MATHSOFT INC
424B3, 1997-05-09
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1


                                   Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                    of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
                                          Registration Statement No. 333-19513


                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 9, 1997

PROSPECTUS                      250,000 SHARES

                                 M A T H S o f t

                                 [MATHSoft Logo]

                                  COMMON STOCK


                                   ----------

This prospectus relates to the sale of up to 250,000 shares (the "Shares") of
the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of MathSoft,
Inc. ("MathSoft" or the "Company") by certain stockholders of the Company (the
"Selling Stockholders"). The Selling Stockholders may sell the Shares from time
to time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders
may effect these transactions by selling the Shares to or through
broker-dealers, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts or
commissions from the Selling Stockholders or from the purchasers of the Shares
for whom the broker-dealers may act as an agent or to whom they may sell as
principal, or both. See "Selling Stockholders" and "Plan of Distribution."

The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares.
The Company has agreed to bear all of the expenses in connection with the
registration and sale of the Shares (other than selling commissions and the fees
and expenses of counsel or other advisors to the Selling Stockholders).

The Common Stock of the Company is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under
the symbol "MATH". On May 5, 1997, the last reported sale price for the Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $2.875 per share.

                                   ----------

  SEE "RISK FACTORS," ON PAGE 4, FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY
                             PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.

                                   ----------

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                                   ----------

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR BY ANY OTHER PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE
MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT
INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER
TO BUY ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS, NOR
DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO OR SOLICITATION OF ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION
IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY MADE. 

                   THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 9, 1997



<PAGE>   2

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements
and other information filed by the Company may be inspected and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices located at
7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and at Northwestern Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies may
also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The Commission
also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically
with the Commission (http://www.sec.gov). The Common Stock of the Company is
quoted on the Nasdaq National Market. Reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company may be inspected at the offices of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. located at 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.

The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(including all amendments thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all information
set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further
information regarding the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference
is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules
filed therewith. Statements contained in this Prospectus regarding the contents
of any agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement are necessarily summaries of such documents, and in each instance
reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement for a more complete description of the matters involved.
The Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be
inspected at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and copies of all or any part thereof
may be obtained from such office upon payment of the prescribed fees.

The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a Prospectus is
delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or
all of the documents incorporated by reference herein (other than exhibits to
such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to MathSoft,
Inc., Attention: Investor Relations Department, 101 Main Street, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, 02142, telephone number (617) 577-1017.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference (File No.
0-020992):

     1.   The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          June 30, 1996.

     2.   Current Reports on Form 8-K dated October 10, 1996.

     3.   The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
          September 30, 1996.

     4.   The description of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per
          share, contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under
          the Exchange Act and declared effective on February 3, 1993, including
          any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
          description.



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<PAGE>   3

All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering
of the Shares, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and made a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for
purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein or in any Prospectus Supplement modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.


                                   TRADEMARKS


Mathcad(R) and S-PLUS(R) are registered trademarks, and Electronic Books(TM),
live document interface(TM) and the MathSoft logo are trademarks of the Company.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Maple is a trademark
of Waterloo Maple Software, Inc. MS-DOS is a registered trademark and Windows is
a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell
Laboratories. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this Prospectus
are the property of their respective owners.


                                   THE COMPANY

MathSoft develops, markets and supports general purpose calculation software
tools and Electronic Books for technical professionals, educators and students.
The Company's principal product, Mathcad(R), can be used by desktop and laptop
computer users to perform calculations from the simple to the elaborate, and
then to document the results. Mathcad offers technical professionals an
interactive, intuitive, easy-to-modify alternative to their traditional methods
such as pencil and paper, whiteboards and calculators.

The Company also markets Electronic Books as add-on products which work with
Mathcad. These books deliver extensive off-the-shelf technical information, such
as formulas and data, which is critical to technical problem solving. Through
the use of MathSoft's proprietary "live document interface," these books provide
the Mathcad user with on-screen access to interactive technical information.
This enables a Mathcad user to either perform calculations in the book itself or
transfer formulas, data and results to Mathcad for instant calculation and
analysis. The Company is delivering electronic versions of industry-leading
reference works from nationally and internationally recognized publishers, in
addition to internally authored works. In addition, the Company licenses its
Mathcad and Electronic Book authoring technology to third party publishers for
use in creating interactive Electronic Books which are marketed and distributed
by such third party publishers as stand-alone products.

