999. From October 1995 to June 1999, Mr. Schwartz held several
management roles, which most recently included Chairman and

                                      33
<PAGE>

Chief Technology Officer, at Diffusion, Inc., an Internet-based customer
relationship management company acquired by Vignette. Prior to that, he was
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Borland, International.
Mr. Schwartz is co-creator of the Paradox database application, and co-founder
of Ansa Software, acquired by Borland International in 1987. He was a Senior
Computer Scientist at SRI International prior to starting Ansa Software. Mr.
Schwartz holds a Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of California,
Los Angeles.

  Michael J. Vollman has served as our Senior Vice President, Sales and
Services since September 1999, our Vice President, North American Sales and
Professional Services from September 1998 to August 1999, and our Vice
President, North American Operations from April 1998 to August 1998. Mr.
Vollman joined Vignette in February 1998 as Vice President, Professional
Services and served in that capacity until April 1998. From February 1997 to
February 1998, Mr. Vollman served as Practice Director within the Central
Region Consulting Business for Oracle Corporation, an enterprise database
company. From June 1985 to February 1997, he served in various account
leadership and business development roles for Electronic Data Systems, an
information technology services company. He received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Computer Science from Lawrence Technological University and a Master
of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Michigan.

  Robert E. Davoli has served as a director of Vignette since February 1996.
Mr. Davoli has served as General Partner of Sigma Partners, a venture capital
firm, since January 1995. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer
of Epoch Systems, a client-server software company, from February 1993 to
September 1994. From May 1986 through June 1992, Mr. Davoli was the President
and Chief Executive Officer of SQL Solutions, a relational database management
systems consulting and tools company that he founded and sold to Sybase, Inc.
in January 1990. He is a director of ISS Group, Inc., a network security
software company, which is publicly held, and he serves as a director of
several privately held companies. Mr. Davoli received a Bachelor of Arts in
History from Ricker College.

  Joseph A. Marengi has served as director of Vignette since July 1999. Mr.
Marengi, who is a Senior Vice President with Dell Computer Corporation
reporting to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for the
Dell Americas units serving enterprise, large corporate and medium-sized
business customers. Prior to joining Dell in July 1997, Mr. Marengi worked
with Novell, Inc., most recently serving as President and Chief Operating
Officer. He joined Novell in 1989, beginning as director of the Eastern region
and moving through successive promotions to become executive vice president of
worldwide sales and field operations. Mr. Marengi received a Bachelor of Arts
in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a
master's degree in Management from the University of Southern California.

  Steven G. Papermaster has served as a director of Vignette since September
1998. Mr. Papermaster has served as the Chairman of Powershift Group, a
technology venture development group, since 1996. He is also Chairman of
Perficient, Inc., a provider of professional services to Internet software
companies, as well as a director of several privately held companies. Mr.
Papermaster was the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BSG
Corporation, a system integration company, from 1987 to 1996. Mr. Papermaster
also founded Enterprise Technology Institute in 1990. He received his Bachelor
of Arts in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

  John D. Thornton has served as a director of Vignette since February 1996.
Mr. Thornton is a General Partner of Austin Ventures, a venture capital firm,
where he has been employed since 1991. Mr. Thornton serves as a director of
Garden.com, an e-commerce gardening company, MetaSolv Software, Inc., a
telecommunications software company, and Mission Critical Software, an
enterprise software company, as well as several privately held companies. He
joined Austin Ventures from McKinsey & Co., where he served clients in the
United States and Europe. He received a Bachelor of Arts with honors from
Trinity University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford
Graduate School of Business.

                                      34
<PAGE>

                                   PART II.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

  Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"VIGN." Public trading of the common stock commenced on February 19, 1999.
Prior to that, there was no public market for the common stock. The following
table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale price per
share of the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market, as adjusted for the
two-for-one forward split of our common stock paid on December 1, 1999 but not
adjusted for the three-for-one forward split of our common stock to be paid on
April 14, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  High    Low
                                                                 ------- ------
   <S>                                                           <C>     <C>
   Year Ended December 31, 1999:
     First Quarter (from February 19, 1999)..................... $ 44.00 $19.91
     Second Quarter.............................................   52.56  21.31
     Third Quarter..............................................   45.25  26.19
     Fourth Quarter.............................................  163.75  44.63
</TABLE>

  As of February 29, 2000, there were approximately 390 holders of record of
our common stock.

  We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock or
other securities and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. Our lines of credit currently prohibit the payment of cash
dividends.

  During the second quarter of the year ended December 31, 1999, we issued an
aggregate of 393,271 shares of our common stock in exchange for the
outstanding capital stock of Diffusion, Inc. The shares were issued pursuant
to an exemption by reason of Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933.
The terms and conditions of such issuances were approved after a hearing upon
the fairness of such terms and conditions by a government authority expressly
authorized by the law to grant such approval.

                                      35
<PAGE>

ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

  The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and
with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and other financial data included elsewhere in this Report on
Form 10-K. Consolidated statement of operations data for the year ended
December 31, 1996 include results of operations for the period from December
19, 1995, the date of our inception, through December 31, 1996. The
consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31,
1997, 1998 and 1999 and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31,
1998 and 1999 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated statement of
operations data for the year ended December 31, 1996 and the consolidated
balance sheet data at December 31, 1996 and 1997 are derived from audited
consolidated financial statements not included in this Report on Form 10-K.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Year ended December 31,
                                       -------------------------------------------
                                         1996      1997      1998     1999 (1)
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ------------
                                       (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 Data:
Revenue:
  Product license....................  $    --   $  1,943  $   8,584  $  46,292
  Services...........................       --      1,081      7,621     42,893
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenue....................       --      3,024     16,205     89,185
Cost of revenue:
  Product license....................       --         37        964      3,306
  Services...........................       --      1,438      9,340     33,488
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of revenue............       --      1,475     10,304     36,794
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
Gross profit.........................       --      1,549      5,901     52,391
Operating expenses:
  Research and development...........       892     2,895      6,962     16,447
  Sales and marketing................       428     4,964     15,880     49,559
  General and administrative.........       503     1,333      4,864      9,494
  Purchased in-process research and
   development, acquisition-related,
   and other charges.................     1,865       --       2,089     15,641
  Amortization of deferred stock
   compensation......................       --        --       2,475      5,654
  Amortization of intangibles........       --        --         --       1,796
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating expenses.........     3,688     9,192     32,270     98,591
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
Loss from operations.................    (3,688)   (7,643)   (26,369)   (46,200)
Other income, net....................        62       169        172      3,723
                                       --------  --------  ---------  ---------
Net loss.............................  $ (3,626) $ (7,474) $ (26,197) $ (42,477)
                                       ========  ========  =========  =========
Basic net loss per share.............  $  (2.88) $  (2.09) $   (4.60) $   (0.93)
                                       ========  ========  =========  =========
Shares used in computing basic net
 loss per share......................     1,260     3,576      5,698     45,751
Pro forma basic net loss per share...                                 $   (0.84)
                                                                      =========
Shares used in computing pro forma
 net loss per share..................                                    50,304
</TABLE>

                                      36
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 As of December 31,
                                          ------------------------------------
                                           1996     1997      1998    1999 (1)
                                          -------  -------  --------  --------
                                                   (in thousands)
<S>                                       <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents................ $ 1,863  $ 6,865  $ 12,242  $391,332
Working capital..........................   1,583    4,255     3,757   375,211
Total assets.............................   2,229    8,499    22,781   514,730
Long-term debt and capital lease
 obligation, less current portion........     198      833       758       --
Redeemable convertible preferred stock...   3,458   13,458    36,258       --
Total stockholders' equity (deficit).....  (1,770)  (9,248)  (30,767)  437,059
</TABLE>

- --------
(1) Reflects the acquisition of Diffusion, Inc. on June 30, 1999.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  The statements contained in this Report on Form 10-K that are not purely
historical statements are forward looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, including statements
regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding
the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-
looking statements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this Report on Form 10-K to conform these
statements to actual results. See "Risk Factors that May Affect Future
Results," and the factors and risks discussed in our Registration Statement
filed on Form S-1 on December 9, 1999 (File No. 333-91085) with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

Overview

  We are a leading global provider of e-Business application software products
and services. Our e-Business solutions are designed to enable businesses to
build successful and sustainable online businesses. Our e-Business solutions
allow both traditional brick-and-mortar and startup dot-com businesses to
create and manage Internet business channels that are designed to attract,
engage and retain their customers, partners, and suppliers online. Using our
solutions, our clients build e-Business applications which are focused on
personalized and mass customized multiple touchpoints and communication
channels. We were founded in December 1995. To date, we have developed and
released several versions of our StoryServer product and have sold our
products and services to 518 clients. We market and sell our products
worldwide primarily through our direct sales force but also market through
third party providers.

  We derive our revenue from the sale of software product licenses and from
professional consulting, maintenance and support services. Product license
revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the
product has been delivered, we have no remaining significant obligations with
regard to implementation, the license fee is fixed or determinable and
collection of the fee is probable. Services revenue consists of fees from
professional services and from maintenance and telephone support. Professional
services include integration of software, application development, training
and software installation. We bill professional services fees either on a
time-and-materials or on a fixed-price basis. We recognize professional
services fees billed on a time-and-materials basis as the services are
performed. We recognize professional services fees on fixed-price service
arrangements on the completion of specific contractual milestone events, or
based on an estimated percentage of completion as work progresses. We
recognize estimated losses on fixed-priced service arrangements, if any, when
it becomes apparent a loss is to be incurred. Our clients typically purchase
maintenance agreements annually, and we price maintenance agreements based on
a percentage of our current product list price. We price telephone support
based on differing levels of support. Clients purchasing maintenance
agreements receive unspecified product upgrades and electronic, Web-based
technical support, while purchasers of support contracts receive additional
telephone support. We recognize revenue from

                                      37
<PAGE>

maintenance and support agreements ratably over the term of the agreement,
typically one year. We record cash receipts from clients and billed amounts
due from clients in excess of revenue recognized as deferred revenue. The
timing and amount of cash receipts from clients can vary significantly
depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant
impact on the amount of deferred revenue in any given period.

  Cost of revenue consists of costs to manufacture, package and distribute our
products and related documentation, as well as personnel and other expenses
related to providing professional services. Since our inception, we have
incurred substantial costs to develop our technology and products, to recruit
and train personnel for our engineering, sales and marketing and professional
services departments, and to establish an administrative organization. As a
result, we have incurred significant losses since inception and, as of
December 31, 1999, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $79.8
million. We believe our success depends on further increasing our client base
and on growth in the emerging e-Business solutions market. Accordingly, we
intend to continue to invest heavily in sales, marketing, professional
services, research and development and in our operational and financial
systems. Furthermore, we expect to continue to incur substantial operating
losses, excluding amortization of intangibles and stock-based compensation, at
least through the third quarter of 2000, and our expected increase in
operating expenses will require significant increases in revenues before we
become profitable.

  We had 757 full-time employees at December 31, 1999, up from 310 December
31, 1998. This rapid growth places a significant demand on our management and
operational resources. In order to manage growth effectively, we must
implement and improve our operational systems, procedures and controls on a
timely basis. In addition, we expect that future expansion will continue to
challenge our ability to hire, train, motivate, and manage our employees.
Competition is intense for highly qualified technical, sales and marketing and
management personnel. If our total revenue does not increase relative to our
operating expenses, our management systems do not expand to meet increasing
demands, we fail to attract, assimilate and retain qualified personnel, or our
management otherwise fails to manage our expansion effectively, there would be
a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.

  Effective June 30, 1999, we acquired Diffusion, Inc., a developer of multi-
channel information delivery solutions, in exchange for 786,542 shares of
Vignette common stock. The total cost of the acquisition, including
transaction costs, was approximately $31.2 million. The acquisition was
accounted for as a purchase business combination. Accordingly, the results of
operations of Diffusion have been included with our results of operations for
periods subsequent to the date of acquisition, and the acquired net assets
were recorded at their estimated fair values at the effective date of the
acquisition. Upon the closing of the acquisition on June 30, 1999, we incurred
a one-time charge totaling $15.2 million for the write-off of in-process
research and development, acquisition-related expenses and integration costs.

