BMC SOFTWARE INC
10-K, 1998-06-25
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 ---------------
                                    FORM 10-K

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

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1998

                                       OR

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

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                TO

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-17136

                                 ---------------
                               BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               DELAWARE                                     74-2126120
    (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)

                               BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
                            2101 CITYWEST BOULEVARD
                                 HOUSTON, TEXAS
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                        
                                   77042-2827
                                   (Zip code)
                                        
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 918-8800

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                      None

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

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



<PAGE>   2

    The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the last reported sale price of the
registrant's Common Stock on June 24, 1998 was $10,865,264,452.

    As of June 24, 1998, there were outstanding 214,514,461 shares of Common
Stock, par value $.01, of the registrant.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the following documents are incorporated by reference in this
report:

    Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the registrant's
    Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on August 24,
    1998 (Part III of this Report)

    Such Proxy Statement shall be deemed to have been "filed" only to the extent
    portions thereof are expressly incorporated by reference.

<PAGE>   3
This Annual Report contains certain forward looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, which are identified by the use
of the words "believes," "expects", "anticipates," "will," "contemplates,"
"would" and similar expressions that contemplate future events. Numerous
important factors, risks and uncertainties affect the Company's operating
results, including without limitation those contained in this report, and could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results implied
by these or any other forward looking statements made by, or on behalf, of the
Company. There can be no assurance that future results will meet expectations.
Readers should pay particular attention to the important risk factors and
cautionary statements described in the section of this Report entitled
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Certain Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Future Operating
Results." Readers should also carefully review the cautionary statements
described in the other documents BMC files from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, specifically all Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by BMC.


                                     PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

  BMC Software, Inc. ("BMC" or the "Company") is a leading global provider of
systems management software solutions for host mainframe and distributed
information systems. BMC provides over 200 software products designed to provide
major improvements to a customer's core information technology ("IT")
operations.  These products are designed to ensure that a customer's software
applications and the software systems on which they run are available, have
optimal performance and can be recovered and restarted quickly and predictably
after failure.  BMC also sells and provides maintenance, enhancement and support
services for its products. Founded in 1980, BMC first earned a position of
leadership in providing high performance software tools and utilities for the
mainframe computers on which large enterprises depend. BMC is now a major
provider of systems management solutions for distributed IT systems as well and
has established its PATROL(R) application availability and monitoring product
suite as a market leader. By providing solutions that address both mainframe and
all of the prevalent distributed environments, BMC enables customers to use the
latest technologies while preserving their substantial investments in legacy
hardware, applications and data. In executing its product strategies, BMC
emphasizes internal product development and innovation supplemented by
acquisitions of both emerging technologies and established software companies.

  BMC's customers are transaction and information intensive enterprises that
rely heavily on their computing systems.  They are typically Fortune 1000
industrial and service corporations and similarly sized organizations
worldwide. As BMC extends its distributed systems management product lines, the
number of potential customers for its products has greatly increased. BMC
markets and distributes its products primarily through its well-established
direct sales organization and also sells its distributed systems products
through an indirect sales network of value-added resellers and systems
integrators.

  BMC's software products address the three predominant operating environments
of enterprise computing: 1) the International Business Machine ("IBM") OS/390
mainframe operating system; 2) the various UNIX operating systems employed by
leading hardware manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard Company ("HP"), Sun
Microsystems, Inc. ("Sun"), IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation and 3)
Microsoft Corporation's ("Microsoft or "MS") rapidly emerging MS Windows NT
operating system.  BMC's core products address the performance, availability and
recovery of these operating systems and the most prevalent database management
systems ("DBMSs") used with them.  DBMSs, when loaded with data, comprise the
databases that store all of the information an application generates and
requires.  In addition to storing and organizing the data, the DBMSs allow an
application to access, retrieve, manipulate and analyze it. The primary  DBMSs
employed in the three enterprise operating environments are: IBM's IMS and DB2
for the OS/390 platform; Oracle Corporation ("Oracle"), Informix Software, Inc.
("Informix"), Sybase, Inc. ("Sybase") and DB2/2 for the UNIX platform; and MS
SQL Server and Oracle for the Windows NT platform. The operating systems and
DBMSs form the backbone of the transaction intensive IT systems that are
critical to both the day-to-day operations and the long-term strategies of BMC's
customers. These IT systems are continuously growing in size and complexity.
Since BMC's inception, one of its key focuses and competencies has been
improving the performance, availability, reliability, recoverability and ease of
use of these DBMSs.



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<PAGE>   4
  Over the past four years, BMC has devoted significant resources to building
its distributed systems software products and sales channels.  To date, these
efforts have centered around the PATROL application availability and monitoring
products.  In fiscal 1998, PATROL application and other distributed systems
management products generated $192 million in revenues, representing an increase
of 87% over the prior fiscal year and 26% of total revenues.  While building its
distributed systems management business,  BMC has continued to invest in and
enhance its many products for the OS/390 mainframe platform.  Of these, the most
important are the high performance utilities for the IMS and DB2 DBMSs and the
database administration products for DB2. The high performance utilities
maximize the availability of large IMS and DB2 databases by providing core
services, such as copying, loading, unloading and reorganizing a database, at
very high levels of performance and reliability. The administrative products for
DB2 include a DB2 performance monitor and the change management products for
DB2, which automate routine and repetitive tasks necessary to the operation of
large DB2 databases. The high performance utilities for IMS and DB2 and the
administrative products for DB2 generated approximately 58% of total revenues in
fiscal 1998.

  BMC was organized as a Texas corporation in 1980 and was reincorporated in
Delaware in July 1988. Its principal corporate offices are located at 2101
CityWest Blvd., Houston, TX 77042-2827. Its telephone number is (713) 918-8800.

STRATEGY

  BMC's focus is now evolving to the applications that are the ultimate purpose
of all IT systems.  Organizations are requiring that their IT systems deliver
guaranteed levels of service to the end-user.  IT systems must maximize an
application's availability by minimizing or eliminating the amount of time the
application is unavailable to users because of scheduled maintenance operations
or necessary changes and upgrades to the system. They must also deliver high
performance levels measured by minimized and consistent response times. Finally,
they must guarantee that an application and all of its underlying components can
be recovered quickly and with confidence and integrity from a system failure.
BMC's products can be critical to delivering targeted service levels because of
their orientation towards the highest levels of performance and reliability for
the DBMS and other critical software components that support the application.
This applications centric approach is the object of BMC's Application Service
Assurance(TM) ("ASA") product strategy, which is designed to allow enterprises
to achieve the desired states of key applications by maximizing their
availability, performance and recoverability.

  The ASA strategy also encompasses BMC's early commitment to delivering third
party software tools for packaged enterprise resource planning applications
("ERPs"), which represent one of the most significant recent trends in
enterprise computing.  ERP applications address the core business processes of
any business or other organization, such as accounting and financial reporting,
manufacturing and inventory management, human resources and payroll, and order
entry and tracking. The packaged ERP applications from vendors such as SAP
Corporation ("SAP"), Baan Company N.V. ("BAAN"), PeopleSoft, Inc. ("PeopleSoft")
and Oracle save an enterprise from the highly difficult and unpredictable task
of writing an application from scratch and, equally important, allow for the
standardization and integration of these business processes throughout an
organization. BMC's PATROL product family supports all of the leading ERP
applications as well as their key underlying components such as the UNIX and
Windows NT operating systems and the leading DBMSs.  BMC is actively developing
ERP modules for its other distributed systems management products.

  The underlying premise of BMC's strategy is that the productivity of any
enterprise today increasingly hinges on its business-critical applications.
These applications include ERPs, other off-the-shelf and custom manufacturing,
billing, shipping and payroll applications.  Even seemingly pedestrian
applications such as e-mail or calendaring  applications become business
critical when an organization depends on them for its day-to-day operations.
BMC's strategy is to provide enterprise systems management products that ensure
the availability, performance and recoverability of these key applications and
the DBMSs, operating systems and other software platforms on which they run in
the OS/390 mainframe and distributed environments.





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<PAGE>   5
  BMC believes the OS/390 mainframe platform will continue to be the preferred
system for large-scale IT systems for the foreseeable future.  Contributing to
the ongoing viability of the OS/390 platform are enterprises' large investments
in their OS/390 applications and databases and the significant price reductions
and performance enhancements delivered by IBM and other mainframe hardware
vendors over the last five years. In addition, the OS/390 platform is generally
perceived as more stable and reliable than distributed systems alternatives, in
part because of its homogeneity and the many well established systems
management tools provided by IBM, BMC and other independent software vendors.
BMC's confidence in the OS/390's platform has been reinforced by the increased
demand for mainframe processing capacity over the past 36 months and projected
mainframe growth rates. The Meta Group, for example, estimates that mainframe
capacity as measured in millions of instructions per second will grow at an
annual rate of 33% through the year 2003.  BMC intends to continue to enhance
its important tools and utilities for the IMS and DB2 DBMSs, as well as for
other OS/390 subsystems, and to develop new mainframe products.

  In contrast with the OS/390 mainframe environment, distributed IT systems are
highly fragmented and characterized by multiple hardware, software and network
configurations.  The applications and underlying IT infrastructure components
are provided by many different vendors.  BMC is providing software solutions
designed to manage heterogeneous IT systems centered around its PATROL
applications management and monitoring product. It is highly desirable to be
able to monitor and manage these disparate IT system components from a single
point of control.  PATROL achieves this, thereby delivering higher levels of
operating efficiency and performance management.

  PATROL employs a modular architecture that allows support of many different IT
systems components (such as a DBMS or an ERP application) to be added relatively
quickly and without requiring changes to the underlying PATROL infrastructure.
BMC and third parties have written "knowledge modules" for all of the prevalent
applications, DBMSs, operating systems and other software components of a
distributed IT system.  The knowledge modules encapsulate the information and
instruction sets necessary to the monitoring and management of the application
or other component. BMC's strategy is to support a broad range of distributed
systems components with PATROL, so that customers can maximize their investment
in PATROL by using it to manage their key systems components. PATROL is designed
as well to be complementary with the many available systems and network
management products, such as IBM's Tivoli, Computer Associates International,
Inc.'s ("Computer Associates") Unicenter TNG and HP's OpenView systems
management frameworks as well as domain specific management products such
Cabletron Systems, Inc.'s ("Cabletron") Spectrum and Sun's Solstice.  BMC is
integrating PATROL with these other systems management products to maximize
PATROL's flexibility and usefulness to customers.

  The following table sets forth the primary operating systems, DBMSs and
applications that PATROL manages and the various systems management tools with
which PATROL is integrated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           INTEGRATION WITH
                                                                                           OTHER SYSTEMS
                                                                                           MANAGEMENT
OPERATING SYSTEMS           DBMSS                APPLICATIONS         MIDDLEWARE           PRODUCTS
- -----------------        ------------           ---------------      --------------        ----------
<S>                      <C>                    <C>                  <C>                   <C>
Netware                  ADABAS                   BAAN                 MQSeries             Tivoli
OS/390                   CA-Ingres                Internet Servers     MS MQ                Unicenter TNG
OS/2                     CA-Open Ingres           MS Exchange          Tuxedo               HP OpenView
OpenVMS                  DB2 Universal Database   Lotus Notes          DCE                  Sun Solstice Domain Manager
UNIX                     DB2 for OS/390           Oracle Applications  TX-Series            Cabletron Spectrum
MS Windows NT            IMS/DB                   PeopleSoft           ENTIRE NET-WORK      Remedy AR System
AS/400                   IMS/Fast Path            SAP R/3                                   Compaq Insight Manager
                         Informix                                                                              
                         MS SQL Server                                                                         
                         Oracle                                                                                
                         PROGRESS
                         Sybase
                                       
</TABLE>

PATROL also manages numerous other IT system components via third party
knowledge modules.  BMC established in fiscal 1998 an active third party
development network and knowledge module certification program around PATROL.
This PATROL Developers Network ("PDN") is intended to stimulate and provide a
process for external development of products to extend PATROL's reach to
applications and systems software products that are important but do not appear
to represent a market opportunity large enough to be included in BMC's internal
software development plans. In its first year, the PDN has attracted over 185
development and/or distribution partners.





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<PAGE>   6
  In furtherance of its ASA strategy and to complement the PATROL product suite,
BMC acquired BGS Systems, Inc. ("BGS") in March 1998 in a $300 million
stock-for-stock merger.  BGS is a leading vendor of software tools that collect
and analyze information about how a mainframe or distributed application and its
underlying components are performing.  Using this performance data and analysis,
the BGS BEST/1(R) products can be used to tune the system and to predict how it
will behave under various scenarios, such as increased load, and BMC believes
the BEST/1 products have unique capabilities to analyze and predict the
performance of the various IT system components on an aggregated, holistic basis
and that these capabilities will represent a strong strategic fit with PATROL's
efficiency, quality and depth of data collection and broad platform support.
BMC intends to tightly integrate the BEST/1 and PATROL product families.

  To extend its capabilities to back-up, recover and restore an application or
DBMS, BMC acquired in May 1997 DataTools, Inc. ("DataTools") in a $73 million
purchase. DataTools is a leading developer of back-up and recovery tools for the
Oracle, Sybase and MS SQL Server DBMSs.  The DataTools products automate and
increase the speed for the many sequential steps and processes associated with
backing up and recovering a large database.  They also allow a customer to
back-up a database incrementally, meaning that only changed data is copied and
backed-up, not the entire database.  This greatly increases the speed and
frequency of back-ups.  BMC is integrating the DataTools SQL-BackTrack(TM)
products with its PATROL Recovery Manager product line to enable users to
provide for and control multiple back-up and recovery scenarios from a single
point of control.

  BMC's ASA strategy contemplates the development of solutions suites for an
ERP, DBMS or operating system that are designed to ensure its availability,
performance and recoverability. For example, the Oracle solutions suite would
include the PATROL Oracle Knowledge Module, the PATROL DB-Admin Knowledge
Module, the BEST/1 Oracle module, PATROL Recovery Manager for Oracle, SQL-
BackTrack for Oracle and PATROL-DB-Reorg.  BMC intends to design these
integrated suites to provide customers with a common look and feel for all of
the management products as well as shared infrastructure components.

  BMC's distribution strategy is based upon its well established direct sales
channel, which is concentrated on the 1,000 largest information technology
users worldwide.  BMC is rapidly building its direct sales channel for its
distributed systems products.  BMC hired 133 additional distributed systems
sales representatives and technical sales consultants in fiscal 1998 and
employed 250 distributed sales representatives and 177 technical sales
consultants at March 31, 1998. To assist customers in implementing its products
and to broaden its market coverage, BMC is: 1) opening supplemental field sales
offices in major cities that are staffed with both sales and pre-sales
technical support personnel, 2) building a product implementation services
capability and 3) establishing an indirect channel of value added resellers and
systems integrators.  The PDN program is also designed to stimulate demand for
and acceptance of PATROL by encouraging third parties to build businesses
around PATROL.

PRODUCTS

Application Availability

  BMC's application and data availability product line comprise its: 1) high
availability utilities and administrative tools for IMS and DB2 mainframe DBMSs,
2) PATROL applications management and monitoring product suite and 3) PATROL DB
administrative tools for distributed DBMSs. The Application Availability
solutions maximize availability of an IT system by minimizing unplanned
application outages and by reducing the number and length of necessary
scheduled outages.

  The high availability utilities and administrative tools for IMS/DB and DB2
have historically been BMC's largest revenue source. Large enterprise DBMSs
require periodic maintenance in order to optimize performance and ensure data
integrity. These maintenance processes are time consuming and often render the
DBMS inaccessible to users, thus disrupting business operations. BMC's high
availability utilities dramatically increase the speed of these maintenance
processes and condense the number of steps required, resulting in higher DBMS
and application availability. The IMS and DB2 high availability utilities
automate and speed routine, required database maintenance tasks such as loading,
unloading, reorganizing and checking the integrity of the database. The





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<PAGE>   7
database administration products for IBM's DB2 DBMS provide for the creation,
modification, migration and versioning of database schema and can initiate the
activities of the database utilities to provide maintenance functions and
increase performance. These products generated over 48%, 41% and 38% of total
revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and higher percentages of
net earnings. In addition to the utilities and administrative tools for IMS and
DB2 discussed above, BMC offers high availability utilities for the IMS Fast
Path environment and enhancements to the IMS/TM environment. These products
contributed approximately 7%, 8% and 5% of total revenues for fiscal 1996, 1997
and 1998, respectively.

  BMC's PATROL applications and data management product suite delivers solutions
that monitor the availability and performance of increasingly complex,
heterogeneous environments. PATROL uses a unique, three-tiered architecture
comprised of the: 1) console, 2) agent and 3) knowledge module. The console
graphically depicts all applications, operating systems, DBMSs and underlying IT
resources being monitored and managed by PATROL. The user may access this
information through the native PATROL console or use the PATROLVIEW integration
module to view performance and availability data through leading systems
management framework consoles such as OpenView from HP, Unicenter from Computer
Associates or Tivoli TME from IBM.

  The autonomous, intelligent PATROL agent, which resides on the DBMS or
application server, is equipped to take corrective action on its own without
communication with the central console. By reducing the amount of communication
between the console and agent, network traffic is reduced. Exception reporting
and corrective actions are communicated to the console on an "as needed" basis
as defined by the user, improving PATROL's scalability and allowing it to manage
many servers concurrently.

  The PATROL knowledge module component incorporates knowledge specific to 
given operating systems, DBMSs and applications. The knowledge module
architecture, through the use of the PATROL Scripting Language, allows for rapid
extension and customization of PATROL's management capabilities to meet a
customer's individual requirements. Through the PDN, BMC licenses a knowledge
module development tool kit to third parties, allowing for external development
of knowledge modules to expand the breadth of systems managed by PATROL.

  The PATROL application management product suite contributed 8%, 12% and 18%
of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

  The PATROL DB database administration product suite provides the change
management functions of the DB2 administrative tools for distributed DBMSs, and
most importantly the automation of changes to database schema.  In keeping with
BMC's strategy of broad heterogeneous platform support, PATROL DB supports all
of the leading distributed DBMSs: Oracle, MS SQL Server, Sybase, Informix, DB2
Universal Database and DB2 for OS/390.  The PATROL DB products generated less
than 5% of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Application Performance

  BMC's application performance solutions address the quality of service an
application is providing to users when it is available.  Examples include
optimizing the response time of an application, tracking and reporting its
service levels, detecting and analyzing performance bottlenecks and predicting
future performance and problems.  The Application Performance products comprise:
1) the BGS BEST/1 performance assurance products acquired in March 1998, 2) the
network optimization product series and 3) the dynamic tuning and optimization
product series.

  The BEST/1 performance assurance software products measure, analyze, trend,
predict and report the performance of a customer's computer system and network.
These software products enable customers to make more efficient use of their
existing hardware, software and computer personnel and to plan for the most 
cost-effective expansion of their computer operations to meet increasing loads.
The predictive capabilities of the BEST/1 performance assurance products are
designed to allow customers to anticipate system bottlenecks and performance
problems and take preventative corrective action.  The BEST/1





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<PAGE>   8
products support all of the major mainframe, midrange and workstation
platforms, including the OS/390, Unix and MS Windows NT operating environments.
BGS revenues, most of which relate to BEST/1, are included in BMC's financial
statements for only the last three business days of fiscal 1998. In its most
recently reported fiscal year ending January 31, 1997, BGS total revenues were
$48.6 million.

  The network optimization products provide performance and availability
enhancements for mainframe networks. These products minimize the load
transmitted across telecommunications networks connecting host mainframe CPUs or
IP networks and end-user terminals or personal computers, thus increasing
response time and decreasing network traffic.

  The dynamic tuning and optimization products provide transparent management of
enterprise data, resulting in increased availability and performance of the
operating systems, DBMSs and applications with which they operate. The DELTA IMS
line allows organizations to define IMS system components, expand user access
and increase the size of the network without extensive programming or impact to
IMS/DB application access. The data compression products for the OS/390-based
DBMSs and VSAM data sets deliver advanced compression techniques and options
that maximize storage and input/output performance. BMC's EXTENDED BUFFER
MANAGER ("XBM") products for IMS/DB and DB2 improve system performance by
greatly reducing the input/output needed to provide access to data frequently
used by one or more applications running in the same operating environment. When
coupled with BMC's IMAGE COPY PLUS or COPY PLUS for DB2 products, XBM allows for
the creation of DBMS backup copies with limited interruption of access to the
data stored within the DBMSs. The network optimization products and dynamic 
tuning and optimization products generated approximately 12%, 12% and 11% 
of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

Application Recovery

  Application Recovery solutions are designed to provide the ability to recover
an application and all of its underlying components to a consistent point in
time and restarting the application as quickly as possible after an outage.
These products provide a comprehensive approach across multiple platforms and
provide assurance that critical data is recoverable after both a local or
systems wide outage. They backup and restore files and databases, recover data,
databases and applications, coordinate point in time recoveries across multiple
data stores and restart applications to the point of failure. These products
eliminate manual, error prone steps, reduce redundant reprocessing work
following the outage and provide an audit of recoverability.

