SERENA SOFTWARE INC
S-1/A, 1999-01-25
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
Previous: UACSC 1998-D AUTO TRUST, 8-K, 1999-01-25
Next: COMMERCIAL MORT PASS-THROUGH CERT SER 1998-CF2, 15-15D, 1999-01-25



<PAGE>
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 25, 1999
    
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-67761
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                 UNITED STATES
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 --------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-1
    
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 --------------
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                                <C>
            DELAWARE                             7372                            94-2669809
 (State or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial             (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)       Classification Code Number)          Identification Number)
</TABLE>
 
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
                        500 AIRPORT BOULEVARD, 2ND FLOOR
                       BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA 94010-1904
                                 (650) 696-1800
 
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                                RICHARD A. DOERR
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                        500 AIRPORT BOULEVARD, 2ND FLOOR
                       BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA 94010-1904
                                 (650) 696-1800
 
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                               ------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
          DOUGLAS H. COLLOM                          CARLA S. NEWELL
          ROBERT F. KORNEGAY                        DOUGLAS T. SHEEHY
           MARK B. BAUDLER                            JOHN F. DIETZ
        PRIYA CHERIAN HUSKINS              GUNDERSON DETTMER STOUGH VILLENEUVE
   WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI             FRANKLIN & HACHIGIAN, LLP
       PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION                   155 CONSTITUTION DRIVE
          650 PAGE MILL ROAD                   MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025
   PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304-1050                   (650) 321-2400
            (650) 493-9300
 
                                ----------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
 AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                ----------------
 
        If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 145 under the Securities Act
of 1933, check the following box. / /
 
        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
 
        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
 
        If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. / /
                                ----------------
 
        THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SUCH SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 25, 1999
    
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED.
UNDERWRITERS MAY NOT CONFIRM SALES OF THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT
SOLICITING OFFERS TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE
IS NOT PERMITTED.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
 
                                6,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
        This is an initial public offering of common stock by SERENA Software,
Inc. Of the 6,000,000 shares of common stock being sold in this offering,
4,000,000 shares are being sold by SERENA Software and 2,000,000 shares are
being sold by the selling stockholders. SERENA Software will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. The estimated
initial public offering price will be between $9.00 and $11.00 per share.
 
                                 --------------
 
   
        There is currently no public market for the common stock. The shares of
common stock have been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol SRNA.
    
 
                                 --------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PER SHARE      TOTAL
                                                                 -----------------  ---------
<S>                                                              <C>                <C>
Initial public offering price..................................          $          $
Underwriting discounts and commissions.........................          $          $
Proceeds to SERENA Software, before expenses...................          $          $
Proceeds to the selling stockholders, before expenses..........          $          $
</TABLE>
 
        SERENA Software has granted the underwriters an option for a period of
30 days to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares of common stock.
 
                                 --------------
 
         INVESTING IN THE COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7.
                                 -------------
 
        NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
                 SG COWEN
                                                      SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP
 
           , 1999
<PAGE>
                  [Description of Inside Front Cover Graphic]
 
   
        The caption "SERENA" is centered at the top of the inside front cover
page. Below "SERENA" the caption "FULL.CYCLE SOFTWARE" appears. Below these two
captions there is a large circle with a smaller circle comprised of arrows
appearing within the larger circle. The caption "Software Application" is
super-imposed on the top-half of the outer circle. The caption "Life Cycle" is
super-imposed on the bottom-half of the outer circle. At the twelve o'clock
position, the word "request" is super-imposed on an arrow comprising the
top-most portion of the smaller inner circle. Moving clockwise, the words
"analysis development testing production" are super-imposed on an arrow
comprising most of the right-half of the inner circle. Continuing to move
clockwise, the word "deployment" is super-imposed on an arrow at the six o'clock
position of the inner circle. Still moving clockwise, the words "tracking
problem detection reporting" are super-imposed on an arrow comprising most of
the left-half of the inner circle. Centered at the bottom of the page, the
caption "Solutions for Managing Software Change" appears. The entire above-
described graphic is superimposed against a background consisting of scaled-back
photographs of groups of people.
    
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  PAGE
                                                                  -----
<S>                                                            <C>
Prospectus Summary...........................................           4
 
Risk Factors.................................................           7
 
Forward Looking Statements...................................          21
 
Use of Proceeds..............................................          22
 
Dividend Policy..............................................          22
 
Capitalization...............................................          23
 
Dilution.....................................................          24
 
Selected Consolidated Financial Data.........................          25
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of Operations..............          26
 
Business.....................................................          39
 
Management...................................................          54
 
Certain Transactions.........................................          63
 
Principal and Selling Stockholders...........................          65
 
Description of Capital Stock.................................          67
 
Shares Eligible for Future Sale..............................          69
 
Underwriting.................................................          71
 
Legal Matters................................................          73
 
Experts......................................................          73
 
Change in Auditors...........................................          73
 
Additional SERENA Information................................          73
 
Index to Financial Statements................................         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
        Information contained on SERENA's Web site does not constitute part of
this prospectus.
 
        COMPAREX, CHANGE MAN, STARTOOL and SYNCTRAC are registered United States
trademarks of SERENA. SERNET, FULL.CYCLE, CDF, CONCURRENT DEVELOPMENT FACILITY,
STARWARP and SER(POWER) and the SERENA logo are also trademarks of SERENA. This
prospectus also contains trademarks and tradenames of other companies.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
   
        THIS SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED INFORMATION CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS. THIS SUMMARY MAY NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK. YOU SHOULD READ THE ENTIRE
PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY, INCLUDING "RISK FACTORS" AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,
BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION.
    
                                     SERENA
        SERENA is a leading provider of software change management, or SCM,
products and services used to manage and control software change for
organizations whose business operations are dependent on managing information
technology, or IT. In our 18 year history, we have developed highly effective
solutions for managing software change that enable our customers to improve
their return on IT investments by increasing programmer productivity and
reducing application development and IT infrastructure maintenance costs. A key
challenge for IT managers is managing software change throughout the business
organization, including new version releases, "bug fixes," upgrades and
application introductions. Our products help IT managers manage software changes
to applications by automating the software application life cycle. IT managers
use our products to track software changes during the software application
design and development process, manage separate programming teams who are
concurrently developing and enhancing applications, and oversee the deployment
of software applications. Any software change, if not managed effectively, has
the potential to cause system outages or corrupt data which can result in
disruption and lost business.
   
        Successful management of IT infrastructure requires managing rapid and
unpredictable technological change within increasingly complex and diverse
computing environments. Business issues such as competitive pressures, short
time-to-market windows, regulatory changes and Year 2000 and European Monetary
Union conversions introduce additional requirements for managing change. Our
products are designed to assist businesses in addressing these types of
complexities by automating the management of changes to software applications.
    
        Our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite creates an IT environment that
improves product consistency, enhances software integrity, protects valuable
software assets and facilitates concurrent application development efforts by
separate programming teams. The FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite is designed
to support the mainframe platform and, to date, all of our software license
revenue has been attributable to the sale of these mainframe products. As of
October 31, 1998, our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products have been installed in over
2,000 data centers worldwide, and our customers include 36 of the Fortune 50
companies such as Chase Manhattan, Citigroup, General Electric, IBM, MetLife,
Merrill Lynch and Prudential. Our SER(POWER) professional services enable
customers to customize our products to fully address their specific SCM
requirements.
   
        We intend to maintain our technology leadership in providing SCM
solutions for the mainframe and to use the proprietary technology and expertise
incorporated in our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products to develop our SCM product
suite for the desktop, FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP. This will enable us to provide
customers with a complete SCM solution across the IT organization. We released
an initial version of our first desktop product, DETECT+RESOLVE, in December
1998. Managing software change on the mainframe and desktop platforms have many
similarities. These similarities include the need to develop and enforce
consistent software change policies and procedures and a process to control all
types of software changes. Software changes occur in all phases of the
application life cycle, from the initial business request through development,
testing and production and into maintenance and support phases.
    
        In 1998, we initiated a strategic expansion of our sales, marketing and
professional services capabilities. This strategic expansion has included hiring
additional direct sales personnel, initiating a telesales effort, recruiting
additional third party distributors and increasing our professional services
staff. In addition, we are also expanding our target market internationally to
include companies within the Global 2000.
   
        In September 1998, we acquired Optima Software, or Optima, which had
served as the primary distributor of our flagship product, CHANGE MAN, for over
ten years. This acquisition significantly increased our sales, marketing and
professional services capabilities and enabled us to sell and market CHANGE MAN
as part of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite.
    
        Our headquarters are located at 500 Airport Boulevard, 2(nd) Floor,
Burlingame, California 94010-1904, and our telephone number is (650) 696-1800.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
Common stock offered by SERENA.....................  4,000,000 shares
Common stock offered by the selling stockholders...  2,000,000 shares
Common stock to be outstanding after this
offering...........................................  24,204,250 shares
Use of proceeds....................................  For working capital, general corporate purposes and
                                                     potential strategic investments or acquisitions.
                                                     See "Use of Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market symbol......................  SRNA
</TABLE>
    
 
                               ------------------
   
        UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT A 3-FOR-2 STOCK SPLIT EFFECTED IN JULY 1998 AND A 3-FOR-2 STOCK SPLIT
EFFECTED IN NOVEMBER 1998. ALL INFORMATION IN THE PROSPECTUS RELATING TO
OUTSTANDING SHARES OF SERENA COMMON STOCK OR OPTIONS TO PURCHASE SERENA COMMON
STOCK IS BASED UPON INFORMATION AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1998. PRO FORMA INFORMATION
GIVES EFFECT TO SERENA'S SEPTEMBER 1998 ACQUISITION OF OPTIMA AS IF SUCH
ACQUISITION OCCURRED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD PRESENTED. UNLESS OTHERWISE
INDICATED, THE INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
THE POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO THE UNDERWRITERS
PURSUANT TO THEIR OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION.
    
   
        PLEASE SEE "CAPITALIZATION" FOR A MORE COMPLETE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE
OUTSTANDING SHARES OF SERENA COMMON STOCK AND OPTIONS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
        THE SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA PRESENTED BELOW IS
DERIVED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SERENA AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR EACH OF THE THREE YEARS ENDED JANUARY
31, 1998 AND THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1998 HAVE BEEN AUDITED BY KPMG
LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
    
        THE PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1998 SUMMARIZED
BELOW HAS BEEN DERIVED FROM THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE PRO FORMA COMBINED
QUARTERLY STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA SUMMARIZED BELOW IS DERIVED FROM UNAUDITED
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME NOT INCLUDED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS. THE PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA GIVES EFFECT TO SERENA'S
ACQUISITION OF OPTIMA AS IF IT HAD OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 1, 1997.
   
        THE AS ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA SUMMARIZED BELOW
REFLECTS THE APPLICATION OF THE NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE 4,000,000
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THE COMPANY AT AN ASSUMED INITIAL PUBLIC
OFFERING PRICE OF $10.00 AND AFTER DEDUCTING THE UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS AND
COMMISSIONS AND ESTIMATED OFFERING EXPENSES.
    
                   SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                   FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,              OCTOBER 31,
                                                            --------------------------------------------  --------------------
                                                                                           1998                        1998
                                                                                  ----------------------             ---------
                                                              1996       1997      ACTUAL     PRO FORMA     1997      ACTUAL
                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Revenue.................................................  $  10,744  $  17,454  $  32,147   $  41,315   $  20,489  $  31,146
  Operating income........................................        184      1,025      7,693       6,945       4,891      7,429
  Net income..............................................  $     277  $     862  $   4,761   $   3,553   $   3,281  $   4,404
  Net income per share:
    Basic.................................................  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.31   $    0.19   $    0.21  $    0.27
    Diluted...............................................  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.31   $    0.19   $    0.21  $    0.26
  Shares used to compute net income per share:
    Basic.................................................     15,750     15,750     15,248      18,436      15,290     16,145
    Diluted...............................................     15,750     15,750     15,272      18,460      15,290     17,122
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                             PRO FORMA
                                                            -----------
<S>                                                         <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Revenue.................................................   $  36,899
  Operating income........................................       8,409
  Net income..............................................   $   4,763
  Net income per share:
    Basic.................................................   $    0.25
    Diluted...............................................   $    0.24
  Shares used to compute net income per share:
    Basic.................................................      18,735
    Diluted...............................................      19,712
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         QUARTER ENDED
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 APR. 30,     JULY 31,     OCT. 31,     JAN. 31,     APR. 30,
                                                                   1997         1997         1997         1998         1998
                                                                -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
PRO FORMA COMBINED QUARTERLY STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Revenue.....................................................   $   7,181    $   8,988    $   9,844    $  15,302    $  10,835
  Operating income............................................         533        1,194        2,146        3,072        2,080
  Net income..................................................   $     169    $     579    $   1,258    $   1,547    $   1,014
  Net income per share:
    Basic.....................................................   $    0.01    $    0.03    $    0.07    $    0.08    $    0.05
    Diluted...................................................   $    0.01    $    0.03    $    0.07    $    0.08    $    0.05
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                 JULY 31,     OCT. 31,
                                                                   1998         1998
                                                                -----------  -----------
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>
PRO FORMA COMBINED QUARTERLY STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Revenue.....................................................   $  12,449    $  13,615
  Operating income............................................       2,613        3,716
  Net income..................................................   $   1,476    $   2,273
  Net income per share:
    Basic.....................................................   $    0.08    $    0.12
    Diluted...................................................   $    0.08    $    0.11
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                OCTOBER 31, 1998
                                                                                                             ----------------------
                                                                                                              ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                                             ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents................................................................................  $  16,878   $  53,228
  Working capital..........................................................................................     12,884      49,234
  Total assets.............................................................................................     50,950      87,300
  Total liabilities and deferred revenue...................................................................     17,557      17,557
  Total stockholders' equity...............................................................................     33,393      69,743
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
   
        YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS AND ALL OTHER
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS BEFORE PURCHASING OUR COMMON STOCK.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING RISKS COULD MATERIALLY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, OPERATING
RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION AND COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF YOUR
INVESTMENT.
    
 
   
THERE ARE MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING SOME BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THAT MAY CAUSE
  FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
    
 
        Our quarterly operating results have varied greatly in the past and may
vary greatly in the future depending upon a number of factors, including many
that are beyond our control. As a result, we believe that quarter-to-quarter
comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily meaningful, and you
should not rely on them as an indication of our future performance. Factors that
may materially affect our quarterly operating results include the following, as
well as others discussed in this prospectus:
 
        - The size, timing and contractual terms of large orders for our
          software products
 
        - The budgeting cycles of our customers and potential customers and
          their willingness to invest in new SCM solutions or upgrade their
          existing solutions
 
        - Market demand for our software products and services, including our
          desktop products that are currently under development
 
        - Our ability to develop and introduce on a timely basis and to market
          new and enhanced versions of our software, including our desktop
          products currently under development
 
        - Seasonal trends in customer purchasing patterns
 
        - Activities by our competitors, including releases of new software
          products, changes in pricing policies and acquisitions or strategic
          partnership activities
 
        - Any downturn in our customers' businesses, in the domestic economy or
          in international economies where our customers do substantial business
 
   
        - Changes in the mix of software products and services sold by us,
          including the mix between higher margin software products and lower
          margin maintenance and services and the percentage of software
          products sold which require us to pay a sublicense fee to a third
          party
    
 
        - Our ability to hire, integrate and retain technical, sales, marketing
          and professional services personnel
 
        - Risks associated with our planned international expansion, including
          longer sale cycles and currency fluctuations
 
        - Changes in our pricing policies resulting from competitive pressures
          or other factors
 
        - Cancellation of maintenance agreements by customers or any significant
          decrease in the percentage of customers who renew their maintenance
          agreements with us
 
        - Software defects and other product quality problems
 
   
        Our software license revenue in any quarter depends on orders booked and
shipped in the last month, weeks or days of that quarter. At the end of each
quarter, we typically have either minimal or no backlog of orders for the
subsequent quarter. If a large number of orders or several large orders do not
occur or are deferred, our revenue in that quarter could be substantially
reduced. This would materially adversely affect our operating results and could
impair our business in future periods. Because we do not know when, or if, our
potential customers will place orders and finalize contracts, we cannot
accurately predict our revenue and operating results for future quarters.
    
 
        Any of the factors described above could have a material adverse effect
on our business and results of operations.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
   
SEASONAL TRENDS IN SALES OF OUR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS MAY AFFECT OUR QUARTERLY
  OPERATING RESULTS
    
 
        We have experienced and expect to continue to experience seasonality in
sales of our software products. These seasonal trends materially affect our
quarter-to-quarter operating results. Revenue and operating results in our
quarter ending January 31 are typically higher relative to our other quarters,
because many customers make purchase decisions based on their calendar year-end
budgeting requirements. In addition, our January quarter tends to reflect the
effect of the incentive compensation structure for our sales organization, which
is based on satisfaction of fiscal year-end quotas. As a result, we have
historically experienced a substantial decline in revenue in the first quarter
of each fiscal year relative to the preceding quarter. We are also currently
attempting to expand our presence in international markets, particularly in
Europe. We expect our quarter ending October 31 to reflect the effects of summer
slowing of international business activity and spending activity generally
associated with that time of year, particularly in Europe. To the extent that
our revenue in Europe or other parts of the world increase in future periods, we
expect our period-to-period revenues to reflect any seasonal buying patterns in
these markets.
 
   
WE EXPECT THAT OUR OPERATING EXPENSES WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FUTURE
  AND THESE INCREASED EXPENSES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS
  AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
    
 
        Although SERENA has been profitable in recent years, we may not remain
profitable on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. We anticipate that our
expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as we:
 
        - Increase our sales and marketing activities, including expanding our
          United States and international direct sales forces and extending our
          telesales efforts
 
        - Develop our technology, including our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP suite of SCM
          products for the desktop platform
 
        - Broaden our professional services offerings and delivery capabilities
 
        - Expand our distribution channels
 
        - Pursue strategic relationships and acquisitions
 
   
        With these additional expenses, in order to maintain our current levels
of profitability, we will be required to increase our revenue correspondingly.
Any failure to significantly increase our revenue as we implement our product,
service and distribution strategies would materially adversely affect our
business, operating results and financial condition. Although our revenue has
grown in recent years, we do not believe that we will maintain this rate of
revenue growth. In addition, we may not experience any revenue growth in the
future, and our revenue could in fact decline. Our efforts to expand our
software product suites, sales and marketing activities, direct and indirect
distribution channels and professional service offerings and to pursue strategic
relationships or acquisitions may not succeed or may prove more expensive than
we currently anticipate. As a result, we cannot predict our future operating
results with any degree of certainty.
    
 
   
OUR FUTURE REVENUE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DEPENDENT UPON OUR INSTALLED CUSTOMER BASE
  RENEWING MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND LICENSING ADDITIONAL
  SERENA SCM PRODUCTS; OUR FUTURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE REVENUE
  IS DEPENDENT ON FUTURE SALES OF OUR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
    
 
   
        We depend on our installed customer base for future revenues from
maintenance renewal fees and licenses of additional SCM products. If our
customers do not purchase additional products or renew their maintenance
agreements this could materially adversely affect our business and future
operating results. The terms of our standard license arrangements provide for a
one-time license fee and a prepayment of one year of software maintenance and
support fees. The maintenance agreements are renewable annually at the option of
the customers and there are no minimum payment obligations or obligations to
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
license additional software. Therefore, our current customers may not
necessarily generate significant maintenance revenue in future periods. In
addition, our customers may not necessarily purchase additional products,
upgrades or professional services. Our professional service revenue and
maintenance revenue are also dependent upon the continued use of these services
by our installed customer base. Any downturn in our software license revenue
would have a negative impact on the growth of our professional service revenue
and maintenance revenue in future quarters.
 
   
WE HAVE RELIED AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO RELY ON SALES OF OUR FULL.CYCLE
  MAINFRAME PRODUCTS FOR OUR REVENUE
    
 
   
        Historically, all of our software license revenue has resulted from the
sale of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products. Any factors adversely affecting the
pricing of, demand for or market acceptance of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME
products, such as competition or technological change, could materially
adversely affect our business and operating results. In particular, CHANGE MAN
and COMPAREX, two of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products, have been responsible
for a substantial majority of our revenue. In fiscal 1997, 1998 and the nine
months ended October 31, 1998, sales of CHANGE MAN and COMPAREX together
accounted for approximately 72%, 82% and 71% of our software license revenue,
respectively. We expect that these products will continue to account for a large
portion of our software license revenue for the foreseeable future. Our future
operating results depend on the continued market acceptance of our FULL.CYCLE
MAINFRAME products, including future enhancements.
    
 
   
IF THE SCM MARKET DOES NOT EVOLVE AS WE ANTICIPATE, OUR BUSINESS WILL BE
  ADVERSELY AFFECTED
    
 
   
        If we fail to properly assess and address the SCM market or if our
products and services fail to achieve market acceptance for any reason, our
business and operating results would be materially adversely affected. The SCM
market is in an early stage of development. IT organizations have traditionally
addressed SCM needs internally and have only recently become aware of the
benefits of third-party SCM solutions as their SCM requirements have become more
complex. Since the market for our products is still evolving, it is difficult to
assess the competitive environment or the size of the market that may develop.
Our future financial performance will depend in large part on the continued
growth in the number of businesses adopting third-party SCM products and the
expansion of their use on a company-wide basis. The SCM market for third-party
products may grow more slowly than we anticipate. In addition, technologies,
customer requirements and industry standards may change rapidly. If we cannot
improve or augment our products as rapidly as existing technologies, customer
requirements and industry standards evolve, our products or services could
become obsolete. The introduction of new or technologically superior products by
competitors could also make our products less competitive or obsolete. As a
result of any of these factors, our position in existing markets or potential
markets could be eroded.
    
 
   
OUR BUSINESS IS DEPENDENT ON THE CONTINUED MARKET FOR IBM AND IBM-COMPATIBLE
  MAINFRAMES
    
 
   
        We are substantially dependent upon the continued use and acceptance of
IBM and IBM-compatible mainframes and growth of this market. If the role of the
mainframe does not increase as we anticipate, or if it in any way decreases,
this would materially adversely affect our business, future operating results
and financial condition. Additionally, if there is a wide acceptance of other
platforms or if new platforms emerge that provide enhanced enterprise server
capabilities, our business and future operating results may be materially
adversely affected. All of our software license revenue to date has been
attributable to sales of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products. We expect that, for
the foreseeable future, substantially all of our software license revenue will
continue to come from sales of our mainframe products. As a result, future sales
of our existing products and associated maintenance revenue and professional
service revenue will depend on continued use of mainframes. Recently there has
been a trend away from the use of centralized mainframes in enterprise computing
environments to more decentralized client/server networks. Although some IT
organizations are using mainframes as large enterprise servers, this practice is
relatively new and still emerging and may not continue.
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
   
OUR INTRODUCTION OF SERENA SCM PRODUCTS FOR THE DESKTOP MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL
    
 
   
        We are currently developing our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite that is
designed to support the desktop platform. If we do not successfully develop,
market, sell and support our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products, this would materially
adversely affect our business and our future operating results. Historically,
all of our products have been designed for the mainframe platform, and all of
our software license revenue, maintenance revenue and professional services
revenue to date have been attributable to licenses for these mainframe products.
We do not have experience developing, marketing, selling or supporting desktop
products. Developing, marketing and selling our desktop products will require
significant resources that we may not have. Our sales and marketing
organizations have historically focused exclusively on sales of our products for
the mainframe and have limited experience marketing and selling desktop
products. Additionally, we do not have any experience in providing support
services for desktop products. Competition for experienced software engineers,
sales personnel, and support staff is intense and if we fail to attract
qualified personnel this would impair our ability to support our FULL.CYCLE
DESKTOP products. Many of our competitors have substantially greater experience
providing desktop compatible software products, and many also have significantly
greater financial and organizational resources than we do.
    
 
   
WE MAY EXPERIENCE DELAYS IN DEVELOPING OUR PRODUCTS WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT
  OUR BUSINESS
    
 
   
        If we are unable, for technological or other reasons, to develop and
introduce new and improved products in a timely manner, this could materially
adversely affect our business and future operating results. We have experienced
product development delays in new version and update releases in the past and
may experience similar or more significant product delays in the future. To
date, none of these delays has materially affected our business. Difficulties in
product development could delay or prevent the successful introduction or
marketing of new or improved products or the delivery of new versions of our
products to our customers. In particular, we may experience delays in
introducing our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite. While we anticipate releasing
initial versions of our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products, other than Detect and
Resolve which we released in December 1998, before the end of calendar 1999. Any
delay in releasing our new desktop products, for whatever reason, would impair
our revenue growth.
    
 
   
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN OUR BUSINESS IN RECENT PERIODS AND OUR
  ABILITY TO MANAGE THIS GROWTH AND ANY FUTURE GROWTH WILL AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
    
 
   
        Our ability to compete effectively and to manage our recent growth, any
future growth and our future operating results will depend in part on our
ability to implement and expand operational, customer support and financial
control systems and to train and manage our employees. We may not be able to
augment or improve existing systems and controls or implement new systems and
controls in response to future growth, if any. Any failure to manage growth
could materially adversely affect our business. Our business has grown
substantially in recent periods, with total revenue increasing from $17.5
million in fiscal 1997 to $32.1 million in fiscal 1998 and from $20.5 million in
the nine months ended October 31, 1997 to $31.1 million for the nine months
ended October 31, 1998. In connection with this revenue growth, beginning in
fiscal 1998 and continuing in fiscal 1999, we began a strategic expansion of our
sales, marketing and professional service activities. This expansion included
our September 1998 acquisition of Optima which significantly increased the size
of our sales, marketing and professional service organizations. This growth has
resulted, and any future growth will result, in new and increased
responsibilities for management personnel.
    
 
   
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE OPTIMA INTO OUR BUSINESS
    
 
        Our acquisition of Optima, which was completed in September 1998, will
require integrating the businesses and operations of the two companies. Prior to
the acquisition, Optima had been the primary
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
   
distributor of the CHANGE MAN product for over ten years. As a result, Optima
was responsible for a substantial portion of our software license revenues. If
we do not successfully integrate Optima into our business, this may materially
adversely affect our business, in particular our ability to sell CHANGE MAN to
prospective customers, and future operating results. Additionally, we may never
achieve the anticipated synergies from the acquisition of Optima, including
marketing, distribution or other operational benefits. Integrating Optima into
our existing business may prove difficult given that the two companies are
geographically separated, have different corporate cultures and have personnel
with different business backgrounds. Potential problems with this integration
could include:
    
 
        - The inability to retain a sufficient number of Optima's key employees,
          including its existing sales force and professional service personnel
 
        - Difficulties in standardizing sales quotas, territories and incentive
          compensation plans for sales personnel
 
        - The lack of focus on achieving our core business objectives if
          management pays excessive attention to the integration process
 
        - Impairment of relationships with clients and employees
 
   
WE WILL NEED TO EXPAND OUR DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS IN ORDER TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS
  AND A NUMBER OF FACTORS MAY HINDER OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL
    
 
   
        If we fail to significantly expand our direct sales and telesales force,
our ability to sell our products into new markets and to increase our product
penetration into our existing markets will be impaired. Failure to expand our
distribution channels through any of these means could materially adversely
affect our business and our future operating results. In addition, our ability
to achieve revenue growth in future periods will be heavily dependent on our
ability to integrate Optima's direct sales force with our business and on our
success in recruiting and training sufficient direct sales personnel.
Historically, we have had a relatively small direct sales staff and Optima
served as our primary distribution channel for CHANGE MAN. We are planning to
significantly expand our direct sales efforts in North America and Europe and
while we are investing, and plan to continue to invest, substantial resources on
this expansion, we have at times experienced, and expect to continue to
experience, difficulty in recruiting and retaining qualified direct sales
personnel. In addition to expanding our direct sales efforts, we are also
currently investing, and we intend to continue to invest, substantial resources
in selling our products through telesales personnel. We also intend to extend
our distribution channels by partnering with leading helpdesk management,
software distribution application and system framework providers and may also
attempt to develop additional sales and marketing channels through system
integrators, original equipment manufacturers and other partners.
    
 
   
WE WILL NEED TO EXPAND OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO EXPAND
  OUR BUSINESS AND A NUMBER OF FACTORS MAY HINDER OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
  GOAL
    
 
   
        Our existing professional services and customer support organizations
may not be sufficient to manage any future growth in our business. The failure
to expand our professional services and customer support organizations or to
integrate Optima's professional services personnel into our professional
services organization could materially adversely affect our business. While we
intend to significantly expand our professional services and customer support
organizations, including providing these services for both desktop and mainframe
applications and systems, we may not be able to do so. Competition for
additional qualified technical personnel to perform these services is intense.
    
 
   
        We believe that providing high quality consulting, training, customer
support and education is essential to maintaining our competitive position. If
we are unable to provide comprehensive consulting and support services to our
existing and prospective customers, this may materially adversely affect our
business and ability to sell our products. Consulting services and customer
support are critical to our
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
future success because the market for third party SCM solutions is still
evolving, and many organizations have limited experience using third party SCM
solutions. Customers have only recently begun to look to third party providers
for SCM solutions as the complexity of computer networks and number of
applications has increased.
 
   
WE INTEND TO EXPAND OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND MAY ENCOUNTER A NUMBER OF
  PROBLEMS IN DOING SO; THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH
  INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
    
 
        EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  We intend to expand the scope of
our international operations and currently have subsidiaries in the United
Kingdom and in Germany. If we are unable to expand our international operations
successfully and in a timely manner, this could materially adversely affect our
business and operating results. Our continued growth and profitability will
require continued expansion of our international operations, particularly in
Europe. In addition, in calendar 1999, we intend to open additional
international offices, including at least one additional European office. We
have only limited experience in marketing, selling and supporting our products
internationally. Additionally, we do not have any experience in developing
foreign language versions of our products. Such development may be more
difficult or take longer than we anticipate. We may not be able to successfully
market, sell, deliver and support our products internationally.
 
        RISKS OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  International sales represented
approximately 15% of our total revenue in both fiscal 1997 and 1998 and
approximately 19% of total revenue for the nine months ended October 31, 1998.
Our international revenue is attributable principally to our European
operations. Our international operations are, and any expanded international
operations will be, subject to a variety of risks associated with conducting
business internationally that could materially adversely affect our business,
including the following:
 
   
    - Difficulties in staffing and managing international operations
    
 
   
    - Problems in collecting accounts receivable
    
 
   
    - Longer payment cycles
    
 
   
    - Fluctuations in currency exchange rates
    
 
   
    - Seasonal reductions in business activity
      during the summer months in Europe
      and certain other parts of the world
    
 
   
    - Recessionary environments in foreign economies
    
 
   
    - Increases in tariffs, duties, price controls
      or other restrictions on foreign currencies
      or trade barriers imposed by foreign
      countries
    
 
   
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE VALUE OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES COULD RESULT IN CURRENCY
  TRANSACTION LOSSES FOR SERENA
    
 
        A majority of our international business is conducted in foreign
currencies, principally the British pound. Fluctuations in the value of foreign
currencies relative to the U.S. dollar have caused and will continue to cause
currency transaction gains and losses. We cannot predict the effect of exchange
rate fluctuations upon future operating results. We may experience currency
losses in the future. To date, we have not adopted a hedging program to protect
SERENA from risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations.
 
   
SERENA IS SUBJECT TO INTENSE COMPETITION IN THE SCM INDUSTRY AND WE EXPECT TO
  FACE INCREASED COMPETITION IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING COMPETITION IN THE SCM
  DESKTOP MARKET
    
 
   
        We may not be able to compete successfully against current and/or future
competitors and such inability would materially adversely affect our business,
operating results and financial condition. The market for our products is highly
competitive and diverse. Moreover, the technology for SCM products
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
   
may change rapidly. New products are frequently introduced, and existing
products are continually enhanced. Competitors vary in size and in the scope and
breadth of the products and services that they offer. Many of our current and
potential competitors have greater financial, technical, marketing and other
resources than we do. As a result, they may be able to respond more quickly to
new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements. They may also
be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of
their products than we can.
    
 
   
        EXISTING COMPETITION.  We currently face competition from a number of
sources, including:
    
 
        - Customers' internal IT departments
 
        - Providers of SCM products that compete directly with CHANGE MAN and
          COMPAREX such as Computer Associates, PLATINUM technology, IBM and
          smaller private companies
 
        - Providers of SCM application development programmer productivity and
          system management products such as Compuware, IBM and smaller private
          companies
 
   
        FUTURE COMPETITION.  We may face competition in the future from
established companies who have not previously entered the mainframe SCM market
or from emerging software companies. Barriers to entry in the software market
are relatively low. Increased competition may materially adversely affect our
business due to price reductions, reduced gross margins and reduction in market
share. Established companies may not only develop their own mainframe SCM
solutions, but they may also acquire or establish cooperative relationships with
our current competitors, including cooperative relationships between large,
established companies and smaller private companies. Because larger companies
have significant financial and organizational resources available, they may be
able to quickly penetrate the mainframe SCM market through acquisitions or
strategic relationships and may be able to leverage the technology and expertise
of smaller companies and develop successful SCM products for the mainframe. We
expect that the software industry, in general, and providers of SCM solutions,
in particular, will continue to consolidate. It is possible that new competitors
or alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market
share.
    
 
        BUNDLING OR COMPATIBILITY RISKS.  Our ability to sell our products also
depends, in part, on the compatibility of our products with other third party
products, particularly those provided by IBM. Developers of these third party
products may change their products so that they will no longer be compatible
with our products. These third party developers may also decide to bundle their
products with other SCM products for promotional purposes. If that were to
happen, our business and future operating results may be materially adversely
affected as we may be priced out of the market or no longer be able to offer
commercially viable products.
 
        COMPETITION IN THE DESKTOP SCM MARKET.  We anticipate that we will also
face significant competition as we develop, market and sell our FULL.CYCLE
DESKTOP products. If we are unable to successfully penetrate the desktop SCM
market, our business and future operating results will be materially adversely
affected. We do not have experience in developing, selling, marketing or
supporting desktop products since all of our products to date have been designed
to support the mainframe. Penetrating the existing desktop SCM market will be
difficult. Competitors in the desktop market include PLATINUM technology, Micro
Focus/INTERSOLV, Microsoft, Novadigm, Novell, Rational Software and other
smaller private companies.
 
   
REDUCED CUSTOMER FOCUS AND SPENDING ON YEAR 2000 REMEDIATION AND EMU CONVERSION
  COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SALES OF CERTAIN OF OUR PRODUCTS; CUSTOMER USE OF
  OUR PRODUCTS FOR YEAR 2000 AND EMU ISSUES MAY NOT LEAD TO INCREASED SALES OF
  OUR OTHER PRODUCTS
    
 
   
        Our business may be adversely affected if customers focus less on Year
2000 remediation and European Monetary Unit, or EMU, conversion issues and sales
of our STARWARP and COMPAREX products decline as a result. We have derived a
portion of our recent software license revenue and professional services revenue
from products designed to help customers resolve SCM problems for specific
business
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
   
issues such as those related to Year 2000 remediation and EMU conversion. Our
STARWARP product, which is our primary Year 2000 and EMU readiness product,
accounted for 7% of our software license revenue for the nine months ended
October 31, 1998, although it did not account for any software license revenue
in fiscal 1998. Certain customers have also licensed COMPAREX to assist them in
testing Year 2000 remediations and EMU conversions.
    
 
        Market acceptance of our products and services will depend, in large
part, on whether customers use our products as part of their overall IT
management strategy in addition to using them to resolve SCM problems related to
specific business issues. Market acceptance of our products to address general
IT business needs as well as to resolve specific business issues, such as Year
2000 remediation or EMU conversion, is critical to our business and future
success. If customers do not expand their use of our products, implement new
software products introduced by us or do not use our related maintenance and
support services to address their general IT business requirements as well as
specific issues, this will materially adversely affect our business and our
ability to sell our products.
 
   
ANY DELAYS IN OUR NORMALLY LENGTHY SALES CYCLES COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT
  FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
    
 
        Our sales cycle typically takes six to 18 months to complete and varies
from product to product. Any delay in the sales cycle of a large license or a
number of smaller licenses could result in significant fluctuations in our
quarterly operating results. The length of the sales cycle may vary depending on
a number of factors over which we may have little or no control, including the
size of a potential transaction and the level of competition that we encounter
in our selling activities. Additionally, the emerging market for SCM products
and services contributes to the lengthy sales process in that during the sales
cycle we often have to teach potential customers about the use and benefits of
our products. In certain circumstances, we license our software to customers on
a trial basis to assist the customers in their evaluation of our products. Our
sales cycle can be further extended for product sales made through third party
distributors.
 