                                      38
<PAGE>

Results of Operations

  The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of
revenues represented by certain line items in our consolidated statements of
operations.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Year Ended December 31,
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                     1997      1998     1999
                                                   --------  --------  -------
<S>                                                <C>       <C>       <C>
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Revenue:
  Product license.................................       64%       53%      52%
  Services........................................       36        47       48
                                                   --------  --------  -------
    Total revenue.................................      100       100      100
Cost of revenue:
  Product license.................................        1         6        4
  Services........................................       48        58       38
                                                   --------  --------  -------
    Total cost of revenue.........................       49        64       42
                                                   --------  --------  -------
Gross profit......................................       51        36       58
Operating expenses:
  Research and development........................       96        43       18
  Sales and marketing.............................      164        98       56
  General and administrative......................       44        30       11
  Purchased in-process research and development,
   acquisition-related, and other charges.........      --         13       18
  Amortization of deferred stock compensation.....      --         15        6
  Amortization of intangibles.....................      --        --         2
                                                   --------  --------  -------
    Total operating expenses......................      304       199      111
                                                   --------  --------  -------
Loss from operations..............................     (253)     (163)     (53)
Other income, net.................................        6         1        4
                                                   --------  --------  -------
Net loss..........................................    (247)%    (162)%    (49)%
                                                   ========  ========  =======
</TABLE>

 Revenue

  Total revenue increased to $89.2 million in 1999 from $16.2 million in 1998
and from $3.0 million in 1997. This increase was attributable to an increase
in our client base, which grew from 23 at the end of 1997 to 193 at the end of
1998 and to 518 at the end of 1999, an increase in the average deal size of
new client orders and follow-on orders from existing clients. Although our
total revenue has increased in recent periods, we cannot be certain that total
revenue will grow in future periods or that it will grow at similar rates as
in the past.

  Product License. Product license revenue increased to $46.3 million in 1999
from $8.6 million in 1998 and from $1.9 million in 1997, representing 52%, 53%
and 64% of total revenue, respectively. The increase in product license
revenue in absolute dollars was due to increases in the number of clients and
the average deal size of new client orders resulting from growing market
acceptance of our StoryServer product line over prior periods, as well as
increased follow-on orders from existing clients. Product license revenue
decreased as a percentage of total revenue in 1999 and 1998 due to the higher
growth in services revenue during the same period.

  Services. Services revenue increased to $42.9 million in 1999 from $7.6
million in 1998 and from $1.1 million in 1997, representing 48%, 47% and 36%
of total revenue, respectively. Services revenue from professional services
fees continue to be the primary component of total services revenue,
representing 39% of total revenues in 1999 as compared to 38% in 1998 and 31%
in 1997. The increase in all types of services revenue was due primarily to an
increase in the number of clients and the sale of product licenses, which
generally include or lead to contracts to perform professional services and
purchases of software maintenance and technical support service agreements.

                                      39
<PAGE>

  Services revenue increased as a percentage of total revenue in 1999 and 1998
due to the expansion of our services capabilities through the hiring of
additional services personnel. We believe that growth in our product license
sales depends on our ability to provide our clients with support, training,
consulting and implementation services and educating third-party resellers on
how to implement our products. As a result, we continued to expand our
professional services organization throughout 1999 and intend to continue
expanding our professional services organization for the foreseeable future.
We do not believe that services revenue will continue to increase as a
percentage of total revenue.

 Cost of Revenue

  Product License. Product license costs consist of expenses we incur to
manufacture, package and distribute our products and related documentation and
costs of licensing third-party software incorporated into our products.
Product license costs increased to $3.3 million in 1999 from $964,000 in 1998
and from $37,000 in 1997, representing 7%, 11% and 2% of product license
revenue, respectively. The increase in absolute dollars in each period and as
a percentage of product license revenue in 1998 was principally a result of
both product license sales growth and royalties paid to third party vendors
for technology embedded in our product offerings. Product license costs
decreased as a percentage of product license revenue in 1999 primarily because
significant product license revenue growth outpaced increases in product
license costs in addition to a higher average sales price in 1999 relative to
1998. We expect product license costs to increase in the future in absolute
dollar terms due to additional clients licensing our products and the
acquisition of OEM licenses to third party technology that we may choose to
embed in our product offerings.

  Services. Services costs include salary expense and other related costs for
our professional service, maintenance and customer support staffs, as well as
third-party contractor expenses. Services costs increased to $33.5 million in
1999 from $9.3 million in 1998 and from $1.4 million in 1997, representing
78%, 123% and 133% of services revenue, respectively. The increase in absolute
dollars resulted from rapidly expanding our services organization. The overall
improvement in services gross profit margin reflects increased leverage from
the productivity of support, training, consulting and implementation
activities. We expect services costs to increase in the future in absolute
dollars to the extent that services revenues increase. We expect services
costs as a percentage of services revenue to decrease over time. Services
costs as a percentage of services revenue can be expected to vary
significantly from period to period depending on the mix of services we
provide, whether such services are provided by us or third-party contractors,
and overall utilization rates.

  Professional services-related costs increased to $31.5 million in 1999 from
$8.8 million in 1998 and from $1.4 million in 1997, representing 92%, 143% and
144% of professional services-related revenue. To date, services costs related
to professional services have exceeded, or have been substantially equal to,
professional service-related revenue. Although we expect our professional
service-related revenue will exceed professional service-related costs in
future periods, we cannot be certain when this will occur. Maintenance and
support-related costs increased to $2.0 million in 1999 from $510,000 in 1998
and from $84,000 in 1997, representing 23%, 35% and 60% of maintenance and
support-related revenue, respectively.

 Operating Expenses

  Research and Development. Research and development expenses consist
primarily of personnel costs to support product development. Research and
development expenses increased to $16.4 million in 1999 from $7.0 million in
1998 and from $2.9 million in 1997, representing 18%, 43% and 96% of total
revenue, respectively. The increase in absolute dollars was due to the
increase in engineering personnel and to the expansion of our product
offerings. The decrease in research and development as a percentage of total
revenue resulted primarily because significant revenue growth outpaced
increases in research and development expenditures. We believe that continued
investment in research and development is critical to maintaining a
competitive advantage, and, as a result, we expect research and development
expenses to increase in absolute dollars in future periods. Software
development costs that were eligible for capitalization in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86, Accounting for the Costs
of Computer Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed, were
insignificant during the periods presented. Accordingly, most development
costs have been expensed in the period incurred.

                                      40
<PAGE>

  Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of
salaries and other related costs for sales and marketing personnel, sales
commissions, travel, public relations and marketing materials and tradeshows.
Sales and marketing expenses increased to $49.6 million in 1999 from $15.9
million in 1998 and from $5.0 million in 1997, representing 56%, 98% and 164%
of total revenue, respectively. Sales and marketing expenses increased in
absolute dollars due to a significant increase in sales and marketing
personnel, increased marketing program expenditures as well as higher
commissions resulting from the absolute dollar growth in our bookings. The
decrease in sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenue
resulted primarily because significant revenue growth outpaced increases in
sales and marketing expenditures. We believe these expenses will continue to
increase in absolute dollars in future periods as we expect to continue to
expand our sales and marketing efforts to promote further growth. We also
anticipate that sales and marketing expenses may fluctuate as a percentage of
total revenue from period to period as new sales personnel are hired and begin
to achieve productivity and the timing of new product releases.

  During the fourth quarter of 1999, we amended our sales commission plan to
more closely match the payment of sales commissions with the culmination of
the earnings process and the receipt of cash from the customer. This amendment
had the effect of reducing our commissions expense and net loss in the fourth
quarter by $3.1 million, or $0.06 per share.

  General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of salaries and other related costs for operations and finance
employees, legal and accounting services and certain facilities-related
expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $9.5 million in
1999 from $4.9 million in 1998 and from $1.3 million in 1997, representing
11%, 30% and 44% of total revenue, respectively. The increase in absolute
dollars for these periods was due to increased personnel and facility expenses
necessary to support our expanding operations. General and administrative
expenses decreased as a percentage of total revenue primarily because
significant revenue growth outpaced increases in general and administrative
expenditures. We believe general and administrative expenses will increase in
absolute dollars as we expect to increase staffing and infrastructure expenses
to support our continued growth.

  Purchased In-Process Research and Development, Acquisition-Related and Other
Charges. In connection with our acquisition of Diffusion in June 1999, we
incurred one-time acquisition costs and integration-related charges, which
include costs associated with product integration, cross training, and other
merger-related costs. Additionally, a portion of the purchase price was
allocated to in-process research and development based upon an independent
third party appraisal and expensed upon the consummation of the transaction.
These related charges totaled $15.6 million in 1999.

  Included in the acquired net assets of Diffusion was in-process research and
development efforts related to the development of Diffusion Server 4.0.
Diffusion Server 4.0 was expected to expand the delivery capabilities, user
features and functionality of the existing Diffusion Server 3.0 multi-channel
platform as well as add new components. We intend to re-work the acquired
technology and integrate it with Vignette's products.

  A significant amount of uncertainty existed surrounding the successful
development and completion of the research and development acquired, which was
estimated to be 88% complete at the date of the acquisition. We were uncertain
of our ability to complete the development of a new product within a timeframe
acceptable to the market and ahead of competitors. Additionally, the amount of
development required to enable the acquired in-process research and
development to be compatible with StoryServer is significant. The results of
the in-process research and development effort at the time of purchase had not
progressed to a stage where they met technological feasibility as they lacked
many key elements including standardized implementation capabilities and a
scalable and extensible architecture.

  Values of $11.6 million were assigned to in-process research and development
and $6.3 million to existing core technology based upon a modified discounted
cash flow model. The cash flow projections for revenue were based on the
projected incremental increase in revenue that was expected to be received
from the completed acquired in-process research and development. Diffusion
expected revenue to commence with its product's release in December 1999 and
continue throughout its economic life of five years. Estimated operating
expenses were deducted from estimated revenue to arrive at estimated pre-tax
cash flows. Projected operating expenses

                                      41
<PAGE>

included cost of goods sold, selling general and administrative expense, and
research and development expense. Operating expenses were estimated as a
percent of revenue based on Diffusion's historical results for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1996 to 1998. Projected results for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1999 to 2001 were also used in combination with past
operating results and industry averages. Capital charges, or cash flow
attributable to other assets such as working capital and assembled workforce,
were deducted from pre-tax operating income to isolate the cash flow solely
attributable to the in-process research and development. Income taxes were
then deducted to arrive at after-tax cash flows. The after-tax cash flow
projections were discounted using a risk-adjusted rate of return of 23%. In
using the discounted model, the costs to complete the in-process technology
were excluded from the research and development expense for 1999, and the
percentage completion of the in-process research and development was reflected
in each year's projected cash flow.

  During May 1998, we acquired from RandomNoise, Inc. certain in-process
research and development effort, a developed product and an insignificant
amount of equipment in exchange for $2.1 million, consisting of $100,000 in
cash and 751,660 shares of our Series G Preferred Stock valued at $2.0
million. Substantially all of the purchase price was allocated to in-process
research and development and expensed upon the consummation of the
transaction. These related charges totaled $2.1 million in 1998.

  Amortization of Deferred Stock Compensation. We have recorded deferred
compensation for the difference between the exercise price of certain stock
option grants and the deemed fair value of our common stock at the time of
such grants. We are amortizing this amount over the vesting periods of the
applicable options, resulting in amortization expense of $5.7 million, $2.5
million and $0 in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

  Amortization of Intangibles. In conjunction with our acquisition of
Diffusion, effective June 30, 1999, the purchase price amounts allocated to
acquired technology of $6.3 million and workforce of $900,000 are being
amortized over a five-year period. The excess of cost over fair value of net
assets acquired of $15.1 million is being amortized over a seven-year period.

 Other Income, Net

  Other income, net consists of interest income and expense and gain or loss
on disposals of equipment. Other income, net increased to $3.7 million in 1999
from $172,000 in 1998 and from $169,000 in 1997. The significant increase in
1999 was due to interest income earned from cash balances on hand as a result
of our secondary and initial public offerings in December 1999 and February
1999, respectively.