  The Application Recovery solutions include the mainframe Recovery Manager
products for IMS and DB2 DBMSs and the PATROL Recovery Manager products for
distributed DBMSs, which support coordinated recovery between different DBMS,
thereby eliminating the need for individual DBMS recoveries, and the Application
Restart  Control products, which provide the ability to resume processing of a
failed or interrupted batch application from the most recent successful
checkpoint rather than from the beginning of the job. This restart capability
eliminates wasted time and resources while improving data availability and
ensuring data integrity. The Recovery Manager, PATROL Recovery Manager and
Application Restart Control products generated approximately 21%, 23% and 20% of
total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

  The Application Recovery solutions also include the DataTools SQL BackTrack
database backup and recovery products acquired in May 1997. Prior to acquiring
DataTools, BMC was the exclusive distributor of the SQL-BackTrack products.
The SQL-BackTrack products speed up and automate the complex sequential steps
that must be performed in order to backup or recover distributed systems
databases. BMC is continuing to market the SQL-BackTrack products as best of
breed stand alone solutions and is integrating them as well with its PATROL
Recovery Manager automated recovery solutions. The SQL-BackTrack products
generated 3% of total revenues in fiscal 1997 and 4% of total revenues in
fiscal 1998.

SALES AND MARKETING

  BMC markets and sells its products principally through its direct sales
force. BMC employs a model of primary customer contact by telephone and other
telecommunications media, such as e-mail, combined with





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<PAGE>   9
significant on-site sales and technical sales support activity. BMC also
emphasizes technical customer briefings at its Houston, Texas headquarters. BMC
provides many of its products on a free trial basis to facilitate the initial
sale.  BMC's sales operations are organized into mainframe and distributed
systems groups, with the mainframe account representatives cooperating
extensively with the open systems representatives.  BMC does not employ further
product specialization of its sales force, with the exception of dedicated
DataTools and BGS sales organizations.  BMC employs technically trained software
consultants to provide specialized technical product knowledge to accounts.
These consultants assist in justifying BMC's products and conducting in-depth
technical evaluations of their performance and features.  As of March 31, 1998,
BMC employed 397 sales representatives and software consultants in North America
and 336 internationally, including 245 in Europe and 91 in the Asia-Pacific
region. BMC is investing heavily in its distributed systems sales channel and
hired 133 distributed systems sales representatives and software consultants in
fiscal 1998.

  BMC's North American sales force is primarily based in Houston, Texas. BMC
has opened field sales offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San
Francisco, California, Chicago, Illinois, New York, New York and other major
cities to increase its local presence in the regions surrounding those cities.
BMC conducts its international sales, marketing and support primarily through
17 wholly-owned subsidiaries worldwide.

  As discussed under "Strategy" above, BMC is developing indirect channels for
its open systems products. BMC has established channels operations groups in
North America and Europe to promote, negotiate and support such distribution
arrangements and is continuing to invest in its channels infrastructure. BMC is
also represented by local agents in geographical territories in which it has
not established a direct sales presence. As of March 31, 1998, BMC was
distributing its products through over 175 indirect channel partners.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

  Approximately 41%, 38% and 35% of BMC's total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997
and 1998, respectively, was derived from business outside North America.  BMC's
international operations provide sales, sales support, product support,
marketing and product distribution services for its customers located outside
of North America.  BMC also conducts development activities in Singapore and 
Frankfurt, Germany to provide local language support and integration with local-
market hardware and software systems vendors.

  Total revenues, operating profits and identifiable assets attributable to
BMC's North American, European and other international operations (primarily in
the Pacific Rim) are set forth in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements contained herein.  BMC believes that its operations outside the
United States are located in countries that are politically stable and that
such operations are not exposed to any special or unusual risks.  BMC's growth
prospects are highly dependent upon the continued growth of its international
license and software maintenance revenues.  BMC's international license
revenues and expenses have been, however, somewhat unpredictable over the last 
three fiscal years.

  Revenues from BMC's foreign subsidiaries are denominated in local currencies,
as are operating expenses incurred in these locales.  To date, BMC has not had
any material foreign exchange currency losses.  For a discussion of BMC's
currency hedging program and the impact of currency fluctuations on
international license revenues in fiscal 1997 and 1998, see "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Conditions --
Results of Operations -- Expenses -- Risk Management" and Note 1(g) of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.  BMC has not previously
experienced any difficulties in exporting its products, but no assurances can
be given that such difficulties will not occur in the future.

RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

  From inception, BMC has concentrated on internal software development.  BMC
maintains a relatively high level of investment in its internal research and
development operations: in fiscal 1998, research and development spending
represented 13% of total revenues and 19% of total expenses.  These costs
relate primarily to the compensation of research and development personnel.






                                       7
<PAGE>   10
BMC's expenditures on research and development and on product maintenance and
support, including amounts capitalized, in the last three fiscal years are
discussed below under the headings, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Results of Operations and Financial Condition -- Expenses -- Research and
Development" and "-- Expenses -- Cost of Maintenance Services and Product
Licenses."

  BMC's general product strategy is discussed under "Strategy" above. A major
focus of BMC's current product development efforts is the integration of the
acquired BEST/1 and DataTools products with the PATROL and PATROL Recovery
Manager products, respectively, and the development of a major new release of
PATROL designed to facilitate the interoperability of these and BMC's other
distributed systems management products. BMC is also concentrating its
development efforts on extensions of and enhancements to its core mainframe
product lines as customers continue to rely on them for their most critical IT
operations.

  BMC's primary research and development activities are based in Houston and
Austin, Texas, Sunnyvale, California (DataTools) and Waltham, Massachusetts
(BGS). BMC internally creates and produces all user manuals, sales materials and
other documentation related to its products.  Product manufacturing and
distribution is based in Houston, Texas, with European manufacturing and
distribution being based in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

MAINTENANCE, ENHANCEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES

  Revenues from the provision of maintenance, enhancement and support services
comprised 37%, 32% and 30% of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively. Payment of maintenance, enhancement and support fees entitles a
company to telephone support and problem resolution services and enhanced
versions of a product released during the maintenance period, including new
versions necessary to run with the most current release of the operating
systems, databases and other software supported by the product. Such
maintenance fees are an important source of recurring revenue to BMC, and BMC
invests significant resources in providing maintenance services and new product
versions. These services are important to customers, particularly mainframe
customers, who require immediate problem resolution because of their dependence
on the products to run IT systems that are central to their enterprises. The
services are also necessary because customers require forward compatibility
when they install new versions of the software systems supported by a BMC
product.

  For BMC's mainframe products, the fee for the first year of product
maintenance services is included in the perpetual license fee. Subsequently,
perpetual licensees may renew their maintenance agreements each year for an
annual fee. The annual fee for mainframe products is generally 18% to 20% of
the then current list perpetual license fee of the licensed product as adjusted
for any applicable discounts. For BMC's distributed systems products, the
initial maintenance period is shorter and the renewal fee varies depending on
the level of support selected by the licensee.

PRODUCT PRICING AND LICENSING

  BMC's mainframe products have traditionally been priced and licensed on a
tiered pricing basis whereby the license fee for a product increases in relation
to the processing capacity of the CPU on which the product is installed. Under
tiered pricing, CPUs are classified by CPU tier according to their processing
power as measured in millions of instructions per second ("MIPS"). More powerful
CPUs fall into higher tiers and carry higher license fees. CPU upgrade fees are
charged if a product is installed on another CPU that falls in a higher CPU
group category. Under BMC's enterprise licensing program, customers may
alternatively license products on an enterprise wide basis, whereby the customer
can use the products on an unlimited number of CPUs of any size, subject to a
limit on the aggregate processing power of such CPUs as measured in MIPS. CPU
upgrade fees contributed 23%, 29% and 33% of total revenues in fiscal years
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Because maintenance fees are based on the
license fee for the product as of the annual renewal date, maintenance fees
increase when a product is installed on a larger CPU.





                                       8
<PAGE>   11
  BMC maintains various discount programs for its mainframe and distributed
systems products, including standard discounts for multiple copies of a product
and volume discounts for enterprise license transactions.

  BMC also prices and licenses PATROL on a CPU tier basis. Because PATROL is a
relatively new product and because many of its licensees are still in a pilot or
implementation phase of use, CPU upgrade fees from PATROL have been immaterial
to date. BMC expects that PATROL revenues will be predominately from additional
unit sales rather than CPU upgrade fees. Certain of BMC's other distributed
systems products are also licensed on a tiered basis, while those at lower price
points are licensed on a per unit basis.

  BMC's products are generally marketed on a trial basis. When a customer
desires to license a trialed product, a permanent product copy or a coded
password to convert the trial tape to a permanent tape is provided.
Consequently, BMC does not have any material product backlog of undelivered
products. BMC licenses its software products almost exclusively on a perpetual
basis.

  BMC recognizes revenues from perpetual licenses and upgrade fees when both
parties are legally obligated under the terms of the respective agreement, the
underlying software products have been delivered, collection is deemed probable
and there are no remaining material Company obligations. BMC recognizes
maintenance revenues, including maintenance bundled with perpetual license fees,
ratably over the maintenance period.

  For a discussion of enterprise license transactions, the various components
of license and upgrade revenues and BMC's revenue recognition practices for
such components, see the discussion below under the heading "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition --
Operating Results -- Revenues -- License Revenues" and Note 1(h) in Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

COMPETITION; SYSTEM DEPENDENCE

  The mainframe and distributed systems management software markets in which BMC
competes are highly competitive, as discussed below and in the "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition"
section of this report under the heading "Certain Risks and Uncertainties
that Could Affect Future Operating Results."

  BMC's mainframe products run primarily with IBM's IMS and DB2 DBMSs and
IMS/TM, CICS transaction managers and VTAM.  Certain of these BMC products are
essentially improved versions of system software utilities that are provided as
part of these integrated IBM system software products.  IBM continues to improve
or add to these integrated software packages as part of its strategic initiative
of reducing the overall software costs associated with its mainframe computers.
IBM also markets separately priced competing high performance utilities in
addition to its base utilities. If IBM is successful in duplicating BMC's
products, it would provide them at a much lower cost because of the different
economics of its mainframe business.  This would likely have a material adverse
effect on demand for product licenses, license upgrades and recurring
maintenance of BMC's competing products.  IBM is significantly increasing the
performance of its tools and utilities for the IMS and DB2 DBMSs, both through
internal development efforts and arrangements with third party software
developers.

  The mainframe systems software business is highly competitive. BMC's
competitors include IBM as well as Platinum technologies, inc. ("Platinum"),
Innovative Designs, Inc., Neon Systems, Inc. and other independent software
vendors that have the ability to develop and market products similar to, and
competitive with, BMC's products.  Product pricing is a key competitive factor
in the market for third-party tools and utilities for IMS and DB2, and BMC has
periodically adjusted its discount structures to reflect this competition.

  The distributed systems markets that PATROL and BMC's other systems management
products address are also highly competitive.  All of the major mainframe
systems software vendors have announced distributed systems management
strategies that overlap to varying degrees with PATROL. These competitors
include, to differing degrees, IBM's Tivoli subsidiary, Computer Associates,
Platinum, Compuware Corporation, Candle Corporation and Boole & Babbage, Inc.
The relational DBMS vendors, such as Oracle and Sybase, and





                                       9
<PAGE>   12
hardware companies such as HP, Sun and Cabletron, are also providing competitive
or potentially competitive products for their respective platforms that are
relatively inexpensive. BMC's strategy is to complement these frameworks and
alternative systems management products by integrating with them. The network
and systems management framework providers are, however, attempting to extend
their products into PATROL's functional space. In addition, start up companies
continually enter the distributed systems management software markets, such as
NetIQ Corp. for MS Windows NT management. BMC intends to differentiate PATROL
from these other products in part by providing broader support of the many
different components of a distributed IT system, although there can be no
assurance whether this strategy will be successful.  BMC expects these markets
to continue to increase in competitiveness.

  BMC continually modifies its mainframe products to maintain compatibility with
new IBM hardware and software.  To do so and to develop and test new products,
BMC licenses IMS/DB, DB2, IMS/TM, CICS and other software systems from IBM on
similar terms as other IBM customers. If IBM were to terminate the current
license arrangements or otherwise deny BMC access to these systems, or if IBM
adopts technological changes that prevent or make more difficult access to the
systems, BMC would be adversely affected. Similarly, if BMC is unable to acquire
and maintain access to the major ERP applications, distributed DBMSs and other
IT system components equivalent to its access to DB2 and other IBM systems
software, its development of client/server products would be impeded. Certain of
the leading distributed systems DBMS vendors are less cooperative in providing
technical assistance to independent systems software vendors.

  BMC believes that the key criteria considered by potential purchasers of its
products are as follows: the operational advantages and cost savings provided
by a product; product quality and capability; product price and the terms on
which the product is licensed; ease of integration of the products with the
purchaser's existing systems; quality of support and product documentation; and
the experience and financial stability of the vendor.

CUSTOMERS

  No individual customers accounted for a material portion of BMC's revenues
during any of the past three fiscal years.  Because BMC's mainframe packages
are used with relatively expensive computer hardware, most of its revenues are
derived from companies that have the resources to make a substantial commitment
to data processing and their computer installations. Most of the world's major
companies use one or more of BMC's software packages. BMC's software products
are generally used in a broad range of industries, businesses and applications.
BMC's customers include manufacturers, telecommunications companies, financial
service providers, banks, insurance companies, educational institutions,
retailers, distributors, hospitals and value-added resellers.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  BMC distributes its products in object code form and relies upon contract,
trade secret, copyright and patent laws to protect its intellectual property.
The license agreements under which customers use BMC's products restrict the
customer's use to its own operations and prohibit disclosure to third persons.
BMC now distributes certain of its distributed systems products on a shrink
wrap basis, and the enforceability of such restrictions in a shrink wrap license
is unproven in certain jurisdictions. Also, notwithstanding those restrictions,
it is possible for other persons to obtain copies of BMC's products in object
code form. BMC believes that obtaining such copies would have limited value
without access to the product's source code, which BMC keeps highly
confidential. In addition, BMC's products are generally encoded to run only on
a designated CPU, and trial tapes provided to potential customers generally
function only for a limited trial period.

EMPLOYEES

  As of March 31, 1998, BMC had 2,777 full-time employees. BMC believes that
its continued success will depend in part on its ability to attract and retain
highly skilled technical, sales, marketing and management personnel.
Competition continues to increase for well qualified software sales,
development and consulting service personnel. BMC considers its employee
relations to be excellent.





                                       10
<PAGE>   13
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

  BMC's headquarters and principal sales and product development operations are
located in Houston, Texas, where BMC owns and occupies two office buildings
totaling approximately 675,000 square feet.  BMC also maintains a large
development organization in Austin, Texas, where it leases a 175,000 square foot
product development facility.  The recently acquired BGS Systems operations
occupy an owned 80,000 square foot facility in Waltham, Massachusetts and
DataTools operations occupy a leased 50,000 square foot facility in Sunnyvale,
California.  BMC occupies a 50,000 square foot leased sales and support facility
in Frankfurt, Germany, and smaller sales offices in other major cities around
the world.  BMC leases its principal mainframe computers, an IBM 9672-RC5, an
IBM 9672-RY5 and an IBM 9672-R54, and its telecommunications equipment. See
Notes 1(e) and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements below.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  The Company filed a trade secret lawsuit styled BMC Software, Inc. vs.
Peregrine Systems, Inc. et al., Cause No. 91- 10161, in the 200th Judicial
District Court of Travis County, Texas, in August 1995.  The lawsuit sought an
injunction prohibiting a group of former employees and their employer from
misappropriating and misusing certain of the Company's trade secrets.  The
Company has settled the litigation as to certain individuals and claims and is
continuing to pursue its trade secret and other claims against the remaining and
additional defendants.  These defendants are asserting counterclaims against the
Company for violations of the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983,
abuse of process, slander of title, tortious interference with contract and
tortious interference with advantageous and prospective business relationships.
These counterclaims seek compensatory, treble and exemplary damages, costs and
attorneys' fees and certain injunctive relief.  Management believes the ultimate
resolution of the above matters will not be material to the Company's financial
condition.

  The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims, either
asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business.
Management does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or
consolidated financial position.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

  Not Applicable.





                                       11
<PAGE>   14
                                    PART II

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

  Since August 12, 1988, the Company's Common Stock has been traded in the
NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "BMCS." At June 24, 1998,
the Company had 913 holders of record of Common Stock.

  The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations per share of
Common Stock for the periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PRICE RANGE OF
                                              COMMON STOCK
                                        -------------------------
                                           HIGH            LOW 
                                        ----------     ----------
       <S>                              <C>            <C>       
       FISCAL 1997
         First Quarter ............     $    16.94     $    13.31
         Second Quarter ...........          21.56          12.69
         Third Quarter ............          23.38          19.63
         Fourth Quarter ...........          25.50          19.88
       FISCAL 1998
         First Quarter ............     $    29.31     $    19.81
         Second Quarter ...........          34.75          26.56
         Third Quarter ............          35.63          27.38
         Fourth Quarter ...........          42.13          29.25
</TABLE>

  The Company has not paid any dividends since 1988 and does not intend to pay
any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to
retain any future earnings otherwise available for cash dividends on the Common
Stock for use in its operations, for expansion and for stock repurchases. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."





                                       12
<PAGE>   15
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

  The following selected consolidated financial data presented under the
captions "Statement of Earnings Data" and "Balance Sheet Data" for, and as of
the end of, each of the years in the five-year period ended March 31, 1998, are
derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of BMC Software, Inc. and
subsidiaries. The financial statements for all fiscal years presented have been
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants. The selected
consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements as of March 31, 1997 and 1998, and for each of the three
years in the period ended March 31, 1998, the accompanying notes and the report
thereon, which are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1994            1995           1996          1997            1998   
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>       
STATEMENT OF EARNINGS DATA:
Revenues:
  Licenses .............................    $  167,176     $  204,957     $  269,022     $  380,894     $  513,947
  Maintenance ..........................       121,324        140,043        159,828        182,316        216,687
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
          Total revenues ...............       288,500        345,000        428,850        563,210        730,634
Selling and marketing expenses .........        75,198         89,724        116,724        154,829        205,219
Research and development expenses ......        46,969         55,493         59,011         77,459         94,923
Cost of maintenance services and
  product licenses .....................        28,216         31,960         44,854         56,569         77,095
General and administrative
  expenses .............................        26,175         29,935         37,083         46,070         54,462
Acquired research and development
  costs ................................        32,038         29,260         23,589         11,259         65,473
Merger costs ...........................            --             --             --             --          7,305
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
Operating income(2)(3)(4)(5) ...........        79,904        108,628        147,589        217,024        226,157
Other income ...........................        10,708         11,704         15,446         20,050         30,402
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
Earnings before income
  taxes(2)(3)(4)(5) ....................        90,612        120,332        163,035        237,074        256,559
Income taxes ...........................        34,123         42,815         57,464         73,202         90,705
                                            ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
          Net
            earnings(2)(3)(4)(5) .......    $   56,489     $   77,517     $  105,571     $  163,872     $  165,854
                                            ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
Basic earnings per
share(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) ................    $     0.27     $     0.38     $     0.53     $     0.82     $     0.82
                                            ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
Shares used in computing basic
earnings  per share(1) .................       208,452        202,048        200,658        201,016        203,488
                                            ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
Diluted earnings per
share(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) ................    $     0.27     $     0.38     $     0.50     $     0.76     $     0.77
                                            ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
Shares used in computing diluted
earnings per share(1) ..................       209,216        203,904        209,144        214,310        216,590
                                            ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          AS OF MARCH 31,
                                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1994           1995           1996           1997           1998   
                                             ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>       
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents ..............     $   37,814     $   39,494     $   62,128     $   79,794     $   72,093
Working capital ........................         29,429         35,166         43,775         58,512         38,344
Total assets ...........................        417,527        502,649        608,218        848,752      1,248,495
Long-term obligations, including
  current portion(7) ...................             --             --             --             --             --
Stockholders' equity ...................        250,400        306,154        383,708        546,212        759,157
</TABLE>

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

(1)      See Note 1(i) to Consolidated Financial Statements for the basis
         of computing basic and diluted net earnings per share.

(2)      Includes the impact of charges of $32,038,000 (pre-tax), or
         $28,398,000 (net of tax), for the fiscal 1994 acquisition of Patrol
         Software.  Excluding these charges, fiscal 1994 earnings were
         $84,887,000 or $0.41 per share. Operating income was $111,942,000.
         Earnings before income taxes were $122,650,000.

(3)      Includes the impact of charges, related to several fiscal 1995
         transactions, of $29,260,000 (pre-tax), or $25,701,000 (net of tax).
         Excluding these charges, fiscal 1995 earnings were $103,218,000 or
         $0.51 per share.  Operating income was $137,888,000.  Earnings before
         income taxes were $149,592,000.





                                       13
<PAGE>   16
(4)      Includes the impact of charges, related to several fiscal 1996
         technology acquisitions, of $23,589,000 (pre- tax), or $22,831,000
         (net of tax).  Excluding these charges, fiscal 1996 earnings were
         $128,402,000 or $0.61 per share. Operating income was $171,178,000.
         Earnings before income taxes were $186,624,000.

(5)      Includes the impact of charges, related to several fiscal 1997
         technology acquisitions, of $11,259,000 (pre- tax), or $7,318,000 (net
         of tax).  Excluding these charges, fiscal 1997 earnings were
         $171,190,000, or $0.80 per share. Operating income was $228,283,000.
         Earnings before income taxes were $248,333,000.

(6)      Includes the impact of charges, related to several fiscal 1998
         technology acquisitions and a merger, of $72,778,000 (pre-tax), or
         $66,446,000 (net of tax).  Excluding these charges, fiscal 1998
         earnings were $232,300,000, or $1.07 per share.  Operating income was
         $298,935,000.  Earnings before income taxes were $329,337,000.

(7)      Excludes deferred revenue.