   
CERTAIN OF OUR PRODUCTS ARE LICENSED FROM THIRD PARTIES OR ARE JOINTLY-OWNED
  WITH THIRD PARTIES; OUR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THESE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THIRD
  PARTIES COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
    
 
   
        STARTOOL AND STARWARP.  We license our STARTOOL and STARWARP products on
an exclusive worldwide basis from A. Bruce Leland, one of our employees. The
termination of our licenses for the STARTOOL or STARWARP products would
materially adversely affect our business and operating results. Mr. Leland holds
all proprietary rights with respect to the STARTOOL and STARWARP technology,
including any derivative works or enhancements of the existing STARTOOL and
STARWARP products. Our licenses for these products are terminable by Mr. Leland
upon 30 days notice in the event certain conditions occur, including our failure
to pay sublicense fees to Mr. Leland on a timely basis or any other material
breach by us of the license agreement. Should the licenses for the STARTOOL and
STARWARP products terminate, we may not be able to replace these products which
could materially adversely affect our business and future operating results.
Licenses of STARTOOL accounted for 12% of our software license revenue for
fiscal 1998 and the nine months ended October 31, 1998. Licenses of STARWARP
accounted for 7% of our software license revenue for the nine months ended
October 31, 1998, but did not account for any software license revenue in fiscal
1998. For a description of our license agreements for the STARTOOL and STARWARP
products, see "Business-- Intellectual Property."
    
 
   
        SYNCTRAC.  We share ownership rights in our SYNCTRAC technology for
mainframe platforms with High Power Software. Although we have historically had
primary responsibility for marketing, licensing and supporting SYNCTRAC, High
Power Software has the ability to jointly direct these efforts. If in the future
we are unable to reach agreement with High Power Software on the direction or
evolution of the product, our ability to market or promote the product may be
compromised. This could have a material adverse effect on our business and
future operating results. Sales of SYNCTRAC accounted for 3% of our
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
software license revenue in fiscal 1998 and 5% of our software license revenue
in the nine months ended October 31, 1998. For a description of rights
associated with our joint ownership of the SYNCTRAC technology for the mainframe
see "Business--Intellectual Property."
 
   
OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CERTAIN KEY PERSONNEL ARE CRITICAL TO OUR BUSINESS
  AND SUCH OFFICERS AND KEY PERSONNEL MAY NOT REMAIN WITH SERENA IN THE FUTURE
    
 
   
        Our success will depend to a significant extent on the continued service
of our senior executives and certain other key employees, including certain
sales, consulting, technical and marketing personnel. If we lost the services of
one or more of our executives or key employees, including if one or more of our
executives or key employees decided to join a competitor or otherwise compete
directly or indirectly with SERENA, this could materially adversely affect our
business. In particular, we have historically relied on the experience and
dedication of our product authors. With the exception of Douglas D. Troxel,
SERENA's founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of SERENA's board of
directors, the employment of all of our senior and key employees, including key
product authors, is at will. Mr. Troxel's employment is on a year-to-year basis.
In addition, we do not maintain key man life insurance on our employees and have
no plans to do so.
    
 
   
OUR NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY WORK TOGETHER TO MEET OUR
  BUSINESS OBJECTIVES, WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
    
 
        Almost all of our executive officers, including our President and Chief
Executive Officer, our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and
certain other operating vice presidents have been employed by the Company for a
relatively short period of time. In addition, both of our non-employee directors
have been appointed to the board of directors since the beginning of February
1998. Since joining SERENA, the new management team has devoted substantial
efforts to significantly expanding our sales, marketing and professional
services activities. This management team has not worked together previously and
may not be able to successfully implement this strategy. The failure of the
management team to address SERENA's business objectives would materially
adversely affect our business and our future operating results.
 
   
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE PERSONNEL WE NEED TO SUCCEED
    
 
   
        Our future success will likely depend in large part on our ability to
attract and retain additional experienced sales, technical, marketing and
management personnel. In addition, we will need to attract and retain sufficient
numbers of qualified software engineers, as well as sales and marketing and
support personnel, and successfully develop, market and support our FULL.CYCLE
DESKTOP product suite which is currently in development. Competition for such
personnel in the computer software industry is intense, and in the past we have
experienced difficulty in recruiting qualified personnel, especially developers
and sales personnel. We expect competition for qualified personnel to remain
intense, and we may not succeed in attracting or retaining such personnel. If we
do not, this could materially adversely affect our business. In addition, new
employees generally require substantial training in the use of our products.
This training will require substantial resources and management attention.
    
 
        INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  We intend to expand the scope of our
international operations and these plans will require us to attract experienced
management, service, marketing, sales and support personnel for our
international offices. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not
be able to attract or retain such experienced personnel.
 
        NON-U.S. CITIZENS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.  To achieve our business
objectives, we may recruit and employ skilled technical professionals from other
countries to work in the United States. Limitations imposed by federal
immigration laws and the availability of visas could materially adversely affect
our ability to attract necessary qualified personnel. This may have a material
adverse effect on our business and future operating results.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
   
SERENA'S OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS CONTROL A MAJORITY OF OUR STOCK AND WILL BE ABLE
  TO CONTROL MATTERS REQUIRING STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
    
 
   
        The ability of SERENA's officers and directors to prevent a potential
change of control event may discourage potential bids to acquire SERENA unless
the terms of acquisition are approved by these officers and directors. Upon
completion of this offering, SERENA's officers, directors and persons or
entities directly related to these individuals will together beneficially own
approximately 65.2% of the outstanding shares of SERENA. In particular, Douglas
D. Troxel, SERENA's founder, the Chairman of SERENA's board of directors and
SERENA's Chief Technology Officer, will own approximately 57.4% of the
outstanding shares. As a result, Mr. Troxel, in particular, and SERENA's
officers and directors, in general, will be able to control most matters
requiring stockholder approval. These matters would include the election of
SERENA directors and any approval of potential mergers, consolidations or sales
of all or substantially all of the assets of SERENA.
    
 
   
POTENTIAL YEAR 2000 PROBLEMS WITH OUR SOFTWARE OR OUR INTERNAL OPERATING SYSTEMS
  COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS AS COULD CUSTOMER BUYING PATTERNS RELATED
  TO YEAR 2000 ISSUES
    
 
   
        SERENA SOFTWARE.  If any of our licensees experience Year 2000 problems
as a result of their use of our software products, those licensees could assert
claims for damages which, if successful, could materially adversely affect our
business, future operating results and financial condition. In the ordinary
course of our business, we test and evaluate our software products. We believe
that our software products are generally Year 2000 compliant, meaning that the
use or occurrence of dates on or after January 1, 2000 will not materially
affect the performance of our software products or the ability of our products
to correctly create, store, process and output information of data involving
dates. However, we may learn that certain of our software products do not
contain all necessary software routines and codes necessary for the accurate
calculation, display, storage and manipulation of data involving dates. In
addition, in certain cases, we have warranted that the use or occurrence of
dates on or after January 1, 2000 will not adversely affect the performance of
our products with respect to four digit date dependent data or the ability to
create, store, process and output information related to such data.
    
 
   
        THIRD PARTY EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE. We use third party equipment and
software that may not be Year 2000 compliant. If this third party equipment or
software does not operate properly with regard to the Year 2000, we may incur
unexpected expenses to remedy any problems. These costs may materially adversely
affect our business. In addition, if our key systems, or a significant number of
our systems, failed as a result of Year 2000 problems we could incur substantial
costs and disruption of our business.
    
 
   
        CUSTOMER BUYING PATTERNS. In addition, the purchasing patterns of our
customers and potential customers may be affected by Year 2000 issues. Many
companies are spending significant resources to correct their current software
systems for Year 2000 compliance. While sales of certain of our products, in
particular STARWARP and COMPAREX, have benefited from increased customer
spending on Year 2000 readiness, we believe sales of our CHANGE MAN product have
been and will continue to be adversely affected by customer focus on Year 2000
issues. Customers with limited IT budgets who face material Year 2000 issues are
spending their limited resources remediating these Year 2000 problems instead of
investing in more general IT products, such as CHANGE MAN.
    
 
        For a more detailed description of our Year 2000 preparedness
assessment, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations--Year 2000 Compliance."
 
   
OUR INDUSTRY CHANGES RAPIDLY DUE TO EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS AND OUR FUTURE
  SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE SOPHISTICATED NEEDS
  OF OUR CUSTOMERS
    
 
        Our future success will depend on our ability to address the
increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers by supporting existing and
emerging hardware, software, database and networking platforms. We will have to
develop and introduce enhancements to our existing products and new products on
a timely basis to keep pace with technological developments, evolving industry
standards and changing
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
   
customer requirements. We expect that we will have to respond quickly to rapid
technological change, changing customer needs, frequent new product
introductions and evolving industry standards that may render existing products
and services obsolete. As a result, our position in existing markets or
potential markets could be eroded rapidly by product advances. The life cycles
of our products are difficult to estimate. Our growth and future financial
performance will depend in part upon our ability to enhance existing
applications, develop and introduce new applications that keep pace with
technological advances, meet changing customer requirements and respond to
competitive products. We expect that our product development efforts will
continue to require substantial investments. We may not have sufficient
resources to make the necessary investments. Any of these events could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
    
 
   
WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS WHICH OFFER ONLY LIMITED
  PROTECTION AGAINST POTENTIAL INFRINGERS
    
 
   
        Our success will be heavily dependent upon proprietary technology. We
rely primarily on a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, trade
secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our
proprietary rights. These means of protecting our proprietary rights may not be
adequate. We submitted four patent applications for our technology in 1998, and
each of these applications is still pending. These patents may never be issued.
Even if these patents are issued, they may not provide sufficiently broad
protection or they may not prove enforceable in actions against alleged
infringers. Despite precautions that we take, it may be possible for
unauthorized third parties to copy aspects of our current or future products or
to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. In particular, we
may provide our licensees with access to our data model and other proprietary
information underlying our licensed applications. Additionally, our competitors
may independently develop similar or superior technology. Policing unauthorized
use of software is difficult and some foreign laws do not protect our
proprietary rights to the same extent as United States laws. Litigation may be
necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect
our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary
rights of others. Litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of
resources and could materially adversely affect our business, future operating
results and financial condition.
    
 
   
THIRD PARTIES IN THE FUTURE COULD ASSERT THAT OUR PRODUCTS INFRINGE THEIR
  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS; THERE
  COULD BE POTENTIAL ADVERSE AFFECTS OF THE PENDING COMPUWARE CLAIM
    
 
   
        Third parties may claim that our current or future products infringe
their proprietary rights. Any claims of this type could affect our relationships
with existing customers and may prevent future customers from licensing our
products. Because we are dependent upon a limited number of products, any such
claims with or without merit, could be time consuming, result in costly
litigation, cause product shipment delays or require us to enter into royalty or
licensing agreements. Royalty or license agreements may not be available on
acceptable terms or at all. We expect that software product developers will
increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products and
competitors in the software industry segment grows and the functionality of
products in different industry segments overlaps. As a result of these factors,
infringement claims could materially adversely affect our business.
    
 
        In September 1998, Compuware Corporation, or Compuware, filed suit
against SERENA in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan seeking unspecified compensatory damages, costs and attorneys fees, and
injunctive relief based on allegations of copyright infringement, trade secret
misappropriation and various tort claims related to the sale of our STARTOOL and
STARWARP products. Compuware served the complaint on SERENA on November 18,
1998. Due to the nature of litigation generally and because the lawsuit brought
by Compuware is at an early stage, management cannot ascertain the availability
of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies or estimate the total expenses,
possible damages or settlement value, if any, that may ultimately be incurred in
connection with Compuware's suit. However, management believes, based on the
advice of counsel, that SERENA has meritorious defenses to
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
   
the allegations contained in Compuware's complaint. We believe that this matter
will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or
financial condition. This litigation could be time consuming and costly, and
there can be no assurance that SERENA will necessarily prevail given the
inherent uncertainties of litigation. In the event that we do not prevail in
litigation, we could be prevented from selling our STARTOOL and STARWARP
products or be required to enter into royalty or licensing agreements or pay
monetary damages. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be
available on terms acceptable to SERENA or at all. In the event of a successful
claim against us, our business, future operating results or financial condition
could be materially adversely affected.
    
 
   
ERRORS IN OUR PRODUCTS OR THE FAILURE OF OUR PRODUCTS TO CONFORM TO
  SPECIFICATIONS COULD RESULT IN OUR CUSTOMERS DEMANDING REFUNDS FROM US OR
  ASSERTING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST US
    
 
        Because our software products are complex, they often contain errors or
"bugs" that can be detected at any point in a product's life cycle. While we
continually test our products for errors and work with customers through our
customer support services to identify and correct bugs in our software, we
expect that errors in our products will continue to be found in the future.
Although many of these errors may prove to be immaterial, certain of these
errors could be significant. Detection of any significant errors may result in,
among other things, loss of, or delay in, market acceptance and sales of our
products, diversion of development resources, injury to our reputation, or
increased service and warranty costs. In the past we have discovered errors in
certain of our products and have experienced delays in shipment of our products
during the period required to correct these errors. These delays have
principally related to new version and product update releases. To date none of
these delays have materially affected our business. However, product errors or
delays in the future, including any product errors or delays associated with the
introduction of our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products could be material. In addition,
in certain cases we have warranted that our products will operate in accordance
with specified customer requirements. If our products fail to conform to such
specifications, customers could demand a refund for the software license fee
paid to us or assert claims for damages.
 
   
PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST US IN THE FUTURE COULD ADVERSELY
  AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
    
 
   
        We may be subject to claims for damages related to product errors in the
future. While we carry insurance policies covering this type of liability, these
policies may not provide sufficient protection should a claim be asserted. A
material product liability claim could materially adversely affect our business.
Our license agreements with our customers typically contain provisions designed
to limit exposure to potential product liability claims. SERENA's standard
software licenses provide that if our products fail to perform, we will correct
or replace such products. If these corrective measures fail, we may be required
to refund the license fee for such non-performing product. However, our standard
license agreement limits our liability for non-performing products to the amount
of license fee paid, if the license has been in effect for less than one year,
or to the amount of the licensee's current annual maintenance fee, if the
license is more than one year old. Our standard license also provides that
SERENA shall not be liable for indirect or consequential damages caused by the
failure of our products. Such limitation of liability provisions may, however,
not be effective under the laws of certain jurisdictions to the extent local
laws treat certain warranty exclusions as unenforceable. Although we have not
experienced any product liability claims to date, the sale and support of our
products entail the risk of such claims. In particular, issues relating to Year
2000 compliance have increased awareness of the potential adverse effects of
software defects and malfunctions.
    
 
   
ANY ACQUISITIONS OR INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAY MAKE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF
  FACTORS WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS; SUCH INVESTMENTS OR
  ACQUISITIONS MAY DILUTE EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS
    
 
        In the future we may make acquisitions of, or large investments in,
businesses that offer products, services and technologies that we believe would
help us better provide SCM products and services
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
or help us expand our distribution channels. However, we may not be able to
complete any such additional acquisitions in the future. Any future acquisitions
or investments would present risks commonly encountered in acquisitions of
businesses. The following are examples of such risks:
 
        - Difficulty in combining the technology, operations or work force of
          the acquired business
 
        - Disruption of SERENA's on-going businesses
 
        - Difficulty in realizing the potential financial or strategic benefits
          of the transaction
 
        - Difficulty in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and
          policies
 
        - Possible impairment of relationships with employees and clients as a
          result of any integration of new businesses and management personnel
 
   
        We expect that future acquisitions, if any, could provide for
consideration to be paid in cash, shares of SERENA common stock, or a
combination of cash and SERENA common stock. If the consideration for such
transaction is paid in common stock, this would further dilute existing
stockholders. Any amortization of goodwill or other assets resulting from such
acquisition transaction could materially impair our operating results and
financial condition. If an acquisition or large investment were to take place,
the risks described above could materially adversely affect our business and
future operating results.
    
 
   
OUR UNDESIGNATED PREFERRED STOCK MAY INHIBIT POTENTIAL ACQUISITION BIDS FOR
  SERENA
    
 
        Upon completion of the offering, SERENA's board of directors will have
the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more
series. The board of directors can fix the price, rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions of such preferred stock without any further vote or
action by SERENA's stockholders. However, the issuance of shares of preferred
stock may delay or prevent a change in control transaction without further
action by the SERENA stockholders. As a result, the market price of the SERENA
common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of SERENA common
stock may be adversely affected. The issuance of preferred stock may result in
the loss of voting control to others. SERENA has no current plans to issue any
shares of preferred stock.
 
   
CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN OUR CHARTER DOCUMENTS MAY INHIBIT POTENTIAL ACQUISITION
  BIDS FOR SERENA
    
 
   
        Certain provisions of SERENA's charter documents specify certain
procedures for nominating directors and submitting proposals for consideration
at stockholder meetings. These provisions could discourage potential acquisition
proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control transaction and they
could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for
SERENA's shares. As a result, these provisions may prevent the market price of
SERENA common stock from reflecting the effects of actual or rumored takeover
attempts. These provisions may also prevent changes in the management of SERENA.
    
 
   
DELAWARE LAW MAY INHIBIT POTENTIAL ACQUISITION BIDS FOR SERENA
    
 
   
        Certain provisions of Delaware law may inhibit potential acquisition
bids for SERENA. SERENA is subject to the antitakeover provisions of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, which regulates corporate acquisitions. The
Delaware law prevents certain Delaware corporations, which will include SERENA,
from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a "business combination" with any
"interested stockholder" for three years following the date that such
stockholder became an interested stockholder. For purposes of Delaware law, a
"business combination" includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation
involving SERENA and the interested stockholder and the sale of more than 10% of
SERENA's assets. In general, Delaware law defines an "interested stockholder" as
any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting
stock of a corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling
or controlled by such entity or person. Under Delaware law, a Delaware
corporation may "opt out" of the antitakeover provisions. SERENA does not intend
to "opt out" of these antitakeover provisions of Delaware Law.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
   
THE SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SHARES THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SALE IN THE NEAR
  FUTURE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE FOR SERENA COMMON STOCK
    
 
   
        Sales of a substantial number of shares of SERENA's common stock in the
public market following this offering could materially adversely affect the
market price for SERENA common stock. The number of shares of common stock
available for sale in the public market is limited by restrictions under federal
securities law and under certain agreements that SERENA's stockholders have
entered into with the underwriters. Those agreements restrict SERENA's
stockholders from selling, pledging or otherwise disposing of their shares for a
period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the prior written
consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC. Hambrecht & Quist LLC may, however, in its
sole discretion, release all or any portion of the common stock from the
restrictions of the lockup agreements. However, Hambrecht & Quist LLC has no
current plans to do so.
    
 
        Based on shares of SERENA common stock outstanding as of October 31,
1998, as a result of the restrictions of federal securities law and the
agreements SERENA's stockholders have entered into with the underwriters, no
shares other than the 6,000,000 shares offered hereby will be eligible for sale
on the date of this prospectus. Approximately 16,516,750 of the restricted
shares will become eligible for sale 180 days after the date of this prospectus
when the underwriters' restrictions on selling, pledging or otherwise disposing
shares of common stock are released. In addition to the restricted shares
described above, approximately 1,687,500 shares, all of which were issued in
connection with our September 1998 acquisition of Optima, will become available
for sale in the public market at various times after the 180th day following the
date of this prospectus in accordance with federal securities law. Most of the
restricted shares that will become eligible for sale at the 180th date after the
date of this prospectus or afterward will be subject to certain volume
limitations because they will be held by affiliates of SERENA.
 
   
        A total of 1,896,750 of the shares subject to the underwriters'
restrictions were issued to certain officers and directors of SERENA pursuant to
restricted stock agreements under our 1997 Stock Plan. Of these shares
approximately 782,391 shares will remain subject to stock repurchase rights in
favor of SERENA at the 180th day should such officers or directors terminate
their relationship with SERENA. These repurchase rights will lapse ratably over
time.
    
 
   
        On or prior to the 180th day following the date of this prospectus, we
intend to register under the federal securities laws an additional 4,925,000
shares of common stock previously issued or reserved for issuance under our 1997
Stock Plan, our 1999 Director Option Plan and our 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan. (In this prospectus we refer to these equity incentive plans as the 1997
Plan, the Director Plan and the Purchase Plan as appropriate.) These registered
shares will include the 1,896,750 shares of common stock previously issued to
certain officers and directors of SERENA under restricted stock agreements
pursuant to the 1997 Plan. Of the shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options to be registered, approximately 253,267 shares will be vested and
eligible for sale on the 180th date following the date of this prospectus. In
addition, on the 180th day, 1,114,359 shares issued pursuant to restricted stock
agreements under the 1997 Plan will no longer be subject to repurchase rights in
favor of SERENA under those restricted stock agreements and, accordingly, these
shares will be eligible for resale.
    
 
   
NEW INVESTORS IN SERENA COMMON STOCK WILL EXPERIENCE IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL
  DILUTION
    
 
   
        The initial public offering price is substantially higher than the book
value per share of common stock. Investors purchasing common stock in this
offering will, therefore, incur immediate dilution of $7.94 in net tangible book
value per share of common stock. This dilution figure deducts the estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable
by SERENA from the initial public offering price. Investors will incur
additional dilution upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
    
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
   
OUR STOCK WILL LIKELY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL PRICE AND VOLUME FLUCTUATIONS
  DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS, CERTAIN OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL
    
 
   
        Stock prices and trading volumes for many technology companies fluctuate
widely for reasons which may be unrelated to their businesses or results of
operations. These fluctuations, as well as general economic, market and
political conditions, could materially adversely affect the market price of
SERENA's common stock.
    
 
        Future announcements concerning SERENA or our competitors could cause
the market price of the common stock to fluctuate greatly. These type of
announcements may include information concerning:
 
        - Any shortfall in SERENA's revenues or net income from revenues or net
          income expected by securities analysts
 
        - Announcements of new products by SERENA or our competitors, including
          announcements regarding our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products, currently
          under development
 
        - Quarterly fluctuations in our financial results or the results of
          other software companies, including those of our direct competitors
 
        - Changes in analysts' estimates of our financial performance, the
          financial performance of our competitors, or the financial performance
          of software companies in general
 
   
        - Changes in prices of our products or the products of our competitors
    
 
        - Changes in our revenue growth rates or the growth rates of our
          competitors
 
        - Sales of large blocks of SERENA common stock
 
        - Conditions in the financial markets in general and the software
          industry in particular
 
   
WE WILL HAVE BROAD DISCRETION AS TO USE OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS OFFERING
    
 
   
        SERENA will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from
this offering. Our primary purpose is to create a public market for our common
stock. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not plan to use the proceeds
from this offering other than for working capital and general corporate
purposes. We may also use the proceeds in future strategic acquisitions of, or
investments in, businesses that offer products, services and technologies that
further our ability to provide SCM products and services to businesses or
increase our ability to sell our products and services to new markets. Until the
need arises to use the proceeds, we plan to invest the net proceeds in
investment grade, interest-bearing securities.
    
 
                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
   
        Certain statements under the captions "Prospectus Summary," "Risk
Factors," "Use of Proceeds," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business," and elsewhere in this
prospectus are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements contained in the prospectus
that are not historical facts. When used in this prospectus, the words
"expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates"
and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements, including our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and
other factors discussed under "Risk Factors."
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
        SERENA will receive net proceeds of $36,350,000 from the sale of
4,000,000 shares of common stock (and an additional $8,370,000 from the sale of
900,000 shares if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full)
at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.00 per share after deducting
underwriting commissions and discounts of $2,800,000 (and an additional $630,000
if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) and estimated
expenses of $850,000. SERENA will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
common stock by the selling stockholders.
 
        The principal purpose of this offering is to create a public market for
the common stock of SERENA. We intend to use the proceeds of the offering for
working capital, general corporate purposes and potential strategic investments
or acquisitions that complement our products, services, technologies or
distribution channels. Pending such uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds
of the initial public offering in investment grade interest-bearing securities.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
        SERENA has never declared or paid any cash dividends on shares of its
common stock. We intend to retain any future earnings for future growth and do
not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
        The following table sets forth the capitalization of SERENA at (a)
October 31, 1998, after giving effect to a three-for-two stock split effected in
July 1998 and a three-for-two stock split effected in November 1998 and (b) as
adjusted to give effect to SERENA's receipt of the estimated net proceeds from
the sale of 4,000,000 shares of common stock offered by SERENA at an assumed
initial public offering price of $10.00 per share and the application of the net
proceeds therefrom.
    
 
   
        The outstanding share information includes 1,896,750 shares issued under
restricted stock agreements under the 1997 Plan. The outstanding share
information excludes 2,153,250 shares of common stock that were reserved for
issuance upon exercise of stock options under the 1997 Plan as of October 31,
1998, of which 800,610 options were outstanding at such date at a per share
weighted average exercise price of $3.60. In addition, in connection with this
offering, our board of directors has approved:
    
 
   
    - an increase of 500,000 shares in the number of shares reserved under the
      1997 Plan
    
   
    - a reserve of 150,000 shares for options under the Director Plan
    
 
   
    - a reserve of 225,000 shares for options under the Purchase Plan
    
 
        The capitalization information set forth in the table below is qualified
by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed Consolidated
Financial Statements of SERENA and notes thereto and the Pro Forma Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this
prospectus.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           OCTOBER 31, 1998
                                                                        ----------------------
                                                                         ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                        ---------  -----------
                                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>
Stockholders' equity:
    Preferred Stock: $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no
      shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted...........  $      --   $      --
    Common Stock: $0.001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized;
      20,204,250 issued and outstanding, actual; 24,204,250 shares
      issued and outstanding, as adjusted.............................         20          24
    Additional paid-in capital........................................     25,520      61,866
    Deferred stock-based compensation.................................     (1,445)     (1,445)
    Notes receivable from stockholders................................     (1,922)     (1,922)
    Accumulated other comprehensive losses............................        (19)        (19)
    Retained earnings.................................................     11,239      11,239
                                                                        ---------  -----------
        Total stockholders' equity and capitalization.................  $  33,393   $  69,743
                                                                        ---------  -----------
                                                                        ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
   
        The tangible book value of SERENA as of October 31, 1998 was $13.4
million, or approximately $0.66 per share. Net tangible book value per share
represents the amount of SERENA's total assets less total liabilities, divided
by the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Dilution in net tangible
book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid
by purchasers of shares of common stock in the offering made hereby and the net
tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after the completion
of this offering. After giving effect to the sale of the 4,000,000 shares of
common stock offered by SERENA hereby at an assumed initial public offering
price of $10.00 per share and after deducting the estimated underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by SERENA, the
net tangible book value of SERENA at October 31, 1998 would have been $49.7
million, or approximately $2.06 per share. This represents an immediate increase
in net tangible book value of $1.40 per share to existing stockholders and an
immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $7.94 per share to new
investors of common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this
dilution on a per share basis:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>        <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share......................             $   10.00
    Net tangible book value per share as of October 31, 1998.........  $    0.66
    Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new
      investors......................................................       1.40
                                                                       ---------
Net tangible book value per share after offering.....................                  2.06
                                                                                  ---------
Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors.......             $    7.94
                                                                                  ---------
                                                                                  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
        The following table sets forth, on a pro forma basis as of October 31,
1998, the differences between the number of shares of common stock purchased
from SERENA, the total effective cash consideration paid and the average price
per share paid by existing holders of common stock and by the new investors,
before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses payable by SERENA, at an assumed initial public offering price of
$10.00 per share.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SHARES PURCHASED      TOTAL CONSIDERATION       AVERAGE
                                 --------------------  -----------------------      PRICE
                                  NUMBER     PERCENT     AMOUNT      PERCENT      PER SHARE
                                 ---------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -------------
<S>                              <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
Existing stockholders..........  20,204,250      83.5% $    1,003         0.0%    $    0.00
New investors..................  4,000,000       16.5  40,000,000       100.0%        10.00
                                 ---------  ---------  ----------  -----------
        Total..................  24,204,250     100.0% $40,001,003      100.0%
                                 ---------  ---------  ----------  -----------
                                 ---------  ---------  ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
To the extent that any shares are issued upon exercise of options that were
outstanding at October 31, 1998 or granted after that date, or reserved for
future issuance under SERENA's stock plans, there will be further dilution to
new investors. "Management--Incentive Stock Plans," "Description of Capital
Stock" and Notes 6 and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of
SERENA.
    
 
        Sales by the selling stockholders in this offering will reduce the
number of shares of common stock held by existing stockholders to 18,204,250 or
approximately 75.2% (approximately 72.5%, if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full) of the total number of shares of common stock
outstanding upon the closing of this offering and will increase the number of
shares held by new public investors to 6,000,000 or approximately 24.8%
(6,900,000 shares, or approximately 27.5%, if the underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full) of the total number of shares of common stock
outstanding after this offering. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
   
        The selected historical consolidated financial data presented below are
derived from the consolidated financial statements of SERENA Software, Inc. and
its subsidiaries. The financial statements for each of the three years ended
January 31, 1998 and the nine months ended October 31, 1998 have been audited by
KPMG LLP, independent auditors. The selected historical consolidated financial
data for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 have been derived from unaudited
consolidated financial statements that include, in the opinion of management,
all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that SERENA
considers necessary for a fair presentation of SERENA's results of operations
for that period. The statement of income unaudited pro forma financial
information below has been derived from the unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Financial Statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro
forma statement of income data give effect to SERENA's September 1998
acquisition of Optima as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the
earliest period presented, February 1, 1997. The selected unaudited pro forma
financial information below does not represent what SERENA's results of
operations would have been if the Optima acquisition had occurred on the date
indicated, or the results of operations of SERENA and Optima as a combined
company for any future period. The selected consolidated financial data set
forth below is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction
with, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations," the Consolidated Financial Statements of SERENA and Optima and
notes thereto and the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial
Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The
operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of
the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other period.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,                         NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                           --------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------
                                                                                 1998                                 1998
                                                                       ------------------------             ------------------------
                             1994       1995       1996       1997      ACTUAL      PRO FORMA      1997      ACTUAL      PRO FORMA
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
  DATA:
  Revenue:
    Software licenses....  $   3,055  $   3,627  $   4,606  $   8,229  $  17,839    $  22,962    $  10,237  $  16,685    $  18,672
    Maintenance..........      3,171      4,141      5,679      8,730     12,258       12,691        8,831     12,098       13,201
    Professional
      services...........        160        370        459        495      2,050        5,662        1,421      2,363        5,026
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
      Total revenue......      6,386      8,138     10,744     17,454     32,147       41,315       20,489     31,146       36,899
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Cost of revenue:
    Software licenses....        379        479        552      1,298      1,087        1,024          701      1,266        1,534
    Maintenance..........      1,461      2,190      2,434      3,503      4,009        4,009        2,777      3,185        3,185
    Professional
      services...........        166        282        344        406      1,717        4,156        1,189      2,057        3,914
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
      Total cost of
        revenue..........      2,006      2,951      3,330      5,207      6,813        9,189        4,667      6,508        8,633
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
      Gross profit.......      4,380      5,187      7,414     12,247     25,334       32,126       15,822     24,638       28,266
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Operating expenses:
    Sales and
      marketing..........      1,354      1,866      2,505      4,605      7,947       11,394        5,244      8,956       10,280
    Research and
      development........      1,539      1,837      2,998      4,321      5,518        5,518        3,774      3,220        3,220
    General and
      administrative.....        935      1,312      1,727      2,296      3,296        5,577        1,913      2,786        3,303
    Stock-based
      compensation.......         --         --         --         --        880          880           --      2,071        2,071
    Amortization of
      intangible
      assets.............         --         --         --         --         --        1,812           --        176          983
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
      Total operating
        expenses.........      3,828      5,015      7,230     11,222     17,641       25,181       10,931     17,209       19,857
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Operating income.......        552        172        184      1,025      7,693        6,945        4,891      7,429        8,409
  Interest and other
    income, net..........         --         93        160        115        321          210          223        571          581
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Income before income
    taxes................        552        265        344      1,140      8,014        7,155        5,114      8,000        8,990
  Income taxes...........         36         10         66        278      3,253        3,602        1,833      3,596        4,227
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Net income.............  $     516  $     255  $     278  $     862  $   4,761    $   3,553    $   3,281  $   4,404    $   4,763
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Net income per share:
    Basic................  $    0.03  $    0.02  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.31    $    0.19    $    0.21  $    0.27    $    0.25
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
    Diluted..............  $    0.03  $    0.02  $    0.02  $    0.05  $    0.31    $    0.19    $    0.21  $    0.26    $    0.24
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------  ---------  -------------
  Shares used to compute
    net income
    per share:
    Basic................     15,750     15,750     15,750     15,750     15,248       18,436       15,290     16,145       18,735
    Diluted..............     15,750     15,750     15,750     15,750     15,272       18,460       15,290     17,122       19,712
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           JANUARY 31,
                                                                      -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                        1994       1995       1996       1997       1998
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents.........................................  $     708  $   1,953  $   2,840  $   4,031  $   9,024
  Working capital...................................................        472        434        429        618      6,942
  Total assets......................................................      2,734      4,327      6,717      9,233     20,567
  Total liabilities and deferred revenue............................      2,054      3,400      5,508      7,187     13,582
  Total shareholders' equity........................................        680        927      1,209      2,046      6,985
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                      OCTOBER 31,
                                                                      -----------
                                                                         1998
                                                                      -----------
 
<S>                                                                   <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents.........................................   $  16,878
  Working capital...................................................      12,884
  Total assets......................................................      50,950
  Total liabilities and deferred revenue............................      17,557
  Total shareholders' equity........................................      33,393
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
    THE FOLLOWING MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SERENA AND THE NOTES THERETO AND THE PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS. OUR DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS BASED UPON
CURRENT EXPECTATIONS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS OUR PLANS,
OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS. SERENA'S ACTUAL RESULTS AND THE TIMING
OF CERTAIN EVENTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE SET
FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS," "BUSINESS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
    
 
OVERVIEW
 
    SERENA is a leading provider of products and services for managing and
controlling software change throughout the software application life cycle.
SERENA was founded in 1980 and we introduced our first SCM product, COMPAREX, in
1981. Since then, SERENA has developed a full suite of FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME
products, including our flagship product CHANGE MAN, which was introduced in
1988. IT managers use our products to track software changes during the software
application design and development process, manage separate programming teams
who are concurrently developing and enhancing applications, and oversee the
deployment of the software applications.
 
   
    Prior to fiscal 1998, SERENA focused primarily on product development while
relying on third party distributors for the majority of our sales, marketing and
professional services activities. In fiscal 1998, SERENA hired a President and
Chief Executive Officer who initiated a strategic expansion of our sales,
marketing and professional service capabilities. This strategic expansion
includes hiring additional direct sales personnel, initiating a telesales
effort, recruiting additional third party distributors and increasing our
professional services staff. We also broadened our professional management team
to implement and manage the strategic expansion initiatives. New management
hires since the beginning of fiscal 1998 include our Vice Presidents for
Worldwide Marketing, Research and Development, Finance and Administration,
International Operations, Services, Sales and North American Consulting
Services. Moreover, both of our non-employee directors were appointed to the
board of directors during fiscal 1999. See "Risk Factors-- Our New Executive
Team May Not Be Able to Successfully Work Together to Meet Our Business
Objectives, Which Would Adversely Affect Our Business."
    
 
   
    In September 1998, we acquired Optima, the primary distributor of our
flagship CHANGE MAN product for over ten years. In certain markets, Optima had
been the exclusive distributor of CHANGE MAN. This acquisition significantly
expanded our professional services and sales and marketing capabilities and
enabled us to market CHANGE MAN as part of the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product
suite. As a result of the acquisition, we are able to market CHANGE MAN and our
other FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products through our distribution channels as well as
the historical distribution channels of Optima. We have taken over the sales and
marketing and professional service organizations of Optima and continue to be
responsible for the maintenance costs related to CHANGE MAN from Optima's
licensing transactions. The Optima acquisition was accounted for under the
purchase method of accounting and the results of operations of Optima are
included in SERENA's historical results after the acquisition date. The pro
forma results of operations include the historical financial statements of
SERENA and those of Optima and give effect to the acquisition as if it had
occurred on February 1, 1997, the beginning of the earliest pro forma period
presented. Any failure to successfully integrate Optima into our business could
have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
results. See "Risk Factors--We May Be Unable to Successfully Integrate Optima
into Our Business."
    
 
    SERENA has grown rapidly in recent years as total revenue has increased from
$6.4 million in fiscal 1994 to $32.1 million in fiscal 1998. The growth in total
revenue has been primarily attributable to increased demand for our FULL.CYCLE
MAINFRAME products as a result of greater awareness of and need
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
for third party SCM solutions. We derive our revenue from software licenses,
maintenance and professional services.
 
   
    Currently, all of our software license revenue is derived from our
FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products. Customers typically purchase the FULL.CYCLE
MAINFRAME products under Million Instructions Per Second, or MIPS-based,
perpetual licenses. Mainframe software products and applications are usually
priced based on hardware computing capacity. MIPS is a capacity measurement used
by hardware manufacturers to rate computer size to determine the amount of
capacity for running applications and supporting users. The higher a hardware's
MIPS capacity, the more expensive a software license will be. Software products
are also typically priced based on a perpetual license agreement, which entitles
a customer to use the product on an ongoing basis. Initial license transactions
generally include one year of software maintenance and support. Revenue from
license agreements, excluding maintenance revenue included with the license, is
recognized upon receipt and acceptance of a signed contract and delivery of the
software, provided the related fee is fixed and determinable, collectibility of
the revenue is probable and the arrangement does not involve significant
customization of the software. Software license revenue is particularly
dependent on new licenses of our CHANGE MAN and COMPAREX products. In fiscal
1997, 1998 and in the nine months ended October 31, 1998, sales of CHANGE MAN
and COMPAREX together accounted for approximately 72%, 82% and 71% of SERENA's
software license revenue, respectively. Any factors adversely affecting the
pricing of, demand for or market acceptance of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME
products, such as competition or technological change, could materially
adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Of
particular importance is the continued role of mainframe computers in a
decentralized computing environment. We believe that the mainframe will continue
to be an integral part of the distributed computing environment and its role in
such environment will increase. See "Risk Factors--We Have Relied and Expect to
Continue to Rely on Sales of Our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME Products for Our Revenue"
and "Our Business is Dependent on the Continued Market for IBM and
IBM-Compatible Mainframes."
    
 
    In recognition of the established benefits of desktop computing in the
distributed enterprise environment, we are also using the proprietary technology
and expertise in SCM solutions for the mainframe to the design and development
of desktop-oriented products. See "Business--Strategy" and "--Products Under
Development."
 
   
    We also provide ongoing maintenance, which includes technical support,
version upgrades and enhancements, for an annual fee of approximately 17% of the
current list price of the licensed product. We recognize maintenance revenue
over the term of the contracts, typically one year, on a straight-line basis.
Over 95% of our customers who were eligible to renew their maintenance
agreements in calendar year 1997 did so. There can be no assurance that SERENA
will maintain this rate of renewal. See "Risk Factors--Our Future Revenue is
Substantially Dependent Upon Our Installed Customer Base Renewing Maintenance
Agreements for Our Products and Licensing Additional SERENA SCM Products; Our
Future Professional Service and Maintenance Revenue is Dependent on Future Sales
of Our Software Products."
    
    Professional services revenue is derived from our SER(POWER) consulting and
educational services, including implementation and integration of licensed
software, specialized consulting services such as "best practices" design,
development and deployment of SCM solutions, and education courses for SERENA's
products. Our professional services are typically billed on a time and materials
basis and revenue is recognized as the related services are performed.
 
    Historically, SERENA's revenue has primarily been attributable to sales in
North America. In fiscal 1997, 1998 and the nine months ended October 31, 1998,
revenue attributable to sales in North America accounted for approximately 85%,
85% and 81% of SERENA's total revenue, respectively. Our plan is to expand our
international operations significantly, particularly in Europe, as we believe
international markets represent a significant growth opportunity. Consequently,
we anticipate that international revenue will increase as a percentage of total
revenue in the future. Our expansion of our international operations will be
subject to a variety of risks that could materially adversely affect our
business, operating results and
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
financial condition. See "Risk Factors--We Intend to Significantly Expand Our
International Operations And May Encounter a Number of Problems Doing So: There
Are Also a Number of Factors Associated with International Operations that Could
Potentially Adversely Affect Our Business." In North America, SERENA's revenue
is generally denominated in United States dollars while international sales are
generally denominated in local currencies, principally the British pound. As
SERENA's international sales and operations expand, we anticipate that our
exposure to foreign currency fluctuations will increase. See "Risk
Factors--Fluctuations in the Value of Foreign Currencies Could Result in
Currency Transaction Losses for SERENA."
    
 
   
    Maintenance revenue and professional services revenue have lower operating
margins than software license revenue. In addition, we license the technology
for our STARTOOL and STARWARP products and jointly own the technology for our
SYNCTRAC product and consequently we have sublicense fee obligations on the
revenue we recognizes in connection with license and maintenance transactions
involving these products. As a result, our license revenue for our STARTOOL,
STARWARP and SYNCTRAC products has a lower operating margin than license revenue
from other products. We expect operating expenses to increase substantially in
the future as we continue to develop new and enhanced versions of our products,
including our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite, increase our sales and marketing
activities, expand our distribution channels, increase our professional services
capabilities and pursue strategic relationships and acquisitions. Any failure by
SERENA to significantly increase revenue as we implement these initiatives would
materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial
condition. See "Risk Factors--We Expect that Our Operating Expenses Will
Increase Substantially in the Future and These Increased Expenses May Hurt Our
Future Operating Results and Financial Condition."
    
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
HISTORICAL RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The following table sets forth the historical results of operations for
SERENA expressed as a percentage of total revenue. SERENA's historical operating
results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period and
include the results of Optima from September 25, 1998, the acquisition date.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE
                                                    -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              FISCAL YEAR
                                                           ENDED JANUARY 31,             OCTOBER 31,
                                                    -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                      1996       1997       1998       1997       1998
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses...............................       42.8%      47.2%      55.5%      50.0%      53.6%
  Maintenance.....................................       52.9       50.0       38.1       43.1       38.8
  Professional services...........................        4.3        2.8        6.4        6.9        7.6
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenue.................................      100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses...............................        5.1        7.4        3.4        3.4        4.1
  Maintenance.....................................       22.7       20.1       12.5       13.6       10.2
  Professional services...........................        3.2        2.3        5.3        5.8        6.6
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of revenue.........................       31.0       29.8       21.2       22.8       20.9
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Gross profit....................................       69.0       70.2       78.8       77.2       79.1
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing.............................       23.3       26.4       24.7       25.6       28.8
  Research and development........................       27.9       24.8       17.2       18.4       10.3
  General and administrative......................       16.1       13.1       10.3        9.3        8.9
  Stock-based compensation........................         --         --        2.7         --        6.7
  Amortization of intangible assets...............         --         --         --         --        0.5
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating expenses......................       67.3       64.3       54.9       53.3       55.2
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income..................................        1.7        5.9       23.9       23.9       23.9
Interest and other income, net....................        1.5        0.6        1.0        1.1        1.8
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Income before income taxes........................        3.2        6.5       24.9       25.0       25.7
Income taxes......................................        0.6        1.6       10.1        9.0       11.5
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net income........................................        2.6%       4.9%      14.8%      16.0%      14.2%
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                    ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
COMPARISON OF NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
REVENUE
 
    SERENA derives revenue from software licenses, maintenance and professional
services. SERENA's total revenue increased 52% from $20.5 million for the nine
months ended October 31, 1997 to $31.1 million for the nine months ended October
31, 1998.
 
    SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Software license revenue increased 63% from $10.2
million for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 to $16.7 million for the nine
months ended October 31, 1998, representing 50% and 54% of total revenue,
respectively. The increase in software license revenue is generally attributable
to increased demand for new licenses of FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products as a
result of greater customer awareness of and need for third party SCM solutions
and, to a lesser extent, an increase in sales force productivity and personnel.
In particular, sales of the COMPAREX product grew significantly, with software
license revenue attributable to COMPAREX increasing from $4.3 million in the
nine months ended October 31, 1997 to $7.6 million in the nine months ended
October 31, 1998.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    MAINTENANCE.  Maintenance revenue increased 37% from $8.8 million for the
nine months ended October 31, 1997 to $12.1 million for the nine months ended
October 31, 1998, representing 43% and 39% of total revenue, respectively. The
dollar increase reflects the growth in software license revenue, as new software
licenses generally include one year of maintenance, renewals of maintenance
agreements by existing customers and, to a lesser extent, maintenance price
increases on renewals of maintenance agreements by existing customers.
Maintenance revenue increased at a slower rate than license revenue because
license revenue is generally recognized upon contract signing and delivery of
the software whereas maintenance revenue is deferred and amortized over the
contractual term of the arrangement.
 
    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.  Professional services revenue increased 66% from
$1.4 million for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 to $2.4 million for the
nine months ended October 31, 1998, representing 7% and 7% of total revenue,
respectively. The dollar increase is attributable to greater consulting
opportunities resulting from our expanded customer base and, to a lesser extent,
increases in our consulting service capabilities. The acquisition of Optima on
September 25, 1998 resulted in the recording of additional professional services
revenue in the final month of the nine month period ended October 31, 1998,
accounting for approximately 40% of the total $1.0 million increase in
professional service revenue.
 
COST OF REVENUE
 
    Cost of revenue consists of cost of software licenses, cost of maintenance
and cost of professional services. Cost of revenue was $4.7 million and $6.5
million for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1998, representing 23%
and 21% of total revenue, respectively. The decline in cost of revenue as a
percentage of total revenue is attributable to the increase in higher margin
software license revenue as a percentage of total revenue.
 
   
    SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Cost of software licenses consists principally of
sublicense fees associated with our STARTOOL, STARWARP and SYNCTRAC products.
Cost of software licenses was $0.7 million and $1.3 million for the nine months
ended October 31, 1997 and 1998, representing 7% and 8% of total software
licenses revenue, respectively. The increase in cost of software licenses as a
percentage of license revenue is due to the increase in the sublicense fee
bearing license revenue as a percentage of total license revenue.
    
 
   
    MAINTENANCE.  Cost of maintenance consists primarily of salaries, bonuses
and other costs associated with our customer support organizations, and to a
lessor extent, sublicense fees associated with our STARTOOL, STARWRAP and
SYNCTRAC maintenance sales and renewals. Cost of maintenance was $2.8 million
and $3.2 million for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1998,
representing 31% and 26% of total maintenance revenue, respectively. The dollar
increase in cost of maintenance is due to increases in sublicense fees and costs
associated with supporting our customer support organization. Sublicense fees
are paid to owners of third party products for providing maintenance
enhancements and code fixes.
    
 
    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.  Cost of professional services consists of salaries,
bonuses and other costs associated with supporting our professional services
organization. Cost of professional services was $1.2 million and $2.1 million
for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1998, representing 84% and 87% of
professional services revenue, respectively. The dollar increase in cost of
professional services revenue is attributable to increased expenses associated
with supporting the professional services organization including additions of
personnel and other infrastructure costs.
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    SALES AND MARKETING.  Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of
salaries, commissions and bonuses, payroll taxes, profit sharing expenses and
employee benefits as well as travel, entertainment and marketing expenses. Sales
and marketing expenses were $5.2 million and $9.0 million for the nine months
ended October 31, 1997 and 1998, representing 26% and 29% of total revenue,
respectively. These increases are due primarily to our expansion of our direct
sales and marketing organization in these periods and, to a lesser extent, the
development of our telesales efforts. We expect sales and marketing expenses to
increase as we continue to hire additional sales and marketing personnel as we
transition away from relying primarily on third parties to sell and market our
products.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  Research and development expenses consist
primarily of salaries, bonuses, payroll taxes, profit sharing expenses and
employee benefits and costs attributable to research and development activities.
Research and development expenses were $3.8 million and $3.2 million for the
nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1998, representing 18% and 10% of total
revenue, respectively. These reductions in research and development expenses are
attributable principally to the restructuring of compensation arrangements with
SERENA's founder and Chief Technology Officer. We expect research and
development expenses to increase as we continue to hire additional research and
development personnel to develop our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite and our
SERNET ENTERPRISE products.
 
   
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.  General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of salaries, bonuses, payroll taxes, profit sharing expenses and
benefits and certain non-allocable administrative costs, including legal and
accounting fees and bad debts. General and administrative expenses were $1.9
million and $2.8 million for the nine months ended October 31, 1997 and 1998,
representing 9% of total revenue in both periods. The dollar increase is
primarily related to costs associated with the expansion of our administrative
infrastructure in order to support our increased sales, marketing, consulting
and maintenance activities. We expect general and administrative expenses to
increase as we expand our infrastructure and incur additional costs as a result
of being a public company.
    
 
    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION.  In the quarter ended January 31, 1998, SERENA
recorded deferred stock-based compensation of $4.0 million in connection with
the issuance of restricted stock and grant of options to purchase common stock
in January 1998. An additional $0.4 million of deferred stock-based compensation
was recorded in the nine months ended October 31, 1998 for stock-based awards
granted during this period. Deferred stock-based compensation is generally being
amortized over the 36 to 48 month vesting periods of the related award. This
amortization is being recorded in a manner consistent with Financial Accounting
Standard Board, or FASB, Interpretation No. 28. Of the total deferred stock-
based compensation, approximately $2.1 million was amortized in the nine month
period ended October 31, 1998. We expect to amortize an additional $0.4 million
in the remainder of fiscal 1999, $0.8 million in fiscal 2000, $0.2 million in
fiscal 2001 and $0.1 million in fiscal 2002. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements of SERENA.
 
   
    AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS.  In the quarter ended October 31, 1998,
we recorded intangible assets of $20.2 million in connection with the
acquisition of Optima in September 1998. The intangible assets are being
amortized over periods of one year or less on $0.5 million and fifteen years on
the remaining $19.7 million. Of the total intangible assets, approximately $0.2
million was amortized in the nine month period ended October 31, 1998. We expect
to amortize an additional $0.5 million in the remainder of fiscal 1999, $1.5
million in fiscal 2000, and $1.3 million in each fiscal year thereafter until
fully amortized in fiscal 2014. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements of SERENA.
    
 
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME, NET
 
    Interest and other income, net is generated primarily from the interest
earned on cash and cash equivalents. Interest and other income, net increased
from $0.2 million in the nine month period ended October 31, 1997 to $0.6
million in the nine month period ended October 31, 1998, principally as the
result of increased cash and cash equivalent balances in the latter period.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
   
    Income taxes were $1.8 million and $3.6 million for the nine months ended
October 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The effective tax rates for the nine
months ending October 31, 1997 and 1998 were 36% and 45%, respectively. The
increase in the effective tax rate is primarily due to the $2.1 million in
nondeductible stock-based compensation and, to a lesser extent, the $0.2 million
nondeductible amortization of intangible assets arising from the acquisition of
Optima. The nondeductible expense associated with stock-based compensation will
decline ratably over the next three years.
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
COMPARISON OF FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
 
REVENUE
 
    SERENA's total revenue was $10.7 million, $17.5 million and $32.1 million in
fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, representing year-to-year increases of
62% between 1996 and 1997 and 84% between 1997 and 1998.
 
    SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Software license revenue was $4.6 million, $8.2 million
and $17.8 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 43%, 47% and 56%
of total revenue, respectively. The increases are generally attributed to
increased demand for new licenses of FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products as a result
of greater customer awareness of and need for third party SCM solutions and, to
a lesser extent, software license price increases. In particular, sales of our
COMPAREX and CHANGE MAN products grew significantly.
 
    MAINTENANCE.  Maintenance revenue was $5.7 million, $8.7 million and $12.3
million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 53%, 50% and 38% of total
revenue, respectively. The dollar increases reflect both growth in software
license revenue, as new licenses generally include one year of maintenance,
renewals of maintenance agreements by existing customers and, to a lesser
extent, maintenance price increases. Maintenance revenue decreased as a
percentage of total revenues due to the growth in software license revenue which
is generally recognized upon contract signing and delivery of the software
whereas maintenance revenue is deferred and amortized over the contractual term
of the arrangement, usually one year.
 
    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.  Professional services revenue was $0.5 million, $0.5
million and $2.0 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 4%, 3% and
6% of total revenue, respectively. The dollar increases are attributable to
greater consulting opportunities resulting from our larger installed customer
base and our expanded consulting service capabilities.
 
COST OF REVENUE
 
   
    Cost of revenue, which consists of cost of software licenses, cost of
maintenance and cost of professional services, was $3.3 million, $5.2 million
and $6.8 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 31%, 30% and 21% of
total revenue, respectively. The dollar increases are due primarily to increased
expenses associated with professional services revenue and maintenance revenue,
including personnel additions to support professional services and maintenance
revenue growth, and software sublicense fees. The decrease in cost of revenue as
a percentage of total revenue in fiscal 1998 from prior years is due in part to
the $0.3 million and $1.3 million in fees paid by SERENA in fiscal 1996 and
1997, respectively, to complete the termination of a third party distributor
agreement for our COMPAREX product.
    
 
    SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Cost of software licenses was $0.6 million, $1.3 million
and $1.1 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 12%, 16% and 6% of
total software licenses revenue, respectively. The dollar increase in fiscal
1997 over 1996 and the dollar decrease in fiscal 1998 over 1997 are
predominately due to fees paid in fiscal 1996 totaling $0.1 million and in
fiscal 1997 totaling $0.6 million in connection with the termination of a third
party distributor agreement for our COMPAREX product. The decrease in cost of
revenue as a percentage of total revenue is also attributable to the increase in
higher margin software license revenue as a percentage of total revenue.
 
    MAINTENANCE.  Cost of maintenance was $2.4 million, $3.5 million and $4.0
million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 43%, 40% and 33% of total
maintenance revenue. The dollar increases are predominately due to increased
expenses associated with our customer support organization including personnel
additions needed to support the maintenance revenue growth. As a percentage of
total maintenance revenue, cost of maintenance decreased as the rate of increase
in costs associated with supporting our customer support organizations was less
than the rate of increase in maintenance revenue.
 
    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.  Cost of professional services was $0.3 million, $0.4
million and $1.7 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 75%, 82%
and 84% of total professional services revenue. The
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
   
dollar increases year over year are predominately due to increased expenses
associated with our professional services organization and infrastructure
including personnel additions needed to support the professional services
revenue growth. As a percentage of total professional services revenue, cost of
professional services has increased each year as we focus on expanding our
consulting business organization.
    
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    SALES AND MARKETING.  Sales and marketing expenses were $2.5 million, $4.6
million and $7.9 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, representing 23%, 26%
and 25% of total revenue, respectively. The dollar increases in each fiscal year
are due primarily to our expansion of our sales organization which began in
fiscal 1998. The dollar increase from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 is attributable
to increased salaries, commissions and profit sharing expenses and additional
marketing expenses.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  Research and development expenses were $3.0
million, $4.3 million and $5.5 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998,
representing 28%, 25% and 17% of total revenue, respectively. The dollar
increases in each fiscal year are due primarily to increased payroll costs,
including profit sharing expenses and increased bonus compensation to SERENA's
founder and Chief Technology Officer and, to a lesser extent, costs associated
with the evaluation of third party software products. Research and development
expenses have decreased as a percentage of total revenue as SERENA's revenue has
continued to increase at a faster rate than research and development expenses
have increased.
 
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.  General and administrative expenses were $1.7
million, $2.3 million and $3.3 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998,
representing 16%, 13% and 10% of total revenue, respectively. The dollar
increases in each fiscal year are primarily due to salary, bonus, commission,
payroll tax, profit sharing and employee benefit costs associated with the
expansion of our administrative infrastructure in order to support our increased
sales, marketing, professional services and maintenance activities. The decrease
in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue is
principally attributable to SERENA's revenue growth during this period.
 
    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION.  In the quarter ended January 31, 1998, SERENA
recorded aggregate deferred stock-based compensation of $4.0 million in
connection with the issuance of restricted stock and grant of options to
purchase common stock in January 1998. Deferred stock-based compensation is
generally being amortized over the 36 to 48 month vesting periods of the related
awards. This amortization is being recorded in a manner consistent with FASB
Interpretation No. 28. Of the total deferred stock-based compensation,
approximately $0.9 million was amortized in fiscal 1998.
 
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME, NET
 
    Interest and other income, net was $0.2 million, $0.1 million and $0.3
million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Interest and other income,
net has fluctuated from period to period based on SERENA's cash balances.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
    Income taxes were $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $3.3 million for fiscal
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The effective tax rate was 19%, 24% and 41%
in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. SERENA's effective income tax rate
has historically benefited from the United States research and experimentation
tax credit and tax benefits generated from export sales made from the United
States. SERENA's effective income tax rate has increased year over year
predominantly due to higher marginal tax rates resulting from substantially
higher pretax profits and the recording of $0.9 million in nondeductible
stock-based compensation recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
    The following table sets forth selected unaudited pro forma condensed
combined statement of income data for the seven quarters ended October 31, 1998,
both in dollar amounts and as a percentage of revenue. This information gives
effect to the Optima acquisition as a purchase as if such acquisition had
occurred as of February 1, 1997. This data has been prepared on the same basis
and includes the same adjustments as the unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
Statements of Income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 and nine months
ended October 31, 1998 and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this
prospectus. For pro forma purposes, SERENA's consolidated statement of
operations for each of the seven quarters ended October 31, 1998 give effect to
the Optima acquisition as if it had occurred on February 1, 1997. Because of the
significance of the Optima acquisition, the related party transactions between
SERENA and Optima and the application of purchase accounting, we believe
SERENA's historical operating results are not indicative of its future operating
results. We believe the information below presents in the most concise and
efficient manner possible operating results of the combined entity. The pro
forma information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not
necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been
reported if the Optima acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of the
earliest period indicated or that SERENA may report in the future.
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               QUARTER ENDED
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  APR. 30,     JUL. 31,     OCT. 31,     JAN. 31,     APR. 30,    JUL. 31,
                                                    1997         1997         1997         1998         1998        1998
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................   $   3,514    $   4,591    $   5,009    $   9,848    $   5,097   $   6,625
  Maintenance..................................       2,774        3,013        3,275        3,629        3,953       4,477
  Professional services........................         893        1,384        1,560        1,825        1,785       1,347
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total revenue..............................       7,181        8,988        9,844       15,302       10,835      12,449
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................          50          383          326          265          421         490
  Maintenance..................................         827        1,005          945        1,232          892       1,138
  Professional services........................         650          940        1,185        1,381        1,299       1,219
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total cost of revenue......................       1,527        2,328        2,456        2,878        2,612       2,847
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
  Gross profit.................................       5,654        6,660        7,388       12,424        8,223       9,602
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................       2,424        2,523        2,440        4,007        2,897       3,869
  Research and development.....................       1,053        1,316        1,406        1,743        1,000       1,073
  General and administrative...................       1,116        1,099        1,018        2,344        1,013       1,067
  Stock-based compensation.....................          --           --           --          880          906         652
  Amortization of intangible assets............         528          528          378          378          327         328
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total operating expenses...................       5,121        5,466        5,242        9,352        6,143       6,989
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Operating income...............................         533        1,194        2,146        3,072        2,080       2,613
Interest and other income, net.................          39           24           55           92          149         192
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Income before income taxes.....................         572        1,218        2,201        3,164        2,229       2,805
Income taxes...................................         403          639          943        1,617        1,215       1,329
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Net income.....................................   $     169    $     579    $   1,258    $   1,547    $   1,014   $   1,476
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                      AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUE
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................        48.9%        51.1%        50.9%        64.4%        47.0%       53.2%
  Maintenance..................................        38.7         33.5         33.3         23.7         36.5        36.0
  Professional services........................        12.4         15.4         15.8         11.9         16.5        10.8
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total revenue..............................       100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0       100.0
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................         0.7          4.3          3.3          1.7          3.9         3.9
  Maintenance..................................        11.5         11.2          9.6          8.1          8.2         9.2
  Professional services........................         9.1         10.4         12.0          9.0         12.0         9.8
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total cost of revenue......................        21.3         25.9         24.9         18.8         24.1        22.9
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
  Gross profit.................................        78.7         74.1         75.1         81.2         75.9        77.1
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................        33.8         28.1         24.8         26.2         26.7        31.1
  Research and development.....................        14.7         14.7         14.3         11.4          9.2         8.6
  General and administrative...................        15.5         12.2         10.3         15.3          9.4         8.6
  Stock-based compensation.....................          --           --           --          5.8          8.4         5.2
  Amortization of intangible assets............         7.3          5.9          3.9          2.4          3.0         2.6
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total operating expenses...................        71.3         60.9         53.3         61.1         56.7        56.1
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Operating income...............................         7.4         13.2         21.8         20.1         19.2        21.0
Interest and other income, net.................         0.5          0.3          0.6          0.6          1.4         1.6
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Income before income taxes.....................         7.9         13.5         22.4         20.7         20.6        22.6
Income taxes...................................         5.6          7.1          9.6         10.6         11.2        10.7
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Net income.....................................         2.3%         6.4%        12.8%        10.1%         9.4%       11.9%
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                  OCT. 31,
                                                    1998
                                                 -----------
 
<S>                                              <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................   $   6,950
  Maintenance..................................       4,771
  Professional services........................       1,894
                                                 -----------
    Total revenue..............................      13,615
                                                 -----------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................         623
  Maintenance..................................       1,155
  Professional services........................       1,396
                                                 -----------
    Total cost of revenue......................       3,174
                                                 -----------
  Gross profit.................................      10,441
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................       3,514
  Research and development.....................       1,147
  General and administrative...................       1,223
  Stock-based compensation.....................         513
  Amortization of intangible assets............         328
                                                 -----------
    Total operating expenses...................       6,725
                                                 -----------
Operating income...............................       3,716
Interest and other income, net.................         240
                                                 -----------
Income before income taxes.....................       3,956
Income taxes...................................       1,683
                                                 -----------
Net income.....................................   $   2,273
                                                 -----------
                                                 -----------
 
<S>                                              <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................        51.1%
  Maintenance..................................        35.0
  Professional services........................        13.9
                                                 -----------
    Total revenue..............................       100.0
                                                 -----------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................         4.6
  Maintenance..................................         8.5
  Professional services........................        10.2
                                                 -----------
    Total cost of revenue......................        23.3
                                                 -----------
  Gross profit.................................        76.7
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................        25.8
  Research and development.....................         8.4
  General and administrative...................         9.0
  Stock-based compensation.....................         3.8
  Amortization of intangible assets............         2.4
                                                 -----------
    Total operating expenses...................        49.4
                                                 -----------
Operating income...............................        27.3
Interest and other income, net.................         1.8
                                                 -----------
Income before income taxes.....................        29.1
Income taxes...................................        12.4
                                                 -----------
Net income.....................................        16.7%
                                                 -----------
                                                 -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
SELECTED UNAUDITED HISTORICAL QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR SERENA
    
 
   
    The following table sets forth selected unaudited condensed combined
statement of income data for SERENA for the seven quarters ended October 31,
1998. This data should be read in conjunction with SERENA's Consolidated
Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 and nine months
ended October 31, 1998 and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this
prospectus. Because of the acquisition of Optima, the information set forth
below is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been
reported if the Optima acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of the
earliest period indicated or that SERENA may report in the future.
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               QUARTER ENDED
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  APR. 30,     JUL. 31,     OCT. 31,     JAN. 31,     APR. 30,    JUL. 31,
                                                    1997         1997         1997         1998         1998        1998
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                              <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................   $   2,645    $   3,860    $   3,733    $   7,601    $   4,341   $   5,648
  Maintenance..................................       2,751        2,938        3,143        3,426        3,652       4,083
  Professional services........................         224          562          634          630          647         545
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total revenue..............................       5,620        7,360        7,510       11,657        8,640      10,276
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................         109          351          241          386          251         443
  Maintenance..................................         826        1,005          945        1,233          892       1,138
  Professional services........................         191          390          609          527          597         496
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total cost of revenue......................       1,126        1,746        1,795        2,146        1,740       2,077
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
  Gross profit.................................       4,494        5,614        5,715        9,511        6,900       8,199
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................       1,705        1,834        1,705        2,703        2,380       3,327
  Research and development.....................       1,053        1,316        1,406        1,743        1,000       1,073
  General and administrative...................         727          601          585        1,383          805         887
  Stock-based compensation.....................          --           --           --          880          906         652
  Amortization of intangible assets............          --           --           --           --           --          --
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
    Total operating expenses...................       3,485        3,751        3,696        6,709        5,091       5,939
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Operating income...............................       1,009        1,863        2,019        2,802        1,809       2,260
Interest and other income, net.................          70           60           93           98          151         193
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Income before income taxes.....................       1,079        1,923        2,112        2,900        1,960       2,453
Income taxes...................................         383          698          752        1,420          862       1,080
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Net income.....................................   $     696    $   1,225    $   1,360    $   1,480    $   1,098   $   1,373
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                 -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                  OCT. 31,
                                                    1998
                                                 -----------
 
<S>                                              <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses............................   $   6,696
  Maintenance..................................       4,363
  Professional services........................       1,171
                                                 -----------
    Total revenue..............................      12,230
                                                 -----------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses............................         572
  Maintenance..................................       1,155
  Professional services........................         964
                                                 -----------
    Total cost of revenue......................       2,691
                                                 -----------
  Gross profit.................................       9,539
                                                 -----------
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..........................       3,249
  Research and development.....................       1,147
  General and administrative...................       1,094
  Stock-based compensation.....................         513
  Amortization of intangible assets............         176
                                                 -----------
    Total operating expenses...................       6,179
                                                 -----------
Operating income...............................       3,360
Interest and other income, net.................         227
                                                 -----------
Income before income taxes.....................       3,587
Income taxes...................................       1,654
                                                 -----------
Net income.....................................   $   1,933
                                                 -----------
                                                 -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
PRO FORMA AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY RESULTS
    
 
   
    SERENA's pro forma and historical software license revenue for the quarter
ended January 31, 1998 reflects $2.5 million in revenue from a large licensing
transaction with one customer. Pro forma professional services revenue for the
quarters ended January 31, 1998 and April 30, 1998 reflect increased consulting
services resulting from a single consulting arrangement. Pro forma and
historical operating expenses for the quarter ended January 31, 1998 increased
in relation to prior quarters due to the recording of $0.9 million in
stock-based compensation expense and increases in payroll costs such as
commissions, bonuses and profit sharing expenses which increased significantly
in proportion to revenue during the same period. Research and development
expenses in the pro forma quarterly results do not differ substantially on a
dollar basis from SERENA's historical results because Optima operated as a third
party reseller, marketing and consulting organization which did not undertake
any research and development efforts. Pro forma operating expenses also include
the amortization of intangibles associated with the purchase accounting
treatment of the Optima acquisition totaling $20.2 million, of which $0.7
million and $1.5 million will be amortized in fiscal 1999 and 2000,
respectively. The remaining $18.0 million will be amortized on a straight-line
basis until fiscal 2014. We determined to use this period after considering that
Optima has sold CHANGE MAN profitably since 1988, CHANGE MAN is an integral part
of many large company IT infrastructures for managing change to mainframe
applications, and customers who purchase and implement CHANGE MAN make a
considerable investment, not only in the software, but in the creation of an
automated and consistent software change management process. Moreover, we
believe this investment has
    
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
   
a long lasting effect on IT environments, and annual maintenance releases of
CHANGE MAN have consisted principally of bug fixes and updates, including
updates to remain compatible with the stable IBM MVS operating system, which was
introduced over 20 years ago. SERENA's actual financial statements reflect the
amortization of these intangibles beginning with the effective date of the
Optima acquisition. Pro forma and historical quarterly results beginning with
the quarter ended January 31, 1998 also include stock-based compensation
incurred in connection with the issuance of restricted stock and the grant of
certain stock options. The pro forma and historical effective tax rate reflects
the nondeductibility of the amortization of goodwill associated with the Optima
acquisition and the stock-based compensation.
    
 
   
    Our quarterly operating results have varied significantly in the past and
may vary significantly in the future depending on a number of factors, many of
which are beyond our control. These factors are described in the risk factor
captioned "There Are Many Factors, Including Some Beyond Our Control, That May
Cause Fluctuations in Our Quarterly Operating Results."
    
 
   
    We have experienced and expect to continue to experience seasonality in
sales of our software products. We have described these seasonal trends under
the risk factor captioned "Seasonal Trends in Sales of Our Software Products May
Affect Our Quarterly Operating Results."
    
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
    Since SERENA's inception, we have financed our operations and met our
capital expenditure requirements through cash flows from operations. At October
31, 1998, SERENA had $16.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. Cash flows
provided by operating activities were $1.5 million, $2.6 million, $5.7 million
and $9.9 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, and the nine months ended
October 31, 1998, respectively. SERENA's cash flows provided by operating
activities exceeded net income during each of these periods principally due to
cash collections in advance of revenue recognition for maintenance contracts and
the inclusion of noncash expenses, such as depreciation and stock-based
compensation in net income, partially offset by growth in accounts receivable
during most periods. Cash used in investing activities were predominantly
related to the purchase of computer equipment and office furniture and equipment
and totaled $0.6 million, $1.4 million, $0.0 million and $0.7 million in fiscal
1996, 1997 and 1998, and the nine months ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
Cash used in financing activities related to the repurchase of $0.7 million in
common stock in fiscal 1997 from a resigning executive officer of SERENA and the
repayment of $1.4 million of notes payable assumed in the acquisition of Optima.
See "Certain Transactions." There were no financing activities in fiscal 1996 or
1997 or, as of the date of this prospectus, in fiscal 1999.
    
 
    At October 31, 1998, SERENA did not have any material commitments for
capital expenditures and has no revolving credit agreement or other term loan
agreements with any bank or other financial institution.
 
    At October 31, 1998, SERENA had working capital of $12.9 million and
accounts receivable, net of allowances, of $10.6 million. Total deferred revenue
increased to $11.5 million at October 31, 1998 from $7.9 million at January 31,
1998 primarily as a result of increased billings of maintenance fees.
 
    We believe that the net proceeds from the offering and cash from operations
will satisfy our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at
least the next twelve months.
 
EFFECT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    The FASB recently issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
133, or SFAS No. 133, ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING
ACTIVITIES. SFAS No. 133 addresses the accounting for derivative instruments,
including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts. Under SFAS No.
133, entities are required to carry all derivative instruments in the balance
sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e. gains or
losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and
qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, the reason for holding
it.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
We must adopt SFAS No. 133 by October 1, 1999. We do not anticipate that SFAS
No. 133 will have an impact on our financial statements.
 
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
 
    Many computer systems and software products are coded to accept only two
digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields will need to accept
four digit entries to distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century dates. As
a result, many companies' software and computer systems may need to be upgraded
or replaced in order to comply with such Year 2000 requirements.
 
    In the ordinary course of our business, we test and evaluate our software
products. We believe that our software products are generally Year 2000
compliant, meaning that the use or occurrence of dates on or after January 1,
2000 will not materially affect the performance of such software products or the
ability of such products to correctly create, store, process and output
information of data involving dates. However, we may learn that certain of our
software products do not contain all necessary software routines and codes
necessary for the accurate calculation, display, storage and manipulation of
data involving dates. In addition, in certain cases, we have warranted that the
use or occurrence of dates on or after January 1, 2000 will not adversely affect
the performance of our products with respect to four digit date dependent data
or the ability to create, store, process and output information related to such
data. If any of our licensees experience Year 2000 problems as a result of their
use of our software products, those licensees could assert claims for damages.
Our standard licensing agreement provides that if our products do not perform to
their specifications, we will correct such problems or issue replacement
software. If these corrective measures fail, we may refund the license fee
associated with the non-performing product. Our standard software license
agreement limits our liability to the amount of the license fee paid, if the
license has been in effect for less than one year, or for the amount of the
license's annual maintenance renewal fee, if the license is more than one year
old. To date we have not received any Year 2000 related claims on our software
products.
 
   
    Although SERENA does not have a formal plan to address Year 2000 issues,
management is currently addressing Year 2000 problems as they relate to our
internal operating systems. We anticipate that our review of Year 2000 issues
and any remediation efforts will continue throughout calendar 1999. Our Year
2000 review of our internal operating systems is concentrated on our internal
accounting and customer service systems, the systems we believe are most
important to our business. We have found our internal accounting software to be
Year 2000 compliant. We are still reviewing our customer service internal
operating systems. If any Year 2000 issues are uncovered with respect to the
customer service systems or our other internal systems, we believe these
problems will be able to be resolved without material difficulty or cost as
replacement systems are available on commercially reasonable terms.
    
 
    In view of our Year 2000 review and remediation efforts to date, and the
limited activities that remain to be completed, we do not consider contingency
planning to be necessary at this time. To date costs related to Year 2000 issues
have not been material, and we do not believe such costs will be material in the
future.
 
    We have sought assurances from the suppliers of all third party equipment
and software that we believe is critical to our business that their products are
Year 2000 compliant. While SERENA has received several assurances as to the Year
2000 compliance of these third party products, we generally do not have any
contractual rights with the third party providers should these equipment or
software fail due to Year 2000 issues. If this third party equipment or software
does not operate properly with regard to the Year 2000, we may incur unexpected
expenses to remedy any problems. These expenses could potentially include
purchasing replacement hardware and software.
 
   
    In addition, the purchasing patterns of our customers and potential
customers may be affected by Year 2000 issues. Many companies are spending
significant resources to correct their current software systems for Year 2000
compliance. While sales of certain of our products, in particular STARTOOL,
STARWARP and COMPAREX, have benefited from increased customer spending on Year
2000 readiness, we believe sales of
    
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
   
our CHANGE MAN product have been and will continue to be adversely affected by
customer focus on Year 2000 issues. Customers with limited IT budgets who face
material Year 2000 issues are spending their limited resources remediating these
Year 2000 problems instead of investing in more general IT products such as
CHANGE MAN. Market acceptance of SERENA's products to address general IT
business needs as well as resolution of specific business issues such as Year
2000 readiness is critical to our business and future success.
    
 
   
    For risks concerning SERENA related to Year 2000 see "Risk
Factors--Potential Year 2000 Problems with Our Software or Our Internal
Operating Systems Could Adversely Affect Our Business As Could Customer Buying
Patterns Related to Year 2000 Issues" and "Reduced Customer Focus and Spending
on Year 2000 Remediation and EMU Conversion Could Adversely Affect Our Business;
Customer Use of Our Products for Year 2000 and EMU Issues May Not Lead to
Increased Sales of Our Other Products."
    
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
    THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS SECTION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS RELATING
TO FUTURE EVENTS OR THE FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SERENA, WHICH INVOLVE
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
OVERVIEW
 
   
    SERENA is a leading provider of SCM products and services for managing and
controlling software change throughout the software application life cycle. In
our 18 year history, we have developed substantial technological expertise in
the design and implementation of robust, flexible and reliable SCM solutions. IT
managers use our products to track software changes during the software
application design and development process, manage separate programming teams
who are concurrently developing and enhancing applications, and oversee the
deployment of the software applications. Our SCM solutions are designed to
improve customers' return on IT investment by increasing programmer productivity
and reducing application development and IT infrastructure maintenance costs. As
of October 31, 1998, our products have been installed in over 2,000 data centers
worldwide and our customers include 36 of the Fortune 50 companies such as Chase
Manhattan, Citigroup, General Electric, IBM, MetLife, Merrill Lynch and
Prudential.
    
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
    The evolution of enterprise computing from centralized, mainframe-based
computing to distributed, client/server computing has added substantial
complexity in recent years to the management of IT infrastructures. Today's IT
environment is characterized by distributed information systems, applications
and networks, comprising a wide range of hardware platforms, operating systems,
databases, development tools, networking protocols and packaged and internally
developed software. This distributed computing environment has fueled a
proliferation of applications disseminated throughout the enterprise as
departments and individual users have been empowered to independently sponsor
applications. These often disparate applications must be continually maintained
and often reprogrammed to be compatible with emerging technologies. The advent
of the Internet, intranets and extranets has added further complexity by
stimulating the development of new applications, extending the reach of
applications throughout and beyond the enterprise while introducing additional
networking requirements.
 
    In connection with the developments associated with the distributed
computing environment, the mainframe has continued to be a critical component of
IT infrastructures. Many IT organizations maintain applications that are vital
to their business on the mainframe because of its unmatched performance,
reliability and security. International Data Corporation, or IDC, a leading IT
research firm, reports in a recent survey that a majority of IT system managers
surveyed will continue to deploy new applications on mainframes when
appropriate. In addition, the exponential growth of Internet-based applications
has fueled a dramatic increase in the volume of traffic and transactions
processed, requiring extensive processing capacity and high levels of
availability. IT managers are realizing the benefits of reinvesting in
mainframes to address the need for high performance servers as Internet usage
increases.
 
    Successful management of IT infrastructures requires the ability to manage
rapid and unpredictable technological change within increasingly complex and
heterogeneous computing environments. Business issues such as competitive
pressures, short time-to-market windows, regulatory changes and Year 2000 and
EMU conversions introduce additional requirements for change within IT
infrastructures.
 
   
    A key challenge for IT organizations is managing software change throughout
the enterprise, including new version releases, bug fixes, upgrades and
application introductions. Any software change, if not managed effectively, has
the potential to cause system outages or corrupt data which could result in
disruption throughout the enterprise and lost business. For example, a single,
undetected error in a software update
    
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
   
could have catastrophic results in such critical systems as airline flight
planning and securities trading. Change in software applications can occur at
all phases of the software application life cycle, from design and analysis to
development, through testing and production and into post-deployment support and
maintenance.
    
 
    Policies and practices for managing and controlling change throughout the
software application life cycle include:
 
        - tracking and auditing application modifications
 
        - integrating application components throughout the development, testing
          and production processes
 
        - managing multiple application versions to ensure the integrity of
          changes
 
        - managing the software application development efforts of separate
          programming teams working concurrently on the same application
 
        - identifying and implementing common changes across applications and
          systems
 
        - establishing automated processes for approving changes to software
          applications and for ensuring that an approved change is made before
          programmers attempt to execute additional changes to an application
 
        - controlling the deployment of applications into the existing IT
          environment
 
        - linking the pre- and post-deployment phases through processes that
          ensure that problems with applications are tracked so that bugs can be
          fixed or new applications developed
 
        - controlling application restoration and de-installation
 
    Historically, organizations have attempted to address their SCM requirements
internally either with paper based, manually implemented policies and procedures
or by developing their own software solutions. These internal solutions
generally require substantial IT resources, have lengthy implementation cycles,
frequently fail and are not cost effective. To overcome the costs and risks
associated with internally developed software change management solutions, many
organizations are now seeking commercially developed SCM solutions that enable
them to cost effectively manage and control change throughout the software
application life cycle and across the enterprise. We believe sophisticated SCM
solutions are required as organizations face increasingly complex and
distributed IT infrastructures, limited IT resources, remote IT project teams
and tight budget constraints. Ovum, a provider of independent IT computing
research, estimates that the global market for SCM products and services in 1998
will exceed $1 billion and will grow at a compound annual rate of approximately
34% to reach $3.4 billion by 2002. We believe that a successful SCM solution
must incorporate broad functionality and flexibility, be easy to use and
implement, promote best practices development and implementation and improve
return on IT investment.
 
THE SERENA SOLUTION
 
    SERENA provides a full suite of software change management products and
services for managing and controlling change throughout the software application
life cycle. Throughout our 18 year history, we have developed substantial
technological expertise in the design and implementation of robust, flexible and
reliable SCM solutions. Our product suite automates the management of the
software application life cycle and creates an IT environment that facilitates
concurrent development efforts by separate programming teams, improves process
consistency, enhances software integrity and protects valuable software assets.
In addition, the adaptability of our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite combined
with our comprehensive SER(POWER) consulting services enable customers to
customize our products to fully address their specific
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
SCM requirements. Our products and services are designed to improve customers'
return on IT investments by increasing programmer productivity and reducing
application development and IT infrastructure maintenance costs.
 
    BROAD FUNCTIONALITY.  SERENA's FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite provides
customers with a wide range of SCM functionality for large scale, complex
computing environments. This product suite supports a comprehensive set of
software application development and life cycle management functions, including:
 
          - change detection and tracking through application development,
            testing and production
 
          - concurrent development by separate programming teams
 
          - merging capabilities for multiple application versions
 
- - impact analysis
 
- - online approvals
 
- - test data generation
 
- - test results comparison
 
- - file and data management and synchronization
 
   
    HIGH LEVEL OF ADAPTABILITY, EASE OF USE AND IMPLEMENTATION.  The FULL.CYCLE
MAINFRAME product suite provides configuration flexibility to enable easy and
quick implementation within customers' IT environments. This product suite
integrates with existing IT applications, systems, development tools, operating
systems, databases, programming languages, security systems, libraries and
inventory lists. The FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products are highly adaptable to
customers' SCM processes and procedures and can be customized for specific
customer requirements. In contrast, SERENA believes that most other commercially
available SCM products are inflexible and require IT organizations to modify
their current IT environments, requiring substantial IT resources and lengthy
implementation cycles.
    
 
    COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTING SERVICES.  We complement our product offerings with
our comprehensive SER(POWER) professional services, which leverage SERENA's
expertise in the design and implementation of SCM solutions. Through the
identification of products, methods and procedures that address specific
customer SCM requirements, our consultants help clients design and implement
best practice change and configuration management.
 
    IMPROVED RETURN ON IT INVESTMENT.  The FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite
automates the software application life cycle, streamlining the process of
administering change and moving changes through an IT organization and allowing
incremental changes to be efficiently processed. By managing and controlling
change more effectively and efficiently, the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite
enables customers to reduce application development costs and improve the
quality of new releases by quickly implementing applications, reducing
programmer downtime, shortening approval time, eliminating manual errors and
improving application testing and debugging.
 
STRATEGY
 
    SERENA's objective is to be the leader in providing SCM products and
services for managing and controlling change throughout the software application
life cycle and across the enterprise. Key components of our strategy include:
 
    MAINTAIN TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP.  SERENA is a technology leader in providing
robust, flexible and reliable SCM solutions for the mainframe. To strengthen and
extend our SCM solutions, we plan to continue to invest in research and
development to expand the features and functionality of our mainframe product
suite.
 
    EXTEND SCM SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE.  We are developing FULL.CYCLE
DESKTOP, an integrated SCM product suite for the desktop, which will incorporate
the proprietary technology and expertise found in our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME
products. Managing software change on the mainframe and desktop
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
   
platforms has many similarities. These similarities include the need to develop
and enforce consistent software change policies and procedures and a process to
control all types of software changes. Software change occurs throughout all
phases of the application life cycle from the initial business request for a new
software application through development, testing and production and into the
maintenance and support phases. We introduced the first of our FULL.CYCLE
DESKTOP products, DETECT+RESOLVE, in December 1998 and plan to release initial
versions of other FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products by the end of calendar 1999.
Additionally, we intend to use our SERNET technology to link SERENA's SCM
solutions across customers' mainframe and desktop environments. We plan to
enhance our mainframe and desktop product suites by adding new features and
integrating our solutions with leading help desk, software distribution and
management frameworks in order to link SERENA's SCM solutions to the
post-deployment phase of the software application life cycle.
    
 
   
    LEVERAGE CUSTOMER BASE.  Most of our customers are large, sophisticated
organizations with complex information systems in distributed computing
environments. We intend to make additional sales of our products, options and
services to our existing customers to help them meet their changing SCM
requirements and expanding computer capacity needs. In particular, we plan to
broaden our telesales efforts to reduce sales cycles and provide a more rapid
response to customer product requests.
    
 
    CONTINUE TO EXPAND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OFFERINGS.  The complex and
strategic nature of software change management provides SERENA with a
significant opportunity to consult with customers to help them successfully
develop, implement and execute SERENA's SCM solutions. We intend to expand our
SER(POWER) professional services offerings for the mainframe to include services
for applications and systems on the desktop platform.
 
    EXPAND GLOBAL SALES.  SERENA believes that international markets and
companies within the Global 2000 represent a significant growth opportunity as
businesses increasingly recognize the need for effective SCM solutions. We
intend to expand the scope of our international operations, particularly in
Europe, and have established subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and in Germany.
 
   
    PURSUE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS AND ACQUISITIONS.  We continue to pursue
strategic relationships that will augment or expand our SCM product offerings
and distribution channels. In particular, we intend to extend our product
offerings and distribution channels by partnering with leading help desk
management, software distribution and system framework providers. In addition,
we intend to evaluate strategic acquisitions or investment opportunities for
products and technologies that complement or extend our existing product suites
or that offer access to additional distribution channels. The acquisition of
Optima, for example, significantly broadens our professional services and sales
and marketing organizations and enables us to market CHANGE MAN as part of our
FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite.
    
 
PRODUCTS
 
    SERENA develops, markets and supports a full suite of mainframe SCM products
for managing and controlling change throughout the software application life
cycle. SERENA's current product offerings support the industry standard IBM
mainframe platforms, including MVS, and are marketed under the brand name
FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME. This product suite automates the software application life
cycle and creates an IT environment that facilitates concurrent development
efforts by separate programming teams, improves process consistency, enhances
software integrity and protects valuable software assets. Our products
significantly improve programmer productivity, reduce software application
development costs and improve customers' return on IT investments.
 
    In addition, we are developing a SCM product suite for the desktop
environment that will support Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT desktop platforms.
These products will be marketed under the brand name FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP.
Together the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME and FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products will be
marketed under the brand name FULL.CYCLE ENTERPRISE.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
    Customers typically purchase our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products under
MIPS-based, perpetual licenses. A description of MIPS-based licenses is included
in the "Overview" section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations. List prices for our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME
products, which include one year of software maintenance and support, range from
$20,000 to $800,000.
 
    The following products comprise the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe product suite:
<TABLE>
<S>            <C>            <C>          <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      YEAR PRODUCT
 
<CAPTION>
                   FIRST         LAST
PRODUCT NAME    INTRODUCED     RELEASED                       BRIEF DESCRIPTION
<S>            <C>            <C>          <C>
CHANGE MAN            1988          1997   Provides automated infrastructure to control and manage
                                           software change
COMPAREX              1981          1998   Performs data comparison for application testing and
                                           software quality
CDF                   1994          1997   Merges versions of programs to enable concurrent
                                           development
STARTOOL              1989          1998   Facilitates complex file and data management tasks
STARWARP              1997          1998   Addresses data aging problems by converting data to new
                                           formats
SYNCTRAC              1993          1998   Detects, tracks and synchronizes changes in MVS data
                                           sets
</TABLE>
 
    CHANGE MAN, our flagship product, is a comprehensive SCM solution that
provides an automated infrastructure to help customers manage and control change
throughout the software application life cycle. CHANGE MAN manages change by
coupling application development and production control and provides developers
and their managers with the assurance of technological control and integrity
throughout the development process enabling them to focus on software quality
and production reliability. CHANGE MAN automates the entire software application
life cycle, by providing:
 
          - impact analysis
 
          - version control
 
          - promotion of fixed code into production
 
          - online management of approvals and authorizations
 
- - management of concurrent development efforts by separate programming teams
 
   
- - code freezing to prevent further development while testing
    
 
- - auditing and automating the backout of changes
 
By using CHANGE MAN, customers can realize many benefits, including:
 
          - improving programmer productivity
 
          - reducing production downtime
 
          - ensuring approval integrity
 
          - improving application availability
 
- - accommodating multiple testing levels
 
- - eliminating manual errors
 
- - shortening approval time
 
   
CHANGE MAN is a flexible, compatible SCM solution that supports multiple
operating systems and database platforms and integrates easily with customers'
existing IT environments by using standard IBM programming languages and working
with existing customer security systems, libraries and inventory lists.
    
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
    COMPAREX is a comparison SCM product used for efficient application testing
and software quality assurance. COMPAREX performs fast, accurate, single-step
comparisons of the contents of libraries, directories, files or databases by
performing line-by-line byte-level comparisons. COMPAREX performs several
functions, including:
 
          - supporting a variety of data types
 
          - providing sophisticated comparison algorithms for both data and text
 
          - minimizing the scope of comparisons by utilizing keywords to compare
            specific portions of a file
 
- - providing direct interfaces to most major databases
 
- - producing detailed reports on the comparison differences
 
   
COMPAREX provides increased flexibility, accuracy and control of change testing
by:
    
 
   
          - enabling the comparison of data in dissimilar positions
    
 
   
          - providing single-step direct database comparisons
    
 
   
- - eliminating time-consuming manual change verifications and providing detailed
  audit trails
    
 
Its flexibility to handle any type of comparison problem enables COMPAREX to be
used in the testing and validation phase of a wide range of application
development projects, including Year 2000 and EMU conversions.
 
   
    CONCURRENT DEVELOPMENT FACILITY, OR CDF, facilitates the management of
multiple versions of software by providing a comprehensive comparison tool that
can merge up to eight versions of source code into a single version, and
produces a report that compares the different versions and clearly identifies
differences and conflicts. CDF can reduce application development costs by
enabling separate programming teams to work concurrently on the same parts of an
application. By merging different versions of a program's source code to provide
a consolidation of each team's changes, CDF greatly reduces implementation time
and improves the quality of new releases. CDF can be closely integrated with
CHANGE MAN to provide enhanced concurrent development capabilities.
    
 
    STARTOOL is used for complex file and data management tasks and has
extensive editing tools. STARTOOL provides a comprehensive workbench of
utilities that may be used for application and system testing or conversion and
recovery support. STARTOOL enables users to perform many data management tasks,
including:
 
          - locating and replacing data and data sets
 
          - automatically tracking changes to applications or systems
<PAGE>
configuration security for the production environment by using fingerprinting
technology to audit and track changes enabling system programmers to repair
unauthorized changes and to facilitate the replication of authorized changes to
remote environments.
 
PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
   
    We are leveraging the proprietary technology and expertise incorporated in
our mainframe SCM product suite to develop an integrated SCM product suite for
the desktop. Our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite will support the Windows
95/98/NT desktop platforms and is designed to be integrated with leading third
party software distribution, desktop management and help desk software products.
With our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME and FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suites, we will be
able to provides customers a complete SCM solution across an IT enterprise.
DETECT+RESOLVE, the first of our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products, remotely detects
software configuration problems on the desktop and resolve the problems
automatically over the network with functionality similar to SYNCTRAC. The
FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite will also include a comprehensive desktop SCM
product with functionality similar to CHANGE MAN; a comparison product used for
efficient application testing and software quality assurance with functionality
similar to COMPAREX; and a product that can reconcile multiple versions of
applications which capability is needed in collaborative development efforts
with functionality similar to CDF. We released DETECT+RESOLVE in December 1998
and plan to introduce initial versions of other FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP products by
the end of calendar 1999. We may be unable, for technological or other reasons,
to develop and introduce these products in a timely manner. Any failure by us to
successfully develop, market, sell and support the FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product
suite would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results
and financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Our Introduction of SERENA SCM
Products for the Desktop May Not Be Successful" and "--We May Experience Delays
in Developing Our Products Which Could Adversely Affect Our Business."
    
 
TECHNOLOGY
 
    SERNET provides a common platform for the continued enhancement of our
existing products and the rapid development of future products. SERNET serves as
a repository for our key technologies and provides our product suites with:
 
          - a common, stable infrastructure
 
          - a set of common services for product suite integration
 
          - an interface that promotes third party integration
 
- - a communications module for cross platform interconnectivity
 
- - a common set of modules including licensing management, file access and
  security
 
    Although SERNET has existed for some time as an embedded technology in many
of the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products, we are currently developing three stand
alone products that will be marketed under the brand name SERNET ENTERPRISE.
SERNET CONNECT, SERNET MAINFRAME and SERNET DESKTOP will use the SERNET
technology to facilitate interaction among our FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME and
FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suites. The SERNET ENTERPRISE products will be
designed to integrate with customer and third party technology where
interconnectivity is required. We currently expect an initial version of each
SERNET ENTERPRISE product to be released in the first half of calendar 1999.
 
    The following diagram illustrates SERENA's FULL.CYCLE ENTERPRISE SCM
environment which will be comprised of the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME product suite,
the planned FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP product suite and the SERNET CONNECT
communications module.
 
Graphic depicting SERENA's FULL.CYCLE Enterprise SCM environment which is
comprised of the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe product suite, the FULL.CYCLE Desktop
product suite (which product suite is currently under development) and the
SERNET Communication module. The graphic appears in a box.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
The title of the graphic, which appears centered inside the box under the top
line of the box, is 'FULL.CYCLE Enterprise.' Two rectangles with white space
between them appear beneath the FULL.CYCLE Enterprise title. The title of the
left rectangle, 'FULL.CYCLE Mainframe,' appears approximately in the middle of
the left rectangle. Beneath the 'FULL.CYCLE Mainframe' title the following
product names appear: Change Man, COMPAREX, CDF, SyncTrac, StarTool and
StarWarp. The title of the right triangle, 'FULL.CYCLE Desktop,' appears
approximately in the middle of the rectangle. Beneath the 'FULL.CYCLE Desktop'
title the following product names appear: Change*, Compare*, Merger+Reconcile*
and Detect+Resolve. Beneath this list of product names, at the bottom of the
rectangle, appears the caption '*Under Development.' The two FULL.CYCLE
Mainframe and FULL.CYCLE Desktop rectangles are connected at the bottom by the
words 'SERNET Connect' surrounded by a rectangle with an arrow on either end of
the rectangle intruding into the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe and FULL.CYCLE Desktop
rectangles. At the top of the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe rectangle, in the upper-left
corner, a short cylinder with 'Application and Data' appearing beneath the
cylinder is connected on its right side by three lines to a figure labeled
'Mainframe' appearing in the upper-right corner of the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe. The
figure labeled 'Mainframe' is connected on its right by a single line to a
figure--sitting in the white space between the FULL.CYCLE Mainframe and
FULL.CYCLE Desktop rectangles, directly above the SERNET Connect figure
below--that looks like a computer monitor and attached keyboard with the caption
'Application Development/ System Administration' appearing above the figure and
the caption 'Centralized Management' appearing below the figure. This figure is
connected on its right by a line to two figures sitting side by side in the
upper left corner of the FULL.CYCLE Desktop rectangle. Each of these two figures
looks like a computer monitor and attached keyboard and is connected to the
other by a single line. The caption 'Desktop' appears above these two figures
and the caption 'Client or Server' appears below these two figures. The
right-most of these two figures is connected on its right by three lines to a
short cylinder labeled 'Application and Data' appearing in the upper-right
corner of the FULL.CYLCE Desktop rectangle.
 
   
In addition to SERNET, we have developed a number of other SCM technologies
which are embedded in our products, including:
    
 
   
    - A comparison engine detecting differences and tracking changes as small as
      individual bit values. This technology enables customers to compare
      extremely large volumes of data rapidly from a diverse set of sources
      including databases, indexed files and flat file structures. The primary
      product that uses this technology is COMPAREX.
    
 
   
    - A merge engine processing changes made to the same source code program by
      different development teams that enables parallel development teams to
      apply changes to an application concurrently, while determining whether
      the changes are compatible. The primary product that uses this technology
      is CDF.
    
 
   
    - A fingerprinting technology enabling application or system changes to be
      detected with a high level of granularity by reducing each data file in a
      system to a unique eight-byte token or "fingerprint" which changes if any
      bit is altered. Fingerprinting allows programmers and systems managers to
      quickly determine which changes have led to operational errors, thereby
      facilitating timely problem detection and resolution. Substantially all of
      SERENA's products use this technology.
    
 
   
    - An object factory technology consolidating desktop components into single
      objects and collecting them in class libraries, allowing for code re-use
      and enabling customers to develop inventories containing proven, tested
      and reliable codes, thereby facilitating the rapid development and
      deployment of products to the desktop. The object factory technology has
      an open interface structure of class libraries that can be incorporated
      with original equipment manufacturer tool kits. SERENA uses this
      technology to develop new SCM products or to upgrade existing products.
    
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
 
    Our services group provides technical consulting, education, customer
support and product maintenance to help customers maximize the utilization of
SERENA's FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products. We offer our consulting and education
services under the SER(POWER) brand name.
 
    CONSULTING.  SERENA provides a comprehensive range of consulting services to
our customers. Our consultants review customers' existing IT systems and
applications and make recommendations for changing those systems and
applications and customizing SERENA's SCM products so that customers can fully
realize the benefits of the FULL.CYCLE MAINFRAME products. In addition to
helping customers customize, install and deploy our software products, our
consulting services may also include process reengineering and developing
interfaces with customers' databases, third party proprietary software
repositories or programming languages.
 
    We also offer customers more specialized consulting services. These
specialized consulting services expand SERENA's SER(POWER) professional services
to include our BEST PRACTICES CONSULTING SERVICES, which provide customers with
expertise and assistance in defining and developing a best practice change and
configuration management architecture and in identifying corresponding products,
methods and procedures. In addition, our YEAR 2000 SERVICES and EUROPEAN
MONETARY UNION SERVICES assist customers in achieving Year 2000 and EMU
conversion readiness. Our consultants work with customers' IT organizations to
identify and prioritize the critical success factors that are required for
effective Year 2000 and EMU conversion solutions, to manage corresponding system
and application changes and to automate the necessary testing processes.
SERENA's consulting services are typically billed on a time and materials basis.
 
    EDUCATION.  We offer hands-on training courses for the implementation and
administration of our products. Product training is provided on a periodic basis
at our headquarters in Burlingame, California, at our offices in London and also
at customer sites throughout the United States and Europe. We also offer custom
course development and CD-ROM based multimedia education for certain of our
products. We bill our education services on a per class basis.
 
   
    CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND PRODUCT MAINTENANCE.  We have a staff of customer
service personnel who provide technical support to customers. We offer technical
support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week via our Internet site, toll
free telephone lines, electronic mail, bulletin board service and facsimile
lines. Customers are notified about the availability of regular maintenance and
enhancement releases via Internet-based electronic mail. Initial product license
fees include one year of product software maintenance and support. Thereafter,
customers are entitled to receive software updates, maintenance releases and
technical support for an annual maintenance fee equivalent to approximately 17%
of the current list price of the licensed product. Over 95% of our customers who
were eligible to renew their maintenance agreements during calendar year 1997
did so. There can be no assurance that we will maintain this rate of renewal.
See "Risk Factors--Our Future Revenue is Substantially Dependent Upon Our
Installed Customer Base Renewing Maintenance Agreements for Our Products and
Licensing Additional SERENA SCM Products; Our Future Professional Service and
Maintenance Revenue is Dependent on Future Sales of Our Software Products."
    
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    SERENA believes that the ability to introduce new and enhanced products to
customers will be a key factor for future success. As part of our efforts to
generate ideas for enhancing our existing products and for developing new ones,
we maintain an ongoing dialogue with our customers who are continually facing
new SCM challenges in their evolving IT environments. SERENA has devoted and
expects to continue to devote significant resources to developing new and
enhanced products, including the FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP and SERNET ENTERPRISE
product suites.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
   
    Most of our technical personnel have been employed by SERENA for a
substantial length of time and their significant knowledge base contributes to
SERENA's ability to understand and address customers' SCM requirements. We
believe that attracting and retaining talented software developers who
understand the customers' problems is an important component of product
development activities. We encourage our developers to assume responsibility for
the design and delivery of our products through our product authorship incentive
program that rewards our developers with commissions based on the market success
of the applications they design, write, market and support. Competition for
developers is intense and any failure by us to continue to attract and retain
qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition. See "Risk Factors--We May Not Be Able
to Recruit and Retain the Personnel We Need to Succeed."
    
 
    SERENA's research and development expenses were $3.0 million, $4.3 million,
$5.5 million and $3.2 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998 and the nine months
ended October 31, 1998, representing 28%, 25%, 17% and 10% of total revenues,
respectively. The reduction in research and development expenses for the nine
months ended October 31, 1998, is attributable principally to the restructuring
of compensation arrangements with SERENA's founder and Chief Technology Officer.
We expect the research and development expenses will increase as we hire
additional research and development personnel to develop its FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP
and SERNET ENTERPRISE products. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
   
    We believe that our ability to develop and introduce enhancements to our
products and new products on a timely basis is a key success factor. We expect
that we will have to respond quickly to rapid technological change, changing
customer needs, frequent new product introductions and evolving industry
standards that may render existing products and services obsolete. SERENA has in
the past devoted and expects in the future to continue to devote a significant
amount of resources to developing new and enhanced products. We currently have a
number of product development initiatives underway. There can be no assurance
that any enhanced products, new products or product suites will be embraced by
existing or new customers. The failure of these products to achieve market
acceptance would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Our Industry Changes Rapidly
Due to Evolving Technology Standards And Our Future Success Will Depend on Our
Ability to Continue to Meet the Sophisticated Needs of Our Customers."
    
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
CUSTOMERS
 
    The following is a representative list of our customers that have purchased
at least $100,000 in software licenses, maintenance and professional services
since the beginning of fiscal 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
ABN AMRO Service Company, Inc.                 State of California, Health & Welfare
Aegon USA, Inc.                                Agency Data Center
Aetna Life Insurance Company                   International Business Machines
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.             Corporation
American Express Financial Corp.               Integrated Systems Solution
Ameritech Services, Inc.                       Corporation
Ames Department Stores, Inc.                   Manulife Financial
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.                MCI WorldCom Communications
Bank of Nova Scotia                            Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.
Bear Stearns & Co. Inc.                        Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
BellSouth Information Services                 National City Corp.
CGI Telecom Information and Services, Inc.     NationsBanc Services, Inc.
The Chase Manhattan Corporation                Policy Management Systems Corporation
Citigroup, Inc.                                The Prudential Insurance Company of
Computer Sciences Corporation                  America
Credit Communal de Belgique                    Rensselaer County Industries
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation         Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
First Union National Bank                      Sears Canada Inc.
Fortis Inc.                                    U.S. Sprint Communications Company,
The Franklin Mint                              L.P.
General Electric Company                       Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Hartford Fire Insurance Company                Washington Mutual, Inc.
                                               Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
                                               Zurich Insurance Company
</TABLE>
 
   
    The following are examples of customers who use our products and
professional services for managing enterprise level applications for large
organizations.
    
 
    CREDIT COMMUNAL DE BELGIQUE is the Belgian banking institution of the Dexia
Group, a leader in the financing of public service facilities in Europe,
composed of Credit Local de France, Credit Communal, Banque International a
Luxembourg and Dexia Public & Project Finance International Bond. Credit
Communal sought an SCM solution that could standardize its software application
development procedures, provide versioning capability and enable concurrent
development efforts by multiple programming teams. Credit Communal chose CHANGE
MAN because of its broad functionality, ease of use and implementation,
adaptability and customization capabilities to address specific SCM
requirements. CHANGE MAN provides Credit Communal with an automated software
change infrastructure enabling Credit Communal to better manage and control its
software application development environments. Additionally, Credit Communal has
integrated CDF with CHANGE MAN to provide enhanced concurrent development
capabilities and has integrated SYNCTRAC to manage and synchronize software in
their production and test systems. Credit Communal also uses these products for
Year 2000 and EMU readiness.
 
    FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a
commercial bank serving more than 16 million customers. Before purchasing CHANGE
MAN, First Union used an internally developed SCM solution which did not have
versioning or concurrent development capabilities. First Union chose CHANGE MAN
because of its broad functionality, ease of use and implementation and
versioning and concurrent capabilities. CHANGE MAN has improved First Union's
control of its software application development process including synchronizing
source to load modules and protecting source code. First Union also uses
COMPAREX and CDF to increase programmer productivity by identifying differences
between versions of code.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
SALES AND MARKETING
 
    In North America, the United Kingdom and Germany, we market our software
primarily through our direct sales organization. SERENA's North American sales
organization includes personnel in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Chicago,
Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco and Toronto.
 
    Our direct sales force works closely with customers to understand and
address their SCM needs. In particular, we plan to broaden our telesales efforts
to reduce sales cycles and provide a rapid response to customer product
requests.
 
    In addition to our direct sales and telesales efforts, we have established
relationships with distributors and resellers located in North America, Europe,
Israel and South Africa. In addition to marketing and selling our software,
these distributors and resellers provide technical support as well as
educational and consulting services.
 
    We market our products through seminars, industry conferences, trade shows,
advertising, direct mailing efforts and our Internet site. In addition, we have
developed programs that promote an active exchange of information between us and
our existing customers. These programs include customer meetings with our senior
management at our Executive Briefing Center and focus group meetings with
customers to evaluate product positioning. We plan to continue to expand our
marketing organization to broaden our market presence.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The market for our products is highly competitive and diverse. The
technology for SCM products may change rapidly. New products are frequently
introduced and existing products are continually enhanced. Competitors vary in
size and in the scope and breadth of the products and services that they offer.
Many of our current and potential competitors have greater financial, technical,
marketing and other resources than we have. As a result, they may be able to
respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer
requirements. They may also be able to devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sale of their products than we can. We may not be
able to compete successfully against current and future competitors.
 
    EXISTING COMPETITION.  We face competition from a number of sources,
including:
 
        - Customers' internal IT departments
 
        - Providers of SCM products that compete directly with SERENA's CHANGE
          MAN and COMPAREX products such as Computer Associates, PLATINUM
          technology, IBM and smaller private companies
 
        - Providers of SCM application development programmer productivity and
          system management products such as Compuware, Microsoft, IBM and
          smaller private companies
 
    FUTURE COMPETITION.  Barriers to entry in the software market are relatively
low. As a result, we may face competition in the future from established
companies who have not previously entered the mainframe SCM market or from
emerging software companies. These companies may not only develop their own
mainframe SCM solutions, but they may also acquire or establish cooperative
relationships with our current competitors, including cooperative relationships
between large, established companies and smaller private companies. Because
larger companies have significant financial and organizational resources
available, they may be able to quickly penetrate the mainframe SCM market
through acquisitions or strategic relationships and may be able to leverage the
technology and expertise of smaller companies and develop successful SCM
products for the mainframe. We expect that the software industry, in general,
and providers of SCM solutions, in particular, will continue to consolidate. It
is possible that new competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and
rapidly acquire significant market share.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
    BUNDLING OR COMPATIBILITY RISKS.  Our ability to sell our products also
depends, in part, on the compatibility of our products with other third-party
products, particularly those provided by IBM. Developers of these third-party
products may change their products so that they will no longer be compatible
with our products. These third-party developers may also decide to bundle their
products with other SCM products for promotional purposes. This could materially
adversely affect our business and future operating results as we may be priced
out of the market or no longer able to offer commercially viable products.
 
    COMPETITION IN THE DESKTOP SCM MARKET.  We anticipate that we will also face
significant competition as we develop, market and sell our FULL.CYCLE DESKTOP
products. We do not have experience in developing, selling, marketing or
supporting desktop products since all of our products to date have been designed
to support the mainframe. Penetrating the existing desktop SCM market will be
difficult. Competitors in the desktop market include PLATINUM technology, Micro
Focus/INTERSOLV, Microsoft, Novadigm, Novell, Rational Software and smaller
private companies.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
    Our success will be heavily dependent upon proprietary technology. We rely
primarily on a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, trade
secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our
proprietary rights. Such laws provide only limited protection. We submitted four
patent applications for our technology in 1998 and each of these applications is
still pending. These patents may never be issued. Even if these patents are
issued, they may not provide sufficiently broad protection or they may not prove
enforceable in actions against alleged infringors. Despite precautions that we
take, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy aspects of our
current or future products or to obtain and use information that we regard as
proprietary. In particular, we may provide our licensees with access to our data
model and other proprietary information underlying our licensed applications.
Such means of protecting our proprietary rights may not be adequate.
Additionally, our competitors may independently develop similar or superior
technology. Policing unauthorized use of software is difficult and some foreign
laws do not protect SERENA's proprietary rights to the same extent as United
States laws. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our
intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the
validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Litigation could result
in substantial costs and diversion of SERENA's resources and could materially
adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.
 
   
    Third parties may claim that our current or future products infringe their
proprietary rights. In September 1998, Compuware Corporation filed a lawsuit
against SERENA alleging copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation
and various tort claims related to the sale of our STARTOOL and STARWARP
products. See "Litigation" and "Risk Factors--Third Parties in the Future Could
Assert That Our Products Infringe Their Intellectual Property Rights, Which
Could Adversely Affect Our Business; There Could Be Potential Adverse Affects of
the Pending Compuware Claim." We may receive additional claims in the future and
any such claims could affect our relationships with existing customers and may
prevent future customers from licensing its products. Because we are dependent
upon a limited number of products, any such claims, including the Compuware
claim, with or without merit, could be time consuming, result in costly
litigation, cause product shipment delays or require us to enter into royalty or
licensing agreements. Royalty or license agreements may not be available on
acceptable terms or at all. We expect that software product developers will
increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products and
competitors in the software industry segment grows and the functionality of
products in different industry segments overlaps. As a result of these factors,
infringement claims could materially adversely affect our business, operating
results and financial condition.
    
 
    We license our STARTOOL and STARWARP products on an exclusive, world-wide
basis from A. Bruce Leland, one of our employees. Mr. Leland holds all
proprietary rights with respect to the STARTOOL and STARWARP technology,
including any derivative works or enhancements of the existing STARTOOL and
STARWARP products. Sales of STARTOOL accounted for 12% of SERENA's software
licensing revenue for fiscal
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
   
1998 and for the nine months ended October 31, 1998, respectively. Licenses of
STARWARP accounted for 7% of SERENA's software licensing revenue for nine months
ended October 31, 1998 and did not account for any software license revenues in
fiscal 1998. Our licenses to copy, market and distribute STARTOOL and STARWARP
are exclusive, worldwide and nontransferable. We pay sublicense fees of
approximately 36% on net revenue recognized from license and maintenance
agreements related to STARTOOL and STARWARP. SERENA's licenses for these
products are terminable by Mr. Leland upon 30 days notice in the event certain
conditions occur, including if we fail to pay sublicense fees on a timely basis
or otherwise materially breach the license agreement. SERENA owns the trademarks
for both STARTOOL and STARWARP.
    
 
    We share ownership rights in our SYNCTRAC technology for mainframe platforms
with High Power Software, a developer of data protection software for the
mainframe. Sales of the SYNCTRAC product accounted for 3% and 5% of SERENA's
software license revenue in fiscal 1998 and in the nine months ended October 31,
1998, respectively. High Power Software receives 50% of all software license
revenue and maintenance revenue derived from licenses of the SYNCTRAC product
for mainframe platforms. Although we have primary responsibility for marketing,
licensing and supporting SYNCTRAC, High Power Software has the ability to
jointly direct marketing, sales and support efforts regarding the product. We
own the SYNCTRAC technology for deployment on non-mainframe platforms and do not
share this ownership with High Power Software or any other third party.
 
   
    If our licenses for our STARTOOL and STARWARP technologies terminated or our
relationship with High Power Software worsened with regard to the joint
direction of marketing, sales and support efforts for SYNCTRAC, this could
materially adversely affect our business and operating results. See "Risk
Factors-- Certain of Our Products Are Licensed From Third Parties or Are
Jointly-Owned with Third Parties; Our Failure To Maintain These Arrangements
with Third Parties Could Adversely Affect Our Business."
    
 
LITIGATION
 
    In September 1998, Compuware Corporation, or Compuware, filed suit against
SERENA in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
seeking unspecified compensatory damages, costs and attorneys fees, and
injunctive relief based on allegations of copyright infringement, trade secret
misappropriation and various tort claims related to the sale of our STARTOOL and
STARWARP products. Compuware served the complaint on SERENA on November 18,
1998. Due to the nature of litigation generally and because the lawsuit brought
by Compuware is at an early stage, management cannot ascertain the availability
of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies or estimate the total expenses,
possible damages or settlement value, if any, that may ultimately be incurred in
connection with Compuware's suit. However, management believes, based on the
advice of counsel, that SERENA has meritorious defenses to the allegations
contained in Compuware's complaint. We believe that this matter will not have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
This litigation could be time consuming and costly, and there can be no
assurance that SERENA will necessarily prevail given the inherent uncertainties
in litigation. In the event that we do not prevail in litigation, we could be
prevented from selling our STARTOOL and STARWARP products or be required to
enter into royalty or licensing agreements or pay monetary damages. Such royalty
or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable
to SERENA or at all. In the event of a successful claim against us, our
business, operating results or financial condition could be materially adversely
affected.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of October 31, 1998, SERENA had 186 full-time employees, 30 of whom were
engaged in research and development, 62 in sales and marketing, 64 in
consulting, education and customer and document support, and 30 in finance,
administration and operations. Our future performance depends in significant
part upon the continued service of its key technical, sales and senior
management personnel. The loss of the services of one or more of our key
employees could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and
financial condition. Our future success also depends on its continuing ability
to attract, train
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
   
and retain highly qualified technical, sales and managerial personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be able to retain our
key personnel in the future. None of our employees are represented by a labor
union. We have not experienced any work stoppages and consider our relations
with our employees to be good.
    
 
FACILITIES
 
    Our principal administrative, sales, marketing, consulting, education,
customer support and research and development facilities are located at our
headquarters in Burlingame, California. SERENA currently occupies an aggregate
of approximately 26,000 square feet of office space in the Burlingame facility
under the terms of various leases, the first of which terminates, unless
renewed, in December 2001. Management believes its current facilities will be
adequate to meet SERENA's needs for at least the next twelve months. We believe
that suitable additional facilities will be available in the future as needed on
commercially reasonable terms.
 
   
    SERENA also leases office space for sales and marketing in Sacramento,
California and Atlanta, Georgia, has subsidiaries in Canada, the United Kingdom
and Germany.
    
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
    The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
executive officers and directors of SERENA as of the date of this prospectus.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                      AGE      POSITION
- ------------------------------------      ---      ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>          <C>
Douglas D. Troxel...................          53   Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology
                                                   Officer
Richard A. Doerr....................          55   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Marianne M. Elkholy.................          47   Vice President, Worldwide Marketing
Kevin C. Parker.....................          42   Vice President, Research and Development
Robert I. Pender, Jr................          41   Vice President, Finance and Administration,
                                                   Chief
                                                   Financial Officer and Secretary
Sydney S. Phelan....................          48   Vice President, North American Consulting
                                                   Services
Roger A. Richardson.................          38   Vice President, International Operations
Anthony G. Stayner..................          43   Vice President, Services
Vita A. Strimaitis..................          38   Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant
                                                   Secretary
Mark E. Woodward....................          40   Vice President, Sales
Alan H. Hunt (a)(b).................          56   Director
Jerry T. Ungerman (a)(b)............          54   Director
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(a)  Member of Audit Committee
    
 
   
(b) Member of Compensation Committee
    
 
    DOUGLAS D. TROXEL is the founder of SERENA and has served as the Chairman of
SERENA's board of directors since April 1980 and SERENA's Chief Technology
Officer since April 1997. From June 1980 to April 1997, Mr. Troxel served as the
President and Chief Executive Officer of SERENA. Mr. Troxel holds a B.S. in
mathematics from Iowa State University.
 
    RICHARD A. DOERR has served as SERENA's President, Chief Executive Officer
and as a member of SERENA's Board of Directors since April 1997. From April 1995
until October 1996, Mr. Doerr was Vice President of Sales, Service and
Distribution for Wall Data Incorporated, a software connectivity company. From
October 1991 until October 1994, Mr. Doerr was Vice President, Worldwide
Operations for Oracle Corporation, a developer of relational database management
software. From August 1986 until October 1991, Mr. Doerr was Vice President,
Western Area and U.S. Healthcare Industry for Digital Equipment Corporation, a
developer of networking solutions for computer environments. Mr. Doerr holds a
B.S. from California Polytechnic State University.
 
    MARIANNE M. ELKHOLY has served as SERENA's Vice President, Worldwide
Marketing since October 1997. From April 1997 until August 1997, Ms. Elkholy was
Vice President, Marketing for Virtual Integration Technology, Inc., a developer
of data warehousing and information delivery solutions. From March 1994 until
February 1997, Ms. Elkholy was Executive Director of Marketing for Informix
Corporation, a developer of relational database management software. From March
1990 until March 1994, Ms. Elkholy was a Director of Marketing for Oracle
Corporation, a developer of relational database management software. Ms. Elkholy
holds a B.S. and an M.S. in mathematics from Marywood College.
 
    KEVIN C. PARKER has served as SERENA's Vice President, Research and
Development since November 1998. From October 1997 until November 1998, Mr.
Parker served as SERENA's Director of Technology Development. From November 1995
until April 1997, Mr. Parker was Director of Product Development for Command
Technology Corporation, a developer of mainframe-style programmer's tools. From
November 1989 until November 1995, Mr. Parker was Managing Director of IT
Independent Training Limited, a developer of software training products.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
    ROBERT I. PENDER, JR. has served as SERENA's Vice President, Finance and
Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since December 1997. From
December 1996 until August 1997, Mr. Pender was Vice President, Finance of
Mosaix, Inc., a customer interaction software company. From April 1993 until
December 1996, Mr. Pender served in a variety of positions, most recently as
Chief Financial Officer, with ViewStar Corporation, a client/server workflow
software company that was acquired by Mosaix, Inc. in December 1996. Mr. Pender
holds a B.A. in accounting from Baylor University and an M.S. in financial
planning and tax from Golden Gate University.
 
   
    SYDNEY S. PHELAN has served as SERENA's Vice President, North American
Consulting Services since September 1998. From August 1992 until September 1998,
Ms. Phelan was a Vice President with Optima Software, Inc., a distributor of
change management software that was acquired by SERENA in September 1998. Ms.
Phelan holds a B.A. in English and psychology from the University of
Connecticut.
    
 
   
    ROGER A. RICHARDSON has served as SERENA's Vice President, International
Operations since May 1998. From February 1997 until October 1997, Mr. Richardson
was Director of European Operations for True Software Inc., a developer of SCM
products. From February 1996 until January 1997, Mr. Richardson was a director
with Sequalogic Plc, a contract agency. From April 1993 until January 1996, Mr.
Richardson held various business management positions, most recently as Vice
President, Northern Europe, at Legent, Inc., a developer of SCM products.
    
 
    ANTHONY G. STAYNER has served as SERENA's Vice President, Services since
September 1998. From June 1998 until September 1998, Mr. Stayner served as
SERENA's Vice President, Professional Services. From February 1996 until January
1998, Mr. Stayner was Director of Product Marketing, Services Business Unit for
Network Associates, Inc., a network security and performance management company.
From November 1994 until February 1996, Mr. Stayner was the Principal for
Stayner & Associates, a marketing and management consulting services firm. From
March 1992 until November 1994, Mr. Stayner was the Vice President of Marketing
for Common Ground Software, a developer of software for the distribution of
electronic documents across multiple platforms. Mr. Stayner holds a B.A. in
economics and mathematics from the University of California, Davis, a J.D. from
the University of California, Berkeley and a M.B.A. from Stanford University.
 
    VITA A. STRIMAITIS has served as SERENA's Vice President, General Counsel
and Assistant Secretary since July 1997. Ms. Strimaitis also served as SERENA's
Director of Licensing from September 1996 until July 1997. From April 1995 until
February 1996, Ms. Strimaitis was Vice President and General Counsel for
Financial Benefit Group, an annuity insurance company. From August 1994 until
April 1995, Ms. Strimaitis was a Senior Corporate Attorney for Uniforce Staffing
Services, a professional services resources company. From June 1986 until
January 1993, Ms. Strimaitis was Assistant General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary for Pioneer Financial Services, Inc., an insurance holding company.
Ms. Strimaitis holds a B.A. in political science and psychology from Loyola
University and a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law.
 
   
    MARK E. WOODWARD has served as SERENA's Vice President, Sales since November
1998. From August 1997 until November 1998, Mr. Woodward was Senior Vice
President, Sales for Live Picture, Inc., a developer of Internet imaging
technology. From August 1995 until August 1997, Mr. Woodward was Vice President,
Sales for McAfee Associates, a network management firm. From March 1989 until
August 1995, Mr. Woodward was Vice President, Sales for Legent Inc., a developer
of SCM products.
    
 
    ALAN H. HUNT has served as a member of SERENA's Board of Directors since
February 1998. From October 1995 to January 1998, Mr. Hunt was the President and
Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Peregrine
Systems, Inc., a provider of infrastructure management software solutions. From
July 1994 until November 1995, Mr. Hunt was President and Chief Executive
Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of XVT Software Inc., a
development tools software company. From March 1991 until May 1994, Mr. Hunt was
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing (North America)
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
for BMC Software, Inc., a vendor of software system utilities for IBM mainframe
computing environments. Mr. Hunt holds a B.S. in business administration and
industrial management from San Jose State College.
 
   
    JERRY T. UNGERMAN has served as a member of SERENA's Board of Directors
since December 1998. Since October 1998, Mr. Ungerman has served as an Executive
Vice President of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a developer of
computer network security access software. From July 1971 to October 1998, Mr.
Ungerman was the Executive Vice President of Operations of Hitachi Data Systems
Corp., a provider of computer networking and data storage solutions for
computing environments. Mr. Ungerman holds a B.S.B. in Business from the
University of Minnesota.
    
 
BOARD COMMITTEES
 
   
    We have established an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. The
Audit Committee reviews the internal accounting procedures of SERENA and
consults with and reviews the services provided by our independent auditors. The
Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the board of directors the
compensation and benefits of all officers of SERENA and establishes and reviews
general policies relating to compensation and benefits of employees of SERENA.
    
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining salaries,
incentives and other forms of compensation for directors, officers and other
employees of SERENA and administering various incentive compensation and benefit
plans. The Compensation Committee consists of Alan H. Hunt and Jerry T.
Ungerman. Richard A. Doerr, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of
SERENA, participates in all discussions and decisions regarding salaries and
incentive compensation for all employees and consultants of SERENA, except that
he is excluded from discussions regarding his own salary and incentive
compensation. No interlocking relationship exists between any member of SERENA's
Compensation Committee and any member of any other company's board of directors
or compensation committee.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
   
    We reimburse each member of our board of directors for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with attending board meetings. No member of our
board of directors currently receives any additional cash compensation. At the
time Mr. Hunt became a member of the board of directors, SERENA granted Mr. Hunt
56,250 shares of common stock pursuant to a restricted stock purchase agreement
at a purchase price per share of $1.44. Under the terms of that agreement,
SERENA has a right to repurchase any unvested shares in the event Mr. Hunt's
membership in the board of directors should terminate. One quarter of Mr. Hunt's
shares will vest upon the first anniversary of his membership on the board of
directors, and 1/36 of the remaining shares will vest monthly thereafter. At the
time Mr. Ungerman became a member of our board of directors, SERENA granted Mr.
Ungerman an option to purchase up to 25,000 shares of common stock at a purchase
price of $9.00 per share under the 1997 Plan. One quarter of Mr. Ungerman's
options will vest upon the first anniversary of his membership on the board of
directors, and 1/36 of his remaining options vest monthly thereafter. See
"Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
    SERENA's 1999 Director Option Plan provides that options will be granted to
non-employee directors pursuant to an automatic nondiscretionary grant
mechanism. Each new non-employee director is automatically granted an option to
purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at the time he or she is first elected to
the board of directors. Each non-employee director will subsequently be granted
an option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock at the beginning of each
fiscal year. Each such option will be granted at the fair market value of the
common stock on the date of grant. Options granted to non-employee directors
under the Director Plan will become exercisable over four years, with one
quarter of the shares subject to the option vesting after one year and the
remaining shares vesting ratably in monthly installments thereafter. See "Stock
Plans--1999 Director Option Plan."
    
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
   
    The table below and footnotes thereto set forth in summary form information
concerning the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid for services rendered
to SERENA in all capacities during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 by (a)
our President and Chief Executive Officer; (b) our executive officers whose
salary and bonus for fiscal 1998 exceeded $100,000 and who served as an
executive officer of SERENA during such fiscal year; and (c) our Vice President,
Worldwide Marketing and our Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
Other than the salary and bonus described in the table below, we did not pay any
executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table any fringe benefits,
perquisites or other compensation in excess of 10% of such executive officer's
salary and bonus during fiscal 1998.
    
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      LONG-TERM COMPENSATION AWARDS
                                                              ---------------------------------------------
                                      ANNUAL COMPENSATION       RESTRICTED       RESTRICTED     SECURITIES
                                    ------------------------       STOCK            STOCK       UNDERLYING     ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION           SALARY       BONUS        AWARDS ($)       AWARDS (#)     OPTIONS (#)  COMPENSATION
- ----------------------------------  ----------  ------------  ---------------  ---------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>          <C>
CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
Richard A. Doerr..................  $  156,154  $    429,620(3)  $   1,334,250     1,334,250(6)         --     $   2,346(7)
  President and Chief Executive
  Officer
 
Douglas D. Troxel.................     324,000     1,063,500(4)             --            --            --        31,619(8)
  Chief Technology Officer
 
Marianne M. Elkholy...............      50,000(2)       42,500(5)        184,500       184,500(6)         --       1,692(9)
  Vice President, Worldwide
  Marketing
 
Robert I. Pender, Jr..............      25,000(2)       15,000(4)        184,500       184,500(6)         --         534(10)
  Vice President, Finance and
  Administration, Chief Financial
  Officer and Secretary
 
Vita A. Strimaitis................     138,483        50,000(3)        137,250       137,250(6)         --         5,094(11)
  Vice President, General Counsel
  and Assistant Secretary
 
FORMER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
Athena Troxel (1).................      96,000        20,603(3)             --            --            --         3,974(12)
  Chief Financial Officer and
  Secretary
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
 
(1)  Ms. Troxel resigned from her position as SERENA's Secretary and Chief
    Financial Officer in April 1997.
 
(2)  Represents salary paid in fiscal 1998 when Ms. Elkholy and Mr. Pender were
    not employed by SERENA for the entire fiscal year. For fiscal 1999 Ms.
    Elkholy and Mr. Pender are scheduled to receive an annual salary of $150,000
    (subject to adjustment in connection with SERENA's salary review process).
 
(3)  Bonus compensation earned in fiscal 1998 but paid in fiscal 1999.
 
(4)  Bonus compensation earned and paid in fiscal 1998.
 
(5)  Bonus compensation consists of $10,000 earned and paid in fiscal 1998 and
    $32,500 earned in fiscal 1998 but paid in fiscal 1999.
 
   
(6)  Mr. Doerr, Ms. Elkholy, Mr. Pender and Ms. Strimaitis purchased these
    shares in January 1998 under the 1997 Stock Plan at a purchase price of
    $1.00 per share. Mr. Doerr's shares vest over three years with one-third of
    his shares vesting
    
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
   
    on the first anniversary of his initial employment date and the remaining
    shares vesting ratably monthly thereafter. The shares issued to the officers
    other than Mr. Doerr vest over four years with one-quarter of the shares
    vesting on the first anniversary of the executive officer's initial
    employment date and the remaining shares vesting ratably monthly thereafter.
    See "--Employment Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements" and
    "Certain Transactions."
    
 
(7)  Represents $1,333 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan and
    $1,013 in group life insurance excess premiums paid by SERENA.
 
(8)  Represents $5,190 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan,
    $20,528 in group life insurance excess premiums and $5,901 in personal car
    expenses paid by SERENA.
 
(9)  Represents $1,500 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan and
    $192 in group life insurance excess premiums paid by SERENA.
 
(10) Represents $500 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan and
    $34 in group life insurance excess premiums paid by SERENA.
 
(11) Represents $4,975 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan and
    $119 in group life insurance excess premiums paid by SERENA.
 
   
(12) Represents $3,640 in matching contributions under SERENA's 401(k) plan and
    $334 in group life insurance excess premiums paid by SERENA.
    
 
INCENTIVE STOCK PLANS
 
   
    1997 STOCK PLAN.  The 1997 Plan was initially adopted by the board of
directors and approved by our stockholders in October 1997. In connection with
this offering, the board of directors approved the amendment and restatement of
the 1997 Plan in November 1998 and the stockholders approved the amendment in
January 1999. The 1997 Plan provides for the grant to employees of incentive
stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or
the Code, and for the grant to employees, directors and consultants of
nonstatutory stock options and stock purchase rights, or SPRs. Unless terminated
sooner, the 1997 Plan will terminate automatically in November 2007. As of
October 31, 1998, a total of 2,153,250 shares of common stock were reserved for
issuance pursuant to the 1997 Plan, of which options to acquire 800,610 shares
were issued and outstanding as of that date. Additionally, 1,896,750 shares had
been previously issued pursuant to SPR's. In November 1998, our board of
directors approved an increase of 500,000 shares reserved under the 1997 Plan.
The 1997 Plan provides for annual increases in the number of shares available
for issuance thereunder, on the first day of each fiscal year, equal to the
lesser of (a) 2 1/2% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day
of the prior fiscal year or (b) such amount as may be determined by the board.
The first such annual increase will be effective at the beginning of fiscal
2001.
    
 
    The 1997 Plan may be administered by the board of directors or a committee
of the board, which committee shall, in the case of options intended to qualify
as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, consist of two or more "outside directors" within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code. The 1997 Plan is presently administered by the board of
directors. The plan administrator has the power to determine the terms of the
options or SPRs granted, including the exercise price, the number of shares
subject to each option or SPR, the exercisability thereof, and the form of
consideration payable upon such exercise. In addition, the plan administrator
has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 1997 Plan, provided that no
such action may affect any share of common stock previously issued and sold or
any option previously granted under the 1997 Plan.
 
    Options and SPRs granted under the 1997 Plan are not generally transferable
by the optionee, and each option and SPR is exercisable during the lifetime of
the optionee only by such optionee. Options granted under the 1997 Plan must
generally be exercised within three months of the end of optionee's status as an
employee or consultant of SERENA, or within 12 months after such optionee's
termination by death or disability, but in no event later than the expiration of
the option's ten year term. In the case of SPRs, unless the plan administrator
determines otherwise, the restricted stock purchase agreement entered
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
   
into in connection with the exercise of the SPR shall grant SERENA a repurchase
option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
purchaser's employment with SERENA for any reason (including death or
disability). The purchase price for shares repurchased pursuant to restricted
stock purchase agreements shall be the original price paid by the purchaser and
may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to SERENA. The
repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the plan administrator.
The exercise price of all incentive stock options granted under the 1997 Plan
must be at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date
of grant. The exercise price of nonstatutory stock options and SPRs granted
under the 1997 Plan is determined by the plan administrator, but with respect to
nonstatutory stock options intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the exercise
price must at least be equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant. With respect to any participant who owns stock possessing more
than 10% of the voting power of all classes of SERENA's outstanding capital
stock, the exercise price of any incentive stock option granted must equal at
least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date and the term of such
incentive stock option must not exceed five years. The term of all other options
granted under the 1997 Plan may not exceed ten years.
    
 
    The 1997 Plan provides that in the event of a merger or consolidation of
SERENA with or into another corporation, a sale of substantially all of SERENA's
assets or certain other changes in control of SERENA, the optionee shall have
the right to exercise all of the optioned stock, including shares as to which it
would not otherwise be exercisable.
 
   
    1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.  SERENA's Purchase Plan was adopted by
the board of directors in November 1998 and approved by the stockholders in
January 1999. The Purchase Plan will become effective simultaneously with the
effectiveness of this offering. A total of 225,000 shares of common stock has
been reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan. In addition, the Purchase
Plan provides for annual increases in the number of shares available for
issuance under the Purchase Plan, on the first day of each fiscal year, equal to
the lesser of (a) 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day
of the prior fiscal year or (b) such amount as may be determined by the board.
The first such annual increase will be effective at the beginning of fiscal
2001.
    
 
   
    The Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the
Code, contains consecutive, overlapping 24 month offering periods. The offering
periods generally start on the first trading day on or after December 1 and June
1 of each year, except for the first such offering period will commence on the
first trading day on or after the effective date of this offering and will end
on the last trading day on or before November 30, 2000.
    
 
   
    Employees are eligible to participate if they are customarily employed by
SERENA or any participating subsidiary for at least 20 hours per week and more
than five months in any calendar year. However, any employee (a) who immediately
after grant owns stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power
or value of all classes of the capital stock of SERENA or (b) whose rights to
purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of SERENA accrues at a
rate which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock for each calendar year may be not be
granted an option to purchase stock under the Purchase Plan. The Purchase Plan
permits participants to purchase common stock through payroll deductions of up
to 10% of the participant's "compensation." Compensation is defined as the
participant's base straight time gross earnings, bonuses and commissions but
excludes payments for overtime, profit sharing payments, shift premium payments,
incentive compensation and incentive payments. The maximum number of shares a
participant may purchase during a single offering period is 25,000 shares.
    
 
    Amounts deducted and accumulated by the participant are used to purchase
shares of common stock at the end of each offering period. The price of stock
purchased under the Purchase Plan is 85% of the lower of the fair market value
of the common stock at the beginning or end of the offering period. Participants
may end their participation at any time during an offering period, and they will
be paid their
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
payroll deductions to date. Participation ends automatically upon termination of
employment with SERENA.
 
   
    Rights granted under the Purchase Plan are not transferable by a participant
other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise
provided under the Purchase Plan. The Purchase Plan provides that, in the event
of a merger of SERENA with or into another corporation or a sale of
substantially all of SERENA's assets, each outstanding option may be assumed or
substituted for by the successor corporation. If the successor corporation
refuses to assume or substitute for the outstanding options, the offering period
then in progress will be shortened, and a new exercise date will be set. The
1999 Purchase Plan will terminate in November 2009. The board of directors has
the authority to amend or terminate the Purchase Plan, except that, subject to
certain exceptions described in the Purchase Plan, no such action may adversely
affect any outstanding rights to purchase stock under the Purchase Plan.
    
 
   
    1999 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN.  Non-employee directors are entitled to
participate in the Director Plan. The Director Plan was adopted by the board of
directors in November 1998 and approved by the stockholders in January 1999, but
it will not become effective until the date of this offering. The Director Plan
has a term of ten years, unless terminated sooner by the board. A total of
150,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the
Director Plan. In addition, the Director Plan provides for an annual increase,
on the first day of each fiscal year, equal to the lesser of (a) 1/2% of the
outstanding shares of common stock on the last day of the prior fiscal year or
(b) such amount as may be determined by the Board. The first such annual
increase will become effective at the beginning of fiscal 2001.
    
 
   
    The Director Plan provides for the automatic grant of 25,000 shares of
common stock to each non-employee director at the time he or she is first
elected to the Board of Directors. He or she shall automatically be granted a
subsequent option to purchase 5,000 shares on the first day of each fiscal year,
if on such date he or she shall have served on the board for at least six
months. Each option grant under the Director Plan shall have a term of 10 years
and the shares subject to the option shall vest over four years, with one
quarter of the shares subject to option vesting after one year and the remaining
shares vesting ratably in monthly installments thereafter. The exercise price of
all options shall be 100% of the fair market value per share of the common
stock, generally determined with reference to the closing price of the common
stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of grant.
    
 
    In the event of a merger of SERENA or the sale of substantially all of the
assets of SERENA, each option shall become fully vested and exercisable for a
period of 30 days from the date the board notifies the optionee of the option's
full exercisability, after which period the option shall terminate. Options
granted under the Director Plan must be exercised within three months of the end
of the optionee's tenure as a director of SERENA, or within 12 months after such
director's termination by death or disability, but in no event later than the
expiration of the option's ten year term. No option granted under the Director
Plan is transferable by the optionee other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, and each option is exercisable, during the lifetime of the
optionee, only by such optionee.
 
   
    401(k) PLAN.  SERENA has adopted a tax-qualified employee savings and
retirement plan, the 401(k) Plan, for eligible U.S. employees. Eligible
employees may elect to defer a percentage of their eligible compensation in the
401(k) Plan, subject to the statutorily prescribed annual limit. We may make
matching contributions on behalf of all participants in the 401(k) Plan in an
amount determined by our board of directors. We may also make additional
discretionary profit sharing contributions in such amounts as determined by the
board of directors, subject to statutory limitations. Matching and
profit-sharing contributions, if any, are subject to a vesting schedule; all
other contributions are at all times fully vested. The 401(k) Plan, and the
accompanying trust, is intended to qualify under Sections 401(k) and 501 of the
Code so that contributions by employees or by SERENA to the 401(k) Plan, and
income earned (if any) on plan contributions, are not taxable to employees until
withdrawn from the 401(k) Plan, and so that contributions by SERENA, if any,
will be deductible by SERENA when made. The trustee under the 401(k) Plan, at
the
    
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
direction of each participant, invests the assets of the 401(k) Plan in any of a
number of investment options.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
 
   
    On April 21, 1997, SERENA entered into an at-will employment agreement with
Richard A. Doerr, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of
SERENA's Board of Directors. The employment agreement provides for Mr. Doerr to
receive an annual base salary of $200,000, subject to annual review for
increases, and an annual cash bonus based on the achievement of individual and
company performance objectives. In the event Mr. Doerr is terminated without
cause, Mr. Doerr will be entitled to receive severance payments equal to six
month's base salary. Pursuant to the employment agreement, in January 1998, Mr.
Doerr and SERENA entered into a restricted stock purchase agreement under which
Mr. Doerr purchased 1,334,250 shares of SERENA's common stock under the 1997
Plan at a purchase price of $1.00 per share. Mr. Doerr paid the purchase price
for his restricted shares in the form of a full recourse promissory note secured
by the purchased common stock. The promissory note bears interest at an annual
rate of 5.9%. SERENA holds a repurchase option on the unvested shares should Mr.
Doerr terminate his employment with SERENA. This repurchase right lapses with
respect to one third of the shares subject to the agreement on the first year
anniversary of Mr. Doerr's initial employment and lapses with respect to the
remaining shares on a monthly basis over the succeeding two years. In the event
of a change in control transaction, SERENA's right to repurchase any unvested
shares will lapse.
    
 
   
    SERENA and Douglas D. Troxel, SERENA's founder, Chief Technology Officer and
the Chairman of the board of directors, are parties to an employment agreement
that automatically renews each June unless Mr. Troxel is terminated for cause.
    
 
   
    In January 1998, Marianne M. Elkholy, our Vice President, Worldwide
Marketing, Robert I. Pender, Jr., our Vice President, Finance and
Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, and Vita A. Strimaitis,
our Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, purchased 184,500,
184,500 and 137,250 shares of common stock, respectively, at a purchase price of
$1.00 per share under restricted stock purchase agreements. Each executive
officer paid the purchase price for his or her shares in the form of full
recourse promissory notes secured by the purchased common stock. These
promissory notes bear interest at the annual rate of 5.9%. SERENA holds a
repurchase option on unvested shares should the individual executive officers
terminate their relationship with SERENA. This repurchase right lapses with
respect to one quarter of the shares subject to the agreements on the first
anniversary of their hire date, and the remaining shares vest on a monthly basis
over the succeeding three years. In the event of a change in control
transaction, SERENA's right to repurchase unvested shares will lapse.
    
 
    Under the 1997 Plan, in the event of a change of control transaction,
vesting of options and restricted stock issued under the 1997 Plan will
automatically accelerate such that options will become fully exercisable,
including with respect to shares for such options which would otherwise be
unvested, and any outstanding repurchase options relating to restricted stock
will lapse. See "Stock Plans--1997 Stock Plan."
 
LIMITATIONS ON DIRECTORS' LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
 
    Our Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors to the
maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors
of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach
of their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for (a) any breach of
their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (b) acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (c) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock
repurchases or redemptions or (d) any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. Such limitation of liability does not
apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and does not
affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or
rescission.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
   
    SERENA's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that we will
indemnify our directors and executive officers and may indemnify our other
corporate agents to the fullest extent permitted by law. We believe that
indemnification under our Bylaws covers at least negligence and gross negligence
on the part of indemnified parties. Our Bylaws also permit us to secure
insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any
liability arising out of his or her actions in such capacity, regardless of
whether the Bylaws would permit indemnification.
    
 
   
    We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive
officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in SERENA's Bylaws.
These agreements, among other things, provide for indemnification of SERENA's
directors and executive officers for certain expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in
any action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of SERENA,
arising out of such person's services as a director or executive officer of
SERENA, any subsidiary of SERENA or any other company or enterprise to which the
person provides services at the request of SERENA. We believe that these
provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons
as directors and executive officers.
    
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
   
    Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of September
23, 1998, SERENA acquired Optima. In connection with the acquisition, SERENA
issued 3,187,500 shares of common stock, for an aggregate consideration of
$19,921,875, in exchange for all of Optima's issued and outstanding common
stock. The terms of our acquisition of Optima, including the aggregate
consideration paid, were determined by negotiations among the Chief Executive
and Chief Financial Officers of SERENA and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of Optima, with the companies' respective financial and
accounting advisors. The Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of Optima
collectively held 85% of the outstanding shares of Optima common stock prior to
the acquisition. The number of shares issued in connection with the Optima
acquisition was determined based upon the current and anticipated financial
performance of Optima and its perceived value relative to SERENA's business. The
number of shares of SERENA common stock issued in the acquisition was based on
the percentage ownership of SERENA common stock issued in the acquisition by the
former Optima shareholders on a post-acquisition basis, and was not based on a
specific dollar value. After the principal terms of the acquisition were agreed
to, including the number of shares to be issued in the transaction, our board of
directors determined a fair market value for the shares of SERENA common stock
mainly for accounting purposes. In connection with such valuation, SERENA
retained an independent appraiser. The per share "fair market" valuation for
SERENA common stock issued in the acquisition was determined to be $6.25.
Douglas D. Troxel, SERENA's founder, Chief Technology Officer and the Chairman
of SERENA's board of directors, held 15% of the outstanding shares of Optima
prior to the acquisition. Mr. Troxel did not participate at all in the
negotiations regarding the Optima acquisition. Pursuant to the acquisition, Mr.
Troxel was issued 478,125 shares of SERENA common stock for an aggregate
consideration of $2,988,281. Donald A. Murphy, who served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Optima and held 70% of Optima's common stock prior to the
acquisition, was issued, 2,231,250 shares of SERENA common stock in the name of
the Murphy Family Trust for an aggregate consideration of $13,945,313. By virtue
of the Optima acquisition, Mr. Murphy and the Murphy Family Trust became
beneficial owners of more than 5% of SERENA's outstanding common stock. Of the
2,231,250 shares of SERENA common stock issued to the Murphy Family Trust,
367,500 are subject to an escrow arrangement in favor of SERENA to satisfy any
breaches of representations and warranties made by Optima or certain of its
shareholders under the acquisition agreement. The escrow terminates in March
2000.
    
 
   
    Prior to our acquisition of Optima in September 1998, Optima was the primary
distributor of our flagship CHANGE MAN product for over ten years. Pursuant to a
distribution agreement between Optima and SERENA, Optima, or its
subdistributors, licensed and sold maintenance contracts for CHANGE MAN to end-
user customers. For fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the six months ended July
31, 1998, Optima recorded an aggregate of $7,076,889, $11,007,066, $16,946,652
and $9,185,549, respectively, in software license revenue and maintenance
revenue from transactions related to licenses of and maintenance agreements for
CHANGE MAN. We were entitled to sublicense fees of 40% and 75% based upon
Optima's initial sales of software licenses and maintenance renewal agreements,
respectively. For the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996, and 1997, Optima's
royalty expenses were $3,809,276, $5,856,783, and $8,972,882, respectively. Mr.
Troxel and Mr. Murphy held 15% and 70%, respectively, of the outstanding shares
of common stock of Optima prior to the acquisition.
    
 
    In March 1996, SERENA made an unsecured loan in the principal amount of
$250,000 to Mr. Troxel. The loan accrued interest at the rate of 10.5% per year
and was repaid in full in October 1998. In November 1996, SERENA made an
additional loan of $500,000 to Mr. Troxel. The loan accrued interest at a rate
of 10% and was repaid in full in July 1997. In July 1998, SERENA made an
additional loan to Mr. Troxel in the principal amount of $600,000. The loan is
secured by shares of SERENA common stock held by Mr. Troxel. The loan accrues
interest at the rate of 5.56% per year. The principal and accrued interest on
the note are due and payable in three equal installments of $222,641. Each
installment is to be paid on the annual anniversary of the funding of the loan.
Mr. Troxel's loan will become due and payable
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
270 days after the closing of SERENA's initial public offering of its common
stock to the extent of any proceeds Mr. Troxel receives as a selling stockholder
in the offering, up to the full amount of principal and interest then
outstanding.
 
   
    SERENA has entered into employment agreements with Richard A. Doerr,
SERENA's President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Troxel. In addition,
SERENA is a party to restricted stock agreements with certain of its executive
officers pursuant to which the officers of SERENA purchased an aggregate of
1,840,500 shares of our common stock under the 1997 Plan in consideration of the
delivery of full recourse promissory notes to SERENA by such officers which
notes are secured by the purchased shares. See "Management--Employment
Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements."
    
 
   
    In connection with his appointment to our board of directors, Alan H. Hunt
entered into a restricted stock purchase agreement with SERENA in April 1998 to
purchase 56,250 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $1.44.
Mr. Hunt paid the purchase price of $81,250 for these shares in the form of a
full recourse promissory note secured by the purchased common stock. The
promissory note bears interest at an annual rate of 5.9%. SERENA holds a
repurchase option on any unvested shares that becomes exercisable in the event
Mr. Hunt ceases to be a member of our board of directors. The repurchase right
lapses with respect to one quarter of the shares on the first anniversary of the
purchase date and with respect to the remaining shares, monthly thereafter. In
the event of a change in control transaction, SERENA's right to repurchase the
unvested shares shall lapse.
    
 
   
    In December 1998, in connection with his appointment to our board of
directors, SERENA granted Jerry T. Ungerman an option to purchase up to an
aggregate of 25,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $9.00 per
share under the 1997 Plan. One quarter of the option shares vest on the first
anniversary of Mr. Ungerman's membership on the board of directors and the
remaining option shares vest ratably in monthly installments thereafter.
    
 
   
    In March 1997, in connection with Athena P. Troxel's resignation of her
position as SERENA's Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, SERENA
repurchased 630,000 shares of common stock from Ms. Troxel for an aggregate
purchase price of $700,000. The terms of the repurchase were determined in an
arm's length transaction and the parties relied, in part, on the advice of an
independent appraiser in establishing the repurchase price for the SERENA
shares. Ms. Troxel continues to hold more than five percent of the outstanding
shares of SERENA's common stock. Ms. Troxel was formerly married to Douglas D.
Troxel, SERENA's founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of the board of
directors.
    
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
   
    The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of SERENA's common stock as of October 31, 1998 by (a) each person or
entity who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of SERENA's
outstanding common stock; (b) each of the Named Executive Officers; (c) each
director of SERENA; (d) all directors and executive officers as a group; and (e)
all other selling stockholders. The address for each holder of more than 5% of
SERENA's common stock is c/o SERENA Software, Inc., 500 Airport Boulevard, 2(nd)
Floor, Burlingame, California 94010-1904. Except as otherwise indicated, and
subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table
have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock
held by them. Applicable percentage ownership in the following table is based on
20,204,250 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 31, 1998 and
24,204,250 shares immediately following the completion of this offering. To the
extent that any shares are issued upon exercise of options, warrants or other
rights to acquire SERENA's capital stock that are presently outstanding or
granted in the future or reserved for future issuance under SERENA's stock
plans, there will be further dilution to new public investors.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     SHARES BENEFICIALLY                  SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                       OWNED PRIOR TO                            OWNED
                                          OFFERING          NUMBER OF       AFTER OFFERING
                                     -------------------   SHARES BEING   -------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS                       NUMBER    PERCENT     OFFERED        NUMBER    PERCENT
- -----------------------------------  ----------  -------   ------------   ----------  -------
<S>                                  <C>         <C>       <C>            <C>         <C>
5% STOCKHOLDERS
  Murphy Family Trust (1)..........   2,231,250   11.0%     1,070,588      1,160,662     4.8%
 
CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
 DIRECTORS
  Douglas D. Troxel (2)............  14,086,125   69.7        200,000     13,886,125    57.4
  Richard A. Doerr (3).............   1,334,250    6.6             --      1,334,250     5.5
  Marianne M. Elkholy (4)..........     184,500    *               --        184,500    *
  Robert I. Pender, Jr. (5)........     184,500    *               --        184,500    *
  Vita A. Strimaitis (6)...........     137,250    *               --        137,250    *
  Alan H. Hunt (7).................      56,250    *               --         56,250    *
  Jerry T. Ungerman (8)............          --     --             --             --      --
  All directors and executive
    officers as a group (12
    persons).......................  15,982,875   79.1        200,000     15,782,875    65.2
 
FORMER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
  Athena Troxel (9)................   1,512,000    7.5        500,000      1,012,000     4.2
 
OTHER SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
- -----------------------------------
  Roseann P. Geyer (10)............     478,125    2.4        229,412        248,713     1.0
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------------
 
   
 * Less than 1%
    
 
   
 (1) Includes 367,500 shares of common stock that are subject to an escrow in
    favor of SERENA to satisfy any breaches of representations and warranties
    made by Optima or certain of its shareholders in connection with SERENA's
    September 1998 acquisition of Optima. Such escrow will expire in March 2000.
    Donald A. Murphy and Pamela J. Murphy are trustees for the Murphy Family
    Trust. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
 (2) Includes 12,258,000 shares of common stock held by Mr. Troxel as trustee of
    the Troxel Living Trust and 1,350,000 shares of common stock held by Mr.
    Troxel as a general partner for Troxel Investments, L.P. Mr. Troxel is
    SERENA's founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of SERENA's board of
    directors.
    
 
   
 (3) Includes 1,334,250 shares of common stock subject to a restricted purchase
    stock agreement, of which 667,125 shares were unvested and subject to
    SERENA's repurchase option as of October 31, 1998 should Mr. Doerr's
    employment with SERENA terminate. Mr. Doerr is SERENA's President and Chief
    Executive Officer and a member of SERENA's board of Directors. See
    "Management--Employment Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements."
    
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
   
 (4) Includes 184,500 shares of common stock subject to a restricted stock
    purchase agreement, of which 134,531 shares were unvested and subject to
    SERENA's repurchase option as of October 31, 1998 should Ms. Elkholy's
    employment with SERENA terminate. Ms. Elkholy is SERENA's Vice President,
    Worldwide Marketing. See "Management--Employment Agreements and Change in
    Control Arrangements."
    
 
   
 (5) Includes 184,500 shares of common stock subject to a restricted stock
    purchase agreement, all of which were unvested and subject to SERENA's
    repurchase option as of October 31, 1998 should Mr. Pender's employment with
    SERENA terminate. Mr. Pender is SERENA's Vice President, Finance and
    Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. See
    "Management--Employment Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements."
    
 
   
 (6) Includes 137,250 shares of common stock subject to a restricted stock
    purchase agreement, of which 94,359 shares were unvested and subject to
    SERENA's repurchase option as of October 31, 1998 should Ms. Strimaitis'
    employment with SERENA terminate. Ms. Strimaitis is SERENA's Vice President,
    General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. See "Management--Employment
    Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements."
    
 
   
 (7) Includes 56,250 shares of common stock subject to a restricted purchase
    stock agreement, all of which are unvested and subject to SERENA's
    repurchase option as of October 31, 1998 should Mr. Hunt's membership on
    SERENA's board of directors terminate. See "Management--Employment
    Agreements and Change in Control Arrangements."
    
 
   
(8)  Mr. Ungerman became a member of SERENA's board of directors in December
    1998.
    
 
   
(9)  Ms. Troxel resigned as SERENA's Corporate Secretary and Chief Financial
    Officer in March 1997.
    
 
   
(10) Includes 78,750 shares of common stock that are subject to an escrow in
    favor of SERENA to satisfy any breaches of representations and warranties of
    Optima or certain of its shareholders made in connection with SERENA's
    September 1998 acquisition of Optima. Such escrow will expire in March 2000.
    
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
GENERAL
 
   
    Upon the completion of this offering, SERENA will be authorized to issue
60,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, and 5,000,000 shares of
undesignated preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Immediately after the completion
of this offering, we estimate that there will be an aggregate of 24,204,250
shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock will be
issued and outstanding. In addition, based on options as of October 31, 1998,
796,860 shares of common stock will be issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options upon completion of the offering.
    
 
    The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be
complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and by the provisions of
applicable Delaware law.
 
    The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain
certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and
stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the
effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a future takeover or change in
control of SERENA unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the
board of directors.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
   
    As of October 31, 1998 there were 20,204,250 shares of common stock
outstanding which were held by nine stockholders. Effective upon the close of
this offering, holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all
matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Holders of common stock will not
have cumulative voting rights, and, therefore, holders of a majority of the
shares voting for the election of directors will be able to elect all of the
directors. In such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able
to elect any directors.
    
 
   
    Holders of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be
declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally
available for the payment of dividends, subject to the terms of any existing or
future agreements between SERENA and our debtholders. We have never declared or
paid cash dividends on our capital stock, expect to retain future earnings, if
any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business, and do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In the event of
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SERENA, the holders of common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets legally available for
distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the
prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.
    
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Effective upon the closing of this offering, SERENA will be authorized to
issue 5,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock. The board of directors
has the authority to issue the preferred stock in one or more series and to fix
the price, 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 a series or the designation of such series, without any further
vote or action by SERENA's stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock, while
providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and
other corporate purposes, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change in control of SERENA without further action by the
stockholders and may adversely affect the market price of, and the voting and
other rights of, the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock
with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the
holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others. SERENA
has no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
   
    In connection with SERENA's September 1998 acquisition of Optima, we entered
into a registration rights agreement with certain shareholders of Optima who
received an aggregate of 2,709,375 shares of common stock of SERENA in exchange
for their shares of Optima common stock. Pursuant to the registration rights
agreement, such stockholders are entitled to certain rights with respect to the
registration of such shares under the Securities Act. If we propose to register
any of our securities under the Securities
    
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
   
Act, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders,
such stockholders are entitled to notice of such registration and to include
shares of common stock in such registration at our expense. Additionally, such
stockholders may require SERENA to file additional registration statements on
Form S-3 at SERENA's expense. All of these registration rights are subject to
certain conditions and limitations, among them the right of the underwriters of
an offering to limit the number of shares included in such registration.
    
 
ANTITAKEOVER EFFECTS OF PROVISIONS OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
 
   
    Under Delaware law, all stockholder actions must be effected at a duly
called annual or special meeting or by written consent. Our Bylaws provide that,
except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can
only be called by the board of directors, the Chairman of the board of
directors, the Chief Executive Officer of SERENA or stockholders holding shares
in the aggregate entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at such
meeting. In addition, our Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for
stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders,
including proposed nominations of persons for election to the Board.
Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations
specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of
record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the
meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to SERENA's
Secretary of the stockholder's intention to bring such business before the
meeting.
    
 
   
    These provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in
the composition of the board of directors and in the policies formulated by the
board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions which may
involve an actual or threatened change of control of SERENA. Such provisions are
designed to reduce the vulnerability of SERENA to an unsolicited acquisition
proposal and, accordingly, could discourage potential acquisition proposals and
could delay or prevent a change in control of SERENA. Such provisions are also
intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights but
could, however, have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers
for our shares and, consequently, may also inhibit fluctuations in the market
price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts.
These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the
management of SERENA. See "Risk Factors--Certain Provisions in Our Charter
Documents May Inhibit Potential Acquisition Bids for SERENA."
    
 
EFFECT OF DELAWARE ANTITAKEOVER STATUTE
 
   
    We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or
the Antitakeover Law, which regulates corporate acquisitions. The Antitakeover
Law prevents certain Delaware corporations, including those whose securities are
listed for trading on the Nasdaq National Market, from engaging, under certain
circumstances in a "business combination" with any "interested stockholder" for
three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested
stockholder. For purposes of the Antitakeover Law, a "business combination"
includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving SERENA and the
interested stockholder and the sale of more than ten percent (10%) of SERENA's
assets. In general, the Antitakeover Law defines an "interested stockholder" as
any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more the outstanding voting
stock of SERENA and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or
controlled by such entity or person. A Delaware corporation may "opt out" of the
Antitakeover Law with an express provision in its original certificate of
incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or
bylaws resulting from amendments approved by the holders of at least a majority
of the corporation's outstanding voting shares. We have not "opted out" of the
provisions of the Antitakeover Law. See "Risk Factors--Delaware Law May Inhibit
Potential Acquisition Bids for SERENA."
    
 
TRANSFER AGENT
 
    The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, LLC.
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Upon completion of this offering, SERENA will have outstanding 24,204,250
shares of common stock based upon shares outstanding at October 31, 1998
(assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option). Excluding the
6,000,000 shares of common stock offered hereby and assuming no exercise of the
underwriters' over-allotment option, as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, there will be 18,204,250 shares of common stock
outstanding, all of which are "restricted" shares under the Securities Act of
1933. All restricted shares are subject to lock-up agreements with the
underwriters pursuant to which the holders of the restricted shares have agreed
not to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of such shares for a period of 180 days
after the date of this prospectus. Beginning 180 days after the Effective Date,
approximately 16,516,750 restricted shares will become eligible for sale in the
public market when the underwriter's lock-up agreements expire (unless the
underwriters elect, in their sole discretion, to release these shares from the
lock-up agreements earlier). In addition to the restricted shares described
above, after such 180th day, approximately 1,687,500 additional restricted
shares, all of which were issued in connection with our September 1998
acquisition of Optima, will become available for sale at various times pursuant
to Rule 144. The general provisions of Rule 144 are described below. Most of the
restricted shares that will become available for sale in the public market
beginning 180 days after the effective date will be subject to certain volume
and other resale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 because the holders are
affiliates of SERENA. Hambrecht & Quist LLC may release the shares subject to
the lock-up agreements in whole or in part at any time with or without notice.
However, Hambrecht & Quist LLC has no current plans to do so.
    
 
    In general, under Rule 144, an affiliate of SERENA, or person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned restricted shares for at
least one year, will be entitled to sell in any three-month period a number of
shares that does not exceed the greater of (a) 1% of the then outstanding shares
of the common stock (approximately 242,000 shares immediately after this
offering) or (b) the average weekly trading volume during the four calendar
weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the SEC.
Sales pursuant to Rule 144 are subject to certain requirements relating to
manner of sale, notice and availability of current public information about
SERENA. A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed to
have been an affiliate of SERENA at any time during the 90 days immediately
preceding the sale and who has beneficially owned his or her shares for at least
two years is entitled to sell such shares pursuant to Rule 144(k) without regard
to the limitations described above.
 
   
    In addition to the restriction imposed by the securities laws, 1,896,750 of
the restricted shares were issued to certain officers and directors of SERENA
pursuant to restricted stock agreements under the 1997 Plan. Pursuant to the
provisions of these agreements, SERENA has a repurchase option on any unvested
shares. SERENA's repurchase option with respect to such shares lapses ratably
over time. At the 180th day after the date of this prospectus, approximately
782,391 of those shares will remain subject to the repurchase option.
    
 
   
    As of October 31, 1998, 2,153,250 shares were reserved for issuance under
the 1997 Plan, of which options to purchase 800,610 shares were then outstanding
although none of these options were then exercisable. Beginning 180 days after
the date of this prospectus, approximately 253,267 shares issuable upon the
exercise of vested options will become eligible for sale and 1,114,359 shares
issued pursuant to restricted stock agreements under the 1997 Plan will no
longer be subject to a repurchase option and will be eligible for resale. In
addition, an aggregate of 1,896,750 restricted shares have been issued to
certain executive officers and directors of SERENA under the 1997 Plan pursuant
to the restricted stock agreements described above.
    
 
   
    In November 1998, our board of directors approved:
    
 
   
        - an increase of 500,000 shares in the number of shares reserved under
          the 1997 Plan
    
 
   
        - a reserve of 150,000 shares for options under the Director Plan
    
 
   
        - a reserve of 225,000 shares for options under the Purchase Plan
    
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
    We intend to file, within 180 days after the date of this prospectus, a Form
S-8/S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act to register shares
issued pursuant to restricted stock purchase agreements under the 1997 Plan,
shares issued in connection with option exercises and shares reserved for
issuance under all stock plans. Shares of common stock issued pursuant to the
restricted stock agreements under the 1997 Plan or upon exercise of options
after the effective date of the Form S-8/S-3 will be available for sale in the
public market, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to affiliates
and lock-up agreements.
 
LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS
 
    All officers and directors and certain holders of common stock and options
to purchase common stock have agreed pursuant to certain "lock-up" agreements
that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to
sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common
stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for common stock, or warrants or
other rights to purchase common stock for a period of 180 days after the date of
this prospectus without the prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC.
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
underwriters named below, through their representatives, Hambrecht & Quist LLC,
SG Cowen Securities Corporation, and SoundView Technology Group, Inc., have
severally agreed to purchase from SERENA and the selling stockholders the
following respective numbers of shares of common stock.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                NUMBER OF
NAME                                                             SHARES
- ------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Hambrecht & Quist LLC.......................................
SG Cowen Securities Corporation.............................
SoundView Technology Group, Inc.............................
 
                                                              -------------
Total.......................................................    6,000,000
                                                              -------------
                                                              -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters
are subject to certain conditions precedent, including the absence of any
material adverse change in SERENA's business and the receipt of certain
certificates, opinions and letters from SERENA and the selling stockholders,
their counsel and the independent auditors. The nature of the underwriters'
obligation is such that they are committed to purchase all shares of common
stock offered hereby if any of such shares are purchased.
 
   
    The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the
public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess
of $     per share. The underwriters may allow and such dealers may reallow a
concession not in excess of $     per share to certain other dealers. After the
initial public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling
terms may be changed by the underwriters.
    
 
   
    SERENA has granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable no later than
30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 900,000 additional
shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less the
underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. To the
extent that the underwriters exercise this option, each of the underwriters will
have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof
which the number of shares of common stock to be purchased by it shown in the
above table bears to the total number of shares of common stock offered hereby.
SERENA will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell shares to the
underwriters to the extent the option is exercised. The underwriters may
exercise such option only to cover over-allotments made in connection with the
sale of shares of common stock offered hereby.
    
 
    The offering of the shares is made for delivery when, as and if accepted by
the underwriters and subject to prior sale and to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offering without notice. The underwriters reserve the right
to reject an order for the purchase of shares in whole or in part.
 
    SERENA and selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and
to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect
thereof.
 
    SERENA, the selling stockholders, and certain other stockholders of SERENA,
including executive officers and directors, who will own in the aggregate
18,204,250 shares of common stock after the offering, have agreed that they will
not, without the prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, offer, sell or
otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock, options or warrants to acquire
shares of common stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares
of common stock owned by them during the
 
                                       71
<PAGE>
180-day period following the date of this prospectus. SERENA has agreed that it
will not, without the prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, offer,
sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock, options or warrants to
acquire shares of common stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible
into shares of common stock during the 180-day period following the date of this
prospectus, except that SERENA may issue shares upon the exercise of options
granted prior to the date hereof, and may grant additional options under its
stock option plans, provided that, without the prior written consent of
Hambrecht & Quist LLC, such additional options shall not be exercisable during
such period.
 
    Certain persons participating in this offering may over-allot or effect
transactions which stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of
the common stock at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open
market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering
transactions or imposing penalty bids. A stabilizing bid means the placing of
any bid or effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or
maintaining the price of the common stock. A syndicate covering transaction
means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the
effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with
the offering. A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the underwriters
to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the
offering when shares of common stock sold by the syndicate member are purchased
in syndicate covering transactions. Such transactions may be effected on the
Nasdaq National Market, in the over-the counter market, or otherwise. Such
stabilizing, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
 
   
    Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the common
stock. The initial public offering price for the common stock will be determined
by negotiation among SERENA, the selling stockholders and the representatives.
Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering
price are prevailing market and economic conditions, revenues and earnings of
SERENA, market valuations of other companies engaged in activities similar to
SERENA, estimates of the business potential and prospects of SERENA, the present
state of SERENA's business operations, SERENA's management and other factors
deemed relevant. The estimated initial public offering price range set forth on
the cover of this preliminary prospectus is subject to change as a result of
market conditions or other factors.
    
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for
SERENA by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Palo Alto,
California. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, Menlo Park,
California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
   
    The consolidated financial statements and schedule of SERENA Software, Inc.
as of January 31, 1997 and 1998 and October 31, 1998, and for each of the years
in the three-year period ended January 31, 1998, and the nine months ended
October 31, 1998, and the financial statements of Optima Software, Inc. as of
December 31, 1996 and 1997, and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1997, included herein and in the registration statement are
included in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent auditors,
appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
    
 
                               CHANGE IN AUDITORS
 
   
    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was previously the principal accountants for
SERENA. On March 15, 1998, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was dismissed as principal
accountants and KPMG LLP was engaged to audit SERENA's and its subsidiaries'
consolidated financial statements. The Board of Directors has approved the
appointment of KPMG LLP as principal accountants for SERENA.
    
 
    In connection with the audit for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 and
the subsequent interim period through March 15, 1998, there were no
disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to their satisfaction would have
caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject
matter of the disagreement.
 
   
    The audit report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the consolidated financial
statements of SERENA and our subsidiaries as of and for the year ended January
31, 1997 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were
they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
principles.
    
 
                         ADDITIONAL SERENA INFORMATION
 
   
    We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 with respect
to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of
the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules which are part of the
registration statement. For further information with respect to SERENA and the
common stock, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits
and schedules thereto. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's
public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago,
Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about
the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from our Web site at http://www.serena.com or the SEC's Web site at
http://www.sec.gov. Information contained on SERENA's website does not
constitute part of this prospectus.
    
 
   
    Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the information
and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and, in
accordance therewith, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information will be available for inspection and copying at the SEC's public
reference rooms, our Web site and the Web site of the SEC referred to above.
    
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          PAGE
                                                                                          -----
<S>                                                                                    <C>
SERENA SOFTWARE, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  Independent Auditors' Report.......................................................         F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets........................................................         F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Income..................................................         F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity....................................         F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows..............................................         F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.........................................         F-7
 
OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  Independent Auditors' Report.......................................................        F-20
  Balance Sheets.....................................................................        F-21
  Statements of Income and Retained Earnings.........................................        F-22
  Statements of Cash Flows...........................................................        F-23
  Notes to Financial Statements......................................................        F-24
 
PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Income.........................        F-30
  Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Income.....        F-32
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
 
SERENA Software, Inc.
 
        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SERENA
Software, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 31, 1997 and 1998 and October 31,
1998, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity,
and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 31,
1998 and the nine month period ended October 31, 1998. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements based on our audits.
 
        We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SERENA
Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of January 31, 1997 and 1998 and October
31, 1998, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the years in the three-year period ended January 31, 1998 and the nine month
period ended October 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
   
                                          KPMG LLP
    
 
Mountain View, California
December 18, 1998, except as to Note 4(b),
  which is as of January 5, 1999
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    JANUARY 31,
                                                              -----------------------  OCTOBER 31,
                                                                 1997        1998          1998
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>          <C>
                                              ASSETS
 
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $4,030,890  $ 9,024,015  $16,878,350
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $30,000, $197,000
    and $281,000, in fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999,
    respectively............................................   2,543,806    8,964,905   10,565,121
  Due from principal stockholder............................     609,381       81,265      199,129
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets.................     340,616      738,055      742,440
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
    Total current assets....................................   7,524,693   18,808,240   28,385,040
Property and equipment, net.................................   1,311,168    1,389,843    1,814,174
Due from principal stockholder..............................     174,471      108,640      409,250
Intangible assets, net......................................          --           --   19,997,267
Other assets................................................     222,679      259,798      344,371
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
                                                              $9,233,011  $20,566,521  $50,950,102
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
 
                               LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable..........................................  $  258,417  $   455,015  $   239,051
  Income taxes payable......................................     142,297      707,934      544,438
  Accrued expenses..........................................   1,891,219    4,567,009    5,294,466
  Deferred revenue..........................................   4,614,699    6,136,460    9,422,588
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
    Total current liabilities...............................   6,906,632   11,866,418   15,500,543
Deferred revenue, net of current portion....................     280,565    1,715,349    2,056,323
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
    Total liabilities.......................................   7,187,197   13,581,767   17,556,866
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
Commitments and contingencies
 
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares
    authorized; no shares issued and outstanding............          --           --           --
  Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000,000 shares
    authorized; 15,750,000, 16,960,500 and 20,204,250 shares
    issued and outstanding in fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999,
    respectively............................................      15,750       16,961       20,204
  Additional paid-in capital................................     (14,747)   5,102,542   25,519,987
  Deferred stock-based compensation.........................          --   (3,098,197)  (1,445,146)
  Notes receivable from stockholders........................          --   (1,840,500)  (1,921,500)
  Accumulated other comprehensive losses....................     (28,603)     (30,604)     (19,061)
  Retained earnings.........................................   2,073,414    6,834,552   11,238,752
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
    Total stockholders' equity..............................   2,045,814    6,984,754   33,393,236
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
                                                              $9,233,011  $20,566,521  $50,950,102
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
                                                              ----------  -----------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER
                                                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,                     31,
                                               -------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
                                                   1996           1997           1998           1997           1998
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses (includes related party
    amounts of $1,763,666, $2,848,572,
    $5,492,184, $3,860,419 and $3,762,455,
    respectively)............................  $   4,605,844  $   8,228,650  $  17,838,946  $  10,237,366  $  16,684,740
  Maintenance (includes related party amounts
    of $2,135,963, $2,896,670, $4,175,191,
    $2,982,687 and $3,060,770,
    respectively)............................      5,679,303      8,730,172     12,257,724      8,830,963     12,097,957
  Professional services......................        458,814        495,251      2,050,366      1,420,571      2,363,034
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total revenue............................     10,743,961     17,454,073     32,147,036     20,488,900     31,145,731
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses..........................        552,317      1,298,338      1,086,820        701,079      1,265,901
  Maintenance................................      2,434,434      3,502,572      4,009,823      2,776,584      3,184,703
  Professional services......................        343,612        406,051      1,716,597      1,189,248      2,057,139
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total cost of revenue....................      3,330,363      5,206,961      6,813,240      4,666,911      6,507,743
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Gross profit.............................      7,413,598     12,247,112     25,333,796     15,821,989     24,637,988
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
  Operating expenses:
    Sales and marketing......................      2,504,664      4,605,138      7,946,797      5,243,742      8,955,779
    Research and development.................      2,997,889      4,320,905      5,517,787      3,774,631      3,220,017
    General and administrative...............      1,727,305      2,295,586      3,295,842      1,912,718      2,786,034
    Stock-based compensation.................             --             --        879,803             --      2,070,864
    Amortization of intangible assets........             --             --             --             --        175,963
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
      Total operating expenses...............      7,229,858     11,221,629     17,640,229     10,931,091     17,208,657
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
Operating income.............................        183,740      1,025,483      7,693,567      4,890,898      7,429,331
Interest and other income, net...............        159,973        115,223        321,061        223,311        570,502
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Income before income taxes...............        343,713      1,140,706      8,014,628      5,114,209      7,999,833
Income taxes.................................         66,218        278,332      3,253,490      1,833,052      3,595,633
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Net income...............................        277,495        862,374      4,761,138      3,281,157      4,404,200
Translation adjustment.......................          4,904        (25,782)        (2,001)        (2,723)        11,543
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
    Comprehensive income.....................  $     282,399  $     836,592  $   4,759,137  $   3,278,434  $   4,415,743
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
Net income per share:
  Basic......................................  $        0.02  $        0.05  $        0.31  $        0.21  $        0.27
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
  Diluted....................................  $        0.02  $        0.05  $        0.31  $        0.21  $        0.26
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                               -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
Shares used to compute net income per share:
  Basic......................................     15,750,000     15,750,000     15,247,750     15,290,333     16,145,234
  Diluted....................................     15,750,000     15,750,000     15,272,189     15,290,333     17,121,779
</TABLE>
    
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                OCTOBER 31, 1998
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         NOTES        ACCUMULATED
                       COMMON STOCK       ADDITIONAL    DEFERRED      RECEIVABLE         OTHER                       TOTAL
                  ----------------------   PAID-IN    STOCK-BASED        FROM        COMPREHENSIVE    RETAINED   STOCKHOLDERS'
                    SHARES      AMOUNT     CAPITAL    COMPENSATION   STOCKHOLDERS       LOSSES        EARNINGS      EQUITY
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
<S>               <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>         <C>
Balances as of
  January 31,
  1995..........  15,750,000  $   15,750  $  (14,747) $        --     $        --      $    (7,725)  $  933,545   $   926,823
Net income......          --          --          --           --              --               --      277,495       277,495
Translation
  adjustment....          --          --          --           --              --            4,904           --         4,904
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
Balances as of
  January 31,
  1996..........  15,750,000      15,750     (14,747)          --              --           (2,821)   1,211,040     1,209,222
Net income......          --          --          --           --              --               --      862,374       862,374
Translation
  adjustment....          --          --          --           --              --          (25,782)          --       (25,782)
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
Balances as of
  January 31,
  1997..........  15,750,000      15,750     (14,747)          --              --          (28,603)   2,073,414     2,045,814
Repurchase of
  common
  stock.........    (630,000)       (630)   (699,370)          --              --               --           --      (700,000)
Issuance of
  restricted
  common stock
  for notes
  receivable....   1,840,500       1,841   5,519,659   (3,681,000)     (1,840,500)              --           --            --
Deferred
  stock-based
  compensation
  related to
  grants of
  stock
  options.......          --          --     297,000     (297,000)             --               --           --            --
Amortization of
  deferred
  stock-based
 compensation...          --          --          --      879,803              --               --           --       879,803
Net income......          --          --          --           --              --               --    4,761,138     4,761,138
Translation
  adjustment....          --          --          --           --              --           (2,001)          --        (2,001)
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
Balances as of
  January 31,
  1998..........  16,960,500      16,961   5,102,542   (3,098,197)     (1,840,500)         (30,604)   6,834,552     6,984,754
Acquisition of
  Optima
  Software,
  Inc...........   3,187,500       3,187  19,918,688           --              --               --           --    19,921,875
Issuance of
  restricted
  common stock
  for note
  receivable....      56,250          56     238,757     (157,813)        (81,000)              --           --            --
Deferred
  stock-based
  compensation
  related to
  grants of
  stock
  options.......          --          --     260,000     (260,000)             --               --           --            --
Amortization of
  deferred
  stock-based
 compensation...          --          --          --    2,070,864              --               --           --     2,070,864
Net income......          --          --          --           --              --               --    4,404,200     4,404,200
Translation
  adjustment....          --          --          --           --              --           11,543           --        11,543
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
Balances as of
  October 31,
  1998..........  20,204,250  $   20,204  $25,519,987 $(1,445,146)    $(1,921,500)     $   (19,061)  $11,238,752  $33,393,236
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ------------   -------------   -------------   ----------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER
                                                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,                    31,
                                                           ----------------------------------------  ---------------------------
                                                               1996          1997          1998                        1998
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------      1997      -------------
                                                                                                     ------------
                                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income.............................................  $    277,495  $    862,374  $  4,761,138  $  3,281,157  $   4,404,200
  Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
    Depreciation.........................................       218,083       327,648       430,664       310,298        456,505
    Deferred income taxes................................       (51,429)        2,208      (462,876)           --             --
    Gain on sale of property and equipment...............            --            --        58,130            --             --
    Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation....            --            --       879,803            --      2,070,864
    Amortization of intangible assets....................            --            --            --            --        175,963
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable................................    (1,144,500)      (98,782)   (6,421,099)   (2,135,172)       703,774
      Prepaid expenses and other assets..................        89,769      (130,210)       28,318      (181,790)           (70)
      Accounts payable...................................       115,198       (25,094)      196,598       (14,103)      (215,964)
      Income taxes payable...............................            --       142,297       565,637       738,379       (202,653)
      Accrued expenses...................................       911,680       154,877     2,675,790       403,319     (1,088,474)
      Deferred revenue...................................     1,080,883     1,407,578     2,956,545       461,602      3,623,571
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
        Net cash provided by operating activities........     1,497,179     2,642,896     5,668,648     2,863,690      9,927,716
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Cash flows used in investing activities:
  Purchases of property and equipment....................      (614,620)     (676,420)     (567,469)     (489,217)      (755,542)
  Cash and cash equivalents acquired in Optima
    acquisition..........................................            --            --            --            --        439,092
  Issuance of notes due from stockholder.................            --      (750,000)     (130,000)     (130,000)      (600,000)
  Payment of notes due from stockholder..................            --            --       723,947       679,595        181,526
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
        Net cash (used) provided by investing
          activities.....................................      (614,620)   (1,426,420)       26,478        60,378       (734,924)
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Repurchase of common stock.............................            --            --      (700,000)     (700,000)            --
  Payment of notes to stockholders of Optima.............            --            --            --            --     (1,350,000)
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
        Net cash used by financing activities............            --            --      (700,000)     (700,000)    (1,350,000)
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash..................         4,904       (25,782)       (2,001)       (2,723)        11,543
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents................       887,463     1,190,694     4,993,125     2,221,345      7,854,335
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.........     1,952,733     2,840,196     4,030,890     4,030,890      9,024,015
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period...............  $  2,840,196  $  4,030,890  $  9,024,015  $  6,252,235  $  16,878,350
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid........................................  $     62,083  $    119,200  $  3,106,632  $  1,349,896  $   3,730,824
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
Noncash investing and financing activity:
  Restricted stock issued in exchange for notes
    receivable...........................................  $         --  $         --  $  1,840,500  $         --  $      81,000
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
  Issuance of common stock and notes for aquisition of
    Optima Software, Inc.................................  $         --  $         --  $         --  $         --  $  19,921,875
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                           ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    (a)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
        SERENA Software, Inc. (the "Company") is a leading provider of software
        change management products and services for managing and controlling
        change throughout the software application lifecycle. Its principal
        markets are North America and Europe. Export sales represented
        approximately 19%, 15%, 15%, and 19% of revenue in fiscal 1996, 1997,
        1998, and the nine months ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
 
    (b)  PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
        The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts
        of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant
        intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
    (c)  FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
 
        The functional currency of the Company's U.K. subsidiary is the British
        pound. This foreign subsidiary's financial statements are translated
        using current exchange rates for balance sheet accounts and average
        rates for income statement accounts. Translation adjustments are
        recorded in stockholders' equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and
        (losses) are included in other income, and totaled $(26,000), $(5,000),
        $74,000, and $(30,000) in fiscal 1996, 1997, 1998, and the nine months
        ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
 
    (d)  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
        The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with
        remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to
        be cash equivalents. As of January 31, 1997 and 1998 and October 31,
        1998, cash equivalents consisted of commercial paper and money market
        funds.
 
    (e)  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
        Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using the
        straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets,
        generally three to five years. Recoverability of property and equipment
        is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to future net cash
        flows the property and equipment are expected to generate. If such
        assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is
        measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the property
        and equipment and its fair value. To date, the Company has made no
        adjustments to the carrying values of its long-lived assets.
 
    (f)  INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
   
        Intangible assets include workforce, non-compete, and goodwill
        associated with the acquisition of Optima Software, Inc, and are
        amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives
        of the related assets, from 6 months to 15 years.
    
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONTINUED)
    (g)  SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
 
        Development costs related to software products are expensed as incurred
        until technological feasibility of the product has been established.
        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 not been
        significant, and, accordingly, no costs have been capitalized.
 
    (h)  INCOME TAXES
 
        Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method. Deferred
        tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax
        consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
        carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective
        tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using
        enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary
        differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on
        deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
        recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
 
    (i)  CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
        Financial instruments, potentially subjecting the Company to
        concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of temporary cash
        investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its temporary
        cash investments with two major financial institutions. The Company
        maintains an allowance for potential credit losses on customer accounts.
        For the fiscal years ended January 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, Optima
        Software, Inc. (Optima), a distributor, accounted for 36%, 31%, and 27%
        of revenues, respectively. Optima accounted for 33% and 19% of accounts
        receivable as of January 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company's
        principal stockholder owns 15% of the capital stock of Optima.
 
    (j)  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
        The fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts
        receivable, and accounts payable approximate their respective carrying
        amounts.
 
    (k)  USE OF ESTIMATES
 
        The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
        generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
        estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
        liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
        date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of
        revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
        differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONTINUED)
    (l)  REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
        The Company sells its products to its distributors and end users under
        license agreements. Each new license includes maintenance, which
        includes the right to receive telephone support and unspecified upgrades
        and enhancements, for a one-year period. The fee associated with such
        agreements is allocated between software license revenue and maintenance
        revenue based on their respective fair values. Software license revenue
        from these agreements is recognized upon receipt and acceptance of a
        signed contract and delivery of the software, provided the related fee
        is fixed and determinable, collectibility of the revenue is probable and
        the arrangement does not involve significant customization of the
        software. If an acceptance period is required, revenue is recognized
        upon the earlier of customer acceptance or the expiration of the
        acceptance period, as defined in the applicable software license
        agreement.
 
        The Company recognizes maintenance revenue ratably over the life of the
        related contract, generally 12 months. Maintenance contracts on
        perpetual licenses are available annually. The Company typically
        invoices and collects maintenance revenue on an annual basis at the
        anniversary date of the license. Service and other revenue includes fees
        derived from the delivery of training, installation, and consulting
        services. Revenue from training, installation, and consulting services
        is recognized as the related services are performed. Deferred revenue
        represents amounts received by the Company in advance of product
        delivery or service performance.
 
    (m)  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
        The Company uses the intrinsic value method to account for stock-based
        compensation. The Company amortizes deferred stock-based compensation in
        accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")
        Interpretation No. 28.
 
    (n)  NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
        Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number
        of shares of common stock. Diluted net income per share is computed
        using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding
        and, when dilutive, common equivalent shares from restricted stock and
        options to purchase common stock using the treasury stock method.
 
    (o)  ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSSES)
 
        Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses) consists entirely of
        cumulative translation adjustments resulting from the Company's
        application of its foreign currency translation policy. The tax effects
        of translation adjustments were not significant during any of the
        periods presented.
 
    (p)  RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
        The FASB recently issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
        ("SFAS") No. 133, ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING
        ACTIVITIES. SFAS No. 133 addresses the accounting for derivative
        instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONTINUED)
       contracts. Under SFAS No. 133, entities are required to carry all
        derivative instruments in the balance sheet at fair value. The
        accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument
        depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a
        hedging relationship and, if so, the reason for holding it. The Company
        must adopt SFAS No. 133 by October 1, 1999. The Company does not
        anticipate that SFAS No. 133 will have an effect on its financial
        statements.
 
(2)  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   JANUARY 31,             OCTOBER 31,
                                          -----------------------------   -------------
                                              1997            1998            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Computers and equipment.................  $   1,856,513   $   1,714,960   $  2,293,308
Furniture and fixtures..................        350,991         399,145        850,226
Automobiles.............................        107,110         107,110        107,110
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                              2,314,614       2,221,215      3,250,644
Less accumulated depreciation...........      1,003,446         831,372      1,436,470
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          $   1,311,168   $   1,389,843   $  1,814,174
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
(3)  ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
    Accrued expenses consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   JANUARY 31,             OCTOBER 31,
                                          -----------------------------   -------------
                                              1997            1998            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Profit sharing..........................  $     665,054   $   1,443,014   $    962,883
Management incentive bonuses............        420,500         816,476        715,863
Payroll-related items...................        143,399         242,365        425,565
Royalties...............................        320,974         655,958        978,770
Commissions.............................        157,088         592,527        844,139
Other...................................        184,204         816,669      1,367,246
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          $   1,891,219   $   4,567,009   $  5,294,466
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
(4)  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
    (a)  REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK
 
        In April 1997, the Company repurchased 630,000 shares of its common
        stock for cash at a price of $1.11 per share from a founder.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(4)  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    (b)  STOCK SPLITS AND REINCORPORATION
 
        In June 1997, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a 70,000 to 1
        stock split. In July 1998 and again in November 1998, the Company's
        Board of Directors authorized a 3-for-2 stock split. In January 1999,
        the Company reincorporated in the State of Delaware. Share information
        has been restated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements
        to reflect the reincorporation and stock splits for all periods
        presented.
 
    (c)  RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTS
 
        In January 1998, the Company issued 1,840,500 shares of restricted
        common stock to certain officers at $1.00 per share in exchange for full
        recourse notes. In March 1998, the Company issued 56,250 shares of
        restricted common stock to a director at $1.44 per share in exchange for
        a full recourse note. Restrictions lapse over three or four years,
        depending upon the individual, based on continued employment or service
        on the Board of Directors. In the event an employee is terminated or the
        director leaves the service of the Board, the Company has the right to
        repurchase, for a price equal to the individual's original purchase
        price, any remaining restricted shares held by the individual.
 
        In connection with restricted common stock issued in January 1998, the
        Company recorded deferred stock-based compensation of $3,681,000
        representing the difference between the issuance price and the fair
        value of the Company's common stock at the date of issuance. An
        additional $157,813 of deferred stock-based compensation was recorded
        for the March 1998 issuance. These amounts are being amortized over the
        restriction period of the individual shares. Stock-based compensation
        related to restricted common stock of $865,228 and $1,843,456 was
        recognized during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 and the nine
        months ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(4)  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    (d)  NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
        The following is a reconciliation of the shares used in the computation
        of basic and diluted net income per share:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                        FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,                    OCTOBER 31,
                                ---------------------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                    1996            1997            1998                            1998
                                -------------   -------------   -------------       1997        -------------
                                                                                -------------
                                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
Basic net income per share--
  weighted average number of
  common shares outstanding...     15,750,000      15,750,000      15,247,750     15,290,333       16,145,234
Effect of potentially dilutive
  securities outstanding--
  restricted stock and
  options.....................             --              --          24,439             --          976,545
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
Shares used in diluted net
  income per share
  computation.................     15,750,000      15,750,000      15,272,189     15,290,333       17,121,779
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(5)  INCOME TAXES
 
    Income taxes are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,
                                          ---------------------------------------------
                                              1996            1997            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Current:
  Federal...............................  $     114,504   $     267,376   $   3,135,927
  State.................................          1,279           3,171         554,436
  Foreign...............................          1,864           5,577          26,003
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                117,647         276,124       3,716,366
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
Deferred:
  Federal...............................        (22,765)         (9,427)       (361,220)
  State.................................        (29,906)          8,433        (101,656)
  Foreign...............................          1,242           3,202              --
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                (51,429)          2,208        (462,876)
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
    Total income taxes..................  $      66,218   $     278,332   $   3,253,490
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
        The Company's effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal
        income tax rate of 34% primarily due to the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,
                                          ---------------------------------------------
                                              1996            1997            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Tax expense at federal statutory rate...  $     116,863   $     387,839   $   2,724,974
Research and experimentation credit.....        (52,836)       (158,663)       (233,996)
State tax, net of federal benefit.......        (18,894)          7,659         298,833
Foreign sales corporation benefit.......             --              --         (53,208)
Nondeductible stock-based
    compensation........................             --              --         299,132
Other...................................         21,085          41,497         217,755
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
    Total income taxes..................  $      66,218   $     278,332   $   3,253,490
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
        Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which U.S. income
        taxes have not been provided were immaterial during all periods
        presented.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(5)  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
        The Company's net deferred tax assets are summarized as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           JANUARY 31,
                                          ---------------------------------------------
                                              1996            1997            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Deferred tax assets:
    Allowance for doubtful accounts.....  $          --   $          --   $      83,143
    Accrued expenses....................             --              --         321,911
    Cash to accrual adjustments.........        213,833         234,525         274,643
    State taxes.........................             --              --         111,608
    Other...............................         93,197          70,297          24,411
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
        Total deferred tax asset........        307,030         304,822         815,716
Deferred tax liability--property and
  equipment.............................             --              --         (48,018)
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
    Net deferred tax asset..............  $     307,030   $     304,822   $     767,698
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
        Management believes that it is more likely than not that the results of
        future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the
        net deferred tax assets.
 
(6)  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
    (a)  RETIREMENT PLAN
 
        The Company has a defined contribution retirement plan for all eligible
        employees. Participants may make contributions to the plan in accordance
        with provisions of the plan. The Company may make discretionary
        contributions to the plan. For the years ended January 31, 1996, 1997,
        and 1998 and the nine months ended October 31, 1998, the Company made
        contributions of $98,554, $196,329, $285,486, and $282,027,
        respectively. Such contributions generally vest over six years.
 
    (b)  STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
        In October 1997, the Company's Board of Directors approved the Company's
        1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the Plan). The Plan allows for
        grants to officers, directors and employees of the Company incentive
        stock options, nonqualified stock options and restricted stock. Options
        are generally granted for a 10-year term (5 years if the employee is
        more than a 10% shareholder) and generally vest over 4 years. Options
        are generally granted at fair market value (110% of fair market value if
        optionee is a more than a 10% shareholder), as determined by the Board
        of Directors. Restricted stock may be granted pursuant to the Plan, as
        evidenced by agreement and determined by the Board of Directors.
 
        The Plan automatically terminates in September 2007. Each option and
        award granted under the Plan will remain in effect until such option or
        award has been satisfied by the issuance of shares or terminated in
        accordance with its terms and the terms of the Plan.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(6)  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)
        Stock option activity under the Plan is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
                                             SHARES                       WEIGHTED-        GRANT DATE
                                          AVAILABLE FOR     OPTIONS        AVERAGE         FAIR VALUE
                                              GRANT       OUTSTANDING   EXERCISE PRICE     PER SHARE
                                          -------------   -----------   --------------   --------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>           <C>              <C>
Shares reserved.........................    3,375,000            --
Restricted stock issued--Note 4(c)......   (1,840,500)           --
Granted with an exercise price below the
  fair value of common stock............     (204,750)      204,750         $1.00            $3.00
                                          -------------   -----------
Balances as of January 31, 1998.........    1,329,750       204,750          1.00             3.00
Authorized..............................      675,000            --
Restricted stock issued--Note 4(c)......      (56,250)           --
Granted with an exercise price below the
  fair value of common stock............     (101,250)      101,250          1.54             4.11
Granted with an exercise price equal to
  the fair value of common stock........     (573,360)      573,360          4.68             4.68
Cancelled...............................       78,750       (78,750)         2.06
                                          -------------   -----------
Balances as of October 31, 1998.........    1,352,640       800,610          3.60
                                          -------------   -----------
                                          -------------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
   
        In connection with options granted in January 1998, the Company has
        recorded deferred stock-based compensation of $297,000 representing the
        difference between the exercise price and the fair value of the
        Company's common stock at the date of grant. An additional $260,000 of
        deferred stock-based compensation was recorded for options issued during
        the nine months ended October 31, 1998. The amount is being amortized
        over the vesting period of the individual options, generally 4 years.
        Stock-based compensation related to options to purchase common stock of
        $14,575 and $227,406 was recognized during the fiscal year ended January
        31, 1998 and nine months ended October 31, 1998, respectively. The grant
        date fair value per share was determined by management after considering
        a number of factors, including a prior cash transaction for the
        Company's common stock, an appraisal performed by an outside consultant,
        the methodologies used by the Company's underwriters to establish the
        anticipated IPO price, the effect of the Optima acquisition and the
        Company's operating results and future prospects.
    
 
        Had compensation expense for the Company's stock-based compensation
        plans, including the restricted stock discussed in Note 4(c), been
        determined consistent with SFAS No. 123 using the minimum value
        option-pricing model, the Company's net income in fiscal 1998 or for the
        nine-months ended October 31, 1998 would not have been materially
        affected. Assumptions used for fiscal 1998 and the nine-months ended
        October 31, 1998 were as follows: no expected dividends; an average
        risk-free interest rate of 5.9%; and an average expected restricted
        stock or option term of 4.5 years. As of January 31, 1998 and October
        31, 1998, the weighted average exercise price and weighted-average
        remaining contractual life of outstanding options was $1.00 and 4.4
        years and $3.60 and 4.1 years, respectively. As of January 31, 1998 and
        October 31, 1998, none of the outstanding options were exercisable. The
        weighted-average fair value of options granted in fiscal 1998 and the
        nine-months ended October 31, 1998 was $2.00 and $0.64 per share,
        respectively.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
   
(7)  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    
 
    (a)  LEASES
 
        The Company has remaining noncancelable operating lease agreements for
        office space that expire in 2001 and 2002. Minimum lease payments for
        the five succeeding years as of October 31, 1998, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31,
- ----------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>
1999....................................  $     149,525
2000....................................        602,415
2001....................................        597,085
2002....................................        681,517
2003....................................        379,880
                                          -------------
                                          $   2,410,422
                                          -------------
                                          -------------
</TABLE>
 
        Rent expense was $261,766, $357,262, $454,087, and $461,062 for the
        fiscal years ended January 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998 and the nine months
        ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
 
    (b)  LICENSING AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
   
        The Company has commitments under licensing agreements that provide for
        payments based on revenues of certain products. For the fiscal years
        ended January 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, the Company's fees paid or
        accrued under these license agreements were $1,276,843, $1,425,918, and
        $2,075,083, respectively.
    
 
   
        The Company had a Marketing Agreement with Sterling Software, Inc.
        (Sterling). Pursuant to the Marketing Agreement, Sterling was granted
        the exclusive right to market and sell the Company's COMPAREX software
        product and was obligated to pay the Company a license fee of 50% of all
        license and maintenance revenues. Pursuant to a Termination Agreement
        dated September 20, 1995, Sterling forfeited all rights relating to the
        Company's COMPAREX software product. The Company was obligated to pay
        Sterling a certain percentage of maintenance revenues related to
        maintenance agreement renewals for existing Sterling customers through
        September 1996. In addition, pursuant to an amended Termination
        Agreement, dated September 30, 1996, the Company paid Sterling
        $1,250,000, representing payment in full for all maintenance renewals in
        lieu of any further payments, as set forth in the original Termination
        Agreement. The Company recorded the termination payment as a cost of
        revenue in the year ended January 31, 1997.
    
 
   
        The Company had a Marketing Agreement with Optima Software, Inc.
        (Optima). The principal stockholder of the Company owned 15% of the
        capital stock of Optima. Pursuant to the Marketing Agreement, the
        Company granted the exclusive right within most jurisdictions to market
        and sell SERENA's CHANGE MAN software product to Optima. The Company was
        entitled to license fees of 40% and 75% upon initial sales of software
        licenses and maintenance and renewal maintenance, respectively. For the
        years ended January 31, 1996, 1997, 1998 and the nine months ended
        October 31, 1998, revenues under this license agreement were $3,899,629,
        $5,745,242, $9,667,375, and $6,823,225, respectively.
    
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
   
(7)  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
    
   
        The Company's U.K. subsidiary (Serena-UK) had a reseller agreement with
        Optima. Pursuant to the agreement, Serena-UK has a non-exclusive right
        to market and license CHANGE MAN to end users in the U.K. Serena-UK was
        required to pay a license fee of 30% for all new license agreements and
        50% for all maintenance renewals sold under the terms of the agreement.
    
 
   
        License fee expense associated with the agreement totaled $25,169,
        $17,039, $203,804, and $317,578 for the fiscal years ended January 31,
        1996, 1997, and 1998 and the nine months ended October 31, 1998,
        respectively.
    
 
   
    (c)  LITIGATION
    
 
   
        In September 1998, Compuware Corporation, or Compuware, filed suit
        against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern
        District of Michigan seeking unspecified compensatory damages, costs and
        attorneys fees, and injunctive relief based on allegations of copyright
        infringement, trade secret misappropriation and various tort claims
        related to the sale of the Company's STARTOOL and STARWARP products.
        Compuware served the complaint on the Company on November 18, 1998. Due
        to the nature of litigation generally and because the lawsuit brought by
        Compuware is at an early stage, management cannot ascertain the
        availability of injunctive relief or other equitable remedies or
        estimate the total expenses, possible damages or settlement value, if
        any, that may ultimately be incurred in connection with Compuware's
        suit. However, management believes, based on the advice of counsel, that
        the Company has meritorious defenses to the allegations contained in
        Compuware's complaint. The Company believes that this matter will not
        have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial
        condition.
    
 
(8)  DUE FROM PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER
 
   
        In March 1996, the Company advanced $250,000 to its principal
        stockholder and received an unsecured promissory note to be paid in
        three equal annual installments of principal and interest on March 15,
        1997, March 15, 1998, and March 15, 1999, with a stated interest rate of
        10% per annum. As of January 31, 1997 and 1998. $272,969 and $189,905,
        respectively, of principal and accrued interest was outstanding.
    
 
        In November 1996, the Company advanced $500,000 to its principal
        stockholder in exchange for an unsecured promissory note due upon the
        earlier of the sale of his residence or November 13, 1997, with a stated
        interest rate of 10% per annum. As of January 31, 1997, $510,883 of
        principal and accrued interest was outstanding. Principal and accrued
        interest was paid in full during fiscal 1998.
 
   
        In July 1998, the Company advanced $600,000 to its principal stockholder
        in exchange for a promissory note secured by shares of the Company's
        common stock. The loan accrues interest at 5.56%. The principal and
        interest are due and payable in three equal installments of $222,641
        payable on the annual anniversary of the funding of the loan. As of
        October 31, 1998, $608,379 of principal and accrued interest was
        outstanding.
    
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(8)  DUE FROM PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER (CONTINUED)
        Interest income on amounts due from the principal stockholder was
        $33,852, $35,769 and $16,410 for fiscal 1997 and 1998 and the nine
        months ended October 31, 1998, respectively.
 
(9)  ACQUISITION
 
   
        On September 25, 1998, the Company acquired Optima, the primary
        distributor of the Company's CHANGE MAN software product. Optima will
        function as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The acquisition
        was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting, and
        accordingly, the results of operations of Optima have been included in
        the Company's consolidated financial statements from September 25, 1998.
        The Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Optima in exchange
        for the issuance of 3,187,500 shares of the Company's common stock
        valued at $6.25 per share. The fair value of the shares issued in the
        Optima acquisition was determined in accordance with Accounting
        Principles Board Opinion No. 16 and its interpretations and was computed
        based upon the midpoint of management's estimate of the pre- and post-
        agreement fair value of the Company's common stock. The transaction was
        valued at approximately $19.9 million and the allocation of the purchase
        price was as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
Net tangible liabilities.......................................  $ (251,355)
Work-force-in-place............................................     300,000
Noncompete agreement...........................................     200,000
Goodwill.......................................................  19,673,230
                                                                 ----------
    Total purchase price.......................................  $19,921,875
                                                                 ----------
                                                                 ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
        Work-force-in-place, consisting principally of Optima's sales force, was
        valued on a replacement cost basis and will be amortized over a
        six-month period, the period of time the Company estimates would be
        required to hire, train, and achieve full productivity for a replacement
        work force. The noncompete agreement was entered into with an Optima
        officer and founder who will not continue with the combined company. The
        noncompete agreement was valued based on his anticipated salary and
        benefits for the period of the agreement and will be amortized over the
        one-year term of the agreement. Goodwill represents the excess of the
        purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired and will
        be amortized over 15 years. Management determined to use this period
        after considering that Optima has sold CHANGE MAN profitably since 1988,
        CHANGE MAN is an integral part of many large company IT infrastructures
        for managing change to mainframe applications, and customers who
        purchase and implement CHANGE MAN make a considerable investment, not
        only in the software, but in the creation of an automated and consistent
        software change management process. Moreover, management believes this
        investment has a long lasting effect on IT environments, and annual
        maintenance releases of CHANGE MAN have consisted principally of bug
        fixes and updates, including updates to remain compatible with the
        stable IBM MVS operating system, which was introduced over 20 years ago.
    
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
   FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1996, 1997, AND 1998 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED
                           OCTOBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
 
                  (INFORMATION FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIOD ENDED
                         OCTOBER 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(9)  ACQUISITION (CONTINUED)
        Summary unaudited proforma information giving effect to the acquisition
        of Optima as if it had occurred on February 1, 1997 follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                           YEAR ENDED
                                           JANUARY 31,    -----------------------------
                                              1998            1997            1998
                                          -------------   -------------   -------------
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>
Revenue.................................  $     41,315    $      26,013   $      36,899
Net income..............................         3,553            2,206           4,763
Basic net income per share..............          0.19             0.11            0.25
Diluted net income per share............          0.19             0.11            0.24
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
 
Optima Software, Inc.
 
        We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Optima Software, Inc.
as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the related statements of income and
retained earnings and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1997. 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 generally accepted auditing
standards. 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 financial position of Optima Software,
Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the results of their operations and
their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December
31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
   
                                          KPMG LLP
    
 
Mountain View, California
October 16, 1998
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         --------------------------
                                                                             1996          1997      JUNE 30, 1998
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                      <C>           <C>           <C>
                                                      ASSETS
 
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents............................................  $  1,645,467  $  1,439,613   $ 3,408,156
  Accounts receivable..................................................     2,993,583     5,513,058     3,928,437
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets............................         3,874        43,982        79,633
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
    Total current assets...............................................     4,642,924     6,996,653     7,416,226
 
Property and equipment, net............................................        43,229       122,679       142,884
Other assets...........................................................        88,886       121,807       177,087
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                         $  4,775,039  $  7,241,139   $ 7,736,197
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
 
                                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities--accounts payable and accrued expenses.............  $  2,035,853  $  3,347,135   $ 2,948,003
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
Commitments
 
Shareholders' equity:
  Common stock, no par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and
    outstanding in 1996 and 1997.......................................       130,000       130,000       130,000
  Retained earnings....................................................     2,609,186     3,764,004     4,658,194
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
    Total shareholders' equity.........................................     2,739,186     3,894,004     4,788,194
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                         $  4,775,039  $  7,241,139   $ 7,736,197
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                         ------------  ------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                     JUNE 30,
                                         ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------
                                             1995          1996           1997           1997          1998
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                                             (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                      <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
Revenue:
  Distributed software products........  $  7,076,889  $  11,007,066  $  16,946,652  $  6,937,020  $   9,185,549
  Professional services................       944,102      1,703,178      3,612,152     1,489,881      2,319,781
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Total revenue......................     8,020,991     12,710,244     20,558,804     8,426,901     11,505,330
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
Operating expenses:
  Cost of distributed software
    products...........................     4,172,951      6,044,824      8,980,457     3,705,705      5,858,538
  Cost of professional services........       637,599      1,150,241      2,439,467       980,535      1,193,723
  Sales and marketing..................     1,497,113      2,224,703      3,650,997     1,398,726      1,228,303
  General and administrative...........       946,244      1,404,149      2,281,320       917,727        494,486
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Total operating expenses...........     7,253,907     10,823,917     17,352,241     7,002,693      8,775,050
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Operating income...................       767,084      1,886,327      3,206,563     1,424,208      2,730,280
Interest and other income, net.........         5,041         87,755        139,387        40,661         76,544
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Income before income taxes.........       772,125      1,974,082      3,345,950     1,464,869      2,806,824
Income taxes...........................        31,219         81,757        186,132       106,308        103,301
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Net income.........................       740,906      1,892,325      3,159,818     1,358,561      2,703,523
Retained earnings at beginning of
  period...............................       494,017        829,445      2,609,186     2,609,186      3,764,004
Dividends paid.........................      (405,478)      (112,584)    (2,005,000)   (1,355,000)    (1,809,333)
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
Retained earnings at end of period.....  $    829,445  $   2,609,186  $   3,764,004  $  2,612,747  $   4,658,194
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
Unaudited pro forma information:
  Income before income taxes, as
    reported...........................       772,125      1,974,082      3,345,950     1,464,869      2,806,824
  Pro forma income taxes...............       321,192        849,419      1,424,973       623,858      1,192,900
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
    Pro forma net income...............  $    450,933  $   1,124,663  $   1,920,977  $    841,011  $   1,613,924
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
                                         ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                   JUNE 30,
                                            --------------------------------------  --------------------------
                                               1995         1996          1997          1997          1998
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                         <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income..............................  $  740,906  $  1,892,325  $  3,159,818  $  1,358,561  $  2,703,523
  Adjustment to reconcile net income to
    net cash provided by operating
    activities:
    Depreciation..........................      40,537        47,403        43,949        21,833        21,596
    Changes in operating assets and
      liabilities:
      Accounts receivable.................    (719,057)   (1,082,937)   (2,519,475)     (308,189)    1,584,621
      Prepaid expenses and other assets...     (10,053)       (1,470)      (31,841)      (19,276)      (90,301)
      Accounts payable and accrued
        expenses..........................     322,129       561,020     1,311,282       655,989      (399,132)
      Deferred revenues...................      50,000       (50,000)           --        57,253            --
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
        Net cash provided by operating
          activities......................     424,462     1,366,341     1,963,733     1,766,171     3,820,307
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Cash flows used in investing activities:
  Purchase of property and equipment......     (52,380)      (33,882)     (123,399)      (20,224)      (41,801)
  Issuance of notes receivable............          --            --       (41,188)           --          (630)
  Payment of notes due from shareholder...     (92,528)     (144,003)           --            --            --
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
        Net cash used in investing
          activities......................    (144,908)     (177,885)     (164,587)      (20,224)      (42,431)
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Cash flows from financing activities--
  payment of dividends....................    (405,478)     (112,584)   (2,005,000)   (1,355,000)   (1,809,333)
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents...    (125,924)    1,075,872      (205,854)      390,947     1,968,543
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
  period..................................     695,519       569,595     1,645,467     1,645,467     1,439,613
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
  period..................................  $  569,595  $  1,645,467  $  1,439,613  $  2,036,414  $  3,408,156
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
  Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
    information--income taxes paid........  $   15,862  $     80,163  $    181,535  $    106,308  $    103,301
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                            ----------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996, AND 1997 AND
                    SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998
 
      (INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                      JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    (a)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
       Optima Software, Inc. (the "Company") is the primary distributor of
       SERENA Software, Inc.'s ("SERENA") CHANGE MAN product. Its principal
       markets are North America, Europe, and Asia. Foreign sales represented
       approximately 13%, 12%, and 14% of revenue for the years ended December
       31, 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively.
 
    (b)  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
       The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with
       remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to
       be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 1996 and 1997, cash equivalents
       consisted of treasury bills and money market funds.
 
    (c)  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
       Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using the
       double-declining balance method over the estimated useful lives of the
       assets, generally three to seven years. Recoverability of property and
       equipment is measured by comparing its carrying amount to the future net
       cash flows expected to be generated. If such assets are considered to be
       impaired, the impairment recognized is measured as the difference between
       the carrying amount of the property and equipment and its fair value. To
       date, the Company has made no adjustments to the carrying values of its
       long-lived assets.
 
    (d)  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
       The fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts
       receivable, and accounts payable approximate their respective carrying
       amounts.
 
    (e)  USE OF ESTIMATES
 
       The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
       generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
       estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
       liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
       date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of
       revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
       differ from those estimates.
 
    (f)  REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
   
       Revenue from the resale of software licenses and maintenance is
       recognized upon receipt and acceptance of a signed contract and delivery
       of the software, provided the fee is fixed and determinable,
       collectibility of the revenue is probable and the arrangement does not
       involve significant customization of the software. If an acceptance
       period is required, revenues are recognized upon the earlier of customer
       acceptance or the expiration of the acceptance period, as defined in the
       applicable software license agreement. Maintenance is provided by the
       licensor and the Company does not incur any costs, other than the license
       fee paid to the licensor,
    
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996, AND 1997 AND
                    SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998
 
      (INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                      JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(1)  DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(CONTINUED)
   
       associated with the performance of maintenance contracts. Consequently,
       sufficient vendor-specific historical evidence exists to demonstrate that
       the costs to provide maintenance are incurred on other than a
       straight-line basis and the Company believes it is probable that the
       costs incurred in performing current arrangements will follow a similar
       pattern.
    
 
       Professional services revenue includes fees derived from the delivery of
       training, installation, and consulting services. Revenue from training,
       installation, and consulting services is recognized as the related
       services are performed. Deferred revenue represents payments received by
       the Company in advance of product delivery or service performance.
 
    (g)  INCOME TAXES
 
       The Company has elected to be taxed for Federal and state income tax
       purposes as a Subchapter S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code of
       1986, as amended, and under certain comparable state tax laws. As a
       result, earnings are taxed directly to the Company's shareholders at
       applicable Federal and state income tax rates. Unaudited pro forma
       information has been included in the statements of income and retained
       earnings and the notes to financial statements setting forth income taxes
       and net income as if the Company had been fully subject to tax during the
       periods presented.
 
    (h)  CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
       Financial instruments, potentially subjecting the Company to
       concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of temporary cash
       investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its temporary
       cash investments with two major financial institutions. The Company
       maintains an allowance as needed for potential credit losses on customer
       accounts. Credit losses have not been significant during all periods
       presented.
 
(2)  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,
                                                          --------------------
                                                            1996       1997
                                                          ---------  ---------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>
Computers and equipment.................................  $ 120,029  $ 167,403
Furniture and fixtures..................................     43,078     97,688
Automobiles.............................................     21,863     21,863
                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                            184,970    286,954
Less accumulated depreciation...........................    141,741    164,275
                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                          $  43,229  $ 122,679
                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                          ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996, AND 1997 AND
                    SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998
 
      (INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                      JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(3)  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                          -----------------------------
                                              1996            1997
                                          -------------   -------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
Commissions.............................  $     203,437   $     592,101
Royalties...............................      1,522,429       2,333,249
Other...................................        309,987         421,785
                                          -------------   -------------
                                          $   2,035,853   $   3,347,135
                                          -------------   -------------
                                          -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
(4)  INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company has elected to be taxed as a Subchapter S corporation for
    Federal and certain state income tax purposes, whereby income is taxed to
    the individual shareholders. California imposes a 1.5% minimum franchise tax
    on Subchapter S corporations. Accordingly, only state income tax has been
    provided for in the accompanying financial statements. The following table
    sets forth income taxes on a pro forma basis as if the Company had been a C
    corporation during the periods presented.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                          ------------------------------------
                                                             1995        1996         1997
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
Pro forma income taxes:
  Current
    Federal.............................................  $  288,055  $  724,939  $  1,283,473
    State...............................................      71,054     177,201       305,413
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
      Total current.....................................     359,109     902,140     1,588,886
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
  Deferred
    Federal.............................................  $  (33,493) $  (48,406) $   (137,936)
    State...............................................      (4,424)     (4,315)      (25,977)
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
      Total deferred....................................     (37,917)    (52,721)     (163,913)
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
      Total pro forma income taxes......................  $  321,192  $  849,419  $  1,424,973
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
                                                          ----------  ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996, AND 1997 AND
                    SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998
 
      (INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                      JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(4)  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    The following tabulation reconciles the expected pro forma federal income
    tax expense (computed by multiplying the Company's income before taxes by
    34%) to the Company's unaudited pro forma income tax expense for the periods
    presented:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    ------------------------------------
                                                                       1995        1996         1997
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ------------
                                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>
Expected pro forma income tax expense.............................  $  262,523  $  671,188  $  1,137,623
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect.....................      66,066     168,868       277,433
Other.............................................................      (7,397)      9,363         9,917
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ------------
                                                                    $  321,192  $  849,419  $  1,424,973
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ------------
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
    The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
    portions of the unaudited pro forma deferred tax assets and deferred tax
    liabilities as of December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 are presented below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        --------------------------------
                                                                          1995       1996        1997
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
Pro forma deferred tax assets:
  Property and equipment, principally due to differences in
    depreciation......................................................  $   1,053  $   1,096  $      998
  Reserves and accruals...............................................     16,278     37,752     172,353
  State income taxes..................................................     20,586     51,790      81,200
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total deferred tax assets.........................................  $  37,917  $  90,638  $  254,551
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
(5)  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
    RETIREMENT PLAN
 
    The Company has a defined contribution retirement plan for all eligible
    employees. Participants may make contributions to the plan in accordance
    with provisions of the plan. The Company may make discretionary
    contributions to the plan. For the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996, and
    1997, the Company made contributions of $100,141, $116,023, and $183,493,
    respectively. Such contributions generally vest over six years.
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
                             OPTIMA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1996, AND 1997 AND
                    SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998
 
      (INFORMATION AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                      JUNE 30, 1997 AND 1998 IS UNAUDITED)
 
(6)  COMMITMENTS
 
    (a)  LEASES
 
       The Company has a noncancelable operating lease agreement for office
       space that expires in 2002. Minimum lease payments for the five
       succeeding years are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                 <C>
1998..............................................................  $ 143,664
1999..............................................................    143,664
2000..............................................................    150,672
2001..............................................................    150,672
2002..............................................................    113,004
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    $ 701,676
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
 
       Rent expense was $78,727, $89,833, $91,646 and for the years ended
       December 31, 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively.
 
    (b)  LICENSING AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
   
       The Company has a Marketing Agreement with SERENA. The principal
       stockholder of SERENA owns 15% of the capital stock of the Company.
       Pursuant to the Marketing Agreement, the Company was granted the
       exclusive right to market and sell SERENA's CHANGE MAN software product
       in most jurisdictions. SERENA is entitled to license fees of 40% and 75%
       upon initial sales of software licenses and maintenance and renewal
       maintenance, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996,
       and 1997, fees paid or accrued under this license agreement were
       $3,809,276, $5,856,783, and $9,088,801, respectively.
    
 
   
       In January 1994, the Company entered into a reseller agreement with
       Serena International, Ltd, U.K. (Serena-UK). Pursuant to the agreement,
       Serena-UK has a non-exclusive right to market and license CHANGE MAN to
       end users in the U.K. Serena-UK shall pay a license fee of 30% for all
       new license agreements and 50% for all maintenance renewals sold under
       the terms of the agreement.
    
 
       Amounts received pursuant to the agreement totaled $25,169, $17,039, and
       $148,894 for the fiscal years ended January 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
 
(7)  SUBSEQUENT EVENT
 
    On September 25, 1998, SERENA acquired all of the outstanding shares of the
    Company in exchange for 3,187,500 shares of SERENA's common stock.
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
               PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income
presented below are derived from the historical consolidated financial
statements of SERENA Software, Inc. ("SERENA") and Optima Software, Inc.
("Optima"). The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for
the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, and for the nine months ended October
31, 1998, give effect to the acquisition of Optima as if it had occurred on
February 1, 1997. For purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statements of income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, SERENA's
results of operations for such period have been combined with Optima's results
of operations for the year ended December 31, 1997. The unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statements of income for the nine months ended October 31,
1998, combine both SERENA's and Optima's results of operations for such period.
 
        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements give
effect to the acquisition under the purchase method of accounting. The fair
value of the consideration paid has been allocated to the assets and liabilities
acquired based upon the fair values of such assets at the date of acquisition
and may be revised for a period of up to one year from the date of acquisition.
The preliminary estimates and assumptions as to the value of the assets and
liabilities of Optima to the combined company is based upon information
available at the date of preparation of these unaudited pro forma condensed
combined financial statements, and will be adjusted upon final allocation of
purchase price within one year from the acquisition date. The items awaiting
final allocation include noncurrent asset valuations and certain valuation
allowances and accruals. It is anticipated, however, that the final allocation
of the purchase price will not differ materially from the preliminary
allocation.
 
        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not
purport to represent what SERENA's results of operations or financial condition
would have actually been or what operations would be if the transactions that
give rise to the pro forma adjustments had occurred on the dates assumed and are
not indicative of future results. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements below should be read in conjunction with the historical
consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto of SERENA and Optima
included elsewhere herein.
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
           UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
 
                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        HISTORICAL
                                     ----------------    PRO FORMA        PRO FORMA
                                     SERENA   OPTIMA    ADJUSTMENTS       COMBINED
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>                <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses................  $17,839  $16,946  $ (4,690)(1)        $22,962
                                                           (204)(2)
                                                         (6,929)(3)
  Maintenance......................  12,258       --        433(3)          12,691
  Professional services............   2,050    3,612         --              5,662
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Total revenue..................  32,147   20,558    (11,390)            41,315
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses................   1,087    8,981     (9,044)(1)          1,024
  Maintenance......................   4,009       --         --              4,009
  Professional services............   1,717    2,439         --              4,156
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Total cost of revenue..........   6,813   11,420     (9,044)             9,189
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
  Gross profit.....................  25,334    9,138     (2,346)            32,126
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing..............   7,947    3,651       (204)(2)         11,394
  Research and development.........   5,518       --         --              5,518
  General and administrative.......   3,296    2,281         --              5,577
  Stock-based compensation.........     880       --         --                880
  Amortization of intangible             --       --      1,812(5)           1,812
    assets.........................
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Total operating expenses.......  17,641    5,932      1,608             25,181
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Operating income...............   7,693    3,206     (3,954)             6,945
Other income, net..................     321      140       (251)(6)            210
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Income before income taxes.....   8,014    3,346     (4,205)             7,155
Income taxes.......................   3,253      186        163(7)           3,602
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
    Net income.....................  $4,761   $3,160   $ (4,368)           $ 3,553
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
                                     -------  -------  -------------      ---------
Net income per share:
  Basic............................  $ 0.31                                $  0.19
                                     -------                              ---------
                                     -------                              ---------
  Diluted..........................  $ 0.31                                $  0.19
                                     -------                              ---------
                                     -------                              ---------
Shares used to compute net income
  per share:
  Basic............................  15,248                                 18,436
  Diluted..........................  15,272                                 18,460
</TABLE>
    
 
  See accompanying notes to pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
           UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME
 
                       NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1998
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         HISTORICAL
                                                  ------------------------    PRO FORMA     PRO FORMA
                                                    SERENA       OPTIMA      ADJUSTMENTS    COMBINED
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
Revenue:
  Software licenses.............................   $  16,685    $   4,066    $  (1,761)(1)  $  18,672
                                                                                  (318)(2)
  Maintenance...................................      12,098        5,341       (4,238)(3)     13,201
  Professional services.........................       2,363        2,663           --          5,026
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Total revenue...............................      31,146       12,070       (6,317)        36,899
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
Cost of revenue:
  Software licenses.............................       1,266        5,852       (5,584)(1)      1,534
  Maintenance...................................       3,185           --           --          3,185
  Professional services.........................       2,057        1,857           --          3,914
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Total cost of revenue.......................       6,508        7,709       (5,584)         8,633
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
  Gross profit..................................      24,638        4,361         (733)        28,266
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
Operating expenses:
  Sales and marketing...........................       8,956        1,642         (318)(2)     10,280
  Research and development......................       3,220           --           --          3,220
  General and administrative....................       2,786          517           --          3,303
  Stock-based compensation......................       2,071           --           --          2,071
  Amortization of intangible assets.............         154           --          829(5)         983
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Total operating expenses....................      17,187        2,159          511         19,857
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Operating income............................       7,451        2,202       (1,244)         8,409
Other income, net...............................         571          137         (127)(6)        581
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Income before income taxes..................       8,022        2,339       (1,371)         8,990
Income taxes....................................       3,596          129          502(7)       4,227
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Net income..................................   $   4,426    $   2,210    $  (1,873)     $   4,763
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
                                                  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
Net income per share:
  Basic.........................................   $    0.27                                $    0.25
                                                  -----------                              -----------
                                                  -----------                              -----------
  Diluted.......................................   $    0.26                                $    0.24
                                                  -----------                              -----------
                                                  -----------                              -----------
Shares used to compute net income per share:
  Basic.........................................      16,145                                   18,735
                                                  -----------                              -----------
                                                  -----------                              -----------
  Diluted.......................................      17,122                                   19,712
                                                  -----------                              -----------
                                                  -----------                              -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
  See accompanying notes to pro forma condensed combined financial statements.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
      NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
SUMMARY OF TRANSACTION
 
   
        In connection with SERENA's acquisition of Optima, SERENA issued
3,187,500 shares of its own common stock valued at $6.25 per share in exchange
for all the outstanding capital stock of Optima.
    
 
        The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (in thousands):
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
Allocation of purchase price:
  Net tangible liabilities.........................................  $    (251)
  Work-force-in-place(a)...........................................        300
  Noncompete agreement(b)..........................................        200
  Goodwill(c)......................................................     19,673
                                                                     ---------
    Total purchase price...........................................     19,922
                                                                     ---------
                                                                     ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
    ----------------------------
 
    (a)  Work-force-in-place, consisting principally of Optima's sales force,
       was valued on a replacement cost basis and will be amortized over a
       six-month period, the period of time SERENA estimates would be required
       to hire, train, and achieve full productivity for a replacement work
       force.
 
    (b) The noncompete agreement was entered into with an Optima officer and
       founder who will not continue with the combined company. The noncompete
       agreement was valued based on his anticipated salary and benefits for the
       period of the agreement and will be amortized over the one-year term of
       the agreement.
 
    (c)  Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair
       value of the net assets acquired and will be amortized over 15 years.
 
PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS
 
(1) To eliminate intercompany software licence royalty revenue recorded by
    SERENA and intercompany royalty expense recorded by Optima.
 
(2) To eliminate Optima's software license revenues against SERENA's royalty
    expense with respect to certain sales transactions initiated by a foreign
    subsidiary of SERENA's and to which Optima was entitled royalties.
 
   
(3) To conform Optima's revenue recognition policy for maintenance to SERENA's.
    SERENA initially defers and then recognizes maintenance revenues, including
    maintenance to be provided to Optima's customers, ratably over the contract
    term, generally 12 months. Optima recognized maintenance revenue upon
    receipt and acceptance of a signed contract and delivery of the software,
    provided the fee is fixed and determinable, collectibility of the revenue is
    probable and the arrangement does not involve significant customization of
    the software. Sufficient vendor-specific historical evidence exists to
    demonstrate that Optima's cost to provide maintenance are incurred on other
    than a straight-line basis and Optima believes it is probable that the costs
    incurred in performing current arrangements will follow a similar pattern.
    
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (CONTINUED)
 
(4) To record the amortization of intangible assets resulting from the
    allocation of the purchase price as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED       NINE MONTHS
                                                                JANUARY 31,   ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                                   1998             1998
                                                                -----------  -------------------
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>
Work-force-in-place...........................................   $     300        $      --
Noncompete agreement..........................................         200               --
Goodwill......................................................       1,312              983
                                                                -----------             ---
  Total pro forma combined....................................       1,812              983
Less amount recorded in post-acquisition period...............          --              154
                                                                -----------             ---
Pro forma adjustment..........................................   $   1,812        $     829
                                                                -----------             ---
                                                                -----------             ---
</TABLE>
    
 
(5) To record a reduction in interest income for a $4,750,000 distribution to
    Optima shareholders declared prior to the acquisition date. Because Optima
    did not have average cash balances in excess of the distribution during the
    periods presented, this amount has been computed using a rate of 5.29%, the
    rate assigned to notes issued to the Optima shareholders for the noncash
    portion of the distribution subsequently paid by SERENA. This rate exceeds
    the effective rate earned by SERENA and Optima on average cash balances
    during the period. The effect of using a more precise rate would be
    immaterial.
 
(6) To record income taxes for Optima as if it were a C corporation during the
    periods presented and for the tax effect of the various pro forma
    adjustments set forth above. This adjustment is based on a combined
    effective Federal and state statutory rate of 48.3% and 46.8% during the
    fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 and six months ended July 31, 1998,
    respectively.
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
                   [DESCRIPTION OF INSIDE BACK COVER GRAPHIC]
 
   
        A large, solid outer circle and a smaller inner circle composed of
arrows appearing within the larger circle appears at the center of the top-half
of the page. The top three-quarters of the larger outer circle has the caption
"THE AUTOMATED SOFTWARE LIFE CYCLE" super-imposed on it. The caption "Change Man
Automates The Life Cycle With A Proven Process!" appears at the center of the
smaller inner circle composed of arrows. At the one o'clock position of the
smaller inner circle, the caption "validate & audit" is superimposed on an
arrow. Moving clock-wise, the caption "freeze test approve" is superimposed on
an arrow. Continuing to move clock-wise, the caption "synchronize" is
super-imposed on an arrow appearing at the six o'clock position. Still moving
clock-wise, the caption "install" is super-imposed on the blunt part of an
arrow. The pointed part of the arrow is bent 90 degrees such that the pointed
part of the arrow moves beyond the larger outer circle. The caption "backout" is
superimposed on the pointed part of the arrow. Resuming the movement clockwise
on the inner circle, an arrow with the caption "checkout create" super-imposed
on it appears between the nine and the ten o'clock positions. Finally, the
caption "develop & stage" is super-imposed on an arrow at the eleven o'clock
position of the inner circle.
    
 
        The text appearing on the bottom half of the page is as follows: SERENA
provides comprehensive SCM products and services for customers to establish an
automated infrastructure which manages and controls change throughout the
software application life cycle. Change Man, SERENA's flagship product provides:
 
        - full life cycle management
 
        - consistent process management
 
        - high adaptability for fast implementation and control
 
        - online management of approvals and authorizations
 
        - management of concurrent development efforts
 
        - code freezing to prevent further development while testing
 
        - auditing and automating the back-out of changes
 
Change Man is a flexible, compatible SCM solution that supports multiple
database platforms and integrates easily with existing IT environments by using
standard IBM programming languages and working with existing customer security
systems, libraries, and inventory lists.
 
        The above-described graphic and text is super-imposed against a scaled
back photographic background of binary number sequences.
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                6,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                                ---------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                                ---------------
 
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
                                    SG COWEN
 
                           SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP
 
                                   ---------
 
                                          , 1999
 
                                 --------------
 
        YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE
HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION DIFFERENT FROM THAT
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE ARE OFFERING TO SELL, AND SEEKING OFFERS TO
BUY, SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ONLY IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE OFFERS AND SALES ARE
PERMITTED. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS OR OF ANY SALE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
 
        NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN IN ANY JURISDICTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
TO PERMIT A PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF
THIS PROSPECTUS IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. PERSONS WHO COME INTO POSSESSION OF
THIS PROSPECTUS IN JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES ARE REQUIRED TO
INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY RESTRICTIONS AS TO THIS OFFERING AND
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS APPLICABLE TO THAT JURISDICTION.
 
        UNTIL            , 1999, ALL DEALERS THAT BUY, SELL OR TRADE IN OUR
COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING, MAY BE REQUIRED TO
DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE DEALERS' OBLIGATION TO DELIVER
A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD
ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
        The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Company in connection
with the sale of common stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except
the SEC registration fee and the NASD filing fee.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>
SEC registration fee..............................................  $  21,100
NASD filing fee...................................................      8,090
Nasdaq National Market listing fee................................     95,000
Printing and engraving costs......................................    175,000
Legal fees and expenses...........................................    250,000
Accounting fees and expenses......................................    250,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses........................................      5,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees.................................     10,000
Miscellaneous expenses............................................     35,810
                                                                    ---------
  Total...........................................................  $ 850,000
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a
corporation to include in its charter documents, and in agreements between the
corporation and its directors and officers, provisions expanding the scope of
indemnification beyond that specifically provided by the current law.
 
        Article X of SERENA's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for
the indemnification of directors to the fullest extent permissible under
Delaware law.
 
        Article VI of SERENA's Bylaws provides for the indemnification of
officers, directors and third parties acting on behalf of SERENA if such person
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and not opposed
to the best interest of SERENA, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, the indemnified party had no reason to believe his or her conduct
was unlawful.
 
        SERENA has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors
and executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in SERENA's
Bylaws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements with any new
directors and executive officers in the future.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
   
        During the past three years, SERENA has issued unregistered securities
to a limited number of persons, as described below. None of these transactions
involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public
offering, and SERENA believes that each transaction was exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(2)
thereof, Regulation D promulgated thereunder or Rule 701 pursuant to
compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation as provided
under such Rule 701. The recipients of securities in each such transaction
represented their intention to acquire the securities for investment only and
not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and
appropriate legends were affixed to the share certificates and instruments
issued in such transactions. All recipients had adequate access to information
about SERENA, through their relationships with SERENA.
    
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
        1.  Pursuant to SERENA's Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and
    Incentive Plan, from January 1998 to April 1998, SERENA issued and sold an
    aggregate of 1,896,750 shares of common stock to certain of its officers and
    directors.
 
        2.  Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated September
    25, 1998, whereby SERENA acquired Optima Software, Inc., the Registrant
    issued an aggregate of 3,187,500 shares of common stock to the selling
    stockholders of Optima Software, Inc.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    (a)  EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C>        <S>        <C>
   1.1     A          Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1     C          Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SERENA
   3.2     A          Bylaws of SERENA, as currently in effect
   4.1     A          Specimen Common Stock Certificate
   4.2     A          Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, by and among SERENA
                        and certain shareholders of Optima Software Inc. (related to SERENA's
                        acquisition of Optima Software, Inc.)
   5.1     B          Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
  10.1     A          Form of Indemnification Agreement between SERENA and each of its directors and
                        officers
  10.2A    A          Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan
  10.2B    A          Form of Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan
  10.2C    A          Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement under the Amended and Restated 1997
                        Stock Option Plan
  10.3A    C          1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  10.3B    A          Form of Subscription Agreement under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  10.4A    A          1999 Director Plan
  10.4B    A          Form of Option Agreement under 1999 Director Plan
  10.5     A          Employment Agreement, dated April 18, 1997 between SERENA and Richard A. Doerr
  10.6     A          Employment Agreement, dated June 24, 1980, between SERENA and Douglas D. Troxel
  10.7     A          Employment and Software Distribution Agreement, dated October 28, 1993, between
                        SERENA and A. Bruce Leland (relating to license of proprietary technology)
  10.8     A          Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1993, between SERENA and Steven Smith
                        (relating to license of proprietary technology)
  10.9     A          Software Agreement, dated July 1, 1991, by and between SERENA and High Power
                        Software, Inc. (relating to joint ownership of technology)
  10.10A   A          Lease Agreement, dated August 15, 1994, between SERENA and Water Front Towers
                        Partners, L.P. (for Burlingame headquarters)
  10.10B   A          Addendum to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility), dated
                        November 21, 1994
  10.10C   A          Second Addendum to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters) dated November
                        15, 1994
  10.10D   A          Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        May 21, 1996
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  10.10E   A          Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        August 24, 1996
<C>        <S>        <C>
  10.10F   A          Amendment No. 3 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        June 3, 1997
  10.10G   A          Amendment No. 4 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        June 9, 1998
  10.11    A          Lease Agreement between SERENA and Waterfront Tower Partners, L.P. dated May
                        18, 1998 (for additional space at Burlingame headquarters facility)
  10.12    A          Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement entered into between SERENA and
                        certain of its executive officers
  10.13    A          Secured Promissory Note and Security Agreement between SERENA and Douglas D.
                        Troxel dated July 22, 1998
  16.1     A          Letter regarding change in certifying accountants
  21.1     A          List of Subsidiaries
  23.1     C          Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors (see Page S-1)
  23.3     B          Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1     A          Power of Attorney
  24.2     A          Power of Attorney (for Jerry T. Ungerman)
  27.1     C          Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
A  Previously filed
 
B  To be filed by amendment
 
C  Filed herewith
 
    (b) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
        Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information
required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
        SERENA hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriters at the closing
specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates in such denominations and
registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to permit prompt
delivery to each purchaser.
 
        Insofar as indemnification by SERENA for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of SERENA pursuant to the provisions referenced in Item 14 of this Registration
Statement or otherwise, SERENA has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by SERENA of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or
controlling person of SERENA in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered hereunder, SERENA will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
        SERENA hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the
information omitted from the form of Prospectus filed as part of this
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
Prospectus filed by SERENA pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the
Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of
the time it was declared effective.
 
    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of Prospectus shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, SERENA Software,
Inc. has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Burlingame, State of California, on the 25th day of January, 1998.
    
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>  <C>
                                SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                                By:  /s/ RICHARD A. DOERR*
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Richard A. Doerr, President and Chief
                                         Executive Officer
</TABLE>
 
   
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                       TITLE                    DATE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------  -------------------
 
<C>                             <S>                         <C>
                                President, Chief Executive   January 25, 1999
    /s/ RICHARD A. DOERR*       Officer and Director
- ------------------------------  (Principal Executive
      (Richard A. Doerr)        Officer)
 
                                Vice President, Finance      January 25, 1999
                                and Administration, Chief
  /s/ ROBERT I. PENDER, JR.     Financial Officer
- ------------------------------  (Principal Financial and
   (Robert I. Pender, Jr.)      Accounting Officer) and
                                Secretary
 
    /s/ DOUGLAS D. TROXEL*      Chairman of the Board of     January 25, 1999
- ------------------------------  Directors and Chief
     (Douglas D. Troxel)        Technology Officer
 
      /s/ ALAN H. HUNT*
- ------------------------------  Director                     January 25, 1999
        (Alan H. Hunt)
 
    /s/ JERRY T. UNGERMAN*
- ------------------------------  Director                     January 25, 1999
     (Jerry T. Ungerman)
 
  *By: /s/ ROBERT I. PENDER,
             JR.
- ------------------------------
    Robert I. Pender, Jr.
       Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                   REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE AND
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
SERENA Software, Inc.
 
        The audits referred to in our report dated December 18, 1998, except as
to Note 4(b), which is as of January 5, 1999, included the related financial
statement schedule as of October 31, 1998, and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended January 31, 1998 and for the nine months ended October
31, 1998, included in the registration statement. This financial statement
schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule based on our
audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basis consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
   
        We consent to the use of our reports included herein related to SERENA
Software, Inc. and Optima Software, Inc. and to the reference to our firm under
the headings "Experts," "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and "The
Offering" in the prospectus.
    
 
   
                                          KPMG LLP
    
 
Mountain View, California
 
   
January 22, 1999
    
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
 
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
 
                                 --------------
 
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        ADDITIONS--
                                           BALANCE AT   CHARGED TO                  BALANCE AT
                                          BEGINNING OF   COSTS AND   DEDUCTIONS--     END OF
DESCRIPTION                                  PERIOD      EXPENSES      WRITEOFFS      PERIOD
- ----------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>
Year Ended January 31, 1996:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts.......   $   30,000    $      --     $      --     $  30,000
Year Ended January 31, 1997:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts.......   $   30,000    $      --     $      --     $  30,000
Year Ended January 31, 1998:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts.......   $   30,000    $ 200,000     $ (33,000)    $ 197,000
Nine Months Ended October 31, 1998:
  Allowance for doubtful accounts.......   $  197,000    $ 100,000     $ (16,000)    $ 281,000
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER      NOTES                                      DESCRIPTION
- ---------  ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>        <C>
   1.1     A          Form of Underwriting Agreement
   3.1     C          Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SERENA
   3.2     A          Bylaws of SERENA, as currently in effect
   4.1     A          Specimen Common Stock Certificate
   4.2     A          Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, by and among SERENA
                        and certain shareholders of Optima Software Inc. (related to SERENA's
                        acquisition of Optima Software, Inc.)
   5.1     B          Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
  10.1     A          Form of Indemnification Agreement between SERENA and each of its directors and
                        officers
  10.2A    A          Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan
  10.2B    A          Form of Option Agreement under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan
  10.2C    A          Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement under the Amended and Restated 1997
                        Stock Option Plan
  10.3A    C          1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  10.3B    A          Form of Subscription Agreement under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  10.4A    A          1999 Director Plan
  10.4B    A          Form of Option Agreement under 1999 Director Plan
  10.5     A          Employment Agreement, dated April 18, 1997 between SERENA and Richard A. Doerr
  10.6     A          Employment Agreement, dated June 24, 1980, between SERENA and Douglas D. Troxel
  10.7     A          Employment and Software Distribution Agreement, dated October 28, 1993, between
                        SERENA and A. Bruce Leland (relating to license of proprietary technology)
  10.8     A          Employment Agreement, dated May 18, 1993, between SERENA and Steven Smith
                        (relating to license of proprietary technology)
  10.9     A          Software Agreement, dated July 1, 1991, by and between SERENA and High Power
                        Software, Inc. (relating to joint ownership of technology)
  10.10A   A          Lease Agreement, dated August 15, 1994, between SERENA and Water Front Towers
                        Partners, L.P. (for Burlingame headquarters)
  10.10B   A          Addendum to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility), dated
                        November 21, 1994
  10.10C   A          Second Addendum to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters) dated November
                        15, 1994
  10.10D   A          Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        May 21, 1996
  10.10E   A          Amendment No. 2 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        August 24, 1996
  10.10F   A          Amendment No. 3 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        June 3, 1997
  10.10G   A          Amendment No. 4 to Lease Agreement (for Burlingame headquarters facility) dated
                        June 9, 1998
  10.11    A          Lease Agreement between SERENA and Waterfront Tower Partners, L.P. dated May
                        18, 1998 (for additional space at Burlingame headquarters facility)
  10.12    A          Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement entered into between SERENA and
                        certain of its executive officers
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER      NOTES                                      DESCRIPTION
- ---------  ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>        <C>
  10.13    A          Secured Promissory Note and Security Agreement between SERENA and Douglas D.
                        Troxel dated July 22, 1998
  16.1     A          Letter regarding change in certifying accountants
  21.1     A          List of Subsidiaries
  23.1     C          Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors (see Page S-1)
  23.3     B          Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1     A          Power of Attorney
  24.2     A          Power of Attorney (for Jerry T. Ungerman)
  27.1     C          Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
A  Previously filed
 
B  To be filed by amendment
 
C  Filed herewith

<PAGE>


                                  STATE OF DELAWARE
                           OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

     I, EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
"SERENA SOFTWARE, INC", FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF
JANUARY, A.D. 1999 AT 2:30 O'CLOCK P.M.

     A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE
COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.


                  [SEAL]

                                             /s/ Edward J. Freel
                                             EDWARD J. FREEL SECRETARY OF STATE

<PAGE>
                                 AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                          OF
                                SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.

     SERENA Software, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

     A.   The name of the corporation is SERENA Software, Inc. The 
corporation was originally incorporated under the same name and the original 
Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary 
of State and the State of Delaware on October 13, 1998.

     B.   This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly 
adopted in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware by the Board of Directors and the Stockholders of the 
corporation.

     C.   Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, this Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and
further amends the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of this
corporation.

     D.   The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and
restated in its entirety to read as follows:


                                      ARTICLE I

     The name of the corporation is SERENA Software, Inc. (the "Corporation").

                                      ARTICLE II

     The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware
is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, Delaware 19801, County of New
Castle.  The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation
Trust Company.

                                     ARTICLE III

     The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the
Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations
may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

                                       1
<PAGE>

                                      ARTICLE IV

          (a) This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of shares to
be designated, respectively, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.  The total number
of shares of Common Stock which this Corporation shall have the authority to
issue shall be 60,000,000, $.001 par value, and the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock this Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be
5,000,000, $.001 par value.

          (b) The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more
series pursuant to a resolution or resolutions providing for such issue duly
adopted by the Board of Directors (authority to do so being hereby expressly
vested in the Board).  The Board of Directors is further authorized to determine
or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to
or imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and to fix the
number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock and the designation of any
such series of Preferred Stock.  The Board of Directors, within the limits and
restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors
originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, may increase or
decrease (but not below the number of shares in any such series then
outstanding) the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issue of
shares of that series.

                                      ARTICLE V

     The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

                                      ARTICLE VI

     Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless a stockholder
demands election by written ballot at the meeting and before voting begins or
unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

                                     ARTICLE VII

     The number of directors which constitute the whole Board of Directors of
the Corporation shall be designated in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

                                     ARTICLE VIII

     In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal
the Bylaws of the Corporation.

                                      ARTICLE IX

          (a) To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of
the Corporation shall be indemnified by the Corporation or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

          (b) The Corporation shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by
law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding,
whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
that he, his testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of
the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation or serves or served at any
other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the
Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

          (c) Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the
adoption of any provision of this Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation
inconsistent with this Article X, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this
Article X, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding
accruing or arising or that, but for this Article X, would accrue or arise,
prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

                                      ARTICLE X

     Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide.  The books of the Corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside of the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

                                      ARTICLE XI

     Vacancies created by the resignation of one or more members of the Board of
Directors and newly created directorships, created in accordance with the Bylaws
of this Corporation, may be filled by the vote of a majority, although less than
a quorum, of the directors then in office, or by a sole remaining director.

                                     ARTICLE XII

     Advance notice of new business and stockholder nominations for the election
of directors shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the
Bylaws of the Corporation.

                                     ARTICLE XIII

     Until a Registration Statement regarding the sale of the Corporation's 
Common Stock to the public is declared effective by the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, stockholders shall be entitled to cumulative voting 
rights as set forth in this Article XIV and the Bylaws of the Corporation. At 
all elections of directors of the Corporation, each holder of stock or of any 
class or classes or of a series or series thereof shall be entitled to as 
many votes as shall equal the number of votes which (except for this 
provision as to cumulative voting) such stockholder would be entitled to cast 
for the election of directors with respect to such stockholder's shares of 
stock multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and such 
stockholder may cast all of such votes for a single director or may 
distribute them among the number of directors to be voted for, or for any two 
or more of them as such stockholder may see fit.  As of the date that a 
Registration Statement regarding the sale of the Corporation's Common Stock 
to the public is declared effective by the Securities and


                                         -3-
<PAGE>

Exchange Commission, this Article XIV shall no longer be effective and may be
deleted herefrom upon any restatement of this Certificate of Incorporation.

                                     ARTICLE XIV

     The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any
provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders
herein are granted subject to this reservation.



                                         -4-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amended and Restated 
Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Robert I. Pender, Jr., its Chief 
Financial Officer, effective as of January 22, 1999.

                                   SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.

                                   By:  /s/ Robert I. Pender, Jr.
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Robert I. Pender, Jr.
                                        Vice President, Chief Financial
                                        Officer and Secretary





                                         -5-

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.3A
 
                             SERENA SOFTWARE, INC.
                       1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
        The following constitute the provisions of the 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of SERENA Software, Inc.
 
    1.  PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company
and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of
the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the
Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under
Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The provisions of
the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and limit
participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of
the Code.
 
    2.  DEFINITIONS.
 
        (a)  "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
        (b)  "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
        (c)  "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock of the Company.
 
        (d)  "COMPANY" shall mean SERENA Software, Inc., and any Designated
    Subsidiary of the Company.
 
        (e)  "COMPENSATION" shall mean all base straight time gross earnings,
    commissions and bonuses, but exclusive of payments for overtime, shift
    premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments and other compensation.
 
        (f)  "DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary which has been
    designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible
    to participate in the Plan.
 
        (g)  "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any individual who is an employee of the
    Company for tax purposes whose customary employment with the Company is at
    least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any
    calendar year; provided that the term "Employee" shall not include
    consultants to, or independent contractors of, the Company. For purposes of
    the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact
    while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by
    the Company. Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and the individual's
    right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract,
    the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the 91st
    day of such leave.
 
        (h)  "ENROLLMENT DATE" shall mean the first Trading Day of each Offering
    Period.
 
        (i)  "EXERCISE DATE" shall mean the last Trading Day of each Purchase
    Period.
 
        (j)  "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean, as of any date, the value of Common
    Stock determined as follows:
 
           (1) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange
       or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
       National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market,
       its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or
       the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or
       system for the last market trading day on the date of such determination,
       as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Board
       deems reliable;
 
           (2) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
       securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market
       Value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the
       Common Stock on the date of such determination, as reported in THE WALL
       STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Board deems reliable;
 
           (3) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the
       Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Board;
       or
<PAGE>
           (4) For purposes of the Enrollment Date of the first Offering Period
       under the Plan, the Fair Market Value shall be the initial price to the
       public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the
       registration statement in Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
       Commission for the initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock
       (the "Registration Statement").
 
        (k)  "OFFERING PERIODS" shall mean the periods of approximately
    twenty-four (24) months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan
    may be exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after December 1
    and June 1 of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day in the
    periods ending twenty-four months later; provided, however, that the first
    Offering Period under the Plan shall commence with the first Trading Day on
    or after the date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission declares
    the Company's Registration Statement effective (the "SEC Effective Date")
    and ending on the last Trading Day on or before November 30, 2000. The
    duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4
    of this Plan.
 
        (l)  "PLAN" shall mean this 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
        (m)  "PURCHASE PERIOD" shall mean the approximately six month period
    commencing after one Exercise Date and ending with the next Exercise Date,
    except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period shall commence
    on the Enrollment Date and end with the next Exercise Date, the first
    Purchase Period shall commence on the SEC Effective Date and end on the last
    trading day on or before August 25, 1999 and the second Purchase Period
    shall commence on August 26 and end on the last trading day on or before
    November 30, 1999.
 
        (n)  "PURCHASE PRICE" shall mean 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share
    of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is
    lower; provided however, that the Purchase Price may be adjusted by the
    Board pursuant to Section 20.
 
        (o)  "RESERVES" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock covered
    by each option under the Plan which have not yet been exercised and the
    number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance
    under the Plan but not yet placed under option.
 
        (p)  "SHARE" means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance
    with Section 19 of the Plan.
 
        (q)  "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of
    which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a
    Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter
    organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.
 
        (r)  "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges
    and the Nasdaq System are open for trading.
 
    3.  ELIGIBILITY.
 
        (a)  Any Employee who shall be employed by the Company on a given
    Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
        (b) Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
    Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that,
    immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock
    would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code)
    would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to
    purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total
    combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the
    Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights
    to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and
    its subsidiaries accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand
    Dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair market value of the
    shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which
    such option is outstanding at any time.
 
    4.  OFFERING PERIODS.  The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive,
overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first
Trading Day on or after December 1 and June 1 each year, or on such other date
as the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until terminated in
<PAGE>
accordance with Section 20 hereof; provided, however, that the first Offering
Period under the Plan shall commence with the first Trading Day on or after the
date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission declares the Company's
Registration Statement effective and ending on the last Trading Day on or before
November 30, 2000. The Board shall have the power to change the duration of
Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to
future offerings without shareholder approval if such change is announced at
least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering
Period to be affected thereafter.
 
    5.  PARTICIPATION.
 
        (a)  An eligible Employee working primarily in the United States of
    America may become a participant in the Plan by completing a subscription
    agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form of EXHIBIT A to this
    Plan and filing it with the Company's payroll office prior to the applicable
    Enrollment Date.
 
        (b) An eligible Employee working primarily outside of the United States
    of America may become a participant in the Plan by completing a
    participation agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form of
    EXHIBIT B to this Plan and filing it with the Company's payroll office prior
    to the applicable Enrollment Date.
 
        (c)  Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the first
    payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in
    the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner
    terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
 
    6.  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.
 
        (a)  At the time a participant files his or her subscription agreement,
    he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day during
    the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding 10% of the Compensation which
    he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering Period.
 
        (b) All payroll deductions made for a participant shall be credited to
    his or her account under the Plan and shall be withheld in whole percentages
    only. A participant may not make any additional payments into such account.
 
        (c)  A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan
    as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of
    his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing or
    filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in
    payroll deduction rate; provided, however, that a participant may change his
    or her rate of payroll deductions only two (2) times each Purchase Period;
    provided, further, that the Board may, in its discretion, change the number
    of participation rate changes permitted during any Purchase or Offering
    Period. The change in rate shall be effective with the first full payroll
    period following five (5) business days after the Company's receipt of the
    new subscription agreement unless the Company elects to process a given
    change in participation more quickly. A participant's most recent
    subscription agreement received by the Company shall remain in effect for
    successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10
    hereof.
 
        (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply
    with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a participant's
    payroll deductions may be decreased by the Company to zero percent (0%) at
    any time during a Purchase Period. Payroll deductions shall recommence at
    the rate provided in such participant's subscription agreement at the
    beginning of the first Purchase Period which is scheduled to end in the
    following calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as provided in
    Section 10 hereof.
 
        (e) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the
    time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan is
    disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company's
    federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise
    upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At
    any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the
    participant's compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet
    applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to
<PAGE>
    make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to
    sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Employee.
 
    7.  GRANT OF OPTION.  On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each
eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an
option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the
applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock determined by dividing such Employee's payroll deductions accumulated
prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant's account as of the
Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall
an Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than
25,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant
to Section 19), and provided further that such purchase shall be subject to the
limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 12 hereof. The Board may, for future
Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock an Employee may purchase during
each Purchase Period of such Offering Period. Exercise of the option shall occur
as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant
to Section 10 hereof. The option shall expire on the last day of the Offering
Period.
 
    8.  EXERCISE OF OPTION.
 
        (a)  Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section
    10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares shall be exercised
    automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares
    subject to option shall be purchased for such participant at the applicable
    Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
    account. No fractional shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions
    accumulated in a participant's account which are not sufficient to purchase
    a full share shall be retained in the participant's account for the
    subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal
    by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any other monies left
    over in a participant's account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to
    the participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to
    purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.
 
        (b) If the Board determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number
    of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i)
    the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the
    Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the
    number of shares available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date,
    the Board may in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company shall make
    a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase
    on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a
    manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole
    discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to
    purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and continue all Offering
    Periods then in effect, or (y) provide that the Company shall make a pro
    rata allocation of the shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date
    or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be
    practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable
    among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such
    Exercise Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect
    pursuant to Section 20 hereof. The Company may make pro rata allocation of
    the shares available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering
    Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization
    of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company's
    shareholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.
 
    9.  DELIVERY.  As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on which
a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each
participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares purchased
upon exercise of his or her option.
 
    10.  WITHDRAWAL.
 
        (a)  A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the payroll
    deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his
    or her option under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the
    Company in the form of EXHIBIT C to this Plan. All of the participant's
    payroll deductions credited to his or her account shall be paid to such
    participant promptly after receipt of
<PAGE>
    notice of withdrawal and such participant's option for the Offering Period
    shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the
    purchase of shares shall be made for such Offering Period. If a participant
    withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at
    the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant
    delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.
 
        (b) A participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have
    any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan
    which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering
    Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from
    which the participant withdraws.
 
    11.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Upon a participant's ceasing to be an
Employee, for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw
from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such participant's account
during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the option shall be
returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person
or persons entitled thereto under Section 15 hereof, and such participant's
option shall be automatically terminated. The preceding sentence
notwithstanding, a participant who receives payment in lieu of notice of
termination of employment shall be treated as continuing to be an Employee for
the participant's customary number of hours per week of employment during the
period in which the participant is subject to such payment in lieu of notice.
 
    12.  INTEREST.  No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a
participant in the Plan.
 
    13.  STOCK.
 
        (a)  Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company
    as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of shares of the
    Company's Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan
    shall be 225,000 shares, plus an annual increase to be added on the first
    day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year ending January 31,
    2001, equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the Shares of Common Stock
    outstanding on the last day of the previous fiscal year or (ii) such amount
    as determined by the Board.
 
        (b) The participant shall have no interest or voting right in shares
    covered by his option until such option has been exercised.
 
        (c)  Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan shall be
    registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant
    and his or her spouse.
 
    14.  ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a
committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board. The Board or its
committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe,
interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to
adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and
determination made by the Board or its committee shall, to the full extent
permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.
 
    15.  DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.
 
        (a)  A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who
    is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account
    under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to an
    Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such
    participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a
    written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the
    participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's
    death prior to exercise of the option. If a participant is married and the
    designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required
    for such designation to be effective.
 
        (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at
    any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a participant and
    in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is
    living at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver
    such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of
    the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed
    (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its
<PAGE>
    discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one
    or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse,
    dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as
    the Company may designate.
 
    16.  TRANSFERABILITY.  Neither payroll deductions credited to a
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the participant. Any such
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.
 
    17.  USE OF FUNDS.  All payroll deductions received or held by the Company
under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
 
    18.  REPORTS.  Individual accounts shall be maintained for each participant
in the Plan. Statements of account shall be given to participating Employees at
least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll
deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining
cash balance, if any.
 
    19.  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION,
MERGER OR ASSET SALE.
 
        (a)  CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action by the
    shareholders of the Company, the Reserves, the maximum number of shares each
    participant may purchase each Purchase Period (pursuant to Section 7), as
    well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered
    by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be
    proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
    issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock
    split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock,
    or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
    effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however,
    that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be
    deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration". Such
    adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect
    shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein,
    no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
    convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
    adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or
    price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.
 
        (b)  DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of the proposed
    dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in
    progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the "New
    Exercise Date"), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation
    of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by
    the Board. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company's
    proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Board shall notify each participant
    in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date,
    that the Exercise Date for the participant's option has been changed to the
    New Exercise Date and that the participant's option shall be exercised
    automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the
    participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10
    hereof.
 
        (c)  MERGER OR ASSET SALE. In the event of a proposed sale of all or
    substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company
    with or into another corporation, each outstanding option shall be assumed
    or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent
    or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor
    corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, any Purchase
    Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date
    (the "New Exercise Date") and any Offering Periods then in progress shall
    end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date
    of the Company's proposed sale or merger. The Board shall notify each
    participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New
    Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant's option has been
    changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant's option shall be
    exercised
<PAGE>
    automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the
    participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10
    hereof.
 
    20.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.
 
        (a)  The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time and for any
    reason terminate or amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 19 hereof,
    no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that an
    Offering Period may be terminated by the Board of Directors on any Exercise
    Date if the Board determines that the termination of the Offering Period or
    the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
    Except as pro-vided in Section 19 and this Section 20 hereof, no amendment
    may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely
    affects the rights of any participant. To the extent necessary to comply
    with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any
    other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the Company shall
    obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as
    required.
 
        (b) Without shareholder consent and without regard to whether any
    participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the
    Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods,
    limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during
    an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts
    withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding
    in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for
    delays or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed
    withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods
    and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied
    toward the purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly correspond
    with amounts withheld from the participant's Compensation, and establish
    such other limitations or procedures as the Board (or its committee)
    determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the
    Plan.
 
        (c)  In the event the Board determines that the ongoing operation of the
    Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Board
    may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or
    amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including,
    but not limited to:
 
           (1) altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an
       Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;
 
           (2) shortening any Offering Period so that Offering Period ends on a
       new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of
       the Board action; and
 
           (3) allocating shares.
 
           Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder
       approval or the consent of any Plan participants.
 
    21.  NOTICES.  All notices or other communications by a participant to the
Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by
the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
 
    22.  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  Shares shall not be issued with
respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and
delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable
provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements
of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.
 
        As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the
person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of
<PAGE>
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the
aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
 
    23.  TERM OF PLAN.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof.
 
    24.  AUTOMATIC TRANSFER TO LOW PRICE OFFERING PERIOD.  To the extent
permitted by any applicable laws, regulations, or stock exchange rules if the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offering Period
is lower than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Enrollment Date
of such Offering Period, then all participants in such Offering Period shall be
automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise
of their option on such Exercise Date and automatically re-enrolled in the
im-mediately following Offering Period as of the first day thereof.
 
                [REMAINDER OF THE PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
REGISTRANT'S FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999             JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1998             FEB-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1998             JAN-31-1998
<CASH>                                      16,878,350               9,024,015
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               11,045,250               9,161,905
<ALLOWANCES>                                 (281,000)               (197,000)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            28,385,040              18,808,240
<PP&E>                                       3,250,644               2,221,215
<DEPRECIATION>                             (1,436,470)               (831,372)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              50,950,102              20,566,521
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       15,500,543              11,866,418
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
                                0                       0
                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        20,204                  16,961
<OTHER-SE>                                  33,373,032               6,967,793
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                50,950,102              20,566,521
<SALES>                                     16,684,740              17,838,946
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            31,145,731              32,147,036
<CGS>                                        1,265,901               1,086,820
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               23,716,400              24,453,469
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              7,999,833               8,014,268
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,595,633               3,253,490
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,404,200               4,761,138
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,404,200               4,761,138
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.27                    0.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.26                    0.31
        

</TABLE>


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