                                      42
<PAGE>

Quarterly Results

  The following tables set forth certain unaudited consolidated statements of
operations data both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of total revenue
for each of our last eight quarters. This data has been derived from unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements that have been prepared on the
same basis as the annual audited consolidated financial statements and, in our
opinion, include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair
presentation of such information. These unaudited quarterly results should be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto appearing elsewhere in this 10-K. The consolidated results of
operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results for
any future period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Three Months Ended
                          -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          March 31,  June 30,   Sept. 30,  Dec. 31,   March 31,  June 30,   Sept. 30,  Dec. 31,
                            1998       1998       1998       1998       1999       1999       1999       1999
                          ---------  --------   ---------  --------   ---------  --------   ---------  --------
                                              (in thousands, except percentages)
<S>                       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Consolidated Statements
 of Operations Data:
Revenue:
 Product license........   $ 1,293   $ 1,629     $ 2,230   $ 3,432     $ 4,623   $  7,575    $12,364   $21,730
 Services...............       958     1,293       2,108     3,262       4,509      7,298     11,874    19,212
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
 Total revenue..........     2,251     2,922       4,338     6,694       9,132     14,873     24,238    40,942
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Cost of revenue:
 Product license........        25       219         266       454         419        734        777     1,376
 Services...............       850     1,867       2,862     3,761       4,469      5,765      9,734    13,520
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
 Total cost of revenue..       875     2,086       3,128     4,215       4,888      6,499     10,511    14,896
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Gross profit............     1,376       836       1,210     2,479       4,244      8,374     13,727    26,046
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Operating expenses:
 Research and
  development...........
 Sales and marketing....     1,112     1,867       1.861     2,122       2,725      2,992      4,514     6,216
 General and
  administrative........     1,677     3,324       4,397     6,482       6,553     10,027     12,239    20,740
 Purchased in-process
  research and
  development,
  acquisition-related,
  and other charges.....       698     1,134       1,619     1,413       1,611      1,738      2,637     3,508
 Amortization of
  deferred stock
  compensation..........       --      2,089         --        --          --      14,690        493       458
 Amortization of
  intangibles...........        16       499         352     1,608       1,669      1,288      1,161     1,536
 Total operating
  expenses..............       --        --          --        --          --         --         898       898
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Loss from operations....     3,503     8,913       8,229    11,625      12,558     30,735     21,942    33,356
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Other income, net.......    (2,127)   (8,077)     (7,019)   (9,146)     (8,314)   (22,361)    (8,215)   (7,310)
                                38        25         141       (32)        376        834        829     1,684
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Net loss................   $(2,089)  $(8,052)    $(6,878)  $(9,178)    $(7,938)  $(21,527)   $(7,386)  $(5,626)
                           =======   =======     =======   =======     =======   ========    =======   =======
As a Percentage of Total
 Revenue:
Revenue:
 Product license........        58 %      56 %        51%       51%         51%        51%        51%       53%
 Services...............        42        44          49        49          49         49         49        47
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
 Total revenue..........       100       100         100       100         100        100        100       100
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Cost of revenue:
 Product license........         1         7           6         7           5          5          3         3
 Services...............        38        64          66        56          49         39         40        33
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
 Total cost of revenue..        39        71          72        63          54         44         43        36
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Gross profit............        61        29          28        37          46         56         57        64
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Operating expenses:
 Research and
  development...........        49        64          43        31          30         20         19        15
 Sales and marketing....        75       114         102        97          71         67         50        51
 General and
  administrative........        31        39          37        21          18         11         11         9
 Purchased in-process
  research and
  development,
  acquisition-related,
  and other charges.....       --         71         --        --          --          99          2         1
 Amortization of
  deferred stock
  compensation..........         1        17           8        24          18          9          5         4
 Amortization of
  intangibles...........       --        --          --        --          --         --           4         2
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
 Total operating
  expenses..............       156       305         190       173         137        206         91        82
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Loss from operations....       (95)     (276)       (162)     (136)        (91)      (150)       (34)      (18)
Other income, net.......         2         1           3        (1)          4          5          4         4
                           -------   -------     -------   -------     -------   --------    -------   -------
Net loss................       (93)%    (275)%      (159)%    (137)%       (87)%     (145)%      (30)%     (14)%
                           =======   =======     =======   =======     =======   ========    =======   =======
</TABLE>

                                      43
<PAGE>

  As a result of our limited operating history, we cannot forecast operating
expenses based on historical results. Accordingly, we base our forecast for
expenses in part on future revenue projections. Most of these expenses are
fixed in the short term, and we may not be able to quickly reduce spending if
revenues are lower than we have projected. Our ability to forecast accurately
our quarterly revenue is limited due to the long sales cycle of our software
products, which makes it difficult to predict the quarter in which product
implementation will occur, and the variability of client demand for
professional services. We would expect our business, operating results and
financial condition to be materially adversely affected if revenues do not
meet projections and that net losses in a given quarter would be even greater
than expected.

  Our operating results have varied significantly from quarter to quarter in
the past and we expect our operating results will continue to vary
significantly from quarter to quarter. A number of factors are likely to cause
these variations, including:

  .  Demand for our products and services;

  .  The timing of sales of our products and services;

  .  The timing of customer orders and product implementations;

  .  Unexpected delays in introducing new products and services;

  .  Increased expenses, whether related to sales and marketing, product
     development or administration;

  .  Changes in the rapidly evolving market for e-Business solutions;

  .  The mix of product license and services revenue, as well as the mix of
     products licensed;

  .  The mix of services provided and whether services are provided by our
     own staff or third-party contractors;

  .  The mix of domestic and international sales; and

  .  Costs related to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses.

  Accordingly, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating
results are not necessarily meaningful. Investors should not rely on the
results of one quarter as an indication of future performance.

  We plan to increase our operating expenses to expand sales and marketing
operations, develop new distribution channels, fund greater levels of research
and development, broaden professional services and support and improve
operational and financial systems. If our revenues do not increase along with
these expenses, our business, operating results or financial condition could
be materially adversely affected and net losses in a given quarter would be
even greater than expected.

  Although we have a limited operating history, we believe that our quarterly
operating results may experience seasonal fluctuations. For instance,
quarterly results may fluctuate based on client calendar year budgeting
cycles, slow summer purchasing patterns in Europe and our compensation
policies that tend to compensate sales personnel, typically in the latter half
of the year, for achieving annual quotas.

Net Operating Losses and Tax Credit Carryforwards

  As of December 31, 1999, we had federal net operating loss and research and
development carryforwards of approximately $125.5 million and $1.5 million,
respectively. The net operating loss and credit carryforwards will expire at
various dates, beginning 2011, if not utilized. The Tax Reform Act of 1986
imposes substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating losses
and tax credits in the event of an "ownership change" of a corporation. Our
ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards on an annual basis will be
limited as a result of a prior "ownership change" in connection with private
sales of equity securities. We have provided a full valuation allowance on our
net deferred tax assets, which include net operating loss and research and
development carryforwards, because of the uncertainty regarding their
realization. Our accounting for deferred taxes under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, involves the
evaluation of a number of factors concerning the realizability of our deferred
tax assets. In concluding that a full

                                      44
<PAGE>

valuation allowance was required, management primarily considered such factors
as our history of operating losses and expected future losses and the nature
of our deferred tax assets. See Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

  Since our inception, we have funded our operations and met our capital
expenditure requirements through the sale of equity securities.

  Cash used in operating activities was $1.5 million, $17.2 million and $4.9
million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The decrease in cash used in
operating activities was due primarily to changes in operating working
capital.

  Our investing activities have consisted of capital expenditures totaling
$11.9 million, $2.2 million and $694,000 in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively,
to acquire property and equipment, mainly computer hardware and software, for
our growing employee base. In addition, during 1999 our investing activities
included purchases of short-term investments totaling $11.0 million and
purchases of equity securities totaling $28.0 million for strategic
investments in other e-commerce companies. The most significant investment
occurred in October 1999 when we purchased equity securities of Vitessa
(formerly ECDirect) in exchange for $22.9 million in cash. The investment
represents approximately a 15% ownership position in Vitessa, and provides a
strategic partnership in which Vignette will integrate Vitessa's core
technology for distributed e-commerce into Vignette's e-Business applications.
We expect that our investing activities will continue to increase in the
foreseeable future as we support our continued growth.

  Net cash provided by financing activities in 1999, 1998 and 1997 were $431.3
million, $24.8 million and $10.6 million, respectively. The increase in 1999
was due primarily to the receipt of proceeds from our initial and secondary
public offerings.

  At December 31, 1999, we had $391.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and
$375.2 million in working capital. We have agreements with Comdisco, Inc.
providing for available credit of up to $5.0 million over a period of 36
months at an interest rate of 12% per year and an equipment lease line of
$1.25 million over a period of 36 months at an interest rate of 7.5% per year.
The line of credit with Comdisco, Inc. is secured by our receivables,
equipment, fixtures, inventory and all other tangible property. We are
currently in compliance with all related financial covenants and restrictions.

  Subsequent to December 31, 1999, we continued to expand our product
offerings through the acquisition of complementary businesses. In January
2000, we acquired 100 percent of the outstanding stock and assumed all
outstanding stock options of Engine 5, Ltd. in exchange for $9.2 million in
cash and approximately 112,000 shares of Vignette common stock. We will
integrate Engine 5's Java-based application services into Vignette's e-
Business applications. In February 2000, we acquired 100 percent of the
outstanding stock and assumed all outstanding stock options of DataSage, Inc.
("DataSage") in exchange for approximately 3.16 million shares of Vignette
common stock. We will integrate DataSage's e-marketing and personalization
applications into Vignette's e-Business applications.

  Based on our current operating plan, management believes that our cash on
hand, cash equivalents, short-term investments and commercial credit
facilities will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the
foreseeable future, including working capital requirements and planned capital
expenditures. We may require additional funds for other purposes and may seek
to raise such additional funds through public and private equity financings
from other sources. There can be no assurance that additional financing will
be available at all or that, if available, such financing will be obtainable
on terms favorable to us or that any additional financing will not be
dilutive.


                                      45
<PAGE>

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

  In March 1998, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued SOP 98-1, Accounting for the
Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. We adopted
SOP 98-1 effective January 1, 1999. Such adoption did not have a significant
effect on our results of operations.

  In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No.
133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. In June
1999, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities--Deferral of the
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133, which defers for one year the
effective date of Statement 133. As a result of the deferral provisions of
Statement 137, Statement 133 is now effective for our fiscal year 2001. We
have minimal use of derivatives, except for our strategic investments which
are generally in the form of redeemable convertible stock. We have not
determined the impact, if any, that the adoption of Statement 133 will have on
our results of operations or financial position.

  In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff released
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition SAB 101), which
provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and disclosure of revenue
in financial statements. We will adopt the provisions of SAB 101 for all
transactions during the year ending December 31, 2000. The application of SAB
101 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or
our financial position.

Year 2000 Update

  The "Year 2000 Issue" refers generally to the problems that some software
may have in determining the correct century for the year. For example,
software with date-sensitive functions that is not Year 2000 compliant may not
be able to distinguish whether "00" means 1900 or 2000, which may result in
failures or the creation of erroneous results.

  In prior filings, we discussed the nature and progress of our plans to
become Year 2000 ready. In late 1999, we completed our remediation and testing
of systems. As a result of those planning and implementation efforts, we
experienced no significant disruptions in mission critical information
technology and non-information technology systems, and we believe those
systems successfully responded to the Year 2000 date changes. The amounts
incurred and expensed for developing and carrying out the plans to complete
the Year 2000 modifications did not have a material effect on our operations.
We are not aware of any material problems resulting from the Year 2000 Issue,
either with our products, our internal systems, or the products and services
of third parties. We will continue to monitor our mission critical computer
applications and those of our suppliers and vendors throughout the year 2000
to ensure that any latent Year 2000 matters that may arise are addressed
promptly.

ITEM 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  The majority of our operations are based in the U.S. and, accordingly, the
majority of our transactions are denominated in U.S. Dollars. However, we do
have foreign-based operations where transactions are denominated in foreign
currencies and are subject to market risk with respect to fluctuations in the
relative value of currencies. Currently, we have operations in Australia,
England, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore and conduct transactions in
the local currency of each location. To date, the impact of fluctuations in
the relative value of other currencies has not been material.

  Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of U.S.
interest rates, particularly since the majority of our investments are in
short-term instruments. Due to the nature of our short-term investments, we

                                      46
<PAGE>

have concluded that we do not have material market risk exposure. Our
investment policy requires us to invest funds in excess of current operating
requirements in:

  .  obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies;

  .  investment grade state and local government obligations;

  .  securities of U.S. corporations rated A1 or P1 by Standard & Poors or
     the Moody's equivalents; and/or

  .  money market funds, deposits or notes issued or guaranteed by U.S. and
     non-U.S. commercial banks meeting certain credit rating and net worth
     requirements with maturities of less than two years.

  At December 31, 1999, our cash and cash equivalents consisted primarily of
demand deposits and money market funds held by large institutions in the U.S.,
and our short-term investments were invested in corporate debt maturing in
less than 90 days.

ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

  The financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item 8 are
listed in Item 14(a)(1) and begin at page F-1 of this report.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
        FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

  Not applicable.

                                   PART III.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

  The information regarding directors is incorporated herein by reference from
the section entitled "Proposal No. 1--Election of Directors" of the Company's
definitive Proxy Statement (the "Proxy Statement") to be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the
registrants' Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2000. The
Proxy Statement is anticipated to be filed within 120 days after the end of
the registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. For information
regarding executive officers of the Company, see the Information appearing
under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Part I, Item 4a of
this Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  Information regarding executive compensation is incorporated herein by
reference from the section entitled "Executive Compensation and Related
Information" of the Proxy Statement.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

  Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and
management is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled
"Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" of the Proxy
Statement.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

  Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is
incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions" of the Proxy Statement.