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

INTRODUCTION

  This section of the Annual Report includes historical information for the
periods covered, certain forward looking information and the information
provided below under the heading "Certain Risks and Uncertainties That Could
Affect Future Operating Results" about certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause the Company's future operating results to differ from the results
indicated by any forward looking statements made by the Company or others.  It
is important that the business discussion at Item 1 of this report and
historical discussion below be read together with the discussion of such risks
and uncertainties, and that these discussions are read in conjunction with the
accompanying audited financial statements and notes thereto.





                                       14
<PAGE>   17
HISTORICAL INFORMATION

  Results of Operations

  The following table sets forth, for the fiscal years indicated, the
percentages that selected items in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings bear
to total revenues.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   PERCENTAGE OF  TOTAL REVENUES
                                                                                       YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                               1996            1997            1998
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
<S>                                                                         <C>             <C>             <C>
Revenues
    Licenses                                                                      62.7%           67.6%           70.3%
    Maintenance                                                                   37.3            32.4            29.7
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
        Total revenues                                                           100.0           100.0           100.0
Selling and marketing expenses                                                    27.2            27.5            28.1
Research and development expenses                                                 13.8            13.8            13.0
Cost of maintenance services and product licenses                                 10.5            10.0            10.6
General and administrative expenses                                                8.6             8.2             7.5
Acquired research and development costs                                            5.5             2.0             8.9
Merger costs                                                                        --              --              .9
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
       Operating income                                                           34.4            38.5            31.0
Interest and other income                                                          3.6             3.6             4.1
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
    Earnings before income taxes                                                  38.0            42.1            35.1
Income taxes                                                                      13.4            13.0            12.4
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
    Net earnings                                                                  24.6%           29.1%           22.7%
                                                                            ==========      ==========      ==========
Net earnings, excluding acquired research and development and
    merger related costs                                                          29.9%           30.4%           31.8%
                                                                            ==========      ==========      ==========
</TABLE>

EARNINGS

  Total revenues in fiscal 1998 were $730,634,000, a 30% increase over fiscal
1997 total revenues of $563,210,000.  The increase was the result of a 43%
increase in North American product license revenues, a 22% increase in
international product license revenues and a 19% increase in worldwide
maintenance revenues.  Over the three year period ending March 31, 1998, the
Company's operating expenses (excluding acquired research and development and
merger costs) remained at approximately 60% of total revenues.  Net earnings in
fiscal 1998 were $232,300,000, excluding acquired research and development and
merger costs of $66,446,000 (net of income taxes.)  These results represent a
36% increase over fiscal 1997 net earnings of $171,190,000, excluding charges of
$7,318,000 (net of income taxes) for acquired research and development in fiscal
1997.  Giving effect to these charges, net earnings were $165,854,000 in fiscal
1998, a 1% increase over net earnings of $163,872,000 in fiscal 1997. Historical
performance should not be viewed as indicative of future operating margins, as
there can be no assurance that operating income or net earnings as a percentage
of revenues will be sustained at these levels.  For a discussion of factors
affecting operating margins, see the discussions below under the heading
"Certain Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Future Operating Results."





                                       15
<PAGE>   18
REVENUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PERCENTAGE CHANGE
                                                  YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,                  -----------------
                                                  ---------------------                 1997            1998
                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)                COMPARED TO      COMPARED TO
                                           1996           1997           1998           1996            1997
                                        ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>  
   Perpetual licenses
        North America                   $  156,807     $  234,535     $  335,346           49.6%           43.0%
        International                      112,215        146,359        178,601           30.4%           22.0%
                                        ----------     ----------     ----------
       Total perpetual licenses            269,022        380,894        513,947           41.6%           34.9%
   Maintenance                             159,828        182,316        216,687           14.1%           18.9%
                                        ----------     ----------     ----------
       Total revenues                   $  428,850     $  563,210     $  730,634           31.3%           29.7%
                                        ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

  The Company generates revenues from product license fees for its computer
software products and product maintenance fees for the associated maintenance,
enhancement and support of these products.  The Company recognized revenues
through March 31, 1998 in accordance with Statement of Position (SOP) 91-1,
issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Effective for transactions entered into subsequent to March 31, 1998, the
Company has adopted SOP 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition," also issued by
the AICPA.  For further discussion of the Company's revenue recognition
policies, refer to the discussion below and to Note 1(h) of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.

  Total revenue growth in fiscal 1997 and 1998 was derived from continued demand
for the Company's mainframe products for the IBM OS/390 operating system and IMS
and DB2 DBMSs, its expansion of its distributed systems product lines and sales
channels and, to a lesser extent, higher growth rates of product maintenance
fees. The growth in product license and maintenance fees was derived principally
from existing product lines in fiscal 1997 and 1998. As discussed below,
mainframe product revenue growth was generated primarily by customers' rapid
expansion of their mainframe-based IT systems.  Distributed systems product
revenue growth was driven primarily by increased adoption of distributed IT
systems, by growing acceptance of the Company's PATROL application and data
management product suite and expansion of the distributed systems sales
channels.  Product revenue growth was only nominally impacted by price increases
and inflation in fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1998.

  The Company's customer base is diversified, with no single customer
representing greater than 10% of its total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and
1998. This customer base is nonetheless concentrated in the top 1,000 IT
purchasers worldwide and, by industry, in the telecommunications, financial
services and other transaction-intensive sectors.  The Company estimates that
sales to repeat customers represented over 90% of total license and maintenance
revenues in the periods presented.

PRODUCT LINE REVENUES

  At March 31, 1998, the Company marketed over 200 software products designed
to improve the availability, performance and recoverability of enterprise
applications, databases and other IT systems components operating in host
mainframe and distributed computing environments.  The Company's mainframe
products accounted for approximately 89%, 81% and 74% of total revenues for
fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Total revenues from mainframe
products grew 20% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and 17% from fiscal 1997 to
fiscal 1998. The revenues from these products are driven largely by the growth
in customers' processing capacity, as discussed below.

  The Company's mainframe revenues are  concentrated in its high performance
utilities and administrative tools for IBM's IMS and DB2 database management
systems.  The IMS Database Utilities product series contributed 33%, 32% and
26% of total revenues for fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and
the MASTERPLAN product series for DB2 contributed 36%, 31% and 32% of total
revenues for the same periods.  Combined revenues for these product lines grew
19% from both fiscal 1996 to 1997 and from fiscal 1997 to 1998.  The balance of
the Company's mainframe products represented 20%, 18% and 16% of total revenues
for fiscal years 1996, 1997 and





                                       16
<PAGE>   19

1998, respectively.  The declines in relative revenue contribution by the
mainframe product lines reflect the increased contribution by the Company's
distributed systems products in these periods.

  Total revenues from distributed systems products grew 130% from 1996 to 1997
and 87% from 1997 to 1998.  Distributed systems product revenue growth was
derived primarily from increased market acceptance of the PATROL application and
data management product suite, the Company's significant and growing investment
in its distributed systems direct and indirect sales channels and higher
distributed systems maintenance fees. The Company's principal distributed
systems management product lines are the PATROL application and management
suite, the BGS BEST/1 performance management products, the PATROL DB database
administration products and the DataTools SQL-Backtrack application and database
recovery products.

  The PATROL application and data management products accounted for 8%, 12% and
18% of total revenues for fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively,
reflecting an 85% increase from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and a 95% increase
from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998. The BGS BEST/1 performance management products
were acquired in March 1998 and their revenues will be reflected in the
Company's financial statements throughout fiscal 1999.  The PATROL DB database
administration product line, introduced in fiscal 1996, generated 3.5% and 4%
of total revenues in fiscal 1997 and 1998, respectively, reflecting a 47%
increase from fiscal 1997 to 1998.  The Company's SQL-BackTrack database backup
and recovery products were originally sold by BMC through an exclusive
distributorship arrangement with DataTools beginning on March 31, 1995. In May
1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of DataTools and began
to more fully integrate the SQL-BackTrack products with its PATROL Recovery
Manager product lines.  The SQL-BackTrack database backup and recovery products
generated 2.9% and 3.5% of total revenues in fiscal 1997 and 1998, respectively,
reflecting growth of  61%.  The revenues from the Company's distributed systems
product offerings are dependent upon the continued market acceptance of the
Company's existing products and the Company's ability to successfully develop
and deliver additional products for the distributed systems environment.  The
Company has experienced rapid growth in its distributed systems product lines
since their introduction in late fiscal 1994. The distributed systems market is
highly competitive and dynamic and there can be no assurance that this growth
will continue.

LICENSE REVENUES

  The Company's license revenues include product license fees, capacity-based
license upgrade fees and restructuring fees.  Product license fees are generated
from the initial licensing of a product and subsequent licenses purchased under
the Company's per copy, CPU tier-based licensing program. Capacity-based license
upgrade fees are charged when a customer acquires the right to run an already
licensed product on additional processing capacity,  as measured by a CPU tier
or by the aggregate processing capacity measured in MIPS of all CPUs for which
the Company's products are licensed.  These license upgrade fees include fees
associated with customers' purchasing the right to operate a product with
currently installed additional processing capacity and/or with anticipated
future processing capacity.  Restructuring fees increase the discounts
associated with a customer's installed base of products, which, therefore,
reduce a customer's future maintenance charges and capacity based upgrade fees
pertaining to such installed products.

  The Company's North American operations generated 58%, 62% and 65% of total
license revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.  North American
license revenues increased by 50% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and by 43%
from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998. Increased sales of the Company's distributed
systems products represented a significant part of North American license
revenue growth in both fiscal 1997 and 1998.  From fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997,
the largest single component of North American license revenue growth was
increased license upgrade fees associated with customers' future mainframe
processing capacity.  Increased sales of distributed systems products and
license upgrade fees associated with current and future additional mainframe
capacity were the largest contributors to North American license revenue growth
in fiscal 1998.

  International license revenues represented 42%, 38% and 35% of total license
revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.  International license
revenues increased by 30% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and by 22% from
fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998.  These performances were below the Company's
expectations.  From fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997, the principal contributors to
growth in international license revenues were mainframe product license





                                       17
<PAGE>   20
fees and license upgrade fees associated with customers' currently required
additional mainframe processing capacity.  From fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998, the
largest single component of international license growth was increased sales of
the Company's distributed systems products, followed by license upgrade fees
associated with current and future additional mainframe capacity.
International license revenues were reduced by 2% and 4%, respectively, by the
strengthening of the dollar against local currencies from fiscal 1996 to fiscal
1997 and from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998, respectively, in both cases after
giving effect to foreign currency hedging gains.

  License upgrade fees for current and future mainframe processing capacity
accounted for 23%, 29% and 33% of total revenues in fiscal years 1996, 1997 and
1998, respectively.  The sustainability and growth of the Company's mainframe-
based license revenues are dependent upon these capacity-based upgrade fees,
particularly within its largest customer accounts.  Most of the Company's
largest customers have entered into enterprise license agreements allowing them
to install the Company's products on an unspecified number of CPUs, subject to
a maximum limit on the aggregate power of the CPUs as measured in MIPS.
Additional fees are owed if this limit is exceeded.  Substantially all of these
transactions include upgrade charges associated with additional processing
capacity beyond the customers' current usage level and/or a restructuring fee,
and some include license fees for additional products.  In fiscal 1996, 1997
and 1998, the enterprise license fees for future additional processing capacity
and license restructurings comprised approximately 20%, 20% and 24% of total
revenues, respectively.  The fees associated with future additional mainframe
processing capacity typically comprise from one-half to substantially all of
the license fees included in enterprise license transactions.  The Company has
experienced a strong increase in demand from its largest customers for the right
to run its products on increased current and anticipated mainframe processing
capacity as enterprises invest heavily in their core OS/390 mainframe IT
systems.  The Company expects that it will continue to be dependent upon these
capacity-related license revenue components.  With the rapid advancement of
distributed systems technology and customers' needs for more functional and
open applications, such as pre-packaged ERP applications, to replace legacy
systems, there can be no assurance that the demand for mainframe processing
capacity or the higher operating efficiencies afforded by the Company's
products will continue at current levels.  Should this trend slow dramatically
or reverse, it would adversely impact the Company's mainframe license revenues
and its operating results.

MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT REVENUES

  Maintenance and support revenues represent the ratable recognition of fees
to enroll licensed products in the Company's software maintenance, enhancement
and support program.  Enrollment entitles customers to product enhancements,
technical support services and ongoing compatibility with third-party operating
systems, database management systems and applications.  These fees  are
generally incurred annually and equal 15% to 20% of the list price of the
product at the time of renewal, less any applicable discounts.  Maintenance
revenues also include the ratable recognition of the bundled fees for any
first-year maintenance services covered by the related perpetual license
agreement.  The Company continues to invest heavily in product maintenance and
support and believes that maintaining its reputation for superior product
support is a key component of its value pricing model.

  Maintenance revenues have increased over the last three fiscal years as a
result of the continuing growth in the base of installed products and the
processing capacity on which they run.  Maintenance fees increase in proportion
to the processing capacity on which the products are installed; consequently,
the Company receives higher absolute maintenance fees as customers install its
products on additional processing capacity.  Due to the increased discounting
for higher levels of additional processing capacity, the maintenance fees per
MIPS are typically reduced in enterprise license agreements.  Historically, the
Company has enjoyed high maintenance renewal rates for its mainframe-based
products.  Should customers migrate from their mainframe applications or find
alternatives to the Company's products, increased cancellations could adversely
impact the sustainability and growth of the Company's maintenance revenues.  To
date, the Company has been successful in extending its traditional maintenance
and support pricing model to the distributed systems market.  At this time,
there is insufficient historical data to determine whether customers will
continue to accept this pricing model and renew their maintenance and support
contracts at the levels experienced in the mainframe market.





                                       18
<PAGE>   21
INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

  Interest and other income consists primarily of interest earned on cash and
cash equivalents, marketable securities and to a lesser degree, financed
receivables.  Interest and other income increased by 30% from fiscal 1996 to
1997 and 52% from fiscal 1997 to 1998.  This increase is primarily due to
higher interest income earned on larger invested cash balances.

EXPENSES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 PERCENTAGE CHANGE
                                                       FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,              -----------------
                                                       ----------------------------            1997              1998
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)                 COMPARED TO      COMPARED TO
                                                    1996           1997           1998           1996             1997
                                                ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------       ----------
<S>                                             <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>  
Selling and marketing                           $  116,724     $  154,829     $  205,219           32.6%            32.5%
Research and development                            59,011         77,459         94,923           31.3%            22.5%
Cost of maintenance services and product            44,854         56,569         77,095           26.1%            36.3%
licenses
General and administrative                          37,083         46,070         54,462           24.2%            18.2%
Acquired research and development                   23,589         11,259         65,473          (52.3%)          481.5%
Merger costs                                            --             --          7,305            N/A              N/A
                                                ----------     ----------     ----------
   Total operating expenses                     $  281,261     $  346,186     $  504,477
                                                ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

SELLING AND MARKETING

  The Company's selling and marketing expenses include personnel and related
costs, sales commissions and costs associated with advertising, industry trade
shows and sales seminars.  Personnel costs were the largest single contributor
to the expense growth in fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1998.  Selling and marketing
year-end headcount increased by 26% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997, and by 67%
from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998.  The large increase during fiscal 1998 was
primarily attributable to significant increases in the Company's open systems
sales representatives and technical sales support consultants. Sales commissions
increased in fiscal 1997 and in fiscal 1998, as a result of the 42% and 35%
increases, respectively, in license revenues.  Ongoing commission plan
adjustments held sales commission expense growth below license revenue growth in
both fiscal years.  Marketing costs have continued to increase to meet the
requirements of marketing a greater number of increasingly complex distributed
systems products and of supporting a growing indirect distribution channel.
Other contributors to the increase were significantly higher levels of travel
and trade show activity, the accelerated depreciation of certain computer
equipment and the opening of additional field sales offices.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

  Research and development expenses mainly comprise personnel costs related to
software developers and development support personnel, including software
programmers, testing and quality assurance personnel and writers of technical
documentation such as product manuals and installation guides.  These expenses
also include computer hardware/software costs and telecommunications expenses
necessary to maintain the Company's data processing center.  Increases in the
Company's research and development expenses for fiscal 1997 and 1998, were the
result of increased compensation costs associated with both software developers
and development support personnel, as well as associated benefits and facilities
costs.   The Company increased its headcount in the research and development
organization by 31% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and by 50% from fiscal 1997
to fiscal 1998.  The significant increase in headcount in fiscal 1998 resulted
primarily from the addition of research and development personnel during the
fiscal year. Research and development costs were reduced in all three fiscal
years by amounts capitalized in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 86. The Company capitalizes its software
development costs when the projects under development reach technological
feasibility as defined by SFAS No. 86.  During fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, the
Company capitalized approximately $19,309,000, $21,945,000 and $40,407,000,
respectively, of software





                                       19
<PAGE>   22
development costs.  The growth in capitalized costs is primarily due to
increases in new distributed systems product development.

COST OF MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND PRODUCT LICENSES

  Cost of maintenance services and product licenses consists of amortization of
purchased and internally developed software, costs associated with the
maintenance, enhancement and support of the Company's products and royalty
fees.  Growth in the cost of maintenance services and product licenses from
fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 was primarily attributable to increases in customer
support employees and royalty fees, primarily those paid to DataTools.  The
Company acquired DataTools in May of 1997 (refer to Note 2 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements) and, therefore, reduced its royalty expense
significantly from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998.  The increase in cost of
maintenance services and product licenses during fiscal 1998 is mainly due to
increases in the amortization of both purchased and internally developed
software and in maintenance, enhancement and support activities. Maintenance
costs are increasing as a percentage of maintenance fees as the Company's
revenue mix shifts to distributed systems. The Company amortized $8,667,000,
$8,299,000 and $20,086,000 in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, of
capitalized software development costs pursuant to SFAS No. 86. In these
periods, the Company expensed $3,865,000, $3,694,000 and $12,016,000,
respectively, of capitalized software development costs to accelerate the
amortization of certain software products.  These software products were not
expected to generate sufficient future revenues which would be required for the
Company to realize the carrying value of the assets.  The Company expects its
cost of maintenance services and product licenses will  continue to increase as
the Company capitalizes a higher level of software development costs and as the
Company builds its distributed systems product support organization, which is
less cost-effective than its mainframe support organization because of the
complexity and variability of the environments in which the products operate.
The distributed systems products operate in a high number of operating
environments, including operating systems, DBMSs and ERP applications and
require greater ongoing platform support development activity relative to the
Company's OS/390 mainframe products.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

  General and administrative expenses are comprised primarily of  compensation
and personnel costs within executive management, finance and accounting,
product distribution, facilities management and human resources.  Other
expenses included in general and administrative expenses are fees paid for
legal and accounting services, consulting projects, insurance and costs of
managing the Company's foreign currency exposure.  Growth in general and
administrative expenses from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 was largely due to
increased personnel costs and higher costs associated with managing the
Company's foreign currency exposure.  Growth in general and administrative
expenses from fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1998 was primarily attributable to
increased personnel and related infrastructure to support the Company's growth.
Fiscal year end headcount within the general and administrative organizations
grew by 4% from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997 and 34% from fiscal 1997 to fiscal
1998.

ACQUIRED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MERGER COSTS

         On March 26, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of BGS.  The
Company exchanged 7,179,000 shares of its common stock for all of the
outstanding shares of BGS. The Company also converted BGS employee  and
director options into options to purchase 746,000 shares of the Company's
stock.  The Company accounted for the transaction as a pooling of interests, in
accordance with Accounting Principals Board (APB) Opinion No. 16, and recorded
a $5,798,000 charge, net of a $1,507,000 income tax benefit, for merger costs.
The Company did not restate its prior Consolidated Financial Statements because
the amounts of assets, revenues and income of BGS for the last three fiscal
years were not material.

         During the quarter ended June 30, 1997, the Company completed two
acquisitions which included DataTools and another technology company for
an aggregate purchase price of approximately $80,700,000, including direct
acquisition costs.  During the quarter ended September 30, 1997, the Company
completed another





                                       20
<PAGE>   23
acquisition of a technology company for an aggregate purchase price of
approximately $6,995,000, including direct acquisition costs.  The Company
funded these acquisitions primarily with cash and  the assumption of existing
stock options held by certain DataTools employees.  The Company accounted for
these transactions using the purchase method and recorded charges of
$60,648,000, net of $4,825,000 in income tax benefits, for acquired research
and development costs.

  In the first quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company acquired certain technology
assets (and certain in-process technologies) for an aggregate purchase price of
$12,950,000, including direct acquisition costs.  The Company funded these
acquisitions with cash.  The Company accounted for these transactions using the
purchase method of accounting and recorded a $7,318,000 charge, net of a
$3,941,000 income tax benefit, for acquired research and development costs
during the first quarter.

  The Company completed various technology acquisitions during fiscal 1996.
The aggregate purchase price for these transactions totaled $27,789,000,
including direct acquisition costs.  The Company funded these acquisitions
primarily through the issuance of its common stock, and to a lesser extent,
with cash.   The Company used the purchase method of accounting for these
technology acquisitions.  The Company recorded a $22,831,000 charge, net of an
income tax benefit of $758,000, for acquired research and development costs
during fiscal 1996.

INCOME TAXES

  The Company recorded income tax expense of $57,464,000, $73,202,000 and
$90,705,000 in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.  The Company's
effective tax rates were 35%, 31% and 35% for fiscal years ended 1996, 1997 and
1998, respectively.  An analysis of the differences between the statutory and
effective income tax rates is provided in Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.

MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT

  The Company is exposed to certain market risks in its normal course of
business operations related to foreign currency fluctuations as well as changes
in the value of its marketable securities.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES

  For the fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998, 41%, 38% and 35%, respectively of 
the Company's consolidated revenues were derived from customers outside of North
America, substantially all of which were billed and collected in foreign
currencies.  Substantially all of the expenses of operating the Company's
foreign subsidiaries are similarly incurred in foreign currencies.
Consequently, the Company's reported financial results are affected by
fluctuations of those foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar.

  The Company has adopted a foreign currency hedging program under which it
enters into foreign currency derivative contracts with the objective of
reducing its impact from exposure to foreign currency market fluctuations.
Foreign currency forward and option contracts are utilized to hedge firm
commitments and anticipated transactions, respectively.  Principal currencies
hedged are the German deutschemark, the British pound and the French franc in
Europe; and, the Japanese yen and Australian dollar in the Pacific Rim region.
While the Company actively manages its foreign currency risks on an ongoing
basis, there can be no assurance that the hedges employed will substantially
offset negative impacts on its foreign denominated exposures.

  Based on the Company's overall derivative exposure to foreign currency rate
movements, a near-term change in foreign currency rates, calculated using a
value at risk model with a 95% confidence interval, would not materially affect
its financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the year ended
March 31, 1998.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

  The Company adheres to a conservative investment policy, whereby its
principal concern is the preservation of liquid funds while maximizing its
yield on such assets.  Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities





                                       21
<PAGE>   24
approximated $716 million on March 31, 1998, and were invested in different
types of investment-grade securities with the intent of holding these
securities to maturity.  Although the Company's portfolio is subject to
fluctuations in interest rates and market conditions, no gain or loss on any
security would actually be realized unless the instrument was sold.  The
Company's near-term market risk on marketable securities was deemed immaterial,
calculated using a value at risk model with a 95% confidence interval, as of 
March 31, 1998.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

  The AICPA issued SOP 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition" in October 1997,
which replaces the previous revenue recognition rules provided by SOP 91-1.
SOP 97-2 is effective for transactions entered into in fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997, which, in the case of the Company, is April 1, 1998.
The adoption of this SOP is not expected have a material impact on the
Company's future Consolidated Financial Statements.

  In March 1998, the AICPA issued SOP 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of
Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use."  This standard
requires that certain costs related to the development or purchase of
internal-use software be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful
life of the software.  This SOP also requires that costs related to the
preliminary project stage and the post-implementation/operations stage of an
internal-use computer software development project be expensed as incurred. SOP
98-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after December 31, 1998, which, in the case of the Company is April 1, 1999. SOP
98-1 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements.

  In June 1997, SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" was issued.
Under SFAS No. 130, all items that meet the definition of comprehensive income
will be separately reported for the period in which they are recognized.  The
only impact will be that comprehensive income, which will include changes in
the balances of items that are reported separately in the Stockholders' Equity
section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, will be either reported in a
separate statement or at the bottom of the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997,
which, in the case of the Company, is April 1, 1998.

  SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" was issued in June 1997.  SFAS No.  131 requires that a public
business enterprise report financial and descriptive information about its
reportable operating segments.  Generally, financial information is required to
be reported on the basis used internally for evaluating segment performance and
resource allocation.  SFAS No. 131 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 31, 1997, and disclosure is not required in interim financial
statements in the initial year of adoption.   Accordingly, the Company will 
reflect SFAS No. 131 information in its Consolidated Financial Statements for
the March 31, 1999, fiscal year.  The Company is currently assessing  the SFAS
No. 131 requirements.

QUARTERLY RESULTS

  The following table sets forth certain unaudited quarterly financial data for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997 and 1998.  This information has been
prepared on the same basis as the Consolidated Financial Statements and all
necessary adjustments have been included in the amounts stated below to present
fairly the selected quarterly information when read in conjunction with its
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.  The Company's quarterly
results are subject to seasonality and can be volatile and difficult to predict
accurately prior to a quarter's end as discussed under "Forward Looking
Information and Certain Risks and Uncertainties that Could Affect Future
Operating Results."  Historical quarterly financial results and trends may not
be indicative of future results.





                                       22
<PAGE>   25
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Fiscal Quarter Ended
                            June 30,    Sept. 30,  Dec. 31,   Mar. 31,   June 30,   Sept. 30,    Dec. 31,   Mar. 31,
                              1996        1996       1996       1997       1997        1997       1997        1998
                              ----        ----       ----       ----       ----        ----       ----        ----
                                                          (In thousands, except per share data)
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>      
Total revenues              $ 126,050  $ 126,500  $ 150,060  $ 160,600  $ 158,414   $ 162,709  $ 196,002  $ 213,509
Selling and marketing
   expenses                    37,526     35,735     40,094     41,474     47,401      46,737     52,836     58,245
Research and
   development expense         17,859     19,833     20,056     19,711     20,769      23,281     27,152     23,721
Cost of maintenance
   services and product
   licenses                    14,014     13,122     13,657     15,776     17,515      18,204     17,599     23,777
General and administrative
   expenses                    10,595     11,083     12,343     12,049     11,189      12,635     15,433     15,205
Acquired research and
   development costs           11,259         --         --         --     60,272       5,201         --         --
Merger related costs               --         --         --         --         --          --         --      7,305
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------   ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income               34,797     46,727     63,910     71,590      1,268      56,651     82,982     85,256
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------   ---------  ---------  ---------
Net earnings                $  27,172  $  35,186  $  48,101  $  53,413  $ (10,563)  $  44,922  $  64,777  $  66,718
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Basic earnings per share
   (EPS)                    $    0.14  $    0.18  $    0.24  $    0.26  $   (0.05)  $    0.22  $    0.32  $    0.32
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Basic EPS, excluding
   acquired R&D and
   merger costs             $    0.17  $    0.18  $    0.24  $    0.26  $    0.23   $    0.24  $    0.32  $    0.35
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Shares used in computing
   basic EPS                  200,316    200,712    201,766    201,662    202,078     202,816    203,120    205,596
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Diluted EPS                 $    0.13  $    0.16  $    0.22  $    0.25  $   (0.05)  $    0.21  $    0.30  $    0.31
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Diluted EPS, excluding
   acquired R&D and
   merger costs             $    0.16  $    0.16  $    0.22  $    0.25  $    0.22   $    0.22  $    0.30  $    0.33
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
Shares used in computing
   diluted EPS                212,476    213,552    215,496    215,716    216,166     216,664    216,086    218,050
                            =========  =========  =========  =========  =========   =========  =========  =========
</TABLE>

   In April 1998, the Company announced that its board of directors approved a
two-for-one stock split (in the form of a dividend) that was payable to
stockholders of record on May 1, 1998 and was effective May 15, 1998.  Share and
per share data presented here and throughout the Consolidated Financial
Statements, have been adjusted to give effect to this two-for-one split.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

  At March 31, 1998, the Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities were $716,073,000, which represents a 32% increase over the March
31, 1997, balance. An important contributor to the increase is the Company's
software financing program, whereby interests in its trade receivables are
transferred to third party financial institutions in exchange for cash. The
Company's working capital as of March 31, 1998, was $38,344,000.   The Company
continues to invest cash in securities with maturities beyond one year.  While
yielding greater returns, this has the impact of reducing reported working
capital.  The Company's securities are investment grade and highly liquid.  The
Company had no debt as of March 31, 1998, other than normal trade payables,
accrued liabilities and deferred tax liabilities.  Stockholders' equity as of
March 31, 1998, was $759,157,000.





                                       23
<PAGE>   26
  The Company continues to finance its growth through funds generated from
operations.  For the year ended March 31, 1998, net cash provided by operating
activities was $328,205,000, which included an increase in deferred revenue of
approximately $95,617,000 (excluding acquired deferred revenue).  Net cash used
in investing activities in fiscal 1998 was $361,892,000, primarily related to
the purchase of investment securities, acquisition of computers and related
equipment, construction of a new building and the technology acquisitions
discussed above.  Net cash provided by financing activities in fiscal 1998 was
$26,709,000, which derived primarily from the income tax benefit associated
with the exercise of employee stock options. This benefit, together with stock
option proceeds, exceeded the funds used to acquire the Company's stock during
the fiscal year.

  During fiscal 1998, the Company repurchased 2,304,000 shares of its common
stock.  The Company's board of directors terminated the share buy-back program,
prior to consummation of the BGS merger, in March 1998, consistent with the
pooling of interests accounting provisions.  Prior to cancellation of the share
buy-back program, the Company was authorized to acquire 7,530,000 shares of
its common stock under its stock repurchase program. The Company continues to
evaluate business acquisition opportunities that complement the Company's
strategic plans.  The Company believes that its existing cash balances and
funds generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its liquidity
requirements for the foreseeable future.

  CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD AFFECT FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS

     This Annual Report and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
Operations and Financial Condition contain certain forward looking statements
within the meaning of Sections 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, which are identified
by the use of the words "believes," "expects", "anticipates," "will,"
"contemplates" and "would" and similar expressions that contemplate future
events. Numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties affect the Company's
operating results and could cause the Company's actual results to differ
materially from the results implied by these or any other forward looking
statements made by, or on behalf, of the Company. There can be no assurance that
future results will meet expectations.  These important factors, risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in the following
paragraphs and in the discussion above  under the heading "Business," including,
without limitation, the discussion under the subheading "Competition; System
Dependence."

  The Company's stock price has been and is highly volatile.  Future revenues,
earnings and stock prices may be subject to wide swings in response to
variations in operating and financial results, anticipated revenue and/or
earnings growth rates, competitive pressures and other factors.  The stock price
of software companies in general, and the Company in particular, is based on
expectations of sustained future revenue and earnings growth rates. Any failure
to meet anticipated revenue and earnings levels in a period or any negative
change in the Company's perceived long-term growth prospects would likely have a
significant adverse effect on the Company's stock price.  The growth rates of
the Company's license revenues, total revenues, net earnings and earnings per
share, excluding charges for acquired research and development and merger costs,
have accelerated over the last 24 months.  The Company's current valuation
reflects expectations based on these higher rates of growth. The Company may not
achieve, in future periods, these relatively higher rates of growth.

  The timing and amount of the Company's license revenues are subject to a
number of factors that make estimation of operating results prior to the end of
a quarter extremely uncertain.  The Company generally operates with little or no
sales backlog and, as a result, license revenues in any quarter are dependent
upon contracts entered into or orders booked and shipped in that quarter.  Most
of the Company's mainframe and distributed systems license sales are closed at
the end of each quarter, and there has been and continues to be a trend toward
larger enterprise license transactions, which can have sales cycles of up to a
year or more and require approval by a customer's upper management.  These
transactions are typically difficult to manage and predict. Failure to close an
expected individually significant transaction could cause the Company's revenues
and earnings in a period to fall short of expectations.  Other factors that may
cause significant fluctuations in the Company's quarterly revenues include
competition, industry or technological trends, customer budgetary decisions,
mainframe processing capacity growth, general economic conditions or
uncertainties, mainframe industry pricing and other trends, announcements of new
hardware or software products, the timing of price increases and the factors
described in this section of the Annual Report.  The Company





                                       24
<PAGE>   27
generally does not know whether revenues and earnings will meet expected
results until the final days or day of a quarter.

  The Company derived approximately 74% of its total revenues in fiscal 1998
from software products for IBM and IBM- compatible mainframe computers;
approximately 58% of total revenues and a higher percentage of earnings were
contributed by the Company's high availability utilities for IMS and DB2
administration products.  IBM continues to focus on reducing the overall
software costs associated with the OS/390 mainframe platform.  Further, IBM
continues, directly and through third parties, to improve its base and enhanced
utilities for IMS and DB2 to provide lower cost alternatives to those provided
by the Company and other independent software vendors.  IBM has significantly
increased its level of activity in the IMS and DB2 high speed utility markets
over the last twelve months.  The Company has traditionally maintained
sufficient performance and functional advantages over IBM's base utilities to
justify its pricing differential although there can be no assurance that it will
continue to maintain such advantages.

     Fees from enterprise license transactions remain fundamental components of
the Company's revenues and the primary source of mainframe revenues.  These
revenues depend on the Company's customers' continuing to perceive an increasing
need to use the Company's existing software products on substantially greater
mainframe processing capacity in future periods.  The Company believes that the
demand for enterprise licenses has been driven by customers' recommitment over
the last 24 to 36 months to the OS/390 mainframe platform for large scale,
transaction intensive information systems.  Whether this trend will continue is
difficult to predict.  If the Company's customers' processing capacity growth
were too slow and/or if such customers were to perceive less relative benefit
from the Company's current mainframe products, the Company's revenues would be
adversely affected.

  Capacity-based upgrade fees associated with both current and future
processing capacity contributed 23%, 29% and 33% of total revenues in fiscal
years 1996, 1997 and 1998.  The charging of upgrade fees based on CPU tier
classifications is standard among mainframe systems software vendors, including
IBM.  While the Company believes its current pricing policies properly reflect
the value provided by its products, the pricing of mainframe systems software
is under constant pressure from customers and competitive vendors, including
IBM.  IBM continues to reduce the costs of its mainframe systems software to
increase the overall cost competitiveness of its mainframe hardware and
software products.  IBM also generally charges significantly less for its
software products.  These actions continue to increase pricing pressures within
the mainframe systems software markets.  The Company has continued to reduce
the cost of its mainframe tools and utilities in response to these and other
competitive pressures.

  The Company's operating expenses are to a large extent fixed in the short
term so that the Company has very limited ability to adjust its planned
expenses if revenues fail to meet expectations.  If near-term demand for the
Company's products weakens in a given quarter, there would likely be an
immediate, material adverse effect on net revenues and operating results and a
resultant drop in its stock price.

  The Company's operating margins (exclusive of charges for acquired research
and development and merger costs) have ranged from 37% to 45% in recent
quarters, which is at the high-end of the range for peer companies.  The Company
does not expect future margin expansion.  Further, since research and
development, sales, support and distribution costs for distributed systems
software products are higher than for mainframe products, operating margins will
experience more pressure as the mix of the Company's business continues its
shift to distributed systems revenues.  

  The Company has historically realized greater revenues and net earnings in
the latter half of its fiscal year; the quarter ending December 31 coincides
with the end of customers' annual budgetary periods and the quarter ending
March 31 coincides with the end of the Company's annual sales plans and fiscal
year.  For the same reasons, the Company has typically reported lower or flat
revenues in the first two quarters of a fiscal year than in the last two
quarters of the previous year, resulting in lower operating margins in the
first two quarters.  The Company historically has generated greater revenues in
the third and fourth quarters while maintaining lower rates of expense growth
and expanded operating margins.  Past financial performance is not a reliable
indicator of future performance, and there can be no assurance that this
pattern will be maintained.

  Future operating results are also dependent on sustained performance
improvement by the Company's international offices, particularly its European
operations.  Revenue growth by the Company's European operations has been
slower than revenue growth in North America, and in an effort to improve its
European performance, the Company has recently replaced the head of its
European operations.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in accelerating the revenue growth of its European operations.  The
Company's operations and financial results internationally could be
significantly adversely affected by several risks such as changes in foreign
currency exchange rates, sluggish regional economic conditions and difficulties
in staffing and managing international operations.  Many systems and
applications software vendors are experiencing difficulties  internationally.
In particular, the  recent  Asian  economic  crisis has  resulted in customer
budget cuts and financial uncertainty.  Less than 5% of the Company's revenues
are generated in the Pacific Rim region.

  In fiscal 1998, the Company announced several executive management and
organizational changes involving its Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice
President, Research and Development, and Senior Vice President, European Sales.
The Company may make other management and organizational changes in the future.
Organizational and management changes are intended to enhance competitiveness,
productivity and execution; however, there can be no assurance that they will
produce the desired results.





                                       25
<PAGE>   28
  The Company's growth prospects depend heavily on the continued success of its
existing distributed systems products, including PATROL, the recently acquired
BGS and DataTools products and those anticipated to be introduced in the future.
The distributed systems and application management markets in which the Company
operates are emerging, fragmented and highly competitive.  The Company has
experienced long development cycles and product delays in the past, particularly
with certain of its distributed systems products, and expects to have delays in
the future.  Delays in new mainframe or distributed systems product
introductions or less-than-anticipated market acceptance of these new products
are possible and would have an adverse affect on the Company's revenues and
earnings.  New products or new versions of existing products may, despite
testing, contain undetected errors or bugs that will delay the introduction or
adversely affect commercial acceptance of such products.  The enterprise systems
management market that the Company's distributed systems products address is
characterized by rapid change and intense competition that continues to increase
as vendors within the broader markets converge.  Certain of the Company's
competitors and potential competitors have significantly greater financial,
technical, sales and marketing resources than the Company and greater experience
in distributed systems development and sales.  A key factor in determining the
success of the Company's products, particularly its distributed systems
offerings, will be their ability to interoperate and perform well with existing
and future leading database management systems and other systems software
products supported by the Company's products.  Maintaining this interoperability
has greatly increased the complexity and cost of the Company's product
development and support activities. While the Company believes its products that
address this market, including those under development, will compete
effectively, this market will be relatively unpredictable over the next few
years and there can be no assurance that anticipated results will be achieved.

  Microsoft has continued its focus on developing operating systems, systems
management products and databases that will provide "business-critical" levels
of  functionality and reliability.  Specifically, Microsoft is aggressively
promoting its BackOffice family of software products, including its MS
Windows NT operating system and its SQL Server relational database management
system, as lower cost alternatives to the Unix operating systems coupled with
relational database management systems from Oracle, Sybase, Informix and other
vendors. Microsoft has significantly lower software price points in some of the
Company's markets, which could place additional pricing pressure on the Company.
Further, Microsoft could choose to develop competing products for use within MS
Windows NT environments.  The Company has invested and intends to continue to
invest in the development of systems management products for MS Windows NT and





                                       26
<PAGE>   29
BackOffice environments, but there are numerous uncertainties associated with
the Company's ability to successfully execute this strategy.

  Litigation seeking to enforce patents, copyrights and trade secrets is
increasing in the software industry.  There can be no assurance that third
parties will not assert that their patent or other proprietary rights are
violated by products offered by the Company.  Any such claims, with or without
merit, can be time consuming and expensive to defend and could have an adverse
effect on the Company's business, results of operations, financial position and
cash flows.

     With the acquisitions of DataTools in May 1997 and BGS in March 1998, the
Company has initiated efforts to integrate the disparate cultures, employees,
systems and products. In both acquisitions, retention of key employees is
critical to ensure the continued advancement, development, support, sales and
marketing efforts pertaining to the acquired products. The Company has
implemented retention programs to keep many of the key technical, sales and
marketing employees. The Company has also elected to retain the principal
offices of both DataTools and BGS and has reorganized the management structure
at both of these locations. The Company has not historically managed
significant, fully staffed business units at locations different from the
Company's headquarters. As a result, the Company may experience additional
difficulties in integrating its management policies and practices into
DataTool's and BGS's operations. The Company has lost key employees that were
acquired in these acquisitions, especially at DataTools.  The loss of the key
employees to date has not been detrimental to the Company's product integration
plans, although further losses could cause the product integrations to be
significantly delayed. Integration of DataTool's SQL-BackTrack products are
critical to the completion of the Company's backup, recovery, and restoration
strategy. Integration of BGS's BEST/1 products with PATROL is also critically
important to the ASA strategy. Successful integration of these complex software
products having difference origins is difficult to predict and achieve. There
can be no assurance that these product integrations will meet expectations or be
successful.

  When the Company acquired BGS, it also announced its ASA strategy. The ASA
strategy contemplates the development of solutions suites that will ensure the
availability, performance and recoverability of an ERP, DBMS or operating
system. These solution suites will contain several of the Company's existing
products as well as those acquired in the BGS acquisition. The Company intends
to design these solution suites to provide customers with a common look and feel
for all included products. There can be no assurance that these integration
efforts involving separate and distinct products, including those acquired from
BGS, will be successful. Also, given the recent announcement of this strategy,
the Company cannot predict its acceptance by customers.

  The Company recognizes the need to ensure its operations will not be
adversely impacted by the Year 2000.  Software failures due to processing
errors potentially arising from calculating using the Year 2000 date are a
known risk.  The Company is designing and testing the most current versions of
its products to process Year 2000 data without interruption or errors and
believes that these versions are substantially Year 2000 compliant.  The
Company may experience migration costs for customers who are not running
current versions of its products.  The Company is continually testing its
products to ensure Year 2000 support and compliance; there can be no assurance,
however, that despite such testing, undetected errors or defects will not exist
that could cause a product to fail to process Year 2000 data correctly.  The
Company's products are typically used in high volume information systems that
are critical to a customer's operations, so that business interruptions, loss
or corruption of data or other major problems could have significant adverse
consequences to the customer.  At this time, the Company is not aware of any
material operational issues or costs associated with Year 2000 compliance of
its own products.

  The Company is also addressing the Year 2000 risk to the availability,
integrity and the reliability of its own internal information systems.  The
Company has a low volume of transactions and operates within a modern
infrastructure.  Accordingly, the Company does not believe that the cost of
Year 2000 remediation will have a material adverse effect on the Company's
results of operations or financial condition.  There are no assurances,
however, that there will not be a delay in, or increased cost associated with,
the implementation of such changes, and the Company's inability to implement
such changes could have an adverse effect on future results of operations.
Factors that could cause unusual costs and delays include the availability and
cost of personnel trained in this area, the ability to locate and correct all
relevant computer code and other uncertainties.