The market for technical calculation software includes technical professionals,
such as electrical, mechanical and civil engineers, scientists, mathematicians,
researchers, technicians and analysts, as well as educators and students who
regularly are required to perform technical calculations. These users often
refer to a wide range of published materials containing formulas or data which
can be used in solving technical problems.

The availability of higher performing desktop and laptop computers, coupled with
the introduction of graphically-oriented operating environments such as Windows,
has enabled the Company to create sophisticated, affordable, easy-to-use
software for performing technical calculations and accessing electronic
information. The Company supports the two major desktop operating environments:
Windows and Macintosh.

The Company markets and distributes its products primarily through its telesales
organization and a network of third party resellers and distributors in the
United States, Europe, Japan and Latin America. 




                                       3
<PAGE>   4

The Company also markets its upgrade and add-on products, such as Electronic
Books, to its registered installed base via direct mail.

The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Statistical Sciences, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation ("StatSci"), develops and markets computer software
products and services based on S, a computer language designed for statistics
applications. StatSci's principal product is S-PLUS, an interactive computing
environment which provides both a full-featured graphical data analysis system
and an object-oriented language. The Company acquired the StatSci business on
June 30, 1993, through the acquisition of substantially all of the net assets
and business of Statistical Sciences, Inc., a Washington corporation.

The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, TriMetrix, Inc., a Washington corporation
("TriMetrix"), develops advanced charting and data analysis software used by
technical professionals, students and researchers. The Company acquired the
TriMetrix business on November 2, 1995, through the purchase of all the
outstanding stock of TriMetrix.

The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, AcroScience Corporation, a Washington
corporation ("AcroScience") develops visual modeling and programming tools. The
Company acquired the AcroScience business on November 26, 1996, through the
purchase of all of the outstanding stock of AcroScience.

The Company was incorporated in Massachusetts in October 1984 under the name
Engineering Specific Products Corp. and changed its name to MathSoft, Inc. in
January 1986. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 101 Main
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, and its telephone number is (617)
577-1017.



                                  RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Prospectus, the following risk
factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its
business before purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus may
contain certain "forward-looking" information, as that term is defined by (i)
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") and (ii) in
releases made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These
cautionary statements are set forth herein pursuant to the provisions of the Act
and with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the "safe harbor" provision
of the Act.

VARIABILITY OF QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS. The Company's quarterly operating
results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, depending upon factors
such as the introduction and market acceptance of new products and new versions
of existing products, the ability to reduce expenses, and the activities of
competitors. Because a high percentage of the Company's expenses are relatively
fixed in the near term, minor variations in the timing of orders and shipments
can cause significant variations in quarterly operating results. The Company
operates with little or no backlog and has no long-term contracts, and
substantially all of its product revenues in each quarter result from software
licenses issued in that quarter, and the Company's ability to accurately
forecast future revenues and income for any period is necessarily limited. Any
forward-looking information provided from time to time by the Company represents
only management's then-best current estimate of future results or trends, and
actual results may differ materially from those contained in the Company's
estimates. The Company has no specific plans to develop, and does not expect to
develop, long term sales or supply contracts.

ACCEPTANCE OF NEW PRODUCTS. The Company's future success will depend on its
ability to enhance its current products, introduce new products which meet the
needs of its customers and develop products for new markets. There can be no
assurance that the Company will continue to market successfully its current
products or develop and successfully market new products for its existing
markets and future markets.




                                       4
<PAGE>   5


RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS. The Company markets and distributes
its S-PLUS products in the U.S. through the Company's telesales force and
internationally through third party resellers and distributors. The Company has
historically marketed and distributed its Mathcad products primarily through
prospect direct mail, but the Company has recently altered its marketing
strategy to de-emphasize this distribution channel. Mathcad products are
currently marketed and distributed in the U.S. through third party resellers and
distributors, telesales and direct mail (for upgrades to the Company's installed
base). Internationally, the Company's Mathcad products are marketed and
distributed through third party resellers and distributors. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to retain its current resellers and
distributors, or expand its distribution channels by entering into arrangements
with new resellers and distributors in the Company's current markets or in new
markets.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS. Sales outside North America
accounted for approximately 27.5% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal
1994, approximately 36.1% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal 1995 and
approximately 32.5% of the Company's total revenues in fiscal 1996, and may
continue to represent a significant portion of the Company's product revenues.
Any decrease in sales outside North America may have a materially adverse effect
on the Company's operating results. The Company's international business and
financial performance may be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and by
trade regulations.