                                      47
<PAGE>

                                    PART IV.

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 (a)(1) Financial Statements

  The following consolidated financial statements of the Company are filed as
part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
   <S>                                                                     <C>
   Report of Independent Auditors........................................  F-2
   Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1998 and 1999.............  F-3
   Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three years ended
    December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.....................................  F-4
   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Convertible Preferred
    Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the three years ended
    December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.....................................  F-5
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended
    December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.....................................  F-7
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................  F-8
</TABLE>

                                       48
<PAGE>

 (a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

  Not applicable.

 (a)(3) Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Exhibit
 Number                                Description
 ------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 <C>     <S>
  2.1*   Agreement between Registrant and Diffusion, Inc. dated May 10, 1999.
  2.2**  Agreement between Registrant and DataSage, Inc. dated January 7, 2000.
  3.1+   Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended to date.
  3.2+   Bylaws of the Registrant.
  4.1+   Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2.
  4.2+   Specimen common stock certificate.
  4.3+   Fifth Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated
         November 30, 1998.
 10.1+   Form of Indemnification Agreements.
 10.2+   1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan and forms of agreements
         thereunder.
 10.3+   1999 Equity Incentive Plan.
 10.4+   Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 10.5+   1999 Non-Employee Directors Option Plan.
 10.6+   Security and Loan Agreement dated March 24, 1998 between the
         Registrant and Imperial Bank.
 10.7+   Lease Agreement dated September 20, 1996 between the Registrant and
         David B. Barrow, Jr.
 10.8+   First Supplement to Lease Agreement dated November 4, 1997 between
         Registrant and 3410 Far West, Ltd.
 10.9+   Second Supplement to Lease Agreement dated February 23, 1998 between
         Registrant and 3410 Far West, Ltd.
 10.10+  Office Lease Agreement dated August 4, 1998 between Registrant and
         B.O. III, Ltd.
 10.11+  "Prism" Development and Marketing Agreement dated July 19, 1996
         between the Registrant and CNET, Inc.
 10.12+  Letter Amendment to "Prism" Development and Marketing Agreement
         between the Registrant and CNET, Inc. dated August 15, 1998 and
         attachments thereto.
 10.13+  Software License Agreement dated April 6, 1998 between Registrant and
         Net Perceptions, Inc.
 10.14+  StoryServer Q2 Volume Purchase Agreement between Registrant and
         Tribune Interactive Inc.
 10.15+  Protege Software (Holdings) Confidential Professional Services
         Agreement dated November 15, 1997.
 10.16+  Subordinated Loan and Security Agreement dated December 3, 1998
         between Registrant and Comdisco, Inc.
 10.17+  Master Lease Agreement dated December 3, 1998 between Registrant and
         Comdisco, Inc.
 23.1    Consent of Independent Auditors.
 27.1    Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- --------
+  Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
   S-1, as amended (File No. 333-68345).
*  Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 15, 1999
   (File No. 000-25375).
** Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K filed on February 29,
   2000 (File No. 000-25375).

 (b) Reports on Form 8-K

  None.

                                      49
<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.

                                          Vignette Corporation
                                           (Registrant)

                                                   /s/ Gregory A. Peters
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                     Gregory A. Peters
                                               President and Chief Executive
                                                          Officer

Dated: March 27, 2000

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on
the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Signature                          Title                   Date
              ---------                          -----                   ----

<S>                                    <C>                        <C>
      /s/ Gregory A. Peters            Chairman of the Board, CEO   March 27, 2000
______________________________________  and President
          Gregory A. Peters

         /s/ Joel G. Katz              Secretary and Chief          March 27, 2000
______________________________________  Financial Officer
             Joel G. Katz

       /s/ Robert E. Davoli            Director                     March 27, 2000
______________________________________
           Robert E. Davoli

      /s/ Joseph A. Marengi            Director                     March 27, 2000
______________________________________
          Joseph A. Marengi

    /s/ Steven G. Papermaster          Director                     March 27, 2000
______________________________________
        Steven G. Papermaster

       /s/ John D. Thornton            Director                     March 27, 2000
______________________________________
           John D. Thornton
</TABLE>

                                      50
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Report of Independent Auditors............................................  F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1998 and 1999.................  F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31,
 1997, 1998 and 1999......................................................  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Convertible Preferred
 Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31,
 1997, 1998 and 1999......................................................  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31,
 1997, 1998 and 1999......................................................  F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................  F-8
</TABLE>

                                      F-1
<PAGE>

                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Vignette Corporation

  We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Vignette
Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, changes in redeemable convertible
preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.

  We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on
a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

  In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Vignette
Corporation at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States.

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Austin, Texas
January 24, 2000

                                      F-2
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                (in thousands, except share and per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               December 31,
                                                             ------------------
                                                               1998      1999
                                                             --------  --------
<S>                                                          <C>       <C>
                          ASSETS
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $ 12,242  $391,278
 Marketable securities and short-term investments..........       --     10,951
 Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $297 in 1998 and
  $1,254 in 1999...........................................     7,488    45,065
 Note receivable from employee.............................       110       --
 Prepaid expenses and other................................       280     5,588
                                                             --------  --------
 Total current assets......................................    20,120   452,882
Property and equipment:
 Equipment.................................................       111       753
 Computers and purchased software..........................     2,704    10,920
 Furniture and fixtures....................................        63       280
 Leasehold improvements....................................       159     3,122
                                                             --------  --------
                                                                3,037    15,075
 Accumulated depreciation..................................    (1,283)   (4,016)
                                                             --------  --------
                                                                1,754    11,059
Investments................................................       --     27,011
Intangibles, net of amortization of $-0- in 1998 and $1,796
 in 1999...................................................       --     20,467
Long-term employee receivables.............................       --        500
Other assets...............................................       907     2,811
                                                             --------  --------
 Total assets..............................................  $ 22,781  $514,730
                                                             ========  ========
      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable..........................................  $    589  $  4,924
 Accrued expenses..........................................     7,501    26,150
 Deferred revenue..........................................     6,092    44,846
 Current portion of capital lease obligation...............         7       254
 Current portion of long-term debt.........................     1,895       --
 Other current liabilities.................................       279     1,497
                                                             --------  --------
   Total current liabilities...............................    16,363    77,671
Long-term debt, less current portion.......................       758       --
                                                             --------  --------
   Total liabilities.......................................    17,121    77,671
Redeemable convertible preferred stock.....................    36,258       --
Warrant to purchase redeemable convertible preferred
 stock.....................................................       169       --
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
 Convertible preferred stock...............................        42       --
 Common stock--$.01 par value; 80,000,000 shares
  authorized; 11,353,700 shares in 1998, 59,547,602 shares
  in 1999 (net of treasury shares of 169,498 in 1998 and
  456,165 in 1999) issued and outstanding..................       114       596
 Additional paid-in capital................................    12,753   529,658
 Warrants..................................................       --         12
 Notes receivable for purchase of common stock.............      (172)      (75)
 Deferred stock compensation...............................    (6,196)  (13,359)
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).............       (11)        1
 Accumulated deficit.......................................   (37,297)  (79,774)
                                                             --------  --------
 Total stockholders' equity (deficit)......................   (30,767)  437,059
                                                             --------  --------
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)......  $ 22,781  $514,730
                                                             ========  ========
</TABLE>

                            See accompanying notes.

                                      F-3
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     (in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Year ended December 31,
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                    1997      1998      1999
                                                   -------  --------  --------
<S>                                                <C>      <C>       <C>
Revenue:
  Product license................................. $ 1,943  $  8,584  $ 46,292
  Services........................................   1,081     7,621    42,893
                                                   -------  --------  --------
    Total revenue.................................   3,024    16,205    89,185
Cost of revenue:
  Product license.................................      37       964     3,306
  Services........................................   1,438     9,340    33,488
                                                   -------  --------  --------
    Total cost of revenue.........................   1,475    10,304    36,794
                                                   -------  --------  --------
Gross profit......................................   1,549     5,901    52,391
Operating expenses:
  Research and development........................   2,895     6,962    16,447
  Sales and marketing.............................   4,964    15,880    49,559
  General and administrative......................   1,333     4,864     9,494
  Purchased in-process research and development,
   acquisition-related, and other charges.........     --      2,089    15,641
  Amortization of deferred stock compensation.....     --      2,475     5,654
  Amortization of intangibles.....................     --        --      1,796
                                                   -------  --------  --------
    Total operating expenses......................   9,192    32,270    98,591
                                                   -------  --------  --------
Loss from operations..............................  (7,643)  (26,369)  (46,200)
Other income (expenses):
  Interest income.................................     245       517     3,894
  Interest expense................................     (47)     (253)     (201)
  Other...........................................     (29)      (92)       30
                                                   -------  --------  --------
                                                       169       172     3,723
                                                   -------  --------  --------
Net loss.......................................... $(7,474) $(26,197) $(42,477)
                                                   =======  ========  ========
Basic net loss per share.......................... $ (2.09) $  (4.60) $  (0.93)
                                                   =======  ========  ========
Shares used in computing basic net loss per
 share............................................   3,576     5,698    45,751
</TABLE>

                            See accompanying notes.

                                      F-4
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE
        CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                       (in thousands, except share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
                                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Redeemable Convertible     Convertible                                            Notes
                         Preferred Stock       Preferred Stock  Common Stock                          Receivable
                    -------------------------- --------------- ----------------  Additional          for Purchase   Deferred
                    Number of                  Number of       Number of          Paid-in             of Common      Stock
                      Shares    Value  Warrant  Shares   Value  Shares    Value   Capital   Warrants    Stock     Compensation
                    ---------- ------- ------- --------- ----- ---------  -----  ---------- -------- ------------ ------------
 <S>                <C>        <C>     <C>     <C>       <C>   <C>        <C>    <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1996............    8,866,124 $ 3,458  $--    7,338,630 $ 37  6,749,276  $ 67    $ 1,752    $ --       $ --         $  --
 Exercise of
 Series D
 warrant.........          --      --    --      257,218    1        --    --         106      --         --            --
 Issuance of
 Series E stock..    9,280,494  10,000   --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Series E
 issuance costs..          --      --    --          --   --         --    --        (126)     --         --            --
 Stock options
 exercised.......          --      --    --          --   --     517,674     5         19      --         --            --
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..          --      --    --          --   --    (282,764)   (2)        (9)     --         --            --
 Compensation
 expense from
 stock options
 granted.........          --      --    --          --   --         --    --           5      --         --            --
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment......          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............
                    ---------- -------  ----   --------- ----  ---------  ----    -------    -----      -----        ------
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1997............   18,146,618  13,458   --    7,595,848   38  6,984,186    70      1,747      --         --            --
 Issuance of
 Series F stock..    5,374,336  14,300   --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Series F
 issuance costs..          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         (54)     --         --            --
 Issuance of
 Series G stock..          --      --    --      751,660    4        --    --       1,982      --         --            --
 Issuance of
 Series H stock
 and warrant.....    2,048,176   8,500   169         --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Series H
 issuance costs..          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         (29)     --         --            --
 Stock options
 exercised.......          --      --    --          --   --   4,425,746    44        441      --        (192)          --
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..          --      --    --          --   --     (56,232)  --          (5)     --         --            --
 Deferred stock
 compensation
 related to stock
 options.........          --      --    --          --   --         --    --       8,671      --         --         (8,671)
 Amortization of
 deferred stock
 compensation....          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --          2,475
 Payments
 received on
 notes receivable
 for purchase of
 common stock....          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --          20           --
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment,
 cumulative
 translation loss
 of $(11) at
 December 31,
 1998............          --      --    --          --   --         --    --         --       --         --            --
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............
                    ---------- -------  ----   --------- ----  ---------  ----    -------    -----      -----        ------
<CAPTION>
                     Accumulated
                        Other                     Total
                    Comprehensive             Stockholders'
                       Income     Accumulated    Equity
                       (Loss)       Deficit     (Deficit)
                    ------------- ----------- -------------
 <S>                <C>           <C>         <C>
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1996............       $ --       $ (3,626)    $ (1,770)
 Exercise of
 Series D
 warrant.........         --            --           107
 Issuance of
 Series E stock..         --            --           --
 Series E
 issuance costs..         --            --          (126)
 Stock options
 exercised.......         --            --            24
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..         --            --           (11)
 Compensation
 expense from
 stock options
 granted.........         --            --             5
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........         --         (7,474)      (7,474)
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment......          (3)          --            (3)
                                              -------------
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............                                 (7,477)
                    ------------- ----------- -------------
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1997............          (3)      (11,100)      (9,248)
 Issuance of
 Series F stock..         --            --           --
 Series F
 issuance costs..         --            --           (54)
 Issuance of
 Series G stock..         --            --         1,986
 Issuance of
 Series H stock
 and warrant.....         --            --
 Series H
 issuance costs..         --            --           (29)
 Stock options
 exercised.......         --            --           293
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..         --            --            (5)
 Deferred stock
 compensation
 related to stock
 options.........         --            --           --
 Amortization of
 deferred stock
 compensation....         --            --         2,475
 Payments
 received on
 notes receivable
 for purchase of
 common stock....         --            --            20
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........         --        (26,197)     (26,197)
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment,
 cumulative
 translation loss
 of $(11) at
 December 31,
 1998............          (8)          --            (8)
                                              -------------
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............                                (26,205)
                    ------------- ----------- -------------
</TABLE>

