<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 16, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
WASHINGTON 91-1144442
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONE MICROSOFT WAY
REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98052-6399
(425) 882-8080
(Address, including zip code, and telephone
number including area code, of registrant's principal
executive office)
-----------------------------------------------------
Robert A. Eshelman
General Counsel, Finance and Administration
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
(425) 882-8080
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copies of all communications to:
Mark S. Britton
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP
5000 Columbia Center
701 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104-7078
(206) 623-7580
-----------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: At such
time or times after the effective date of this Registration Statement as the
Selling Shareholders shall determine.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box: / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box: /X/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under he 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 SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of each class Proposed maximum Proposed maximum
of securities to be Amount to be offering price per aggregate offering Amount of
registered registered share** price** registration fee**
- --------------------- ------------------ --------------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Shares par
value
$.000025 3,152,677 shares* $89.82 $283,173,448 $250*
</TABLE>
* Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement serves as post-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No.
333-45989. The Prospectus included herein relates to 3,143,310 of the 5,538,296
(post-split) Common Shares of Microsoft Corporation previously registered under
such Registration Statement, which the Commission declared effective on February
12, 1998. In the event any of such 3,143,310 Common Shares are offered prior to
the effective date of this Registration Statement, they will not be included in
any prospectus hereunder. Also pursuant to Rule 429, the 3,143,310 shares
previously registered under Registration Statement No. 333-45989, and the filing
fee paid therefor in the amount of $72,960, are being carried forward into this
Registration Statement.
** Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) solely for purposes of calculating
amount of registration fee, based upon the average of the high and low prices
reported on October 9, 1998, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The Index to Exhibits is located at Page II-4.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
----------
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
3,152,677 Common Shares
Par Value of $.000025 Per Share
----------------------------------------
This Prospectus relates to up to 3,152,677 shares of common stock (the
"Common Shares") of Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation
("Microsoft"), which may be offered from time to time by the selling
shareholders named herein (the "Selling Shareholders"). Microsoft will not
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares. Microsoft will
bear the costs relating to the registration of the Common Shares estimated to be
approximately $17,250.
The Common Shares are registered as a result of (i) the merger of
MicroHM, Inc., a wholly owned Washington subsidiary of Microsoft ("Sub"),
with and into Hotmail Corporation ("Hotmail"), a California corporation; and
(ii) the merger of Microflash, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Microsoft, with and into Flash Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Flash") (collectively, the "Mergers"). Pursuant to the
Mergers, Microsoft agreed to register the Common Shares received by the
Selling Shareholders in connection with the Mergers. In agreements related
to the Mergers, each Selling Shareholder entered into an investment agreement
with Microsoft (the "Investment Agreement").
The Common Shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol
MSFT. The average of the high and low prices of the Common Shares as reported
on the Nasdaq Stock Market on October 9, 1998 was $89.82 per Common Share.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
----------------------------------------
The date of this Prospectus is October 16, 1998.
All of the securities to be registered hereby are to be offered for the
account of security holders.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Microsoft is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and files reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
accordance therewith. Such reports, proxy statements, and other information
filed by Microsoft are available for inspection and copying at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices located at 7 World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and at Citicorp Center, 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such
material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site on the Internet at
http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding registrants, including Microsoft, that file
electronically with the Commission. The Common Shares are traded as "National
Market Securities" on the Nasdaq National Market. Material filed by Microsoft
can be inspected at the offices of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., Reports Section, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
-----------------------------------------
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by Microsoft with the Commission are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
1. Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
1998.
2. Microsoft's Proxy Statement dated September 25, 1998.
3. The description of the Common Stock of Microsoft which is contained in
the registration statement of Microsoft filed on Form S-3, dated December 13,
1996.
All documents filed by Microsoft pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Common Shares offered hereby shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof.
Microsoft hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person to
whom this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of any
such person, a copy of any and all of the foregoing documents incorporated
herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents which are not
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates). Written or telephone requests should be directed to Investor
Relations Department, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond,
Washington 98052-6399, telephone number (425) 882-8080.