RELIANCE ON THIRD PARTY LICENSORS. Maple V, a software product licensed as a
part of the most recent version of Mathcad, certain copyrighted texts licensed
from third party publishers incorporated in the Company's Electronic Books, and
the S programming language, the language on which all of StatSci's products are
based, are currently licensed from a single source or limited source suppliers.
If such licenses are discontinued, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to independently develop substitutes or to obtain alternative
sources or, if able to be developed or obtained as needed in the future, that
such efforts would not result in delays or reductions in product shipments or
cost increases that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
consolidated business operations.

RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE; COMPETITION. The technical calculation software
market is subject to rapid and substantial technological change, similar to that
affecting the software industry generally. The Company, to remain successful,
must be responsive to new developments in hardware and chip technology,
operating systems, programming technology and multimedia capabilities. In
addition, the Company competes against numerous other companies, some of which
have significant name recognition, as well as substantially greater capital
resources, marketing experience, research and development staffs and production
facilities than the Company. The Company's financial results may be negatively
impacted by the failure of new or existing products to be favorably received by
retailers and consumers due to price, availability, features, other product
choices or the necessity of promotions to increase sales of the Company's
products.

UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY; UNCERTAINTIES
REGARDING PATENTS. The Company believes that while the mathematical calculations
performed by the Company's software are not proprietary, the speed and quality
of displaying the computation and the ease of use are unique to MathSoft's
products. The Company's success will depend, in part, on its ability to protect
the proprietary aspects of its products. The Company seeks to protect these
proprietary aspects of its products principally through a combination of
contract provisions and copyright, trademark and trade secret laws. There can be
no assurance that the steps taken by the Company to protect its proprietary
rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of its technology. Although
the Company believes that its products and technology do not infringe any
existing proprietary rights of others, the use of patents to protect software
has increased and there may be pending or issued patents of which the Company is
not aware that the Company may need to license or challenge at significant
expense. There can be no assurance that any such license would be available on
acceptable terms, if at all, or that the Company would prevail in any such
challenge.

RELIANCE ON ATTRACTING AND RETAINING KEY EMPLOYEES. The Company's continued
success will depend in large part on its ability to attract and retain
highly-qualified technical, managerial, sales and marketing and other personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense. None of the senior 




                                       5
<PAGE>   6

management of the Company is subject to an employment contract, although the
Company does have non-competition agreements with its key management and
technical personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
continue to attract or retain such personnel.

POTENTIAL VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE. There has been significant volatility in
the market price of securities of technology companies. The Company believes
factors such as announcements of new products by the Company or its competitors,
quarterly fluctuations in the Company's financial results or other software
companies' financial results, shortfalls in the Company's actual financial
results compared to results previously forecasted by stock market analysts, and
general conditions in the software industry and conditions in the financial
markets could cause the market price of the Common Stock to fluctuate
substantially. These market fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the
Company's Common Stock.

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS; POSSIBLE ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK. The Company's
Third Restated Articles of Organization and Amended and Restated By-laws contain
provisions that provide for a classified Board of Directors, undesignated
preferred stock, and supermajority voting provisions. These provisions may make
it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage acquisition bids
for, the Company. These provisions also could limit the price that certain
investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the Company's
Common Stock or make the payment of a premium to stockholders in connection with
an attempted change in control less likely. In addition, shares of the Company's
Preferred Stock may be issued in the future without further stockholder approval
and upon such terms and conditions, and having such rights, privileges and
preferences, as the Board of Directors may determine. Such rights, privileges
and preferences could include preferential voting rights, dividend rights in
excess of those provided to holders of Common Stock, conversion rights,
redemption privileges or liquidation preferences not available to holders of
Common Stock. The rights of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely affected by, the rights of any holders of Preferred Stock that
may be issued in the future. The issuance of Preferred Stock, while providing
desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other
corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a
third party to acquire, or discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority
of the outstanding voting stock of the Company. The Company has no present plans
to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.