                                      F-5
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE
  CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)--(Continued)
                       (in thousands, except share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Redeemable Convertible         Convertible
                           Preferred Stock          Preferred Stock      Common Stock
                    ------------------------------- -----------------  -----------------
                     Number of                      Number of          Number of
                       Shares      Value    Warrant   Shares    Value    Shares    Value
                    ------------  --------  ------- ----------  -----  ----------  -----
 <S>                <C>           <C>       <C>     <C>         <C>    <C>         <C>
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1998............     25,569,130  $ 36,258   $ 169   8,347,508  $ 42   11,353,700  $114
 Conversion of
 preferred stock
 upon initial
 public
 offering........    (25,569,130)  (36,258)   (169) (8,347,508)  (42)  33,916,638   339
 Common stock
 issued upon
 initial public
 offering, net...            --        --      --          --    --     8,560,000    86
 Issuance of
 common stock in
 purchase of
 business........            --        --      --          --    --       766,844     8
 Issuance of
 common stock
 pursuant to
 employee stock
 purchase plan...            --        --      --          --    --       261,482     3
 Common stock
 issued upon
 secondary
 offering, net...            --        --      --          --    --     2,676,000    27
 Stock options
 exercised.......            --        --      --          --    --     2,299,235    23
 Warrants
 exercised.......            --        --      --          --    --       287,036     2
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..            --        --      --          --    --      (573,333)   (6)
 Deferred stock
 compensation
 related to stock
 options, net of
 forfeitures.....            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Payments on note
 receivable for
 purchase of
 common stock....            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Amortization of
 deferred stock
 compensation....            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Unrealized
 investment
 gains...........            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment,
 cumulative
 translation loss
 of $53 at
 December 31,
 1999............            --        --      --          --    --           --    --
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............
                    ------------  --------   -----  ----------  ----   ----------  ----
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1999............            --   $          $ --          --   $--    59,547,602  $596
                    ============  ========   =====  ==========  ====   ==========  ====
<CAPTION>
                          Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Notes                   Accumulated
                                         Receivable                   Other                     Total
                    Additional          for Purchase   Deferred   Comprehensive             Stockholders'
                     Paid-in             of Common      Stock        Income     Accumulated    Equity
                     Capital   Warrants    Stock     Compensation    (Loss)       Deficit     (Deficit)
                    ---------- -------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------
 <S>                <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1998............    $ 12,753   $  --      $(172)      $ (6,196)      $(11)      $(37,297)    $(30,767)
 Conversion of
 preferred stock
 upon initial
 public
 offering........      35,961     169        --             --         --             --        36,427
 Common stock
 issued upon
 initial public
 offering, net...      73,671     --         --             --         --             --        73,757
 Issuance of
 common stock in
 purchase of
 business........      31,226     --         --             --         --             --        31,234
 Issuance of
 common stock
 pursuant to
 employee stock
 purchase plan...       2,108     --         --             --         --             --         2,111
 Common stock
 issued upon
 secondary
 offering, net...     355,456     --         --             --         --             --       355,483
 Stock options
 exercised.......       2,399     --         --             --         --             --         2,422
 Warrants
 exercised.......         406    (157)       --             --         --             --           251
 Repurchase of
 unvested stock..         (51)    --         --             --         --             --           (57)
 Deferred stock
 compensation
 related to stock
 options, net of
 forfeitures.....      15,729     --         --         (15,729)       --             --           --
 Payments on note
 receivable for
 purchase of
 common stock....         --      --          97            --         --             --            97
 Amortization of
 deferred stock
 compensation....         --      --         --           8,566        --             --         8,566
 Comprehensive
 loss:
 Net loss........         --      --         --             --         --         (42,477)     (42,477)
 Unrealized
 investment
 gains...........         --      --         --             --          54            --            54
 Foreign currency
 translation
 adjustment,
 cumulative
 translation loss
 of $53 at
 December 31,
 1999............         --      --         --             --         (42)           --           (41)
                                                                                            -------------
 Total
 comprehensive
 loss............                                                                              (42,465)
                    ---------- -------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------
 Balance at
 December 31,
 1999............    $529,658   $  12      $ (75)      $(13,359)      $  1       $(79,774)    $437,059
                    ========== ======== ============ ============ ============= =========== =============
</TABLE>
                            See accompanying notes.

                                      F-6
<PAGE>

                              VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Year ended December 31,
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     1997      1998      1999
                                                    -------  --------  --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>       <C>
Operating activities
Net loss..........................................  $(7,474) $(26,197) $(42,477)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to cash used in
 operating activities:
 Depreciation.....................................      198     1,068     2,736
 Amortization.....................................      --        --      1,796
 Noncash compensation expense.....................        5     2,475     5,654
 Purchased in-process research and development,
  acquisition related and other charges
  (noncash).......................................      --      2,000    14,512
 Loss on disposal of fixed assets.................       29       101       --
 Other noncash items..............................      --          4       --
 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 Accounts receivable, net.........................     (650)   (6,838)  (37,462)
 Note receivable from employee....................      --       (110)       60
 Prepaid expenses and other.......................     (151)     (783)   (6,323)
 Accounts payable.................................      218       156     3,524
 Accrued expenses.................................    1,700     5,716    17,407
 Deferred revenue.................................    1,163     4,929    38,037
 Other liabilities................................       28       251     1,075
                                                    -------  --------  --------
  Net cash used in operating activities...........   (4,934)  (17,228)   (1,461)
Investing activities
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired........      --        --         56
Purchase of short-term investments................      --        --    (11,005)
Purchase of equity securities.....................      --        --    (27,011)
Deferred acquisition costs........................      --        --     (1,000)
Purchase of property and equipment................     (694)   (2,179)  (11,863)
                                                    -------  --------  --------
  Net cash used in investing activities...........     (694)   (2,179)  (50,823)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net.......      --        --    429,240
Proceeds from long-term debt......................      701     1,837       --
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease
 obligation.......................................      (62)      (56)   (2,762)
Proceeds from exercise of Series D Convertible
 Preferred Stock warrant..........................      107       --        --
Proceeds from issuance of Series E Convertible
 Preferred Stock, net.............................    9,874       --        --
Proceeds from issuance of Series F Convertible
 Preferred Stock, net.............................      --     14,246       --
Series G Convertible Preferred Stock issuance
 cost.............................................      --        (14)      --
Proceeds from issuance of Series H Convertible
 Preferred Stock, net.............................      --      8,471       --
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and
 purchase of ESPP shares..........................       24       312     4,533
Proceeds from exercise of warrants................      --        --        251
Payments for repurchase of unvested common stock..      (11)       (5)      (57)
Proceeds from repayment of shareholder notes
 receivable.......................................      --        --         97
                                                    -------  --------  --------
  Net cash provided by financing activities.......   10,633    24,791   431,302
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
 equivalents......................................       (3)       (7)       18
                                                    -------  --------  --------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents.........    5,002     5,377   379,036
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year....    1,863     6,865    12,242
                                                    -------  --------  --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year..........  $ 6,865  $ 12,242  $391,278
                                                    =======  ========  ========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 Interest paid....................................  $    48  $    250  $    201
                                                    =======  ========  ========
Noncash activities:
 Convertible preferred stock issued to acquire in-
  process research and development................  $   --   $  2,000  $    --
                                                    =======  ========  ========
</TABLE>

                            See accompanying notes.

                                      F-7
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                               December 31, 1999

1. Business

  Vignette Corporation, or the Company, is a global provider of e-Business
software products and services which are designed to enable businesses to
build sustainable online customer relationships, increase returns on their
Internet-related investments and capitalize on Internet business
opportunities. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company and its wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries. All material
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

  The Company was incorporated in Delaware on December 19, 1995.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 Use of Estimates

  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial
statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those
estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

 Revenue Recognition

  Revenue from license fees and from sales of software products is recognized
when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery of the product has
occurred, no significant Company obligations with regard to implementation
remain, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectibility is probable.

  Services revenue is primarily comprised of revenue from consulting fees,
maintenance agreements and training. Services revenue from consulting and
training billed on a time and materials basis is recognized as performed.
Services revenue on fixed price service arrangements is recognized upon
completion of specific contractual milestone events, or based on an estimated
percentage of completion as work progresses. Estimated losses on fixed-priced
service arrangements, if any, are recognized when it becomes apparent a loss
is to be incurred. Maintenance agreements include the right to unspecified
upgrades on an if-and-when available basis. Maintenance revenue is deferred
and recognized on a straight-line basis as services revenue over the life of
the related agreement, which is typically one year.

  Customer advances and billed amounts due from customers in excess of revenue
recognized are recorded as deferred revenue.

  The Company adopted Statement of Position 97-2, Software Revenue
Recognition, or SOP 97-2, and Statement of Position 98-4, Deferral of the
Effective Date of a Provision of SOP 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, or
SOP 98-4, as of January 1, 1998. SOP 97-2 and SOP 98-4 provide guidance for
recognizing revenue on software transactions and supersede SOP 91-1. The
adoption of SOP 97-2 and SOP 98-4 did not have a material impact on the
Company's financial results.

  In December 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-9, Modification of SOP 97-2, Software Revenue
Recognition, With Respect to Certain Transactions. SOP 98-9 amends SOP 98-4 to
extend the deferral of the application of certain passages of SOP 97-2
provided by SOP 98-4 through the Company's fiscal year 1999. All other
provisions of SOP 98-9 are effective for transactions entered into in the
Company's fiscal year 2000. The Company's management does not expect the
adoption of SOP 98-9 to have a material effect on the Company's results of
operations or financial condition.

                                      F-8
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


 Cash Equivalents

  Cash equivalents consist primarily of cash deposits and investments with
original maturities of ninety days or less when purchased. The Company
classifies these investments as available for sale. Unrealized gains and
losses are included in other comprehensive income. At December 31, 1999, cash
and cash equivalents included an unrealized gain of $108,000.

 Short-Term Investments

  Short-term investments consist primarily of cash deposits and investments
with original maturities greater than ninety days and less than one year. The
Company classifies these investments as available for sale. Unrealized gains
and losses are included in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and
losses are computed based on the specific identification method. Realized
gains and losses were not material during 1999.

  Short-term investments consist of the following at December 31, 1999 (in
thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Unrealized  Estimated Fair
                                               Cost   Gain (Loss)  Market Value
                                              ------- ----------- --------------
   <S>                                        <C>     <C>         <C>
   Marketable securities:
     U.S. Government agencies................ $ 1,994    $(23)       $ 1,971
     Corporate bonds.........................   9,011     (31)         8,980
                                              -------    ----        -------
                                              $11,005    $(54)       $10,951
                                              =======    ====        =======
</TABLE>

 Long-Term Investments

  Long-term investments consist primarily of redeemable convertible preferred
stock. The Company classifies these investments as available for sale. The
Company did not record any unrealized gain or loss related to these securities
at December 31, 1999. The investments in Vitessa, iSyndicate, Inc. and
BizRate.com were established to enable the Company to invest in emerging
technology companies strategic to the Company's software business. All of the
technology companies held by the Company at December 31, 1999 are not publicly
traded, and therefore, there is no established market for these investments.
As such, these investments are valued based on the most recent round of
financing involving new non-strategic investors and estimates made by
management. These investments were not present at December 31, 1998. A table
summarizing these investments at December 31, 1999 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Estimated
   Company          Description           Redemption Features       Fair Value
   -------          -----------           -------------------       ----------
   <C>         <C>                    <S>                           <C>
   Vitessa                            At option of investor on or
               Redeemable Convertible  after May 24, 2004 and
                Preferred Stock        before May 24, 2007           $22,986
   iSyndicate                         Mandatorily Redeemable by
               Redeemable Convertible  issuer at various dates
                Preferred Stock        beginning April 30, 2003        2,025
   BizRate.com                        Mandatorily Redeemable by
               Redeemable Convertible  issuer at various dates
                Preferred Stock        beginning April 29, 2005        2,000
                                                                     -------
                                                                     $27,011
                                                                     =======
</TABLE>

 Property and Equipment

  Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and
equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of
the assets (generally 1.5 to 3 years). Amortization of assets recorded under
capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of
the asset's useful life or the term of the lease and such amortization is
included with depreciation expense.