  The European Union's adoption of the euro single currency raises a variety of
issues associated with the Company's European operations.  Although the
transition will be phased in over several years, the euro will become Europe's
single currency on January 1, 1999.  The Company is assessing euro issues
related to its product pricing, contracts, treasury operations and accounting
systems.  Although the evaluation of these items is still in process, the
Company believes that the hardware and software systems it uses internally will
accommodate this transition and any required policy or operating changes will
not have a material adverse effect on  future results.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

  The response to this item is submitted as a separate section of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.  See Item 14.

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

  Not applicable.


                                       27
<PAGE>   30
                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

  Information relating to the Company's directors and executive officers is
included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement in connection with its
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "1998 Proxy Statement"), which will be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end
of the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, under the captions "ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS -- Nominees" and "OTHER INFORMATION -- Directors and Executive
Officers" and is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 10.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  Information relating to executive compensation is set forth in the 1998 Proxy
Statement under the captions "ELECTION OF DIRECTORS -- Compensation of
Directors" and "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION" and is incorporated herein by reference
in response to this Item 11.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

  Information relating to ownership of Registrant's Common Stock by management
and certain other beneficial owners is set forth in the 1998 Proxy Statement
under the caption "OTHER INFORMATION -- Certain Stockholders" and is
incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 12.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

  Information relating to certain relationships and related transactions is set
forth in the 1998 Proxy Statement under the caption "OTHER INFORMATION --
Related Transactions" and is incorporated herein by reference in response to
this Item 13.

                                    PART IV

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

(a)      Documents filed as a part of this Report.

  1. The following financial statements of the Company and the related report
of independent public accountants are filed herewith:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      PAGE
                                                                                     NUMBER
                                                                                     -------
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants .......................................       30
Consolidated Financial Statements:
  Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1997 and 1998 .................................       31
  Statements of Earnings for the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and
     1998 ......................................................................       32
  Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended March 31, 1996,
     1997 and 1998 .............................................................       33
  Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and
     1998 ......................................................................       35
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ...................................       36
</TABLE>

  2. The following financial statement schedule of the Company and the related
report of independent public accountants are filed herewith:

  Schedule II -- Valuation Account

  All other financial schedules are omitted because (i) such schedules are not
required or (ii) the information required has been presented in the
aforementioned financial statements.





                                       28
<PAGE>   31
 3. The following Exhibits are filed with this Report or incorporated by
     reference as set forth below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER 
- -------
<S>            <C>
 3.1       --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-22892)
               (the "S-1 Registration Statement").

 3.2       --  Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
               Incorporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
               Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997
               (the "1997 10-K").

 3.2       --  Bylaws of the Company; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
               to the S-1 Registration Statement.

 4.1       --  Specimen Stock Certificate for the Common Stock of the Company;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the S-1 Registration
               Statement.

 4.2       --  Rights Agreement, dated as of May 8, 1995, between the Company
               and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent (the
               "Rights Agreement"), specifying the terms of the Rights, which
               includes the form of Certificate of Designation of Series A
               Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of
               Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the form of the Summary of
               Rights as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
               the registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 10,
               1995).

 4.3       --  Amendment to the Rights Agreement; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 4.3 to the 1997 10-K.

 10.1(a)   --  Form of BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7(a) to the Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31,
               1995 (the "1995 10-K").

 10.1(b)   --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Employee Incentive Plan; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.7(b) to the 1995 10-K.

 10.2(a)   --  Form of BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Non-employee Directors' Stock
               Option Plan; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(a) to the
               1995 10-K.

 10.2(b)   --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Nonemployee Directors' Stock Option Plan; incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 10.8(b) to the 1995 10-K.

 10.3      --  Description of BMC Software, Inc. Executive Officer Annual
               Incentive Plan; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
               Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
               March 31, 1994.

*10.4      --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Employee Incentive Plan for certain executive officers.

*10.5      --  Form of Restricted Stock Agreement employed under BMC Software
               Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan for certain executive officers.

 10.5(a)   --  License Agreement with International Business Machines
               Corporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the
               S-1 Registration Statement.

 10.5(b)   --  License Agreements for Use and Marketing of Program Materials
               dated May 13, 1986, with International Business Machines
               Corporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
               S-1 Registration Statement.

 10.5(c)   --  Customer Agreement with International Business Machines
               Corporation dated April 10, 1991; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               fiscal year ended March 31, 1992 (the "1992 10-K").

 10.6      --  Form of Indemnification Agreement among the Company and its
               directors and executive officers; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.11 to the 1995 10-K.

*22.1      --  Subsidiaries of the Company.

*23.1      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.

*27        --  Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>

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

* Filed herewith.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

None.

  BMC Software is a registered U.S. trademark of BMC Software, Inc. DB2 and IBM
are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. All
other products and tradenames mentioned herein are trademarks, registered
trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

                                       29
<PAGE>   32
BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


To The Board of Directors of
BMC Software, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of BMC Software,
Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1997 and 1998,
and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders' equity and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 1998.
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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of BMC Software, Inc.
and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
March 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
May 1, 1998





                                       30
<PAGE>   33
                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                           

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    MARCH 31,
                                                                                                    ---------
                                                                                             1997               1998
                                                                                             ----               ----
                                                                                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                                       <C>              <C>        
                                   ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                              $    79,794      $    72,093
   Marketable Securities                                                                       59,159           56,174
  Accounts receivable:
      Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,277 and $5,606                       77,428          139,844
      Trade finance receivables, current                                                       10,148           30,934
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
         Total accounts receivable                                                             87,576          170,778
   Income tax receivable                                                                           --           40,805
   Other current assets                                                                        26,446           34,028
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
         Total current assets                                                                 252,975          373,878
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of
   $49,364 and $75,776                                                                        116,296          162,996
Software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $19,207 and $39,293             39,486           63,475
Purchased software and related assets, net of accumulated amortization of $22,746
   and $31,667                                                                                 19,735           32,063
Marketable Securities                                                                         402,742          587,806
Other long-term assets                                                                         17,518           28,277
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
                                                                                          $   848,752      $ 1,248,495
                                                                                          ===========      ===========
                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Trade accounts payable                                                                 $     9,439      $    11,361
   Accrued commissions payable                                                                 10,983           13,894
   Accrued liabilities and other                                                               28,842           67,458
   Current portion of deferred revenue                                                        145,199          242,821
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
      Total current liabilities                                                               194,463          335,534
Deferred revenue and other                                                                     93,284          110,350
Deferred tax liability                                                                         14,793           43,454
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
     Total liabilities                                                                        302,540          489,338
Commitments and contingencies
   Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued  and
         outstanding                                                                               --               --
      Common stock, $.01 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 210,080,000 shares
         issued                                                                                 2,101            2,101
      Additional paid-in capital                                                               82,391          129,098
      Retained earnings                                                                       564,071          729,925
      Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment                                         (820)          (1,543)
      Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale                                    (750)           3,179
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
                                                                                              646,993          862,760
      Less treasury stock, at cost 9,754,000 and 3,752,000 shares                              96,901           99,513
      Less unearned portion of restricted stock compensation                                    3,880            4,090
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
           Total stockholders' equity                                                         546,212          759,157
                                                                                          -----------      -----------
                                                                                          $   848,752      $ 1,248,495
                                                                                          ===========      ===========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                        Consolidated Financial Statements





                                       31
<PAGE>   34
                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                ---------------------
                                                           1996        1997         1998
                                                           ----        ----         ----
                                                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>          <C>     
Revenues:
    Licenses                                            $269,022     $380,894     $513,947
    Maintenance                                          159,828      182,316      216,687
                                                        --------     --------     --------
        Total revenues                                   428,850      563,210      730,634

Selling and marketing expenses                           116,724      154,829      205,219
Research and development expenses                         59,011       77,459       94,923
Cost of maintenance services and product licenses         44,854       56,569       77,095
General and administrative expenses                       37,083       46,070       54,462
Acquired research and development costs                   23,589       11,259       65,473
Merger costs                                                  --           --        7,305
                                                        --------     --------     --------
    Operating income                                     147,589      217,024      226,157
Interest and other income                                 15,446       20,050       30,402
                                                        --------     --------     --------
    Earnings before income taxes                         163,035      237,074      256,559
Income taxes                                              57,464       73,202       90,705
                                                        --------     --------     --------
    Net earnings                                        $105,571     $163,872     $165,854
                                                        ========     ========     ========

Basic earnings per share                                $   0.53     $   0.82     $   0.82
                                                        ========     ========     ========

Shares used in computing basic earnings per share        200,658      201,016      203,488
                                                        ========     ========     ========

Diluted earnings per share                              $   0.50     $   0.76     $   0.77
                                                        ========     ========     ========

Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share      209,144      214,310      216,590
                                                        ========     ========     ========
</TABLE>


              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       32
<PAGE>   35
                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          COMMON      ADDITIONAL     RETAINED      FOREIGN    UNREALIZED     TREASURY     UNEARNED       TOTAL
                          STOCK        PAID-IN       EARNINGS      CURRENCY   GAIN (LOSS)      STOCK     PORTION OF   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                       CAPITAL                    TRANSLATION ON SECURITIES              RESTRICTED       EQUITY
                                                                  ADJUSTMENT  AVAILABLE FOR                STOCK
                                                                                  SALE                  COMPENSATION
<S>                     <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>      
Balance,                                                                                                                         
  March 31, 1995        $   2,101    $  67,864     $ 294,628    $    (282)    $      --     $ (54,694)    $  (3,463)    $ 306,154

Net earnings                   --           --       105,571           --            --            --            --       105,571
Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment                   --           --            --          364            --            --            --           364
Treasury stock
  purchased                    --           --            --           --            --       (64,816)           --       (64,816)
Stock options
  exercised and
  restricted shares
  issued                       --       (4,838)           --           --            --        35,030           (55)       30,137
Income tax benefit
  from stock
  options exercised            --        4,862            --           --            --            --            --         4,862
Unrealized gain on
  securities
  available for sale           --           --            --           --            82            --            --            82
Earned portion of
  restricted stock
  compensation                 --           --            --           --            --            --         1,354         1,354
                        ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
Balance,                    2,101       67,888       400,199           82            82       (84,480)       (2,164)      383,708
  March 31, 1996
Net earnings                   --           --       163,872           --            --            --            --       163,872
Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment                   --           --            --         (902)           --            --            --          (902)
Treasury stock
  purchased                    --           --            --           --            --       (31,460)           --       (31,460)
Stock options
  exercised and
  restricted shares
  issued                       --        2,033            --           --            --        19,039        (3,441)       17,631
Income tax benefit
  from stock
  options exercised            --       12,470            --           --            --            --            --        12,470
Unrealized loss on
  securities
  available for sale           --           --            --           --          (832)           --            --          (832)
Earned portion of
  restricted stock
  compensation                 --           --            --           --            --            --         1,725         1,725
                        ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
Balance,
   March 31, 1997       $   2,101    $  82,391     $ 564,071    $    (820)    $    (750)    $ (96,901)    $  (3,880)    $ 546,212
</TABLE>

                                   (continued)






                                       33
<PAGE>   36
                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                  (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          COMMON      ADDITIONAL     RETAINED      FOREIGN    UNREALIZED     TREASURY     UNEARNED       TOTAL
                          STOCK        PAID-IN       EARNINGS      CURRENCY   GAIN (LOSS)      STOCK     PORTION OF   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                       CAPITAL                    TRANSLATION ON SECURITIES              RESTRICTED       EQUITY
                                                                  ADJUSTMENT  AVAILABLE FOR                STOCK
                                                                                  SALE                  COMPENSATION
<S>                         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>      
Balance,
   March 31, 1997           $   2,101   $  82,391    $ 564,071   $    (820)   $    (750)   $ (96,901)   $  (3,880)   $ 546,212

Net earnings                       --          --      165,854          --           --           --           --      165,854
Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment                       --          --           --        (723)          --           --           --         (723)
Treasury stock
  purchased                        --          --           --          --           --      (70,923)          --      (70,923)
Common stock and
  options issued in
   connection with
   merger and
   acquisitions                    --      15,695           --          --           --           --           --       15,695
Stock options
  exercised and
  restricted shares
  issued and
  forfeited                        --     (27,250)          --          --           --       68,311       (1,691)      39,370
Income tax  benefit from
  stock options exercised
  and restricted shares
  issued                           --      58,262           --          --           --           --           --       58,262
Unrealized gain on
  securities available
  for sale                         --          --           --          --        3,929           --           --        3,929
Earned portion of
  restricted stock
  compensation                     --          --           --          --           --           --        1,481        1,481
                            ---------   ---------    ---------   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Balance,
  March 31, 1998            $   2,101   $ 129,098    $ 729,925   $  (1,543)   $   3,179    $ (99,513)   $  (4,090)   $ 759,157
                            =========   =========    =========   =========    =========    =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                       Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       34
<PAGE>   37
                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                                                       ---------------------
                                                                              1996              1997           1998
                                                                              ----              ----           ----
                                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                         <C>             <C>             <C>       
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net earnings                                                             $  105,571      $  163,872      $  165,854
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by
      operating activities:
      Acquired research and development and merger costs                        23,589          11,259          72,778
      Depreciation and amortization                                             28,354          32,523          58,029
      Loss on sale of fixed assets                                                  --              --           2,388
      Change in allowance for doubtful accounts                                    426           2,344             964
      Deferred income tax provision                                              7,392          15,070          24,559
      Earned portion of restricted stock compensation                            1,354           1,725           1,481
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
           Increase in accounts receivable                                     (14,258)        (10,621)        (70,346)
           Increase in income tax receivable                                        --              --         (40,805)
           Increase in other current assets                                     (2,564)         (3,338)         (1,703)
           Increase in other long-term assets                                   (3,680)         (7,453)         (7,501)
           Increase (decrease) in trade accounts payable                        (3,306)          1,022            (237)
           Increase in accrued commissions payable                               3,236             135           2,911
           Increase in accrued liabilities and other                             6,138           3,375          24,216
           Increase (decrease) in taxes payable                                 13,168         (16,595)             --
           Increase in current and long-term deferred revenue and other            774          91,529          95,617
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
                 Total adjustments                                              60,623         120,975         162,351
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
        Net cash provided by operating activities                              166,194         284,847         328,205
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------

Cash flows from investing activities:
    Cash paid for technology acquisitions, net of cash acquired                (18,510)        (14,719)        (64,367)
    Purchases of marketable securities                                        (101,050)       (259,682)       (258,151)
    Maturities of marketable securities                                         64,897          67,523          82,761
    Proceeds from sales of fixed assets                                          1,072              --           1,522
    Capital expenditures                                                       (21,586)        (26,803)        (66,980)
    Capitalization of software development costs                               (19,309)        (21,945)        (40,407)
    Purchased software and related assets                                       (2,911)         (9,043)         (2,449)
    (Increase) decrease in long-term financed receivables                        3,901            (251)        (13,821)
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
        Net cash used in investing activities                                  (93,496)       (264,920)       (361,892)
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
    Treasury stock purchased                                                   (64,816)        (31,460)        (70,923)
    Stock options exercised                                                      9,526          17,631          39,370
    Income tax benefit from stock options exercised                              4,862          12,470          58,262
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                    (50,428)         (1,359)         26,709
Effect of translation exchange rate changes on cash                                364            (902)           (723)
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents                                     22,634          17,666          (7,701)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                  39,494          62,128          79,794
                                                                            ----------      ----------      ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                    $   62,128      $   79,794      $   72,093
                                                                            ==========      ==========      ==========
Supplementary disclosures of cash flow information:
   Cash paid during the year for income taxes                               $   30,102      $   63,247      $   41,678
   Noncash consideration in acquisitions                                    $   20,611      $       --      $    8,573
</TABLE>

           The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                    Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       35
<PAGE>   38

                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)  Nature of Operations

         BMC Software, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the
Company or BMC)  develops  software solutions for automating application and
data management processes across host-based and distributed systems
environments. BMC markets, sells and supports its solutions primarily through
its sales offices around the world, as well as through its relationships with
independent partners.  Numerous factors affect the Company's operating results,
including general economic conditions, market acceptance and demand for its
products, its ability to develop new products, rapidly changing technologies and
competition. For a discussion of certain of these important factors, see the
discussion in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
Financial Condition under the heading "Certain Risks and Uncertainties That
Could Affect Future Operating Results."

(b)  Use of Estimates

         The Company's management makes estimates and assumptions in the
preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.  These estimates and assumptions may
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the Consolidated Financial
Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
respective reporting periods.  Actual results could differ from those results
implicit in the estimates and assumptions.

(c )  Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts
of the Company.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have
been eliminated in consolidation.  Certain amounts previously reported have been
reclassified in order to ensure comparability among the years reported.

(d)  Cash Equivalents

         The Company considers investments with a maturity of three months or
less when purchased to be cash equivalents.  As of March 31, 1997 and 1998, the
Company's cash equivalents were comprised primarily of money market funds,
commercial paper and repurchase agreements.  The Company's cash and cash
equivalents are subject to potential credit risk.  The Company's cash
management and investment policies restrict investments to investment quality,
highly liquid securities.

(e)  Long Lived Assets

  Property and Equipment -

         Property and equipment are stated at cost.  Depreciation on all
property and equipment, with the exception of building and leasehold
improvements, is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets which range from three to five years.  Depreciation
on the building is calculated using the straight-line method over the useful
lives of the components of the building (twenty years for the infrastructure
and thirty years for the shell).  Leasehold improvements are amortized using
the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated
useful life of the assets which range from two to seven years.





                                       36
<PAGE>   39
A summary of  property and equipment is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      MARCH 31,
                                                                      ---------
                                                                1997             1998
                                                                ----             ----
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                         <C>              <C>        
Land                                                        $     9,100      $    16,366
Building and leasehold improvements                              71,672           82,092
Construction in progress                                          1,976           28,260
Computers, furniture and equipment                               82,912          112,054
                                                            -----------      -----------
                                                                165,660          238,772
     Less accumulated depreciation and amortization             (49,364)         (75,776)
                                                            -----------      -----------
Net property and equipment                                  $   116,296      $   162,996
                                                            ===========      ===========
</TABLE>

         In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA) issued Statement of Position (SOP) 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of
Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use."  This standard
requires that certain costs related to the development or purchase of
internal-use software be capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful
life of the software.  This SOP also requires that costs related to the
preliminary project stage, data conversion and the post-implementation/operation
stage of an internal-use computer software development project be expensed as
incurred.  SOP 98-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years beginning after December 31, 1998, which, in the case of the Company is
April 1, 1999. SOP 98-1 is not expected to have a material impact on the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Software Development Costs -

         Costs of internally developed software for resale are expensed until
the technological feasibility of the software product has been established.
Thereafter, software development costs are capitalized and subsequently reported
at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value.  The cost of
capitalized software is amortized over the products' estimated useful lives,
which is typically five years.  During the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and
1998, $19,309,000, $21,945,000 and $40,407,000, respectively, of software
development costs were capitalized.  Amortization for the years ended March 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998 was $8,667,000, $8,299,000 and $20,086,000, respectively.
These expenses were reported as cost of maintenance services and product
licenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Purchased Software and Related Costs -

         Purchased software and related assets are recorded at cost.
Amortization is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the products, which is typically five years.  The portion of a
purchase which pertains to in-process research and development is expensed in
the period of the acquisition.  Amortization for the years ended March 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998 was $5,742,000, $5,805,000 and $8,921,000, respectively.
These expenses were reported as cost of maintenance services and product
licenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

         The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets and for
Long-lived Assets to be Disposed Of."  SFAS No. 121 requires that long-lived
assets and certain identifiable intangibles to be held and used by an entity be
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  If the sum of the
expected future cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual
disposition is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss
is recognized based on the fair value of the asset.





                                       37
<PAGE>   40
(f)  Foreign Currency Translation and Risk Management

         The Company operates globally and the functional currency for most of
its non U.S. enterprises is the local currency.  Financial statements of these
foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current rate
method in accordance with SFAS No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation."  As a
result, the Company's U.S. dollar net cash flows from international operations
may be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  To
minimize the Company's risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates,
the Company utilizes certain derivative financial instruments.

         The Company utilizes two types of derivative financial instruments in
managing its foreign currency exchange risk, forward exchange contracts and
purchased option contracts.  Forward exchange contracts are used to hedge firm
commitments that subject the Company to transaction risk.  Such commitments
include accounts receivable, intercompany receivables/payables, cash balances
and certain liabilities of foreign operations.  The terms of forward exchange
contracts are generally one month or less.

         Purchased option contracts are used by the Company to hedge
anticipated, but not firmly committed, sales transactions.  The Company
believes that the anticipated, but not yet committed, sales transactions are
probable and are highly correlated with the hedge instruments.  Probability
weightings are applied to the forecasted quarterly sales amounts and option
contracts are purchased to hedge the foreign currency exchange risk on the
forecasted quarterly sales amounts.  Each month, the Company compares its
dollar amount of purchased option contracts to sales forecasts in order to
ascertain whether the hedge remains highly correlated.  In the event the hedge
ceases to be effective or if the derivative is sold or the Company discontinues
hedging operations, any unamortized premium costs or deferred gains will be
recognized in that period.  The terms of purchased option contracts are
typically one year or less.

           The table below summarizes the contractual amounts of the Company's
financial instruments in U.S. dollars.  The Company's foreign exchange
financial instruments are primarily denominated in the major European
currencies, particularly the German deutschemark and the British pound, as well
as the Japanese yen and Australian dollar.  The "Buy" amounts in the table
below represent the U.S. dollar equivalent of commitments to purchase foreign
currencies and the "Sell" amounts represent the U.S. dollar equivalent of the
Company's right (with respect to purchased option contracts) and its commitment
(with respect to foreign currency forwards) to sell foreign currencies.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     MARCH 31
                                                     --------
                                         1997                         1998
                                         ----                         ----
                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
                                  Buy            Sell           Buy           Sell
                                  ---            ----           ---           ----
<S>                           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>       
 Options                      $       --     $   60,264     $       --     $  162,347
 Forwards (Europe)                    --         71,499             --         98,637
 Forwards (Other)                     45          7,980            681          7,838
                              ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------
                              $       45     $  139,743     $      681     $  268,822
                              ==========     ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

         Gains and losses on forward exchange contracts are recorded as the
contracts expire (typically each month).  Premiums from forward exchange
contracts are netted against the related gains and losses.  Gains and premiums
associated with purchased option contracts are deferred until the underlying
hedged transactions occur or earlier if a hedged transaction is no longer
expected to occur.  As of March 31, 1997 and 1998, the Company had recorded
unamortized premium costs totaling $1,075,000 and $3,226,000, respectively.
Also, as of March 31, 1997 and 1998, the Company had net unrecorded deferred
gains (losses) of $1,478,000 and ($78,000), respectively.

         The Company's exposure to credit-related losses from its financial
instruments is minimal.  Exposure from the Company's forward exchange contracts
could occur if the Company's foreign customers default on their trade payable
obligations with the Company.  The Company has not experienced and does not
expect to experience any significant defaults by its foreign customers.  Also,
exposure from the Company's purchased option contracts is limited to the
premium costs associated with buying the instruments.  The Company is not
obligated to exercise its





                                       38
<PAGE>   41
purchased option contracts.  The Company is also exposed to credit-related
losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to financial
instruments, but it does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their
obligations, given their high credit ratings.  In addition, the Company
diversifies this risk across several counterparties.

         During fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, general and administrative expenses
included net foreign exchange expenses of $1,725,000, $2,297,000 and
$1,853,000, respectively.  The net cash flows from the Company's foreign
exchange financial instruments are netted with the currency gain or loss of the
hedged item in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

(g)  Deferred Revenue

         Deferred revenue is comprised primarily of deferred license revenue,
maintenance revenue and other services.  Deferred license and maintenance
revenue which has not been collected is eliminated in consolidation.  The
principal components of deferred revenue are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           MARCH 31,
                                                     1997            1998
                                                     ----            ----
                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                               <C>            <C>       
Current:
    Maintenance                                   $  124,052     $  159,774
    Licenses                                          16,570         73,838
    Other                                              4,577          9,209
                                                  ----------     ----------
        Total Current Deferred Revenue               145,199        242,821

Long-Term:
    Maintenance                                       87,712        104,986
    Other                                              5,572          5,364
                                                  ----------     ----------
        Total Long-Term Deferred Revenue              93,284        110,350
                                                  ----------     ----------

        Total Deferred Revenue                    $  238,483     $  353,171
                                                  ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

(h)  Revenue Recognition

         The Company licenses its software products under perpetual, annual and
monthly licenses.  Perpetual licenses include maintenance and enhancements for
either a 90 day period or a one year period.  For those licenses which provide
maintenance and enhancements for a one year period, the portion of the license
fee associated with maintenance and enhancements is unbundled and recognized
ratably as maintenance revenue.  Maintenance contracts are available annually
thereafter and are generally based on the value (as defined) of the licensed
software products.  The Company also generates upgrade revenues as a result of
a customer's migration, or a customer's anticipated migration to more powerful
central processing units.

         Revenue from the licensing of software, including upgrade revenue, is
recognized when both the Company and the customer are legally obligated under
the terms of the respective agreement and the underlying software products (if
any in the case of upgrade transactions) have been delivered.  Maintenance
revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the underlying maintenance
agreement.  Revenues from license and maintenance transactions which are
financed are generally recognized in the same manner as those requiring current
payment.  The Company has an established business practice of offering
installment contracts to customers and has a history of successfully enforcing
original payment terms without making concessions.  Further, the payment
obligations are unrelated to product implementation  or any other
post-transaction activity.  In all cases, revenue is recognized only if no
significant Company obligations remain and collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed probable.

  The AICPA issued SOP 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition" in October 1997,
which replaces the previous revenue recognition rules provided by SOP 91-1.
SOP 97-2 is effective for transactions entered into in fiscal years





                                       39
<PAGE>   42
beginning after December 15, 1997, which, in the case of the Company, is April
1, 1998.  The adoption of this SOP is not expected have a material impact on
the Company's future Consolidated Financial Statements.


(i)  Earnings Per Share

         The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share" in February 1997.  Implementation of  SFAS No. 128 is
required for periods ending after December 15, 1997.  SFAS No. 128 requires
dual presentation of earnings per share (EPS); basic EPS and diluted EPS.
Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted
EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other
contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.
For purposes of this calculation, outstanding stock options and unearned
restricted stock are considered common stock equivalents using the treasury
stock method.  The following table summarizes the basic EPS and diluted EPS
computations for the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 (in thousands,
except per share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                               1996           1997           1998
                                                               ----           ----           ----   
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>            <C>       
Basic earnings per share:
   Net earnings                                             $  105,571     $  163,872     $  165,854
                                                            ----------     ----------     ----------
   Weighted average number of common shares                    200,658        201,016        203,488
                                                            ----------     ----------     ----------
   Basic earnings per share                                 $     0.53     $     0.82     $     0.82
                                                            ==========     ==========     ==========

Diluted earnings per share:
   Net earnings                                             $  105,571     $  163,872     $  165,854
                                                            ----------     ----------     ----------
   Weighted average number of common shares                    200,658        201,016        203,488
   Incremental shares from assumed conversions of
      stock options and other                                    8,486         13,294         13,102
                                                            ----------     ----------     ----------
Adjusted weighted average number of common
   shares                                                      209,144        214,310        216,590
                                                            ----------     ----------     ----------

Diluted earnings per share                                  $     0.50     $     0.76     $     0.77
                                                            ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

(j)  Stock Splits

         On July 16, 1995, October 24, 1996 and April 20, 1998,  the Company's
board of directors declared two-for-one stock splits.  These stock splits were
effected in the form of stock dividends.  In each case, stockholders of record
received one share of common stock for each share held.  All stock related data
in the consolidated financial statements and related notes reflects these stock
splits for all periods presented.

(k)  Treasury Stock

         Under a stock repurchase program, the Company repurchased 6,692,000,
1,385,000 and 2,304,000 shares of its common stock on the open market for
aggregate purchase prices of $63,472,000, $30,581,000 and $69,752,000, in the
fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.  The Company's
board of directors terminated the share buy-back program, prior to consummation
of the BGS Systems, Inc. (BGS) merger, in March 1998, consistent with the
pooling of interests accounting provisions.





                                       40
<PAGE>   43
(l)   Comprehensive Income

         In June 1997, SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" was
issued.  Under SFAS No. 130, all items that meet the definition of
comprehensive income will be separately reported for the period in which they
are recognized.  The only impact will be that comprehensive income, which will
include changes in the balances of items that are reported separately in the
Stockholders' Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets, will be either
reported in a separate statement or at the bottom of the Consolidated
Statements of Earnings.  This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997, which, in the case of the Company, is April 1, 1998.

(2)  TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITIONS

         During fiscal 1996 and 1997, the Company completed acquisitions of
stock and assets (including in process research and development) of several
technology companies.  These acquisitions were funded through the issuance of
the Company's common stock and cash.  All of the acquisitions completed during
fiscal 1996 and 1997 were accounted for using the purchase method.  The
aggregate purchase price for the acquired companies was $27,789,000 and
$12,950,000 during fiscal 1996 and 1997, respectively.  In connection with
these acquisitions, the Company recorded charges of $22,831,000 and $7,318,000
for acquired research and development expenses, net of $758,000 and $3,941,000
in income tax benefits for fiscal 1996 and 1997, respectively.

         During fiscal 1998, the Company completed several additional
acquisitions, including the purchase of DataTools, Inc. (DataTools) and BGS.
The Company's acquisition of DataTools was completed in May 1997 and was the
result of a purchase option exercised by the Company.  The Company funded the
$73,000,000 aggregate purchase price with cash, and to a lesser extent, debt
forgiveness and options to purchase the Company's common stock.  The Company
accounted for this transaction as a purchase, and recorded a charge of
$51,572,000 net of a $2,800,000 income tax benefit, for acquired research and
development costs.

         In addition to the DataTools acquisition, the Company completed
additional acquisitions accounted for as purchases.  The aggregate purchase
price for these transactions was $14,695,000.  The Company recorded a
$9,076,000 charge, net of a $2,025,000 income tax benefit for acquired research
and development.

         During March 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of BGS.  This
acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests in accordance with
Accounting Principals Board (APB) Opinion No. 16.  The Company  recorded a
$5,798,000 charge, net of a $1,507,000 income tax benefit for merger costs.
The Company exchanged a total of 7,179,000 shares of its common stock for all
of the outstanding shares of BGS.  The Company also converted BGS employee
owned options into options to purchase 746,000 shares of the Company's stock.
The Company did not restate its prior Consolidated Financial Statements because
the amounts of assets, revenues and income of BGS for the last three fiscal
years were not material.

         In the above-mentioned acquisitions accounted for as purchases,
purchase prices were allocated to identifiable tangible and intangible assets
acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values.  Amounts
allocated to acquired, in-process research and development costs were expensed
at the time of acquisition.  To determine the fair market value of the acquired
net assets and in-process technology, the Company relied primarily on the income
approach, whereupon fair market value is a function of the future revenues
expected to be generated by an asset, net of all allocable expenses and charges
for the use of contributory assets.  The future net revenue stream is discounted
to present value based upon the specific level of risk associated with achieving
the forecasted asset earnings.   Discount rates utilized ranged from 20% to 30%.
The income approach focuses on the income producing capability of the acquired
assets and best represents the present value of the future economic benefits
expected to be derived from these assets.

         The Company determined that the acquired in-process technologies had
not reached technological feasibility based on the status of design and
development activities which required further refinement, integration and
testing.  The development activities required to complete the acquired
in-process technologies included additional coding, cross- platform porting and
validation, quality assurance procedures and customer beta testing.





                                       41
<PAGE>   44
The acquired technologies represent unique and emerging technologies, the
application of which is limited to the Company's software strategy.
Accordingly, these acquired technologies have no alternative future use.

(3)  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

         Management determines the appropriate classification of debt and
equity securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such designation as
of each subsequent balance sheet date.  The Company has the ability and intent
to hold most of its investment securities to maturity and thus has classified
these securities as "held to maturity" pursuant to SFAS No. 115, "Accounting
for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities."   These securities have
been recorded at amortized cost in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Securities classified as "available for sale" are recorded at fair value.  The
resulting net unrealized gains or losses are recorded as an increase or
decrease to stockholders' equity.  The Company holds no securities classified
as "trading securities".  Gains and losses, realized and unrealized, are
calculated using the specific identification method.  The table below
summarizes the Company's total investment securities portfolio as of March 31,
1997 and 1998.

                          HELD TO MATURITY SECURITIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    GROSS         GROSS
                                                                 UNREALIZED     UNREALIZED      AMORTIZED
                                                  FAIR VALUE        GAINS         LOSSES          COSTS
                                                  ----------        -----         ------          -----
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>       
1997
Maturities Within 1 Year
   Municipal Securities                           $   32,901     $       92     $       (4)     $   32,813
    Corporate Bonds                                   16,030            144             --          15,886
    Euro Bonds and other                               2,028              1             --           2,027
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
           Total maturities within 1 year         $   50,959     $      237     $       (4)     $   50,726
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========

Maturities From 1-5 Years
    Municipal Securities                          $  210,754     $      736     $   (1,145)     $  211,163
    Corporate Bonds                                   34,125             48           (305)         34,382
    Euro Bonds and other                              15,607            193            (50)         15,464
    Mortgage securities                               11,353              2           (611)         11,962
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
           Total maturities from 1-5 years        $  271,839     $      979     $   (2,111)     $  272,971
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========

Maturities From 6-10 Years
    Corporate Bonds                               $    2,955     $       --     $      (68)     $    3,023
    Euro Bonds                                         3,019             --            (59)          3,078
    Mortgage Securities                                4,789             --           (146)          4,935
    Municipal Bonds                                   34,377             --           (326)         34,703
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
           Total maturities from 6-10 years       $   45,140     $       --     $     (599)     $   45,739
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========

1998
Maturities Within 1 Year
   Municipal Securities                           $   31,779     $      214     $       --      $   31,565
   Corporate Bonds                                     9,924             45             (5)          9,884
   Euro Bonds and other                                4,126             40             --           4,086
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
           Total maturities within 1 year         $   45,829     $      299     $       (5)     $   45,535
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========

Maturities From 1-5 Years
   Municipal Securities                           $  307,651     $    3,584     $     (501)     $  304,568
   Corporate Bonds                                    38,949            568            (38)         38,419
   Mortgage Securities                                11,544             30            (67)         11,580
   Euro Bonds and other                               35,594            104           (178)         35,668
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
          Total maturities from 1-5 years         $  393,738     $    4,286     $     (784)     $  390,235
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========

Maturities From 6-10 Years
   Corporate Bonds                                $    6,296     $       --     $      (83)     $    6,379
    Euro Bonds                                        11,158             --            (57)         11,216
    Mortgage Securities                                1,645             --            (16)          1,661
    Municipal Bonds                                   33,165             98            (91)         33,158
                                                  ----------     ----------      ----------     ----------
          Total maturities from 6-10 years        $   52,264     $       98     $     (247)     $   52,414
                                                  ==========     ==========      ==========     ==========
</TABLE>





                                       42
<PAGE>   45
                         AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    GROSS         GROSS
                                                   AMORTIZED     UNREALIZED     UNREALIZED
                                                     COST           GAINS         LOSSES         FAIR VALUE
                                                     ----           -----         ------         ----------
                                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>       
1997
Maturities Within 1 Year
    Municipal Securities                          $    8,375     $       58     $       --      $    8,433
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
      Total maturities within 1 year              $    8,375     $       58     $       --      $    8,433
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========      ==========

Maturities From 1-5 Years
    Municipal Securities                          $   43,176     $       71     $     (281)     $   42,966
    Euro Bonds                                        13,743             --           (159)         13,584
    Corporate Bonds                                    6,686             --            (86)          6,600
    Mortgage Securities and Other                      9,340             --             (1)          9,339
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
       Total maturities from 1-5 years            $   72,945     $       71     $     (527)     $   72,489
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========      ==========

1998
Maturities Within 1 Year
    Municipal Securities                          $   10,196     $      455     $      (12)     $   10,639
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
       Total maturities within 1 year             $   10,196     $      455     $      (12)     $   10,639
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========      ==========

Maturities From 1-5 Years
    Municipal Securities                          $   54,513     $      460     $      (41)     $   54,932
    Corporate Bonds                                   12,208            141            (16)         12,333
    Euro Bonds                                        28,510             69           (147)         28,432
    Other                                              8,753          2,452             --          11,205
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
       Total maturities from 1-5 years            $  103,984     $    3,122     $     (204)     $  106,902
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========      ==========

Maturities From 6-10 Years
    Municipal Securities                          $   34,939     $       49     $     (232)     $   34,756
    Mortgage Securities and other                      3,498             28            (27)          3,499
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------      ----------
       Total maturities from 6-10 years           $   38,437     $       77     $     (259)     $   38,255
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========      ==========
</TABLE>

    The Company's mortgage securities are classified according to the stated
maturities of the securities.

(4) TRADE FINANCE RECEIVABLES

         Trade finance receivables arise in the ordinary course of business to
accommodate customers' cash flow objectives.  Most of the trade finance
receivables entered into by the Company are transferred to financing
institutions on a non-recourse basis.  The Company records such transfers as
sales of the related accounts receivable when it is considered to have
surrendered control of such receivables under provisions of SFAS No. 125,
"Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
of Liabilities."   Such receivables which have not yet been transferred are
classified as trade finance receivables in the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheets.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 125 effective April 1, 1997.
During fiscal 1998, the Company transferred a total of $147,022,000, which
approximated fair value, to financing institutions on a non-recourse basis.  As
of March 31, 1998, trade finance receivables which have been transferred to
financing institutions, which remain outstanding, totaled approximately
$228,270,000.





                                       43
<PAGE>   46
(5)  COST OF MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND PRODUCT LICENSES

         The components of cost of maintenance services and product licenses
for the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1996          1997            1998
                                                           ----          ----            ----
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>       
  Cost of maintenance services                         $   27,185     $   33,763     $   41,485
  Amortization of software development costs                8,667          8,299         20,086
  Amortization of purchased software                        5,742          5,805          8,921
  Royalties                                                 3,260          8,702          6,603
                                                       ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                       $   44,854     $   56,569     $   77,095
                                                       ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

(6)  INCOME TAXES

         Deferred income taxes are recognized for income and expense items that
are reported for financial reporting purposes in a different year than for
income tax purposes.  Research and development tax credits are accounted for as
a reduction of income tax expense in the year realized.  The income tax benefit
from nonqualified stock options exercised, wherein the fair market value at
date of issuance is less than that at date of exercise, is credited to
additional paid-in capital.

         The provision for income taxes in the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997
and 1998, consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996           1997           1998
                                                     ----           ----           ----
                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>       
Current:
   Federal                                        $   40,804     $   49,263     $   52,617
   Foreign                                             9,268          8,869         13,529
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------
      Total current                                   50,072         58,132         66,146

Deferred:
   Federal                                             7,392         15,070         24,559
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------
      Total deferred                                   7,392         15,070         24,559
                                                  ----------     ----------     ----------
                                                  $   57,464     $   73,202     $   90,705
                                                  ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>

         The foreign provision for income taxes is based on foreign pre-tax
earnings of $46,474,000 for fiscal 1996, $67,571,000 for fiscal 1997 and
$88,114,000 for fiscal 1998.

         The income tax expense of $57,464,000 for fiscal 1996, $73,202,000 for
fiscal 1997 and $90,705,000 for fiscal 1998 differs from the amount computed by
applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% to consolidated earnings
before income taxes as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    1996            1997            1998
                                                                    ----            ----            ----
                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                              <C>             <C>             <C>       
 Expense computed at statutory rate                              $   57,062      $   82,976      $   89,796
 Increase (reduction) resulting from:
     Foreign tax effect, net                                         (4,339)        (11,543)        (17,710)
     Tax benefit from foreign sales corporation                        (777)           (610)           (737)
     Income not subject to tax                                       (2,908)         (2,685)         (5,657)
     Other                                                            2,403           4,520           8,234
                                                                 ----------      ----------      ----------
          Subtotal                                                   51,441          72,658          73,926
 Non-deductible charge for acquired research and development          6,023             544          16,779
                                                                 ----------      ----------      ----------
                                                                 $   57,464      $   73,202      $   90,705
                                                                 ==========      ==========      ==========
</TABLE>





                                       44
<PAGE>   47
         Aggregate unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries for which U.S.
Federal income taxes have not been provided, totaled approximately $155,973,000
at March 31, 1998.  Deferred income taxes have not been provided on these
earnings because the Company considers them to be indefinitely reinvested.

         Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences
between the amount of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting
purposes and such amounts recognized for tax purposes.   The tax effects of the
temporary differences as of March 31, 1997 and 1998 are presented as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1997             1998
                                                                              ----             ----
                                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                         <C>             <C>       
 Deferred Tax Assets:
   Deferred revenue                                                         $   17,014      $    8,495
   Acquired research and development                                             5,513           4,942
   Deferred compensation plan                                                    1,821           2,802
   Accruals not currently deductible                                               403           1,805
   Other                                                                         4,499           5,458
                                                                            ----------      ----------
         Total deferred tax asset                                               29,250          23,502
                                                                            ----------      ----------

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
   Software capitalization, net                                                (13,820)        (21,075)
   Book/tax difference on assets                                                (3,499)         (3,405)
   Stock compensation plans                                                     (2,130)         (1,370)
   Foreign earnings and other                                                  (20,001)        (32,411)
                                                                            ----------      ----------
         Total deferred tax liability                                          (39,450)        (58,261)
                                                                            ----------      ----------

Net deferred tax liability                                                  $  (10,200)     $  (34,759)
                                                                            ==========      ========== 
As reported:
Net current deferred tax asset (included in prepaid expenses and other)     $    4,593      $    8,695
                                                                            ==========      ==========
Net long-term deferred tax liability                                        $  (14,793)     $  (43,454)
                                                                            ==========      ========== 

</TABLE>

(7)  STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

         The Company has adopted numerous stock plans that provide for the
grant of options and restricted stock to employees and directors of the
Company.  Under these plans, all options have been granted at fair market value
as of the date of grant and have a ten year term.  All grants under these plans
vest over terms of either three, four  or five years.  The restricted stock is
subject to transfer restrictions that lapse over five years.  Under these
plans, the Company was authorized to grant a total of 17,870,000 shares as of
March 31, 1998.





                                       45
<PAGE>   48
         The following is a summary of the stock option activity for the years
ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 (in thousands, except price per share
amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           1996                        1997                        1998
                                           ----                        ----                        ----
                                                WEIGHTED                    WEIGHTED                    WEIGHTED
                                                 AVERAGE                     AVERAGE                     AVERAGE
                                                EXERCISE                    EXERCISE                    EXERCISE
                                   SHARES         PRICE         SHARES        PRICE         SHARES        PRICE
                                   ------         -----         ------        -----         ------        -----
<S>                                <C>         <C>              <C>        <C>             <C>         <C>
Options outstanding at
   beginning of year               24,866      $      5         26,033     $      6         25,892     $      8
Options granted                     4,137      $     10          3,397     $     22          5,808     $     30
BGS Merger                             --            --             --           --            746     $     17
Options exercised                  (2,528)     $      4         (2,944)    $      6         (6,542)    $      6
Options forfeited or canceled        (442)     $      7           (594)    $      8         (1,684)    $      8
                              -----------                  -----------                 -----------
Options outstanding at end of
   year                            26,033      $      6         25,892     $      8         24,220     $     14
                              ===========                  ===========                 ===========
Option price range per share  $0.09-10.85                  $0.32-24.19                 $0.48-33.47
                              ===========                  ===========                 ===========
Options exercisable                 5,139      $      4          6,906     $      5          6,447     $      8
                              ===========                  ===========                 ===========
</TABLE>

         The following is a summary of the restricted stock activity for the
years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1996          1997         1998
                                                               ----          ----         ----
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                              <C>           <C>           <C>
Shares granted and unearned at beginning of year                 520           327           294
Shares granted                                                     7           169            82
Shares earned                                                   (200)         (202)          (45)
Shares forfeited                                                  --            --          (120)
                                                            --------      --------      --------
Shares granted and unearned at end of year                       327           294           211
                                                            ========      ========      ========
</TABLE>

         In fiscal 1997, the Company adopted the BMC Software, Inc. 1996
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Purchase Plan).  A total of 1,000,000 shares
of common stock may be issued under the Purchase Plan to participating
employees. Purchase rights under the Purchase Plan are granted at 85% of the
lesser of the market value at the offering date or on the exercise date.  During
fiscal 1997 and 1998, 98,000 and 171,000 shares of stock, respectively, were
issued pursuant to this plan.  The Purchase Plan terminates in the year 2006.

         In October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," which allows the Company to account for its employee
stock-based compensation plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
No.  25 and the related interpretations.   According to APB No. 25, deferred
compensation is recorded for stock-based compensation grants based on the
excess of the market value of the common stock on the measurement date over the
exercise price.  The deferred compensation is amortized over the vesting period
of each unit of stock-based compensation grant.  If the exercise price of the
stock-based compensation grants is equal to the market price of the Company's
stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recorded.

         For fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company has
recorded compensation expense of $1,354,000, $1,725,000 and $1,481,000,
respectively for restricted stock grants.  The Company was not required under
APB No. 25 and SFAS No. 123 to record compensation expense for stock option
grants during the same period.





                                       46
<PAGE>   49
         Had the compensation cost for these plans been determined pursuant to
the alternative method permitted under SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income
and diluted earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro
forma amounts (in thousands, except per share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                1996                    1997                  1998
                                                ----                    ----                  ----
<S>                    <C>                   <C>                    <C>                   <C>       
Net Income:            As Reported           $  105,571             $  163,872            $  165,854
                       Pro Forma             $  104,890             $  160,251            $  156,641

Diluted EPS:           As Reported           $     0.50             $     0.76            $     0.77
                       Pro Forma             $     0.50             $     0.75            $     0.73
</TABLE>

         In computing the above disclosure, the fair values of each option
grant and the Purchase Plan discounts are estimated using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for
grants in both 1997 and 1998: risk-free interest rate of 6 percent, expected
life of 5 years for options and restricted stock, expected life of 6 months for
Purchase Plan shares, expected volatility of 40 percent and no expected
dividend yields.  The weighted average fair value of options granted in fiscal
1996, 1997 and 1998 was $4.24, $9.63 and $13.36, respectively.

         Because the SFAS No. 123 alternative method of accounting has not been
applied to options granted prior to April 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma
compensation cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future
years.  Additionally, the 1997 and 1998 pro forma amounts include $403,000 and
$771,000, respectively, related to the purchase discount offered under the
Purchase Plan.  The weighted average fair value of shares purchased by
employees in fiscal 1997 and 1998 was $4.53 and $23.61, respectively.

         The Company's outstanding options as of March 31, 1998, are segregated
into the following three categories in accordance with SFAS No. 123 (in
thousands, except per share and year amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      WEIGHTED AVERAGE
OUTSTANDING           EXERCISABLE             RANGE OF           WEIGHTED AVERAGE         REMAINING
  SHARES                 SHARES           EXERCISE PRICE         EXERCISE PRICE       CONTRACTUAL LIFE
  ------                 ------            --------------         --------------       ----------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>                       <C>                    <C> 
  10,806                 4,516              $0.48-6.09               $ 5.46                 6.41
   5,118                 1,446             $6.25-17.06               $10.26                 7.34
   8,296                   485            $19.84-33.47               $28.43                 9.32
</TABLE>

(8)  RETIREMENT PLAN

         The Company maintains a salary reduction profit sharing plan or 401(k)
plan ("the Plan") available to all domestic employees.  The Plan is based on a
calendar year end and allows employees to contribute up to 15% of their annual
compensation with a maximum contribution of $9,240 in calendar year 1995 and
$9,500 in calendar years 1996 and 1997.  In each of the calendar years 1995,
1996 and 1997, the board of directors authorized contributions to the Plan that
would match the employee's contribution up to a maximum of $5,000.  The costs
of these contributions to the Company amounted to $3,211,000, $3,956,000 and
$6,556,000 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997,
respectively.  The Company contributions vest to the employee in increments of
20% per year beginning with the third year of employment and ending with the
seventh.





                                       47
<PAGE>   50
         In addition to the Company's 401(k) plan, the Company maintains a
deferred compensation plan for certain employees of the Company.  At March 31,
1998, a total of approximately $9,975,000 is included in long term securities,
with a corresponding aggregate amount included in accrued liabilities and
unrealized gain on securities  available for sale.  Employees participating in
this plan may receive their respective amounts upon request.

(9)  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

         The Company has several noncancelable operating leases for office
space, computer equipment and software.  Rent expense for office space is
recognized equally over the lease term.  Total expenses incurred under these
leases during the years ended March 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, were approximately
$13,715,000, $14,946,000 and $15,085,000, respectively.

         Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as
of March 31, 1998 are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 FISCAL YEARS ENDING MARCH 31,
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
                 <S>                                  <C>
                 1999                                 $ 15,425
                 2000                                   12,832
                 2001                                    7,903
                 2002                                    3,825
                 2003                                    2,295
                 2004 and thereafter                     2,773
                                                      --------
                    Total minimum lease payments      $ 45,053
                                                      ========
</TABLE>

  The Company filed a trade secret lawsuit styled BMC Software, Inc. vs.
Peregrine Systems, Inc. et al., Cause No. 91- 10161, in the 200th Judicial
District Court of Travis County, Texas, in August 1995.  The lawsuit sought an
injunction prohibiting a group of former employees and their employer from
misappropriating and misusing certain of the Company's trade secrets.  The
Company has settled the litigation as to certain individuals and claims and is
continuing to pursue its trade secret and other claims against the remaining and
additional defendants.  These defendants are asserting counterclaims against the
Company for violations of the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983,
abuse of process, slander of title, tortious interference with contract and
tortious interference with advantageous and prospective business relationships.
These counterclaims seek compensatory, treble and exemplary damages, costs and
attorneys' fees and certain injunctive relief.  Management believes the ultimate
resolution of the above matters will not be material to the Company's financial
condition.

  The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims, either
asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business.
Management does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or
consolidated financial position.





                                       48
<PAGE>   51
(10)  FOREIGN OPERATIONS

         The table below summarizes selected financial information with respect
to the Company's operations by geographic locations.  Within the European
marketplace, the Company's German operations are the most significant with
total revenues accounting for over 33% of total European revenues in each of
the three fiscal years presented.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                       ---------------------
                                            1996              1997             1998
                                            ----              ----             ----
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                     <C>              <C>              <C>         
REVENUES
   North America                        $    253,593     $    346,875     $    472,455
   Europe                                    143,630          180,303          221,156
   Pacific Rim and Other                      31,627           36,032           37,023
                                        ------------     ------------     ------------
      Consolidated                      $    428,850     $    563,210     $    730,634
                                        ============     ============     ============

OPERATING PROFITS*
   North America                        $     49,310     $     90,468     $     87,075
   Europe                                     84,802          108,207          132,852
   Pacific Rim and Other                      13,477           18,349            6,230
                                        ------------     ------------     ------------
      Consolidated                      $    147,589     $    217,024     $    226,157
                                        ============     ============     ============

IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
   North America                        $    462,946     $    660,607     $    976,843
   Europe                                    120,319           73,712          106,270
   Pacific Rim and Other                      24,953          114,433          165,382
                                        ------------     ------------     ------------
      Consolidated                      $    608,218     $    848,752     $  1,248,495
                                        ============     ============     ============
</TABLE>

*        Substantially all of the Company's product research and development is
         conducted in North America which has the effect of reducing the
         reported North American operating profits.

         SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" was issued in June 1997.  SFAS No. 131 requires that a public
business enterprise report financial and descriptive information about its
reportable operating segments.  Generally, financial information is required to
be reported on the basis used internally for evaluating segment performance and
resource allocation.  SFAS No. 131 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 31, 1997, however, disclosure is not required in interim financial
statements in the initial year of adoption.  Accordingly, the Company will
reflect SFAS No. 131 in its Consolidated Financial Statements for the March 31,
1999, fiscal year.  The Company is currently assessing the SFAS No. 131
requirements.





                                       49
<PAGE>   52
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



  We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the
consolidated financial statements of BMC Software, Inc. and subsidiaries
included in this Form 10-K and have issued our report thereon dated May 1,
1998.  Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.  This Schedule is the
responsibility of the Company's management and is presented for purposes of
complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part
of the basic consolidated financial statements.  This Schedule has been
subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic
consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all
material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
May 1, 1998





                                       50
<PAGE>   53
                                                                     SCHEDULE II

                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                               VALUATION ACCOUNT
                   YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996, 1997 AND 1998
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  BALANCE AT       CHARGED    CHARGED TO
                                 BEGINNING OF    (CREDIT) TO    OTHER                  BALANCE AT
 YEAR       DESCRIPTION             YEAR           EXPENSES    ACCOUNTS     DEDUCTION  END OF YEAR
 ----   -------------------      -----------      ----------   ----------   ---------  -----------
 <S>    <C>                       <C>                 <C>         <C>          <C>     <C>
 1996   Allowance for doubtful    $  1,511              776       --           (354)   $  1,933
        accounts
 1997   Allowance for doubtful    $  1,933            2,344       --              --   $  4,277
        accounts
 1998   Allowance for doubtful    $  4,277            1,489       --           (160)   $  5,606
        accounts
</TABLE>





                                       51
<PAGE>   54
                                   SIGNATURES

  Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on June 22, 1998.

BMC SOFTWARE, INC.

By: /s/ MAX P. WATSON JR.
- -------------------------
Max P. Watson Jr.
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and
in the capacities and on the dated indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     SIGNATURES                            TITLE                                 DATE
- ------------------------           ---------------------                      -----------
<S>                                <C>                                        <C>
/s/ MAX P. WATSON JR.              Chairman of the Board,
- ---------------------              President and Chief Executive Officer
Max P. Watson Jr.                  (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ WILLIAM M. AUSTIN              Senior Vice President and
- ---------------------              Chief Financial Officer
William M. Austin                  

/s/ JOHN W. BARTER                 Director
- ------------------                         
John W. Barter

/s/ B. GARLAND CUPP                Director
- -------------------                        
B. Garland Cupp

/s/ MELDON K. GAFNER               Director
- --------------------                       
Meldon K. Gafner

/s/ L. W. GRAY                     Director
- --------------                             
L. W. Gray

/s/ KEVIN M. KLAUSMEYER            Vice President, Controller
- -----------------------            (Chief Accounting Officer)
Kevin M. Klausmeyer                

/s/ GEORGE F. RAYMOND              Director
- ---------------------                      
George F. Raymond

/s/ TOM C. TINSLEY                 Director
- ------------------                         
Tom C. Tinsley
</TABLE>





                                       52
<PAGE>   55

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER 
- -------
<S>            <C>
 3.1       --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-22892)
               (the "S-1 Registration Statement").

 3.2       --  Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
               Incorporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
               Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997
               (the "1997 10-K").

 3.2       --  Bylaws of the Company; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
               to the S-1 Registration Statement.

 4.1       --  Specimen Stock Certificate for the Common Stock of the Company;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the S-1 Registration
               Statement.

 4.2       --  Rights Agreement, dated as of May 8, 1995, between the Company
               and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent (the
               "Rights Agreement"), specifying the terms of the Rights, which
               includes the form of Certificate of Designation of Series A
               Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of
               Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the form of the Summary of
               Rights as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
               the registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 10,
               1995).

 4.3       --  Amendment to the Rights Agreement; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 4.3 to the 1997 10-K.

 10.1(a)   --  Form of BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan;
               incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7(a) to the Company's
               Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31,
               1995 (the "1995 10-K").

 10.1(b)   --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Employee Incentive Plan; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.7(b) to the 1995 10-K.

 10.2(a)   --  Form of BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Non-employee Directors' Stock
               Option Plan; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(a) to the
               1995 10-K.

 10.2(b)   --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Nonemployee Directors' Stock Option Plan; incorporated by
               reference to Exhibit 10.8(b) to the 1995 10-K.

 10.3      --  Description of BMC Software, Inc. Executive Officer Annual
               Incentive Plan; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to 
               the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
               ended March 31, 1994.

*10.4      --  Form of Stock Option Agreement employed under BMC Software, Inc.
               1994 Employee Incentive Plan for certain executive officers.

*10.5      --  Form of Restricted Stock Agreement employed under BMC Software
               Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan for certain executive officers.

 10.5(a)   --  License Agreement with International Business Machines
               Corporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the
               S-1 Registration Statement.

 10.5(b)   --  License Agreements for Use and Marketing of Program Materials
               dated May 13, 1986, with International Business Machines
               Corporation; incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
               S-1 Registration Statement.

 10.5(c)   --  Customer Agreement with International Business Machines
               Corporation dated April 10, 1991; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               fiscal year ended March 31, 1992 (the "1992 10-K").

 10.6      --  Form of Indemnification Agreement among the Company and its
               directors and executive officers; incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.11 to the 1995 10-K.

*22.1      --  Subsidiaries of the Company.

*23.1      --  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.

*27        --  Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>

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

* Filed herewith.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4


                      NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         AGREEMENT made as of the ______ day of ____________, _____, between
BMC SOFTWARE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
__________________ ("Employee").

         To carry out the purposes of the BMC SOFTWARE, INC. 1994 EMPLOYEE
INCENTIVE PLAN (the "Plan"), by affording Employee the opportunity to purchase
shares of common stock of the Company ("Stock"), and in consideration of the
mutual agreements and other matters set forth herein and in the Plan, the
Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

         1.      GRANT OF OPTION.  The Company hereby irrevocably grants to
Employee the right and option ("Option") to purchase all or any part of an
aggregate of _________ shares of Stock, on the terms and conditions set forth
herein and in the Plan, which Plan is incorporated herein by reference as a
part of this Agreement.  This Option shall not be treated as an incentive stock
option within the meaning of section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code").

         2.      PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price of Stock purchased
pursuant to the exercise of this Option shall be $_________ per share, which
has been determined to be not less than the fair market value of the Stock at
the date of grant of this Option.  For all purposes of this Agreement, fair
market value of Stock shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan.

         3.      EXERCISE OF OPTION.  Subject to the earlier expiration of this
Option as herein provided, this Option may be exercised, by written notice to
the Company at its principal executive office addressed to the attention of the
President, at any time and from time to time after the date which is six months
from the date of grant hereof (unless earlier exercise is permitted pursuant to
Paragraph IX(c) of the Plan), but, except as otherwise provided below and in
Paragraph IX(c) of the Plan, this Option shall not be exercisable for more than
a percentage of the aggregate number of shares offered by this Option
determined in accordance with the following schedule:

                                                        PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
                        DATE                           THAT MAY BE PURCHASED
                        ----                           ---------------------
<PAGE>   2
Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary, (i) the Committee
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to administer the Plan (the
"Committee") may, in its sole discretion, waive the foregoing schedule of
vesting and permit Employee to exercise the Option in such amount or amounts
and at such time or times as the Committee shall determine and (ii) if a
Corporate Change (as such term is defined in Paragraph IX(c) of the Plan) shall
occur, then, effective as of the earlier of (1) the date of approval by the
stockholders of the Company of the event or transaction constituting such
Corporate Change or (2) the date of such Corporate Change, this Option shall be
exercisable in full.

         This Option may be exercised only while Employee remains an employee
of the Company and will terminate and cease to be exercisable upon Employee's
termination of employment with the Company, except that:

                 (a)      If Employee dies while in the employ of the Company,
         Employee's estate, or the person who acquires this Option by will or
         the laws of descent and distribution or otherwise by reason of the
         death of Employee, may exercise this Option at any time during the
         period of one year following the date of Employee's death as follows:

                          (i)     if Employee shall have attained age 65 at the
                 time of his death, then this Option may be exercised in full;
                 or

                          (ii)    if Employee shall not have attained age 65 at
                 the time of his death, then this Option may be exercised only
                 as to the number of shares Employee was entitled to purchase
                 hereunder upon exercise of this Option as of the date of
                 Employee's death.

                 (b)      If Employee's employment with the Company terminates
         for any reason other than as described in (a) above, unless Employee
         voluntarily terminates without the prior written consent of the
         Company or is terminated for cause, this Option may be exercised by
         Employee at any time during the period of three months following such
         termination, or by Employee's estate (or the person who acquires this
         Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution or otherwise by
         reason of the death of Employee) during a period of one year following
         Employee's death if Employee dies during such three-month period, but
         in each case only as to the number of shares Employee was entitled to
         purchase hereunder upon exercise of this Option as of the date
         Employee's employment so terminates.  For purposes of this Agreement,
         "cause" shall mean Employee's gross negligence or willful misconduct
         in performance of the duties of Employee's employment, or Employee's
         final conviction of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral
         turpitude.

This Option shall not be exercisable in any event after the expiration of ten
years from the date of grant hereof.  Except as provided in Paragraph 4, the
purchase price of shares as to which this Option is exercised shall be paid in
full at the time of exercise (a) in cash (including check, bank





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
draft or money order payable to the order of the Company), or, if acceptable to
the Company, (b) by delivering to the Company shares of Stock having a fair
market value equal to the purchase price, or (c) any combination of cash or
Stock.  No fraction of a share of Stock shall be issued by the Company upon
exercise of an Option or accepted by the Company in payment of the purchase
price thereof; rather, Employee shall provide a cash payment for such amount as
is necessary to effect the issuance and acceptance of only whole shares of
Stock.  Unless and until a certificate or certificates representing such shares
shall have been issued by the Company to Employee, Employee (or the person
permitted to exercise this Option in the event of Employee's death) shall not
be or have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Company with
respect to shares acquirable upon an exercise of this Option.

         4.      CASHLESS EXERCISE.  Employee (or the person permitted to
exercise this Option in the event of Employee's death) may direct, in a
properly executed written notice, an immediate market sale or margin loan
respecting all or any part of the shares of Stock to which he is entitled upon
exercise of this Option pursuant to an extension of credit by the Company, on
an interest-free basis, to the Employee of the purchase price.  In such event,
the Company shall deliver the specified number of shares of Stock directly to
the broker specified in the notice and shall accept payment of the purchase
price in cash or by check from such broker on behalf of the Employee and shall
take all action necessary to comply with the provisions of the applicable
regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and with such additional
rules and regulations as may be applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not be required to comply with, and may unilaterally terminate,
the provisions of this Paragraph 4 if, as a result of a change in the
accounting rules and regulations applicable to the Company, or the
interpretation thereof, compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph 4 will
result in the imposition of adverse financial reporting requirements on the
Company.

         5.      WITHHOLDING OF TAX.  To the extent that the exercise of this
Option or the disposition of shares of Stock acquired by exercise of this
Option results in compensation income to Employee for federal or state income
tax purposes, Employee shall pay to the Company at the time of such exercise or
disposition such amount of money as the Company may require to meet its
obligation under applicable tax laws or regulations, and, if Employee fails to
do so, the Company is authorized to withhold from any cash or Stock
remuneration then or thereafter payable to Employee any tax required to be
withheld by reason of such resulting compensation income.  Upon an exercise of
this Option, the Company is further authorized in its discretion to satisfy any
such withholding requirement out of any cash or shares of Stock distributable
to Employee upon such exercise.

         6.      STATUS OF STOCK.  Until the shares of Stock acquirable upon
the exercise of the Option have been registered for issuance under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), the Company will not issue such shares
unless the holder of the Option provides the Company with a written opinion of
legal counsel, who shall be satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the
Company and satisfactory in form and substance to the Company's counsel, to the
effect that the proposed issuance of such shares to such Option holder may be
made without registration under the Act.  In the event exemption from
registration under the Act is available upon an exercise of





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
this Option, Employee (or the person permitted to exercise this Option in the
event of Employee's death), if requested by the Company to do so, will execute
and deliver to the Company in writing an agreement containing such provisions
as the Company may require to assure compliance with applicable securities
laws.

         Employee agrees that the shares of Stock which Employee may acquire by
exercising this Option shall be acquired for investment without a view to
distribution, within the meaning of the Act, and shall not be sold,
transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in the absence of an effective
registration statement for the shares under the Act and applicable state
securities laws or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements
of the Act and any applicable state securities laws.  Employee also agrees that
the shares of Stock which Employee may acquire by exercising this Option will
not be sold or otherwise disposed of in any manner which would constitute a
violation of any applicable securities laws, whether federal or state.

         In addition, Employee agrees (i) that the certificates representing
the shares of Stock purchased under this Option may bear such legend or legends
as the Committee deems appropriate in order to assure compliance with
applicable securities laws, (ii) that the Company may refuse to register the
transfer of the shares of Stock purchased under this Option on the stock
transfer records of the Company if such proposed transfer would in the opinion
of counsel satisfactory to the Company constitute a violation of any applicable
securities law, and (iii) that the Company may give related instructions to its
transfer agent, if any, to stop registration of the transfer of the shares of
Stock purchased under this Option.

         7.      NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS.  In connection with Employee's
employment by Employer, Employer shall provide Employee with access to
Employer's confidential information, or shall provide Employee the opportunity
to develop business good will inuring to the benefit of Employer, or shall
entrust business opportunities to Employee.  Employee has agreed, and hereby
agrees, as specified in more detail in Employee's invention disclosure and
confidentiality agreement with Employer, to maintain the confidentiality of
Employer's information and to exercise the highest measures of fidelity and
loyalty in the protection and preservation of Employer's goodwill and business
opportunities.  As part of the consideration for the Option granted to Employee
hereunder; to protect Employer's confidential information, the business good
will of Employer that has been and will in the future be developed in Employee,
or the business opportunities that have been and will in the future be
disclosed or entrusted to Employee by Employer; and as an additional incentive
for Employer and Employer to enter into this Agreement, Employer and Employee
agree to the non-competition obligations hereunder:  Employee will not,
directly or indirectly for Employee or for others, in any geographic area or
market where Employer is conducting any business as of the date of termination
of the employment relationship or has during the previous twelve months
conducted such business:

         (i)     engage in any business competitive with the business conducted
         by Employer; or





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
         (ii)    render advise or services to, or otherwise assist, any other
         person, association, or entity who is engaged, directly or indirectly,
         in any business competitive with the business conducted by Employer
         with respect to such competitive business; or

         (iii)   directly or indirectly solicit or accept business competitive
         with the business conducted by Employer from any customers or
         prospects of Employer; or

         (iv)    induce any employee of Employer to terminate his or her
         employment with Employer or hire or assist in the hiring of any such
         employee by any person, association, or entity.

         These non-competition obligations shall extend during the employment
relationship between Employer and Employer and for one year after termination
of the employment relationship, irrespective of how the employment relationship
is terminated, whether by Employer or Employee, whether or not for cause.

         Employee understands that the foregoing restrictions may limit his
ability to engage in certain businesses in certain areas of the world during
the period provided for above, but acknowledges that Employee's remuneration
from Employer and Employee's benefits under this Agreement justify such
restriction.

         Employee acknowledges that Employer's money damages should Employee
breach his obligations under this covenant shall be difficult, if not
impossible, to determine with the degree of accuracy required by law.  As such,
Employer and Employee agree to the following liquidated damages with respect to
the breach of this covenant:  Employer shall be entitled to recover from
Employee, and Employee shall pay to Employer, the amount of money equal to the
gain, if any, that Employee received from the exercise of this Option in the
one year period of time immediately preceding the date of termination of
employment.  Moreover, Employer shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of
this Section 7 by specific performance and injunctive relief.  These remedies
shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Section 7.
Additionally, in the event that Employee's breach of this Section 7 results in
a situation where it is possible to determine Employer's money damages to the
degree required by law, Employee shall be liable to Employer for such money
damages, subject to a credit for the liquidated damages specified above that
are paid by Employee to Employer.

         It is expressly understood and agreed that Employer and Employee
consider the restrictions contained in this Section 7 to be reasonable and
necessary to protect the proprietary information of Employer.  Nevertheless, if
any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court having jurisdiction to
be unreasonable, or overly broad as to geographic area or time, or otherwise
unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions therein set forth to be
modified by such courts so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so
modified by the court, to be fully enforced.  In the event that the liquidated
damage provision of this Section 7 is declared by a court to be unenforceable,
it shall be stricken from this agreement and the remainder of this agreement
shall be fully enforced.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
         Nothing herein shall modify the at-will nature of the employment
relationship between Company and Employee.

         8.      EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP.  For purposes of this Agreement,
Employee shall be considered to be in the employment of the Company as long as
Employee remains an employee of either the Company, a parent or subsidiary
corporation (as defined in section 424 of the Code) of the Company, or a
corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such corporation assuming or
substituting a new option for this Option.  Any question as to whether and when
there has been a termination of such employment, and the cause of such
termination, shall be determined by the Committee, and its determination shall
be final.

         9.      BINDING EFFECT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all persons lawfully
claiming under Employee.

         10.     GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized, and Employee has executed
this Agreement, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                        BMC SOFTWARE, INC.


                                                BY:
                                                    ----------------------------



                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                    EMPLOYEE





                                      -6-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                           RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT


         Agreement made as of the ______ day of _________________, _____ between
BMC Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
____________________ ("Employee").

         WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which plan provides for grants to employees of the
Company of shares of restricted stock; and

         WHEREAS, Employee serves as a key executive officer of the Company. In
recognition of his service and to encourage Employee to remain with the Company
and devote his best efforts to its affairs, thereby advancing the interests of
the Company and its stockholders, the Company and Employee agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS, CONSTRUCTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions. In this Agreement, the definitions, rules of
construction and interpretations set forth in this Article I shall be applied
unless the context otherwise indicates.

(A) "Board of Directors" means, at any particular time, the then duly elected
and acting directors of the Company.

(B) "Committee" means, at any particular time, the then duly constituted
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or such other similar committee
that is expressly designated by the Board of Directors to perform those
functions presently being performed by such Committee with respect to the Plan.
If no Compensation or other Committee has been expressly designated by the Board
of Directors to administer the Plan, the Board shall act as the Committee.

(C) "Company" means BMC Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, except as
otherwise provided in Section 1.2(B) with respect to a Subsidiary which ceases
to be such in the circumstances therein described, any successor in interest by
way of consolidation, operation of law, merger or otherwise.

(D) "Disability" means a condition of Employee resulting from illness, injury or
disease, which, as determined by the Committee, causes Employee to be unable to
perform the normal duties of his employment with the Company or a Subsidiary and
is reasonably expected to be of long and indefinite duration or result in death.

(E) "Employee" means _______________________.



<PAGE>   2


(F) "Fair Market Value" means the average of the bid and asked closing price of
the Restricted Shares on a given date.

(G) "Restrictions" means (a) the obligation of Employee to forfeit shares of
Stock issued to him under this Agreement, for no consideration, and to surrender
such shares to the Company as set forth in this Agreement and (b) the transfer
restrictions that prohibit Employee's transfer of the Restricted Shares.

(H) "Restricted Shares" means the shares of stock issued under this Agreement
that are then subject to Restrictions.

(I) "Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share.

(J) "Stock Award" means the shares of Stock awarded to Employee under this
Agreement pursuant to the Plan.

(K) "Subsidiary" means any corporation at least a majority of whose securities
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than
securities having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency)
is at the time owned by the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries.

Section 1.2  Termination of Employment.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (B) hereof, for purposes of this
Agreement, Employee will be deemed to have terminated his employment only if his
employment relationship with the Company and all Subsidiaries is completely
severed; accordingly, neither transfer of employment among the Company and
Subsidiaries nor absence from active service by reason of a medical leave or any
other approved leave of absence will constitute a termination of employment.

(B) In the event that, prior to a "Change of Control," as that term is defined
in clause (A) of Section 3.1, a Subsidiary is sold, merged, contributed, or in
any other manner transferred, or if, for any reason, the Company's ownership
interest in the Subsidiary decreases below the level specified in clause (K) of
Section 1.1, (ii) Employee's primary employment duties are with the Subsidiary
at the time of the occurrence of such event, and (iii) Employee does not, in
connection therewith, transfer employment directly to the Company or a
Subsidiary, then Employee shall be considered to have terminated his employment
as of the date of the occurrence of such event.

Section 1.3 Headings. The headings of articles and sections are included solely
for convenience. If there exists any conflict between such headings and the text
of this Agreement, the text shall control.

Section 1.4 Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect
of this Agreement and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to
have an interest hereunder


<PAGE>   3



shall be governed by, and determined exclusively and solely in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Texas.

Section 1.5 Acknowledgement. Employee acknowledges receipt of the Plan and
agrees that the grant of a Stock Award under this Agreement shall be subject to
all terms and provisions of the Plan, including any amendments thereto, if any,
pursuant to Article IV thereof.

ARTICLE II

STOCK AWARD AND RESTRICTION LAPSE

Section 2.1 Stock Award. The Company shall issue to Employee, without the
requirement of payment by Employee if issued out of the Company's treasury, or
upon the payment by Employee of par value if not issued out of treasury,
___________ shares of Stock as a Stock Award subject to the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). The Restricted Shares issued to
Employee under this Agreement shall be subject to all the terms, conditions and
restrictions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 2.2  Form of Award.

(A) The Company shall cause to be issued a certificate registered in the name of
Employee representing the Restricted Shares and shall cause a copy of this
Agreement and Plan to be delivered to Employee. The Committee may require that
such certificate be legended to indicate that the shares of Stock represented
thereby are subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The
Restricted Shares represented by the certificate agent shall constitute issued
and outstanding shares of Stock for all corporate purposes, and Employee shall
receive any dividends thereon and have the right to vote such shares; provided,
however, that the right to receive such dividends and to vote such shares shall
forthwith terminate with respect to any Restricted Shares that have been
forfeited pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.3. While the Restricted Shares
are held in escrow and until the Restrictions with respect to such shares have
lapsed, Employee shall not have the right to sell or otherwise dispose of the
Restricted Shares or any interest therein, and such shares shall not be subject
to attachment or any other legal or equitable process brought by, or on behalf
of, any creditor of Employee. As a condition precedent to delivering to the
escrow agent a certificate representing Employee's Stock Award, the Company may
require Employee to deliver a duly executed irrevocable stock power, in blank,
covering the shares represented by the certificate.

(B) As the Restrictions on the Restricted Shares lapse from time to time, the
escrow agent shall deliver to Employee or, in the event of Employee's death, to
his beneficiary, an unlegended certificate representing such unrestricted
shares.

(C) In the event the Restricted Shares are forfeited pursuant to the provisions
of Section 2.3, the certificate representing such Restricted Shares shall be
returned, together with any related stock power, to the Company.



<PAGE>   4



(D) The escrow agent, which may be the Company, shall be appointed by the
Committee for such period and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee
deems appropriate. The Committee shall have the power to remove any person from
the position of escrow agent and to appoint substitute or successor escrow
agents. If the escrow agent is a person other than the Company, any fees and
expenses of the escrow agent shall be paid by the Company. The escrow agent
shall not incur liability for any action taken pursuant to this Agreement or any
award granted hereunder so long as the escrow agent acts in good faith in
accordance with the instructions of the Committee, and, if the escrow agent is a
person other than the Company, the Company, at the request of the escrow agent,
may enter into an agreement indemnifying the escrow agent against any such
liability and any costs and expenses related thereto.

ARTICLE III

CHANGE OF CONTROL

Section 3.1

(A) "Change of Control" means any of the following events:

         (1) The acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity
or "group", within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") (excluding, for this purpose, the
Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan of the Company or its
subsidiaries which acquires beneficial ownership of voting securities of the
Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act), of 40% or more of either the then outstanding shares of
common stock or the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

         (2) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board of Directors, provided that any person becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or
nomination of any individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection
with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the
Directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall be, for the purposes of this
Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent
Board; or

         (3) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of: a reorganization,
merger, consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the
stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined
voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
reorganized, merged or consolidated company's then outstanding voting


<PAGE>   5

securities; or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of the sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(B) "Change of Control Termination" means, with respect to Employee, any of the
following events occurring within two years after a Change of Control:

         (1) Termination of Employee's employment by the Company or a 
Subsidiary for any reason, except for Cause; or

         (2) Termination of employment by Employee for Good Reason.

(C) "Good Reason" means a good faith determination by Employee that any one or
more of the following events has occurred without Employee's express written
consent, after a Change of Control:

         (1) A change in Employee's reporting responsibilities, titles or
offices as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or any removal
of Employee from, or any failure to re-elect Employee to, any of such positions
which has the effect of diminishing Employee's responsibility or authority;

         (2) A reduction by the Company or a Subsidiary in Employee's base
salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or as the same
may be increased from time to time or a change in the eligibility requirements
or performance criteria under any bonus, incentive or compensation plan, program
or arrangement under which Employee is covered immediately prior to the Change
of Control which adversely affects Employee;

         (3) The Company or a Subsidiary requiring Employee to be permanently
based anywhere other than within 50 miles of Employee's job location at the time
of the Change of Control;

         (4) Without replacement by a plan providing benefits to Employee equal
to or greater than those discontinued, the failure by the Company or a
Subsidiary to continue in effect, within its maximum stated term, any pension,
bonus, incentive, stock ownership, purchase, option, life insurance, health,
accident, disability, or any other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement
in which Employee is participating at the time of the Change of Control, or the
taking of any action by the Company or Subsidiary that would adversely affect
Employee's participation or materially reduce Employee's benefits under any of
such plans;

         (5) The taking of any action by the Company or a Subsidiary that would
materially adversely affect the physical conditions existing at the time of the
Change of Control in or under which Employee performs his employment duties;

         (6) If Employee's primary employment duties are with a Subsidiary, the
sale, merger, contribution, transfer or any other transaction in conjunction
with which the Company's ownership interest in the Subsidiary decreases below
the level specified in clause (K) of Section 1.1; or


<PAGE>   6



         (7) Any material variance from the terms of this Agreement by the
Company or a Subsidiary or any exercise by the Committee of its discretionary
authority under this Agreement in a manner that is inconsistent with the
Agreement's stated purposes.

(D)      "Cause" means

         (1) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the Employee and
intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Employee at the
expense of the Company.

         (2)      the Employee

                  (a)    willfully breaches or habitually neglects the duties
                         that the Employee is required to perform under the
                         terms of his employment.

                  (b)    willfully violates reasonable and substantial rules
                         governing employee performance.

                  (c)    refuses to obey reasonable orders in a manner that
                         amounts to insubordination.

                  (d)    commits clearly dishonest acts toward the Company.

                  (e)    engages in acts of disruption or violence such as
                         unprovoked fighting.

         (3)      the conviction of the Employee of a felony.

Section 3.2 Lapse of Restrictions. Upon a Change of Control Termination of
Employee, and without further action by the Board of Directors, Committee or
otherwise, all Restrictions with respect to the Restricted Shares immediately
shall lapse and be of no further force or effect, and certificates with no
restrictive language for all such shares of Stock shall be given to Employee
immediately.

ARTICLE IV

GENERAL

Section 4.1 No Employment Rights Created. The granting to Employee of the Stock
Award under this Agreement and the Plan shall not give Employee any interest or
right to be retained in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary, and the right
and power of the Company or a Subsidiary to dismiss or discharge Employee, with
or without cause, is specifically reserved.

Section 4.2 Liability of Directors and Committee Members. No member of the Board
of Directors or of the Committee shall be liable, with respect to this
Agreement, for any act, whether of commission or omission taken by any other
member of by any officer, agent or employee of


<PAGE>   7



the Company or a Subsidiary nor, except in circumstances involving such person's
own bad faith, for anything done or omitted to be done by such person in
connection with this Agreement.

Section 4.3 Nontransferability. No right or interest of Employee under this
Agreement shall be assignable or transferable, or subject to any lien, directly,
by operation of law or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment,
attachment, pledge and bankruptcy. In the event of Employee's death, payment of
any amounts due under this Agreement shall be made to Employee's designated
beneficiary or, in the absence of such designation, to Employee's estate.

Section 4.4 Successors and Assigns. Except with respect to a Subsidiary which
ceases to be such in the circumstances described in Section 1.2(B), this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and
assigns of the Company and each Subsidiary, whether by way of merger,
consolidation, operations of law, assignment, purchase or other acquisition of
substantially all of the assets or business of the Company or Subsidiary, any
such successor or assign shall absolutely and unconditionally assume all of the
Company's and the Subsidiary's obligations thereunder.

Section 4.5 Shares Received in Reorganization or Stock Split. The Restrictions
shall not apply to the exchange of Restricted Shares pursuant to a plan of
reorganization of the Company, but the stock or securities received in exchange
therefor, and any stock received as a result of a stock split or stock dividend
with respect to Restricted Shares, shall also become Restricted Shares subject
to the Restrictions.

Section 4.6 Community Property Interest of Spouse. The community property
interest, if any, of any spouse of Employee in any of the Restricted Shares
shall be subject to all the terms, conditions and restrictions of this
Agreement, and shall be forfeited and surrendered to the Company upon the
occurrence of any of the events requiring Employee's interest in such restricted
Shares to be so forfeited and surrendered pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 4.7 To the extent the lapse of Restrictions results in the receipt of
compensation by Employee for tax purposes, Employee shall be entitled to elect,
at or prior to the time of the lapsing of the Restrictions (the "Tax Date"), to
have the Company withhold from the Shares to be delivered upon the lapsing of
Restrictions the number of shares (based on the Fair Market value of such shares
as of the Tax Date) that is necessary to satisfy any withholding taxes
attributable to the lapsing of the Restrictions. If the Employee does not elect
to satisfy his or her withholding tax obligation in respect of the lapsing of
any Restrictions as contemplated above, Employee shall deliver to the Company
cash in an amount determined by the Company to be sufficient to satisfy any such
withholding requirement, and the Company shall be entitled to withhold from any
cash compensation then or thereafter payable to Employee any additional amounts
required to be withheld by reason of the lapsing of the Restrictions.






<PAGE>   8


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Agreement by its duly
authorized officers, and Employee has executed this Agreement, all as of the day
and year first above written.


                               BMC SOFTWARE, INC.


                               By:
                                  --------------------------------------
                                      M. Brinkley Morse
                                      Senior Vice President, General Counsel


                               EMPLOYEE


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




<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 22.1

                      BMC SOFTWARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                  SUBSIDIARIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       JURISIDICTION OF
            NAME                                        INCORPORATION
- --------------------------------------                 ------------------
<S>                                                       <C>
BGS Systems, GmbH                                         GERMANY
BGS Systems, Inc.                                         U.S.A.
BGS Systems, Limited                                      UNITED KINGDOM
BGS Systems, Pty. Ltd.                                    AUSTRALIA
BGS Systems, SRL                                          ITALY
BMC Receivables Corporation No. 1                         U.S.A.
BMC Receivables Corporation No. 2                         U.S.A.
BMC Receivables Corporation No. 3                         U.S.A.
BMC Software Belgium, NV/SA                               BELGIUM
BMC Software Cayman, LDC                                  GRAND CAYMAN ISLANDS
BMC Software Distribution, B.V.                           NETHERLANDS
BMC Software Distribution, Inc.                           U.S.A.
BMC Software DO Brasil                                    BRAZIL
BMC Software Education, Inc.                              U.S.A.
BMC Software France                                       FRANCE
BMC Software FSC, Inc.                                    U.S.A.
BMC Software Hong Kong                                    HONG KONG
BMC Software Investment, B.V.                             NETHERLANDS
BMC Software Japan, Ltd.                                  JAPAN
BMC Software Korea, Ltd.                                  KOREA
BMC Software Limited                                      UNITED KINGDOM
BMC Software Services, Inc.                               U.S.A.
BMC Software Spain                                        SPAIN
BMC Software Texas, Inc.                                  U.S.A.
BMC Software TSC, B.V.                                    NETHERLANDS
BMC Software, A/S                                         DENMARK
BMC Software, B.V.                                        NETHERLANDS
BMC Software, GmbH                                        GERMANY
BMC Software, GmbH                                        AUSTRALIA
BMC Software, GmbH                                        SWITZERLAND
BMC Software, PTE Ltd                                     SINGAPORE
BMC Software, Pty. Ltd.                                   AUSTRALIA
BMC Software, Srl                                         ITALY
BMC Technologies, Inc.                                    U.S.A.
DataTools, Inc.                                           U.S.A.
Hawknet, Inc.                                             U.S.A.
Information Technology Assistance Group, Inc.             U.S.A.
Patrol Software, Inc.                                     U.S.A.
Patrol Texas, Inc.                                        U.S.A.
Peer Networks, Inc.                                       U.S.A.
Turnstone Software, Inc.                                  U.S.A.
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our reports dated May 1, 1998, included in this Form 10-K, into the Company's
previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 filed on November 17,
1989, January 31, 1990, May 16, 1991, October 13, 1995, June 12, 1996 and March
26, 1998, on Form S-3 filed on August 19, 1991, October 13, 1995, November 7,
1995 and March 4, 1998, and on Form S-4 filed on February 20, 1998.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
June 19, 1998





<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's March 31, 1998, Consolidated Financial Statements included in its Form
10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          72,093
<SECURITIES>                                   643,980
<RECEIVABLES>                                  194,602
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,606
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               373,878
<PP&E>                                         238,772
<DEPRECIATION>                                  75,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,248,495
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          335,534
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,101
<OTHER-SE>                                     757,056
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,248,495
<SALES>                                        513,947
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               730,634
<CGS>                                           77,095
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  504,477
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                256,559
<INCOME-TAX>                                    90,705
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            165,854
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   165,854
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.82<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.77
<FN>
<F1>The extracted information above identified as "EPS-PRIMARY" and "EPS-DILUTED"
represents basic earnings per share (EPS) and diluted EPS, respectively,
calculated in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
128, "Earnings Per Share."
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


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