                                       6
<PAGE>   7


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

The proceeds from the sale of each Selling Stockholder's Shares will belong to
such Selling Stockholder. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
such sales of the Shares.

                           PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

The Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"MATH". The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices for the
Common Stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market for the periods
indicated. These prices do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        HIGH        LOW
                                                        ----        ---
<S>                                                     <C>         <C> 
FISCAL 1995:
First Quarter                                           4           1 7/16
Second Quarter                                          3 3/4       2
Third Quarter                                           3 1/2       2
Fourth Quarter                                          6 1/2       2 3/4

FISCAL 1996:
First Quarter                                           6 7/8       4 5/8
Second Quarter                                          6 7/8       4 7/8
Third Quarter                                           6 7/8       4 7/8
Fourth Quarter                                          8 7/8       4 1/4

FISCAL 1997:
First Quarter                                           7 5/8       4 7/8
Second
Quarter                                                 5 3/8       3 1/4
Third Quarter                                           5 3/8       3 1/4

</TABLE>

For a recent closing price of the Company's Common Stock, see the cover page of
this Prospectus. At May 6, 1997, there were approximately 211 stockholders of
record the Company's Common Stock. The Company believes that most of its stock
(other than shares held by its officers and directors) is held in street names
through one or more nominees.

                                 DIVIDEND POLICY

The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does not
anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company
currently intends to retain future earnings to fund the development and growth
of its business.




                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The Shares are to be offered by and for the respective accounts of the Selling
Stockholders. The number of Shares which each Selling Stockholder may offer is
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        SHARES            SHARES OFFERED
SELLING                  OWNED           PURSUANT TO THIS     SHARES OWNED AFTER
STOCKHOLDERS       BEFORE OFFERING          PROSPECTUS           OFFERING(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   NUMBER   PERCENT(1)  NUMBER   PERCENT(1)   NUMBER  PERCENT(1)
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C> 
Farhang Javid     191,546     2.1       191,546     2.1         0         *
Shawn Javid        58,454      *         58,454      *          0         *
                  -------               -------               ---
      TOTAL       250,000               250,000                 0

</TABLE>

- ------------------
*    Less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock. 
(1)  As of May 6, 1997, there were 9,004,783 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
(2)  Assuming all shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus are sold.

None of the Selling Stockholders has had any material relationship with the
Company or any of its affiliates within the past three years except as described
below.

Farhang Javid and Shawn Javid acquired their shares in connection with the sale
of all the outstanding stock of AcroScience to the Company pursuant to a Stock
Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") dated November 26, 1996.
Farhang Javid was Chief Executive Officer and Director and Shawn Javid was
President of AcroScience until they resigned such positions on November 26,
1996. In the Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 26, 1996 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), the Company agreed to bear all expenses in
connection with the registration and sale of the Shares (other than underwriting
discounts and selling commissions and the fees and expenses of counsel and other
advisors to the Selling Stockholders). See "Plan of Distribution." Approximately
25,000 of the Shares have been placed in escrow until November 26, 1997. The
Shares that have been placed in escrow will be used to satisfy any
indemnification claims brought the Company based on a breach of any of the
representations or warranties of AcroScience or the Selling Stockholders as set
forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Each Selling Stockholder represented in the Stock Purchase Agreement that he or
she was purchasing the Shares from the Company without any present intention of
effecting a distribution of those Shares. In recognition of the fact, however,
that investors may want to be able to sell their shares when they consider
appropriate, the Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement
on Form S-3 (of which this Prospectus is a part) with respect to the sale of the
Shares by the Selling Stockholders from time to time on the Nasdaq National
Market. The Company will prepare and file such amendments and supplements to the
registration statement as may be necessary to keep it effective until the
earlier of the sale of all Shares pursuant to the registration statement or
until November 26, 1998.

The Registration Rights Agreement entered into by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders provides that the Company will indemnify the Selling Stockholders
for any losses incurred by them in connection with actions arising from any
untrue statement of a material fact required to be stated therein, unless such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon written information furnished to
the Company by the Selling Stockholders. Similarly, the Registration Rights
Agreement provides that each Selling Stockholder will indemnify the Company and
its officers and directors for any losses incurred by them in connection with
any action arising from any untrue statement of material fact in the
Registration 



                                       8

<PAGE>   9

Statement or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein, if
such statement or omission was made in reliance on written information furnished
to the Company by such Selling Stockholders.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Shares offered hereby may be sold from time to time by the Selling
Stockholders for their own accounts. The Company will receive none of the
proceeds from this offering. The Selling Stockholders will pay or assume
brokerage commissions or other charges and expenses incurred in the sale of the
Shares.

The distribution of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders is not subject to any
underwriting agreement. The Shares covered by this Prospectus may be resold by
the Selling Stockholders or by pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors
in interest. The Shares offered by the Selling Stockholders may be resold from
time to time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating
to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In addition, the
Selling Stockholders may resell their Shares covered by this Prospectus through
customary brokerage channels, either through broker-dealers acting as agents or
brokers, or through broker-dealers acting as principals, who may then resell the
Shares, or at private sale or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time
of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. The Selling Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling Shares
to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation
in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions, or fees from
the Selling Stockholders and/or purchasers of the Shares for whom such
broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal, or both
(which compensation to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of
customary commissions). Any broker dealers that participate with the Selling
Stockholders in the distribution of Shares may be deemed to be underwriters and
any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of Shares
positioned by them might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions
within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with such sales.

The Company will inform the Selling Stockholders that the antimanipulation rules
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Rules 10b-5 and 10b-6) may apply to
sales in the market and will furnish the Selling Stockholders upon request with
a copy of these Rules. The Company will also inform the Selling Stockholders of
the need for delivery of copies of this Prospectus.

Any shares covered by the Prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this
Prospectus.


                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting
rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote in any election of a class of directors may elect all of the
directors of such class standing for election. Holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the
Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any
preferential dividend rights of outstanding Preferred Shares. Upon the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common
Stock are entitled to receive ratably the net assets of the Company available
after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior
rights of any outstanding Preferred Shares. Holders of the Common Stock have no
preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding
shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences
and privileges of holders of 




                                       9
<PAGE>   10



Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the
holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock which the Company may
designate and issue in the future. There are currently no shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding.



                                  LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Company and the Selling Stockholders by Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP,
Boston, Massachusetts.

                                     EXPERTS

The audited financial statements and schedules of MathSoft, Inc. incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in this registration statement have
been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as
indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated by
reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
giving said reports.







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<PAGE>   11

=========================================  =====================================

  No  person  has been  authorized  in                 250,000 SHARES
  connection  with the  offering  made
  hereby  to give any  information  or
  to  make  any   representation   not
  contained  in this  Prospectus  and,
  if given or made,  such  information                 MATHSOFT, INC.
  or   representation   must   not  be                
  relied    upon   as   having    been                 [MATHSOFT LOGO]
  authorized   by  the  Company,   any
  Selling  Stockholder  or  any  other
  person.  This  Prospectus  does  not
  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or a
  solicitation  of  any  offer  to buy                  COMMON STOCK
  any   of  the   securities   offered
  hereby  to any  person  or by anyone
  in any  jurisdiction  in which it is
  unlawful   to  make  such  offer  or
  solicitation.  Neither the  delivery
  of  this  Prospectus  nor  any  sale
  made  hereunder  shall,   except  as
  otherwise  contemplated by the rules
  and  regulations  of the  Securities
  and Exchange Commission,  create any
  implication   that  the  information
  contained  herein is  correct  as of
  any  date  subsequent  to  the  date
  hereof.

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                                                         -----------
            TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                         PROSPECTUS
                                                      
                                                         -----------

                                      Page
                                      ----
Available Information                   2
Incorporation of Certain    
  Information by Reference              2
Trademarks                              3
The Company                             3
Risk Factors                            4
Use of Proceeds                         7
Price Range of Common Stock             7
Dividend Policy                         7
Selling Stockholders                    8
Plan of Distribution                    9               MAY 9, 1997
Description of Capital Stock            9
Legal Matters                          10
Experts                                10

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