                                      F-9
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


 Intangible Assets

  Intangible assets are being amortized using the straight-line method over a
five-year period for acquired technology and workforce and a seven-year period
for excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired.

 Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

  The Company periodically reviews the carrying amounts of property, plant,
and equipment, identifiable intangible assets and excess of cost over fair
value of net assets acquired both purchased in the normal course of business
and acquired through acquisition to determine whether current events or
circumstances, as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to Be Disposed Of, warrant adjustments to such carrying amounts by
considering, among other things, the future cash inflows expected to result
from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition less the future cash
outflows expected to be necessary to obtain those inflows. At this time,
future cash inflows exceed future cash outflows; thus, no impairment loss has
been recognized. Management reviews the valuation and amortization periods of
excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired on a periodic basis,
taking into consideration any events or circumstances which might result in
diminished fair value or revised useful life. No events or circumstances have
occurred to warrant a diminished fair value or reduction in the useful life of
excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired.

 Research and Development

  Research and development expenditures are expensed to operations as
incurred. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86, Accounting for
the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed,
requires capitalization of certain software development costs subsequent to
the establishment of technological feasibility. Based on the Company's product
development process, technological feasibility is established upon completion
of a working model. Costs incurred by the Company between completion of the
working model and the point at which the product is ready for general release
have been insignificant. Through December 31, 1998, all software development
costs have been expensed. During 1999, the Company capitalized $550,000 of
software development costs. Amortization expense and accumulated amortization
were both zero at December 31, 1999.

 Advertising Costs

  The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. These expenses were
approximately $158,000, $85,000 and $2,105,000 for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.

 Commission Policy

  During the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company amended its sales commission
plan to more closely match the payment of sales commission with the
culmination of the earnings process and the receipt of cash from the customer.
This amendment had the effect of reducing the Company's commissions expense
and net loss in the fourth quarter by $3.1 million, or $0.06 per share.

 Income Taxes

  The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS
109). This Statement prescribes the use of the liability method whereby
deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on
differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be
in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

 Foreign Currency Transactions

  For the Company's foreign subsidiaries, the functional currency has been
determined to be the local currency, and therefore, assets and liabilities are
translated at year end or period end exchange rates, and income

                                     F-10
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

statement items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the
year or period. Such translation adjustments are recorded in aggregate as a
component of stockholders' equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency
denominated transactions are included in other income (expense) and are not
material.

 Stock-Based Compensation

  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-
Based Compensation (SFAS 123), prescribes accounting and reporting standards
for all stock-based compensation plans, including employee stock options. As
allowed by SFAS 123, the Company has elected to continue to account for its
employee stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25).

 Concentration of Credit Risk

  Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist of short-term investments and trade
receivables. The Company's short-term investments, which are included in cash
and cash equivalents and short term investments for reporting purposes, are
placed with high credit quality financial institutions and issuers. The
Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers' financial
condition and generally does not require collateral. The following table
summarizes the changes in allowance for doubtful accounts for trade
receivables (in thousands):

<TABLE>
   <S>                                                                   <C>
   Balance at January 1, 1997........................................... $  --
   Additions charged to costs and expenses..............................     92
   Write-off of uncollectible accounts..................................    (55)
                                                                         ------
   Balance at December 31, 1997.........................................     37
   Additions charged to costs and expenses..............................    273
   Write-off of uncollectible accounts..................................    (13)
                                                                         ------
   Balance at December 31, 1998.........................................    297
   Additions charged to costs and expenses..............................  1,030
   Write-off of uncollectible accounts..................................    (73)
                                                                         ------
   Balance at December 31, 1999......................................... $1,254
                                                                         ======
</TABLE>

  Customers A and B accounted for 13% and 11%, respectively, of the Company's
total revenue for the year ended December 31, 1997. No customers accounted for
more than 10% of the Company's total revenue during the years ended December
31, 1998 and 1999.

 Net Loss Per Share

  The Company follows the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128). Basic net loss per share is
computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net
loss per share has not been presented as the effect of the assumed exercise of
stock options, warrants and contingently issued shares is antidilutive due to
the Company's net loss. The Company had outstanding common stock options of
4,352,952, 10,841,154, and 17,066,576 at December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999,
respectively, that have been excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings
per share, as the effect of their exercise would be antidilutive.
Additionally, the Company had outstanding 25,742,466 and 33,916,638 shares of
preferred stock as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, that have been
excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as the effect of
their conversion to common stock would be antidilutive. During 1999,
33,916,638 shares of preferred stock for the period from January 1, 1999 to
February 19, 1999 have been excluded from diluted earnings per share, as the
effect of their conversion prior to the Company's initial public offering
would be antidilutive.

                                     F-11
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  The Company's historical capital structure is not indicative of its
prospective structure due to the automatic conversion of all shares of
convertible preferred stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock into
common stock concurrent with the closing of the Company's initial public
offering in February 1999. Accordingly, a pro forma calculation assuming the
conversion of all outstanding shares as of December 31, 1999 of convertible
preferred stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock
upon the Company's initial public offering using the if-converted method from
their respective dates of issuance is presented.

  The following table presents the calculation of basic and pro forma basic
net loss per share (in thousands, except per share data):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Year ended December 31,
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                    1997      1998      1999
                                                   -------  --------  --------
   <S>                                             <C>      <C>       <C>
   Net loss....................................... $(7,474) $(26,197) $(42,477)
                                                   =======  ========  ========
   Basic:
     Weighted-average shares of common stock
      outstanding.................................   6,950     9,802    47,966
     Weighted-average shares of common stock
      subject to repurchase.......................  (3,374)   (4,104)   (2,215)
                                                   -------  --------  --------
     Shares used in computing basic net loss per
      share.......................................   3,576     5,698    45,751
                                                   =======  ========  ========
     Basic net loss per share..................... $ (2.09) $  (4.60) $   (.93)
                                                   =======  ========  ========
   Pro forma:
     Shares used above............................                      45,751
     Pro forma adjustment to reflect weighted
      effect of assumed conversion of convertible
      preferred stock.............................                       4,553
                                                                      --------
     Shares used in computing pro forma basic net
      loss per share..............................                      50,304
                                                                      ========
     Pro forma basic net loss per share...........                    $   (.84)
                                                                      ========
</TABLE>

 Segments

  Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,
Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. The
adoption of Statement No. 131 did not have a significant effect on the
disclosure of segment information as the Company continues to consider its
business activities as a single segment.

 Recent Pronouncements

  In June 1999, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 137, Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities, Deferral of Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133,
in which Statement 133 is now required to be adopted in the Company's fiscal
year 2001. The Company has minimal use of derivatives, except for strategic
investments which are generally in the form of redeemable convertible
preferred stock. The Company has not determined the impact, if any, that the
adoption of the new Statement will have on the results of operations or the
financial position of the Company.

  In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff released
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition (SAB 101), which
provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and disclosure of revenue
in financial statements. The Company will adopt the provisions of SAB 101 for
all transactions during the year ending December 31, 2000. The application of
SAB 101 is not expected to have a material impact on the results of operations
or the financial position of the Company.

                                     F-12
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


3. Business Combinations

  Effective June 30, 1999, Vignette acquired 100 percent of the outstanding
stock and assumed all outstanding stock options of Diffusion, Inc.
("Diffusion"), a developer of multi-channel information delivery solutions, in
exchange for 786,542 shares of Vignette common stock. The total cost of the
acquisition, including transaction costs, was approximately $31.2 million.

  The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
Accordingly, the results of operations of Diffusion have been included with
those of the Company for periods subsequent to the date of acquisition. The
following table presents the allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                              <C>
     In-process research and development............................. $11,600
     Acquired technology.............................................   6,300
     Workforce.......................................................     900
     Excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired...........  15,063
     Net fair value of tangible assets acquired and liabilities
      assumed........................................................  (2,629)
                                                                      -------
                                                                      $31,234
                                                                      =======
</TABLE>

  Included in the acquired net assets of Diffusion was in-process research and
development efforts related to the development of Diffusion Server 4.0.
Diffusion Server 4.0 was expected to expand the delivery capabilities, user
features and functionality of the existing Diffusion Server 3.0 multi-channel
platform as well as add new components. The Company intends to re-work the
acquired technology and integrate it with Vignette's products.

  A significant amount of uncertainty existed surrounding the successful
development and completion of the research and development acquired, which was
estimated to be 88% complete at the date of the acquisition. The Company was
uncertain of its ability to complete the development of a new product within a
timeframe acceptable to the market and ahead of competitors. Additionally, the
amount of development required to enable the acquired in-process research and
development to be compatible with StoryServer was significant. The results of
the in-process research and development effort at the time of purchase had not
progressed to a stage where they met technological feasibility as they lacked
many key elements including standardized implementation capabilities and a
scalable and extensible architecture.

  The Company assigned values of $11.6 million to in-process research and
development and $6.3 million to existing core technology based upon an
independent appraisal that utilized a modified discounted cash flow model. The
Company based the cash flow projections for revenue on the projected
incremental increase in revenue that the Company expected to receive from the
completed acquired in-process research and development. Diffusion expected
revenue to commence with the product's release in December 1999 and continue
throughout its economic life of five years. The Company deducted estimated
operating expenses from estimated revenue to arrive at estimated pre-tax cash
flows. Projected operating expenses included cost of goods sold, selling
general and administrative expense, and research and development expense. The
Company estimated operating expenses as a percent of revenue based on
Diffusion's historical results for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 to
1998. Projected results for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999 to 2001
were also used in combination with past operating results and industry
averages. The Company also deducted capital charges, or cash flow attributable
to other assets such as working capital and assembled workforce, from pre-tax
operating income to isolate the cash flow solely attributable to the in-
process research and development. Income taxes were then deducted to arrive at
after-tax cash flows. The Company discounted the after-tax cash flow
projections using a risk-adjusted rate of return of 23%. In using the
discounted model, the Company excluded the costs to complete the in-process
technology from the research and development expense for 1999, and the Company
reflected the percentage completion of the in-process research and development
in each year's projected cash flow.

                                     F-13
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  In connection with the transaction, the Company has incurred charges
totaling $15.6 million for the write-off of in-process research and
development (based upon an independent third party appraisal), acquisition-
related expenses and integration costs in the consolidated statement of
operations for the year ended December 31, 1999. The amounts allocated to
acquired technology and workforce were determined based upon a valuation
performed by an independent third party appraiser and are being amortized over
a five-year period. The excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired
is being amortized over a seven-year period.

  The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations of Vignette and
Diffusion for the year ended December 31,1998 and 1999 after giving effect to
certain pro forma adjustments are as follows (in thousands, except per share
data):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Year ended
                                                              December 31,
                                                            ------------------
                                                              1998      1999
                                                            --------  --------
     <S>                                                    <C>       <C>
     Revenue............................................... $ 17,287  $ 89,618
     Operating loss........................................ $(35,664) $(36,055)
     Net loss.............................................. $(35,298) $(32,316)
     Basic net loss per share.............................. $  (5.47) $   (.70)
</TABLE>

  The unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual
results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisition of
Diffusion occurred on January 1, 1998 or of future results.


4. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity

 Summary of Preferred Stock

  In February 1999, upon the closing of the Company's initial public offering,
all of the outstanding preferred stock was converted into 33,916,638 shares of
common stock. In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation was
amended authorizing the Board of Directors to issue preferred stock in one or
more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions
thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting
rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and
the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such
series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. At December 31,
1999, the Company had not issued any new preferred stock.