No dealer, salesman, or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus, and,
if given or made, such information and representation must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by Microsoft. This Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered
hereby in any state to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer in
such state. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sales made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of Microsoft since the date hereof.
-----------------------------------------
-2-
<PAGE>
This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement which
Microsoft has filed with the Commission under the 1933 Act, with respect to the
Common Shares. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in
the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related Exhibits thereto for further information with respect to
Microsoft and the securities offered hereby. Such additional information can be
obtained from the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. Any statements
contained herein concerning the provisions of any documents are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the
Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
THE COMPANY
Microsoft was founded as a partnership in 1975 and incorporated in 1981.
Microsoft develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports a wide range of
software products, including operating systems for personal computers ("PCs")
and servers; server applications for client/server environments; business and
consumer productivity applications; software development tools; and Internet and
intranet software and technologies. Microsoft has recently expanded its
interactive content efforts, including MSN-TM-, The Microsoft Network online
service, various Internet-based services, and entertainment and information
software programs. Microsoft also sells personal computer books and input
devices and researches and develops advanced technologies for future software
products. Microsoft's business strategy emphasizes the development of a broad
line of PC and server software products for business and personal use, marketed
through multiple channels of distribution.
Microsoft is a Washington corporation and its principal executive offices
are located at One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399, its telephone
number is (425) 882-8080 and its electronic mail address is [email protected].
USE OF PROCEEDS
Microsoft will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares
offered hereby; nor will such proceeds be available for Microsoft's use or
benefit.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
All of the Common Shares described in this Prospectus will be owned
immediately after registration by all of the former shareholders of Hotmail and
all of the former shareholders of Flash (the "Selling Shareholders"). To the
knowledge of Microsoft, subsequent to the offering contemplated hereby, the
Selling Shareholders shall hold no Common Shares.
All of the shares offered by the Selling Shareholders were acquired in
connection with the Mergers. Such shares do not exceed one percent (1%) of
Microsoft's outstanding capitalization. In the past three years, none of the
Selling Shareholders has had a material relationship with Microsoft, except that
certain Selling Shareholders have become non-officer employees of Hotmail, Flash
or Microsoft subsequent to the Mergers.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Microsoft has been advised by each Selling Shareholder that, subject to the
terms of the Investment Agreement, each Selling Shareholder expects to offer
his, her or its Common Shares to or through brokers and dealers and underwriters
to be selected by the Selling Shareholder from time to time. In addition, the
Common Shares may be offered for sale through the Nasdaq Stock Market, in the
over-the-counter market, through a market maker, in one or more private
transactions, or a combination of such methods of sale, at prices and on terms
then prevailing, at prices related to such prices, or at negotiated prices.
Each Selling Shareholder may pledge all or a portion of the Common Shares owned
by him, her or it as collateral in loan transactions. Upon default by any such
Selling Shareholder, the pledgee in such loan transaction would have the same
rights of sale as such Selling Shareholder under this Prospectus. Each Selling
Shareholder also may enter into exchange traded listed option transactions which
require the delivery of the Common Shares listed hereunder. Subject to the
terms of the
-3-
<PAGE>
Investment Agreement, each Selling Shareholder may also transfer Common Shares
owned by him, her or it in other ways not involving market makers or established
trading markets, including directly by gift, distribution, or other transfer
without consideration, and upon any such transfer the transferee would have the
same rights of sale as such Selling Shareholder under this Prospectus. In
addition, any securities covered by this Prospectus which qualify for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),
may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this Prospectus. Finally,
each Selling Shareholder and any brokers and dealers through whom sales of the
Common Shares are made may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the 1933 Act, and the commissions or discounts and other compensation paid to
such persons may be regarded as underwriters' compensation.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Common Shares offered hereby will be passed upon for
Microsoft by Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, 5000 Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Avenue,
Seattle, Washington 98104. As of the date hereof, attorneys in Preston Gates &
Ellis LLP who have worked on substantive matters for Microsoft own less than
500,000 Common Shares.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Microsoft for each of the three
years in the period ended June 30, 1998, incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus from Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is
incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon
such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
-4-
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The expenses relating to the registration of Shares will be borne by the
registrant. Such expenses are estimated to be as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration Fee --
Securities and
Exchange Commission $250
Accountants' Fees 5,000
Legal Fees 10,000
Miscellaneous 2,000
------
Total $17,250
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Article XII of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Microsoft
authorizes Microsoft to indemnify any present or former director or officer to
the fullest extent not prohibited by the WBCA, public policy or other applicable
law. Chapter 23B.8.510 and .570 of the WBCA authorizes a corporation to
indemnify its directors, officers, employees, or agents in terms sufficiently
broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities
(including provisions permitting advances for expenses incurred) arising under
the 1933 Act.
The directors and officers of Microsoft are entitled to indemnification by
each of the Selling Shareholders against any cause of action, loss, claim,
damage, or liability to the extent it arises out of or is based upon the failure
of any Selling Shareholder (or his donees, legatees, or pledgees) and each
underwriter to comply with the Prospectus delivery requirements under the
federal securities laws or any applicable state securities laws or upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in this Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained herein, as the
same shall be amended or supplemented, made in reliance upon or in conformity
with written information furnished to Microsoft by such Selling Shareholder or
such underwriter.
In addition, Microsoft maintains directors' and officers' liability
insurance under which Microsoft's directors and officers are insured against
loss (as defined in the policy) as a result of claims brought against them for
their wrongful acts in such capacities.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
The Exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Index to
Exhibits on page II-4.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
1933 Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
II-1
<PAGE>
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase
or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any
material change to such information in this registration statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by Microsoft pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act,
each such post-effective amendment 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.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(4) For purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each
filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.
(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant 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, the registrant 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 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Omitted]
-II-2-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Redmond, State of Washington on October 16, 1998.
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
/s/ William H. Gates III
----------------------------------------
William H. Gates III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints William H. Gates III, his attorney-in-fact, for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this registration
statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute, may
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dated
-----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Gregory B. Maffei Vice President, Finance; October 16, 1998
- ------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
Gregory B. Maffei (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
/s/ William H. Gates III Chairman, Chief Executive October 16, 1998
- ------------------------- Officer, Director
William H. Gates III (Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/ Paul G. Allen Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
Paul G. Allen
/s/ Jill E. Barad Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
Jill E. Barad
/s/ Richard A. Hackborn Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
Richard A. Hackborn
/s/ David F. Marquardt Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
David F. Marquardt
/s/ William G. Reed, Jr. Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
William G. Reed, Jr.
/s/ Jon A. Shirley Director October 16, 1998
- -------------------------
Jon A. Shirley
</TABLE>
-II-3-
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE OR FOOTNOTE
- ----------- ----------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
5 Opinion of Counsel re: legality See attached.
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
Independent Auditors See attached.
23.2 Consent of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP See footnote (1)
24 Power of Attorney See page II-3
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------------
(1) Contained within Exhibit 5
-II-4-
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5
OPINION OF PRESTON GATES & ELLIS LLP
October 16, 1998
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
----------------------------------
Ladies and Gentleman:
In connection with the registration of 3,152,677 shares of common stock,
par value $.000025 per share (the "Common Shares") of Microsoft Corporation (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), relating to the sales, if
any, of the Common Shares by the selling shareholders, we have examined such
documents, records and matters of law as we have considered relevant. Based
upon such examination and upon our familiarity as counsel for the Company with
its general affairs, it is our opinion that:
The Common Shares being registered are legally issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
PRESTON GATES & ELLIS LLP
By /s/ Richard B. Dodd
Richard B. Dodd
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form S-3 of Microsoft Corporation of our report dated July 16, 1998 (August 3,
1998, as to Subsequent Sale Note), appearing in and incorporated by reference in
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Microsoft Corporation for the year ended June
30, 1998, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seattle, Washington
October 14, 1998