  As of December 31, 1998 and 1999, there were 35,414,460 and 10,000,000
shares authorized to be designated as preferred stock. The eight classes of
preferred stock designated as of December 31, 1998 are as follows (704,342
shares remained undesignated):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Consideration
                                                    Shares       per Share
                                  Par    Shares   Issued and      Received
                                 Value Designated Outstanding   on Issuance
                                 ----- ---------- ----------- ----------------
   <S>                           <C>   <C>        <C>         <C>
   Redeemable convertible
    preferred stock:
     Series A..................  $.01   1,603,488  1,573,970  $       .26 cash
     Series B..................  $.01   7,292,160  7,292,154          .42 cash
     Series E..................  $.01   9,280,524  9,280,494         1.08 cash
     Series F..................  $.01   5,374,372  5,374,336         2.67 cash
     Series H..................  $.01   2,282,264  2,048,176         4.15 cash
                                       ---------- ----------
                                       25,832,808 25,569,130
                                       ========== ==========
   Convertible preferred stock:
     Series C..................  $.01   7,338,662  7,338,630  $ .26 technology
     Series D..................  $.01     786,988    257,218          .42 cash
     Series G..................  $.01     751,660    751,660   2.67 technology
                                       ---------- ----------
                                        8,877,310  8,347,508
                                       ========== ==========
</TABLE>

                                     F-14
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  Each holder of Series A, B, E, F and H Preferred Stock could have elected to
require the Company to redeem on or after the dates specified below, and in
the amounts specified below, any such shares which were purchased by the
stockholder, net of any shares previously redeemed, plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Percentage of
                                                     Shares
                                               Acquired Which May   Redemption
     Mandatory Redemption Date                    Be Redeemed         Amount
     -------------------------                 ------------------ --------------
                                                                  (in thousands)
     <S>                                       <C>                <C>
     April 22, 2005...........................         50%           $18,129
     April 22, 2006...........................         75%            27,194
     April 22, 2007...........................        100%            36,258
</TABLE>

  The Company's preferred stock had the following characteristics at December
31, 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Liquidation       Conversion        Redemption
Description  Dividend Features    Preference         Features          Features
- -----------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
<S>          <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Series A     Cumulative at an  $.26 per share    One for one       $.26 per share
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to        plus accrued and
             $.02 per share    unpaid            certain           unpaid dividends
             beginning         dividends(1)      antidilution
             January 1, 1999                     adjustments, as
             payable upon                        defined
             liquidation or
             conversion

Series B     Cumulative at an  $.42 per share    One for one       $.42 per share
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to        plus accrued and
             $.03 per share    unpaid            certain           unpaid dividends
             beginning         dividends(1)      antidilution
             January 1, 1999                     adjustments, as
             payable upon                        defined
             liquidation or
             conversion

Series C     Cumulative at an  $.26 per share    One for one       None
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to
             $.02 per share    unpaid            certain
             beginning         dividends(1)      antidilution
             January 1, 1999                     adjustments, as
             payable upon                        defined
             liquidation or
             conversion

Series D     Non-cumulative    $.42 per share    One for one       None
             at the same rate  plus accrued and  subject to
             as dividends      unpaid dividends  certain
             paid on common                      antidilution
             stock payable                       adjustments, as
             upon liquidation                    defined
             or conversion

Series E     Cumulative at an  $1.08 per share   One for one       $1.08 per share
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to        plus accrued and
             $.07 per share    unpaid            certain           unpaid dividends
             beginning June    dividends(1)      antidilution
             6, 2000 payable                     adjustments, as
             upon liquidation                    defined
             or conversion

Series F     Cumulative at an  $2.67 per share   One for one       $2.67 per share
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to        plus accrued and
             $.16 per share    unpaid            certain           unpaid dividends
             beginning April   dividends(1)      antidilution
             22, 2001 payable                    adjustments, as
             upon liquidation                    defined
             or conversion

Series G     Same as Series D  $2.67 per share   One for one       None
                               plus accrued and  subject to
                               unpaid dividends  certain
                                                 antidilution
                                                 adjustments, as
                                                 defined

Series H     Cumulative at an  $4.15 per share   One for one       $4.15 per share
             annual rate of    plus accrued and  subject to        plus accrued and
             $.25 per share    unpaid            certain           unpaid dividends
             beginning         dividends(1)      antidilution
             November 30,                        adjustments, as
             2001 payable                        defined(2)
             upon liquidation
             or conversion
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) In addition to the liquidation preference amount shown, the preferred
    stockholder also could have participated on a pro rata basis with common
    stockholders in the liquidation of additional proceeds, if any, as
    specified by the preferred stock agreement.

                                     F-15
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

(2) The Series H Preferred Stock price of $4.15 per share was subject to
    certain downward adjustments, through an adjustment in the shares of
    common stock issuable upon conversion, in the event that the Company did
    not complete a public offering at a price per share approximately 25%
    higher than the price paid by the Series H preferred stockholders. The
    adjustments could have reduced the per share value of the Series H
    Preferred Stock to as low as $2.67 per share.

 Voting Rights

  Each share of common stock has one voting right. Each series of redeemable
convertible preferred stock and convertible preferred stock at December 31,
1998 had voting rights equal to the number of common shares into which all
shares of a particular series of preferred stock could then be converted.

 Public Offering

  In February 1999, the Company completed an initial public offering in which
the Company sold 8,560,000 shares of its common stock for proceeds to the
Company of $81.3 million, less offering costs of $7.5 million.

  In December 1999, the Company completed a secondary public offering in which
the Company sold 2,676,000 shares of its common stock for proceeds to the
Company of $374.3 million, less offering costs of $18.8 million.

 Stock Plans

  The Company has the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, the 1999 Equity
Incentive Plan, the 1999 Supplemental Stock Option Plan, the 1999 Non-Employee
Directors Option Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

  Under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "1995 Plan"),
employees, members of the Board of Directors and independent advisors were
eligible to be granted options to purchase shares of the Company's common
stock or may be issued shares of the Company's common stock directly. Options
are immediately exercisable. Upon certain events, the Company has repurchase
rights for unvested shares equal to the original exercise price. The Company
also has the right of first refusal for any proposed disposition of shares
issued under the 1995 Plan. The stock options and the related exercised stock
will generally vest over a four year cumulative period. The term of each
option is no more than ten years from the date of grant. Stock issuance may be
for purchase or as a bonus for services rendered to the Company.

  Under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (the "1999 Plan"), employees, non-
employee members of the Board and consultants may be granted options to
purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares
and stock units. Options are exercisable in accordance with each Stock Option
Agreement. The term of each option is no more than ten years from the date of
grant. There were 2,000,000 shares authorized under the 1999 Plan at December
31, 1999 of which 1,149,446 are available for future grant. As of January 1 of
each year, commencing with the year 2000 and ending with the year 2002, the
aggregate number of shares authorized under the 1999 Plan shall automatically
increase by a number equal to the lesser of 5% of the total number of shares
of the Common Stock then outstanding or 2,000,000 shares.

  Under the 1999 Supplemental Stock Option Plan (the "1999 Supplemental
Plan"), employees, non-employee members of the Board and consultants may be
granted non-qualified options to purchase shares of common stock. The term and
vesting periods are the same as those under the 1999 Plan. There were
8,000,000 shares authorized under the 1999 Supplemental Plan at December 31,
1999 of which 2,192,088 were available for future grants.

                                     F-16
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

  Under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Option Plan, non-employee board
members may be granted non-statutory options to purchase shares of common
stock. Vesting occurs over a four year cumulative period. The term of each
option is no more than ten years from the date of grant. There were 500,000
shares authorized under the Non-Employee Directors Option Plan at December 31,
1999 of which 500,000 were available for future grants.

  Under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP"), the Company has reserved
1,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the ESPP. As of January 1,
each year, the number of shares under the ESPP will automatically increase by
the lesser of 2% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding or
1,500,000 shares. As of December 31, 1999, 261,482 shares were issued under
the ESPP.

  In 1998 and 1999, the Company recorded total deferred stock compensation of
$8,671,000 and $15,729,000, respectively, in connection with stock options
granted during the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1999. In 1998, this
amount represents the difference between the exercise price of stock option
grants for 8,497,206 shares of common stock and the deemed fair value of the
Company's common stock at the time of such grants which ranged from $.11 to
$3.31 per share and $.15 to $6.61 per share, respectively. In 1999, this
amount represents the difference between the exercise price of stock option
grants for 1,220,418 shares of common stock and the deemed fair value of the
Company's common stock at the time of such grants which ranged from $2.42 to
$83.44 per share and $6.61 to $98.16 per share, respectively. These amounts
are being amortized over the vesting periods of the applicable options,
resulting in amortization of $2,475,000 and $8,566,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively.

  A summary of the Company's stock option activity and related information
through December 31, 1999 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Weighted-
                                   Number of       Range of         Average
                                     Shares     Exercise Prices  Exercise Price
                                   ----------  ----------------- --------------
<S>                                <C>         <C>   <C> <C>     <C>
Options outstanding--January 1,
 1997............................   1,131,194  $ .03   - $   .05     $  .04
  Granted........................   4,990,806    .05   -     .11        .08
  Exercised......................    (517,674)   .05   -     .11        .05
  Canceled.......................  (1,251,374)   .05   -     .11        .05
                                   ----------  -----------------     ------
Options outstanding--December 31,
 1997............................   4,352,952    .03   -     .11        .09
  Granted........................  11,706,468    .11   -    3.31       1.45
  Exercised......................  (4,425,746)   .05   -    3.18        .12
  Canceled.......................    (792,520)   .05   -    2.42        .20
                                   ----------  -----------------     ------
Options outstanding--December 31,
 1998............................  10,841,154    .03   -    3.31       1.55
  Granted........................   9,080,258   3.43   -  163.00      52.93
  Exercised......................  (2,282,731)   .03   -    8.70       1.05
  Canceled.......................    (572,105)   .04   -   82.50       7.04
                                   ----------  -----------------     ------
Options outstanding--December 31,
 1999............................  17,066,576  $ .03   - $163.00     $28.93
                                   ==========  =================     ======
Options available for grant at
 December 31, 1999...............   4,136,557
                                   ==========
</TABLE>

                                     F-17
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  The following is a summary of options outstanding as of December 31, 1999:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Weighted-Average
      Range of        Number of Options          Remaining             Weighted-
      Exercise         Outstanding at         Contractual Life          Average
       Prices         December 31, 1999          (in years)          Exercise Price
      --------        -----------------       ----------------       --------------
   <S>                <C>                     <C>                    <C>
   $  .03-$  1.78         4,376,291                 8.28                 $  .60
   $ 2.41-$  4.45         4,290,156                 8.89                 $ 3.13
   $ 6.61-$ 39.38         4,087,129                 9.47                 $26.41
   $40.00-$163.00         4,313,000                 9.84                 $85.79
                         ----------
                         17,066,576
                         ==========
</TABLE>

  A total of 2,245,060 shares of outstanding common stock were unvested at
December 31, 1999 and may be repurchased by the Company should vesting
requirements not be fulfilled. A total of 4,352,952, 10,841,154 and 9,651,985
outstanding options are exercisable at December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999,
respectively.

  Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share is required by
SFAS 123, and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its
employee stock options under the fair value method of that Statement. During
1997 and 1998, the fair value for these options was estimated at the date of
grant using a minimum value option pricing model, and during 1999 the fair
value of each option grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option
pricing model, with the following assumptions:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Employee
                                                                       Stock
                                        Employee Stock Options     Purchase Plan
                                        -------------------------  -------------
                                         1997     1998     1999        1999
                                        -------  -------  -------  -------------
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Risk-free interest rate...............        6%       6%     5.8%        6.3%
Weighted-average expected life of the
 options..............................  4 years  4 years  4 years    .5 years
Dividend rate.........................        0%       0%       0%          0%
Assumed volatility....................      --       --       1.2         1.2
Weighted average fair value of options
 granted:
  Exercise price equal to fair value
   of stock on date of grant..........  $   .02  $  1.10  $ 41.86
  Exercise price less than fair value
   of stock on date of grant..........      --   $   .89  $ 21.70
</TABLE>

  For purposes of pro forma disclosure, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period and stock
purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is amortized over the six-
month purchase period. The Company's pro forma information follows (in
thousands, except per share data):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                  1997      1998      1999
                                                 -------  --------  --------
     <S>                                         <C>      <C>       <C>
     Pro forma stock-based compensation
      expense................................... $    11  $    259  $ 25,661
     Pro forma net loss......................... $(7,485) $(26,456) $(68,138)
     Pro forma basic net loss per share......... $ (2.10) $  (4.65) $  (1.49)
</TABLE>

 Warrants

  In connection with the issuance of Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Stock in February 1996, the Company also issued a warrant to purchase 29,512
shares of Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock at $.26 per share to
a corporation. The warrant is exercisable at any time before the later to
occur of March 2006 or five years after a Qualified Public Offering, as that
term is defined. No amount was allocated to the value of the above warrants as
such amounts were not significant.

                                     F-18
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  In December 1998, the Company entered into agreements with a company
providing for available credit of up to $5 million and an equipment lease line
of $1.25 million. In connection with such agreements, the Company issued a
warrant to the company to purchase 180,716 shares of Series H Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $4.15. The Company valued
the warrant at $169,000 using the Black-Scholes model, an assumed volatility
of 51%, a risk-free interest rate of 6%, a weighted-average expected life of 1
year, and a dividend rate of 0%. Warrants with a value of $157,000 were
exercised during the year ended December 31, 1999 under the cashless exercise
provision of the warrant agreement.

 Reserved Shares of Common Stock

  At December 31, 1998 and 1999, the Company had reserved 34,126,866 and
19,612 shares of its common stock for issuance upon conversion of its various
series of preferred stock and exercise of its warrants, respectively. At
December 31, 1998 and 1999, another 12,157,368 and 4,136,557 shares of common
stock were reserved for issuance under the Company's various stock plans.


5. Long-term Debt

  Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 December 31,
                                                                ---------------
                                                                 1998     1999
                                                                -------  ------
   <S>                                                          <C>      <C>
   Bank line of credit of $8,000--outstanding principal
    balance payable upon maturity in December 1999. Line bears
    interest at prime + .75% and is due monthly...............  $ 1,500  $  --
   Bank line of credit of $2,000--outstanding principal
    balance payable monthly in thirty-six equal installments
    beginning December 1998. Line bears interest at prime +
    .75% and is due monthly...................................    1,153     --
   Subordinated line of credit of $5,000 from a company--
    outstanding principal balance payable monthly in thirty
    equal installments beginning six months after the
    execution of an Advanced Request, as defined. Line bears
    interest at 12% and is due monthly........................      --      --
   Lease financing credit of $1,250 from a company--
    outstanding principal balance payable monthly in thirty-
    six equal installments beginning upon execution of an
    Equipment Schedule under the Master Lease Agreement, as
    defined. Line bears interest at 7.5% and is due monthly...      --      --
                                                                -------  ------
                                                                  2,653     --
   Less current portion.......................................   (1,895)    --
                                                                -------  ------
   Long-term portion..........................................  $   758  $  --
                                                                =======  ======
   Available for future borrowings............................  $13,597  $6,250
                                                                =======  ======
</TABLE>

  The borrowings under the lines of credit are collateralized by all tangible
and intangible property of the Company.

6. Lease Commitments

  The Company has financed the acquisition of certain computers and equipment
through sale-leaseback transactions which are accounted for as financings.
Included in property and equipment at December 31, 1998 and 1999 are the
following assets held under capital leases (in thousands):

                                     F-19
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 December 31,
                                                                 --------------
                                                                  1998    1999
                                                                 ------  ------
     <S>                                                         <C>     <C>
     Property and equipment..................................... $   65  $   65
     Less accumulated depreciation..............................    (65)    (65)
                                                                 ------  ------
                                                                 $  --   $  --
                                                                 ======  ======
</TABLE>

  Future minimum lease payments for assets under capital leases at December
31, 1998 and 1999 are $7,000 and zero, respectively.

  The Company leases its office facilities and office equipment under various
operating lease agreements. Future minimum payments as of December 31, 1999,
under these leases, are as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                 <C>
     2000............................................................... $ 4,638
     2001...............................................................   4,175
     2002...............................................................   3,735
     2003...............................................................   3,299
     2004...............................................................   2,084
     Thereafter.........................................................   4,213
                                                                         -------
                                                                         $22,144
                                                                         =======
</TABLE>

  Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 was $263,
$1,512, and $3,760, respectively (in thousands).

7. Income Taxes

  As of December 31, 1999, the Company had federal net operating loss and
research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $125,473,000
and $1,493,000, respectively. The net operating loss and credit carryforwards
will expire at various dates, beginning in 2011, if not utilized.

  The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes substantial restrictions on the
utilization of net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards in the event
of an "ownership change" of a corporation. The Company's utilization of the
net operating losses and tax credits will be subject to a substantial annual
limitation due to an "ownership change" resulting from the sales of private
equity securities. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net
operating losses and tax credits before utilization.

                                     F-20
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components
of the Company's deferred taxes as of December 31, 1998 and 1999 are as
follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               December 31,
                                                              ----------------
                                                               1998     1999
                                                              -------  -------
   <S>                                                        <C>      <C>
   Deferred tax liabilities:
     Intangible assets....................................... $   --   $(2,398)
     Other...................................................     (47)     (22)
                                                              -------  -------
                                                                  (47)  (2,420)
   Deferred tax assets:
     Depreciable assets......................................     118      413
     Deferred revenue........................................   1,143    6,773
     Tax carryforwards.......................................  10,558   49,025
     Software development costs..............................     153      --
     Amortization of deferred stock compensation.............     918      --
     Accrued liabilities and other...........................     440    1,208
                                                              -------  -------
                                                               13,330   57,419
                                                              -------  -------
   Net deferred tax assets...................................  13,283   54,999
   Valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets........... (13,283) (54,999)
                                                              -------  -------
   Net deferred taxes........................................ $   --   $   --
                                                              =======  =======
</TABLE>

  The Company has established a valuation allowance equal to the net deferred
tax asset due to uncertainties regarding the realization of deferred tax
assets based on the Company's lack of earnings history. During the year ended
December 31, 1999, the valuation allowance increased by approximately
$41,716,000 due to stock option deductions which have not been benefited, and
the acquisition of Diffusion tax carryforwards. The initial recognition of the
tax benefits for the Diffusion deferred tax asset items will first reduce
goodwill, then other non-current intangible assets of the acquired entity.
Approximately $28,154,000 of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
relates to benefits for stock option deductions, which when realized, will be
allocated directly to contributed capital.

  Undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiary were immaterial
as of December 31, 1998 and 1999. Those earnings are considered to be
permanently reinvested and, accordingly, no provision for U.S. federal and/or
state income taxes has been provided thereon.

  The Company's provision for income taxes differs from the expected tax
benefit amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of
34% to income before income taxes as a result of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Year ended December 31,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                       1997     1998     1999
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Federal statutory rate............................  (34.0)%  (34.0)%  (34.0)%
   State taxes, net of federal benefit...............    (3.0)    (2.7)    (1.4)
   In-process research and development...............     --       2.7     12.7
   Stock compensation................................     --       --       4.3
   Change in valuation allowance.....................    37.0     34.8     17.6
   Other.............................................     --       (.8)      .8
                                                      -------  -------  -------
                                                          -- %     -- %     -- %
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>

                                     F-21
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


8. Acquired In-Process Research and Development

  During May 1998, the Company acquired from RandomNoise, Inc. certain in-
process research and development effort, a developed product and an
insignificant amount of equipment in exchange for $100,000 in cash and 751,660
shares of the Company's Series G Convertible Preferred Stock valued at $2.67
share or $2,000,000. Substantially all of the $2,100,000 purchase price was
allocated to the acquired in-process research and development efforts based
upon the following: (i) the Company assigned no value to the developed product
as the Company does not intend to sell, support or enhance such product and
the Company believes it has no alternative future use; (ii) the $2.67 per
share ascribed to the Company's Series G Convertible Preferred Stock was based
on the value per share received from the issuance of Series F Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock, which occurred in April 1998; and (iii) the
allocation of the entire $2,100,000 purchase price was determined to be
reasonable based on the Company's estimate of costs it would incur if it had
performed this effort internally.

  The in-process research and development effort relates to the development of
visual development tool technology using graphical user interface ("GUI")
technology not present in the developed product acquired from RandomNoise and
not possessed by the Company and at the time of purchase the results of the
in-process research and development effort had not progressed to a stage where
they met technological feasibility. At the time of the transaction, the
Company estimated that an additional 90 person months or $900,000 in costs
would be required to complete the beta version of the new GUI-based technology
tool, which is expected to be released in February 1999. The additional person
months were required to add certain key elements, including: the ability to
integrate with database oriented dynamic publishing systems; database
interfacing capabilities; enhanced and consistent application performance;
memory requirements consistent with those of the Company's other product;
multiple Internet browser recognition capabilities; standardized
documentation; and automated testing capabilities. As this was the Company's
first attempt to develop GUI-based technology, at the time of the transaction
there existed a significant amount of uncertainty as to the Company's ability
to complete the development of a new product within a timeframe acceptable to
the market and ahead of competitors. Additionally, the amount of development
required to enable the acquired in-process research and development to be
compatible with the Company's primary product was significant, which increased
the uncertainty surrounding its successful development. If the Company is not
successful in completing the development within the contemplated timeframe,
the Company believes that although sales of its primary product to certain
customers may be delayed, it will not have a significant adverse effect on the
Company's results from operations.

  The Company incurred approximately 105 person months or $1,050,000 in costs
related to development of the acquired in-process research and development and
was released with Development Center in April 1999.

9. Employee 401(k) Plan

  In 1997, the Company established a voluntary defined contribution retirement
plan qualifying under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The
Company made no contributions in the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998, and
1999.

10. Segments of Business and Geographic Area Information

  The Company considers its business activities to constitute a single
segment.

                                     F-22
<PAGE>

                             VIGNETTE CORPORATION

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


  A summary of the Company's operations by geographic area follows (in
thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Year ended December 31,
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     1997      1998      1999
                                                    -------  --------  --------
   <S>                                              <C>      <C>       <C>
   Revenue:
     United States
       Domestic.................................... $ 2,948  $ 12,471  $ 76,037
       Other.......................................      76       522       --
                                                    -------  --------  --------
         Total United States.......................   3,024    12,993    76,037
     Europe and Australia..........................     --      3,212    13,148
                                                    -------  --------  --------
         Total revenue............................. $ 3,024  $ 16,205  $ 89,185
                                                    =======  ========  ========
   Net loss:
     United States................................. $(7,447) $(25,756) $(38,953)
     Europe and Australia..........................     (27)     (441)   (3,524)
                                                    -------  --------  --------
         Total..................................... $(7,474) $(26,197) $(42,477)
                                                    =======  ========  ========
   Identifiable assets:
     United States................................. $ 8,417  $ 20,486  $497,561
     Europe and Australia..........................      82     2,295    17,169
                                                    -------  --------  --------
         Total..................................... $ 8,499  $ 22,781  $514,730
                                                    =======  ========  ========
</TABLE>



11. Subsequent Events (Unaudited)

  Effective January 18, 2000, Vignette acquired 100 percent of the outstanding
stock and assumed all outstanding stock options of Engine 5 Ltd., a provider
of Java-based applications, in exchange for approximately $9.2 million in cash
and approximately 112,000 shares of Vignette common stock. The Company will
account for the transaction as a purchase. The Company will incur one-time
acquisition costs and integration related charges associated with the
transaction which include costs associated with product integration, cross
training, and other merger related costs. Additionally, Vignette anticipates a
portion of the purchase price will be allocated to in-process research and
development and expensed upon the consummation of the transaction.

  Effective February 15, 2000, Vignette acquired 100 percent of the
outstanding stock and assumed all outstanding stock options of DataSage Inc.,
a provider of e-marketing and personalization applications, in exchange for
approximately 3.16 million shares of Vignette common stock. Vignette will
account for the transaction as a purchase. The Company will incur one-time
acquisition costs and integration related charges associated with the
transaction, which include costs associated with product integration, cross
training and other merger related costs. Additionally, Vignette anticipates a
portion of the purchase price will be allocated to in-process research and
development and expensed upon the consummation of the transaction.

  In March 2000, the Board of Directors and shareholders approved an increase
in the number of authorized common stock of the Company from 80 million to 500
million shares.

  On April 14, 2000, the Company will effect a three-for-one forward stock
split in the form of a stock dividend. Stockholders will receive two
additional shares for every share of Vignette common stock held on the record
date of March 27, 2000. These shares will be paid after market close on April
13, 2000.

                                     F-23

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.1


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-72877) pertaining to the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, the 1999
Non-Employee Director Option Plan, the International Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Registration Statement (Form S-8
No. 333-83115) pertaining to the Diffusion Corporation 1995 General Stock Option
Plan, the Diffusion Corporation 1995 Executive Stock Option Plan and the
Diffusion Corporation 1997 Stock Option Plan, the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-91767) pertaining to the 1999 Supplemental Stock Option Plan and the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-30242) pertaining to the Engine 5, Ltd
1999 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, the DataSage, Inc. 1996 Stock & Option
Plan, the DataSage, Inc. 1997 Stock & Option Plan and the Vignette Corporation
1999 Equity Incentive Plan of our report dated January 24, 2000, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements of Vignette Corporation included in the
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999.


                                        /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Austin, Texas
March 28, 2000





<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DECEMBER 31,
1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                         391,278
<SECURITIES>                                    11,036
<RECEIVABLES>                                   46,319
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,254
<INVENTORY>                                         66
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               452,882
<PP&E>                                          15,075
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,016
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 514,730
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           77,671
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           596
<OTHER-SE>                                     436,473
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   514,730
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                48,243
<CGS>                                           89,185
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   89,185
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                98,591
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   929
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 201
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (42,477)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (42,477)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (42,477)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.93)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.93)


</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission