XCELLENET INC /GA/
424B1, 1997-03-26
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>

                                                       FILED PURSUANT TO
                                                          RULE NO.424(b)(1)
                                                       FILE NO. 333-22231

 
                       [LOGO OF XCELLENET APPEARS HERE]
 
                               1,433,000 SHARES
 
                                 COMMON STOCK
 
  Of the 1,433,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, 655,953 shares are
being sold by XcelleNet, Inc. ("XcelleNet" or the "Company"), and 777,047
shares are being sold by the Selling Shareholders. See "Principal and Selling
Shareholders." The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale
of shares by the Selling Shareholders. The Common Stock is traded under the
Nasdaq National Market symbol "XNET." On March 25, 1997, the last reported
sale price for the Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market,
was $17.625 per share.
 
                                --------------
 
        THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                   SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 6.
 
                                --------------
 
 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
    COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
     OR ADEQUACY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY
      IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             UNDERWRITING                PROCEEDS TO
                                  PRICE TO   DISCOUNTS AND PROCEEDS TO     SELLING
                                   PUBLIC     COMMISSIONS  COMPANY(1)  SHAREHOLDERS(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>
Per Share.......................   $17.00        $0.98       $16.02        $16.02
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total (2)....................... $24,361,000  $1,404,340   $10,508,367   $12,448,293
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company and the Selling
    Shareholders, estimated at $400,881 and $149,119, respectively.
(2) The Company has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an
    aggregate of up to an additional 214,950 shares of Common Stock solely to
    cover over-allotments, if any. See "Underwriting." If such option is
    exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and
    Commissions, Proceeds to Company and Proceeds to Selling Shareholders will
    be $28,015,150, $1,614,991, $13,951,866 and $12,448,293 respectively.
 
                                --------------
 
  The Common Stock is offered by the Underwriters as stated herein, subject to
receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order
in whole or in part. It is expected that the delivery of the shares of Common
Stock will be made through the offices of Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC
("Robertson, Stephens & Company"), San Francisco, California, on or about
April 1, 1997.
 
ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & COMPANY
 
                              ALEX. BROWN & SONS
                                 INCORPORATED
                                                          PUNK, ZIEGEL & KNOELL
 
                 The date of this Prospectus is March 26, 1997
<PAGE>


            The following text and graphic is contained in a border  
 
              The Company's RemoteWare products make many popular
            applications work more efficiently for remote users who
              routinely work offline and connect intermittently.


                                RemoteWare for
                                  Windows NT

The central element of the graphic is a set six horizontal bars stacked 
vertically. The bottom bar is slightly larger than the top five bars and is 
labeled "Queued Event Architecture (QEA) and Session Automation." The bar is 
marked with a footnote the text of which reads "XcelleNet QEA and session 
automation technology are the foundation of the RemoteWare products." The top 
five bars are labeled "Messaging," "Groupware Transactions," "Database 
Transactions," "Content Delivery" and "System and Application Management."

To the left of the central element is a graphical depiction of a corporate 
intranet including a System Management Console, Groupware and E-mail Server, 
Database, Intranet Server, a globe labeled WWW and a RemoteWare NT Server.

To the right of the central element is a graphical depiction of a notebook 
computer and the names of five types of applications that are supported by the 
RemoteWare product. These names are "E-Mail","Groupware Applications","Database
Applications","Browsers"' and "Software Distribution". Each name is connected to
one of the five bars of the central element by a line.

Beneath the central element is a depiction of telephone poles and lines with the
words "28.8 Kbps Dial-Up Connections."

Beneath the depiction of the telephone poles and lines is a graphical depiction
of the Internet with a 28.8 Kbps line connecting the notebook computer to the
Internet and a line labeled T1 connecting the Internet to the depiction of the
corporate intranet.

Side by side at the bottom of the graphic are copies of screens of the 
RemoteWare NT product as seen on the RemoteWare NT server and on the notebook 
computer. The screens are connected by a line to the graphical depiction of the 
respective computers on which the screens would be seen.

The caption beneath the RemoteWare NT server screen reads "The RemoteWare 
server, through its session automation services, provides a variety of flexible 
scheduling options. The caption beneath the notebook screen reads "RemoteWare
Subscriber, using "push" and "pull" methods, enables users to select and 
automatically receive multiple types of content for offline viewing."

 
  CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK
OF THE COMPANY, INCLUDING STABILIZING BIDS, SYNDICATE COVERING TRANSACTIONS
AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DISCUSSION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
 
  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK
OF THE COMPANY ON NASDAQ IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M. SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, BY ANY SELLING SHAREHOLDER OR BY ANY UNDERWRITER.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY, ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED SECURITIES TO WHICH IT
RELATES OR AN OFFER TO, OR A SOLICITATION OF, ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,
CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF
ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                                --------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Summary...................................................................    4
Risk Factors..............................................................    6
Use of Proceeds...........................................................   16
Price Range of Common Stock...............................................   17
Dividend Policy...........................................................   17
Capitalization............................................................   18
Selected Consolidated Financial Data......................................   19
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...............................................................   20
Business..................................................................   30
Management................................................................   44
Principal and Selling Shareholders........................................   47
Description of Capital Stock..............................................   49
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...........................................   51
Underwriting..............................................................   53
Legal Matters.............................................................   54
Experts...................................................................   54
Additional Information....................................................   55
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................   55
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements................................  F-1
</TABLE>
 
                                --------------
 
  XCELLENET, THE COMPANY'S LOGO, REMOTEWARE AND REMOTECARE ARE REGISTERED
TRADEMARKS OF THE COMPANY. REMOTEWARE DISCOVERY SYSTEM, QUEUED EVENT
ARCHITECTURE, SESSIONXPRESS, SESSIONXPRESS BASIC, SUBSCRIBER, WORKSHOP,
REPLICATION AGENT AND ESSENTIALS ARE TRADEMARKS OF THE COMPANY. THIS
PROSPECTUS ALSO CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES OF OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS: OS/2(R) AND IBM(R) ARE TRADEMARKS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION ("IBM"); SYBASE(R) AND SQL ANYWHERE(R) ARE TRADEMARKS OF
SYBASE, INC. ("SYBASE"), LOTUS NOTES(R) IS A TRADEMARK OF LOTUS DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IBM ("LOTUS"); WINDOWS NT(R), BACK
OFFICE(R), SQL SERVER(R), EXCHANGE SERVER(R), ACTIVEX(R), AND INTERNET
EXPLORER(R) ARE TRADEMARKS OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION ("MICROSOFT"); AND VANTIVE
ON-THE-GO(R) IS A TRADEMARK OF THE VANTIVE CORPORATION ("VANTIVE"). ALL OTHER
TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES REFERRED TO IN THIS PROSPECTUS ARE THE PROPERTY OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
 
                                    SUMMARY
 
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information, including "Risk Factors" and Consolidated Financial Statements and
Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  XcelleNet develops, markets and supports software utilities that improve the
manageability and enhance the performance of remote access computing for users
who routinely work offline and periodically dial in to enterprise systems to
exchange or synchronize information. These intermittently connected users have
traditionally included field sales and service workers and remote users in
branch offices or retail locations. The number of these users has grown
significantly as the ability to quickly and easily share information throughout
the enterprise has become a key asset. Increasingly, these users may also
include a broader constituency of both internal and external users who access
corporate intranets.
 
  The Company's products make many popular messaging, groupware, database and
web-based applications work more effectively for remote users who routinely
work offline and connect intermittently. The foundation of the Company's
products is its Queued Event Architecture ("QEA") and its session automation
technology. QEA's three-tier, client/agent/server design facilitates the
automated staging of various types of user- and system-initiated events that
are executed whenever communication sessions occur. Session automation
technology provides secure, fast and reliable file transfers and advanced
session scripting to control which tasks occur before, during and after a
communication session. Session scripting and automation hide many of the
technical complexities of remote access computing from the user and provide
scheduling capabilities for the system administrator. The Company believes that
its products can reduce its customers' operating and support costs by
increasing user productivity and improving system management for many remote
users whose corporate information needs are not adequately addressed by
existing mainframe, client/server and internet technologies.
 
  The Company's original RemoteWare product family was introduced in 1989. The
first generation of RemoteWare products was developed to operate on the OS/2
server platform and was marketed to corporations designing customized solutions
for remote sites and users. From its introduction, RemoteWare was designed to
provide a scalable, secure and user-friendly environment for the remote site
automation of business processes such as sales order entry, inventory query,
field activity reporting and catalog delivery. Consequently, the Company's
early marketing efforts were focused on industries with large numbers of remote
sites engaged in these activities. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had
licensed, directly or through its independent channel partners, RemoteWare for
the IBM OS/2 platform ("RemoteWare for OS/2") to approximately 1,300
organizations supporting approximately 470,000 users.
 
  In 1995, the Company recognized the growing popularity of Windows NT as an
enterprise computing platform and the increased deployment of third-party and
customized applications based on industry standards. As a result, in early 1995
XcelleNet began committing significant resources to develop RemoteWare products
that (i) operate on Microsoft Windows NT servers and are integrated with
Microsoft Back Office products, (ii) embrace widely used Microsoft standards,
such as MAPI, ODBC and ActiveX, (iii) support popular products with large
installed bases of remote users such as IBM's Lotus Notes and Sybase's SQL
AnyWhere, and (iv) support internet standards and browser and server offerings
from Microsoft and Netscape Communications Corporation ("Netscape").
 
  In March 1996, the Company introduced RemoteWare for the Windows NT platform
("RemoteWare for NT"), which the Company believes will expand the potential
market for RemoteWare and the number of its potential marketing partners.
Software license fees from RemoteWare for NT products accounted for 17% and 41%
of the Company's total software license fees in the third and fourth quarters
of 1996, respectively.
 
  The Company believes that the widespread adoption of internet technologies by
organizations with enterprise information networks and the emergence of
corporate intranets will create significant opportunities for the Company to
expand the applicability of its core technologies. The Company intends to
aggressively pursue these opportunities by developing and marketing a new
family of intranet system and application management utilities.
 
  The Company was incorporated in Georgia in 1986. The Company's mailing
address is 5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and its
telephone number is (770) 804-8100.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>
Common Stock Offered by the
 Company...................  655,953 shares
Common Stock Offered by the
Selling Shareholders.......  777,047 shares
Common Stock Outstanding
after the Offering.........  8,130,325 shares(1)
Use of Proceeds............  For working capital and general corporate purposes,
                             including potential acquisitions.
Nasdaq National Market
symbol.....................  XNET
</TABLE>
 
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
                     (in thousands, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      -------------------------
                                                       1996(2)   1995    1994
                                                      -------   ------- -------
<S>                                                   <C>       <C>     <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
 Total revenues...................................... $42,651   $34,099 $26,889
 Operating income (loss).............................    (934)    4,768   5,182
 Other income, net...................................     934     1,264     748
 Net income..........................................     --      3,802   3,555
 Net income per share................................ $   --    $  0.45 $  0.45
 Weighted average shares outstanding(3)..............   7,915     8,480   7,833
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                          ----------------------
                                                          ACTUAL  AS ADJUSTED(4)
                                                          ------- --------------
<S>                                                       <C>     <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Cash and cash equivalents............................... $10,587    $20,696
 Working capital.........................................  23,198     33,307
 Total assets............................................  36,683     46,792
 Long-term debt..........................................     --         --
 Shareholders' equity....................................  31,130     41,239
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Based on shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 1997. Excludes as
    of January 31, 1997, 1,272,188 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    exercise of options outstanding under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan
    (the "1987 Plan"), 240,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
    options outstanding under the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan for Outside
    Directors (the "Director Plan"), 577,450 shares of Common Stock issuable
    upon exercise of options outstanding under the Company's 1996 Long-Term
    Incentive Plan (the "Long-Term Incentive Plan") and 101,172 shares of
    Common Stock issuable upon exercise of other outstanding stock options. The
    weighted average exercise price of such options is $10.55 per share. Also
    excludes up to 2,583,182 additional shares of Common Stock reserved for
    issuance pursuant to the 1987 Plan, the Director Plan and the Long-Term
    Incentive Plan and 256,665 additional shares of Common Stock that could be
    issued pursuant to the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
    "Employee Stock Purchase Plan").
 
(2) Operating income (loss), net income and net income per share include
    nonrecurring charges of approximately $3.0 million related to the
    acquisition of the WorldLink product line from The NetPlex Group, Inc. and
    $459,000 primarily representing severance and hiring costs associated with
    certain key employees.
 
(3) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(4) Adjusted to give effect to the estimated net proceeds of this offering
    based upon the sale of 655,953 shares of Common Stock offered by the
    Company hereby at an offering price of $17.00 per share.
 
  Unless otherwise indicated, the information contained in this Prospectus
assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. See
"Underwriting." This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this Prospectus
that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including without
limitation statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions
or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in
this document are based on information available to the Company on the date
hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-
looking statements. The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain
factors, including those set forth under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The statements contained in this Prospectus that are not purely
historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including without limitation statements
regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies
regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this document
are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof, and the
Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including
those set forth in the following risk factors and elsewhere in this
Prospectus. In evaluating the Company's business, prospective investors should
consider carefully the following factors in addition to the other information
set forth in this Prospectus.
 
DEPENDENCE UPON PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT; RISKS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND
EVOLVING INDUSTRY STANDARDS
 
  The market for the Company's products is characterized by rapid change in
computer hardware and software technology, evolving industry standards and
changing customer requirements, and is highly competitive with respect to
timely product innovation. The introduction of competitive products embodying
new technologies, the emergence of new industry standards and the acceptance
of new communications and data delivery channels, such as the Internet, may
render the Company's existing products or underlying technologies obsolete or
unmarketable. For example, the Company may be required to change and improve
its products in response to changes in operating systems, application and
networking software, computer and communications hardware, programming tools
and computer language technology. Announced and unannounced changes or errors
in operating and other systems with which the Company's products are used may
adversely affect the performance of the Company's products and require the
Company to modify its products to compensate for such changes or errors. As a
result, the Company's future success will depend in large part upon its
ability to enhance its current products and services and develop new products
and services that maintain technological leadership, address the increasingly
sophisticated needs of customers, keep pace with new competitive product
offerings and emerging industry standards, and achieve broad market
acceptance. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
developing and marketing new products or product enhancements that respond to
technological change or evolving industry standards, that the Company will not
experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful
development, introduction and marketing of these new products or product
enhancements, or that its new products and product enhancements will
adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and achieve market
acceptance.
 
  In order to introduce and market new or enhanced products successfully with
minimal disruption in customer purchasing patterns, the Company must
effectively manage the transition from existing products. Announcements by the
Company or its competitors of new products, capabilities or technologies that
have the potential to replace or shorten the life cycles of the Company's
existing products may cause customers to defer purchases of existing Company
products. Furthermore, software products as complex as those offered by the
Company may contain undetected errors or compatibility issues following their
introduction or as new versions are released, which may result in reduced
orders, delays in collecting accounts receivable and additional service costs.
The Company has previously experienced delays in software development,
including delays in the commercial release of RemoteWare for NT , and has
discovered software errors in new products after commercial release. There can
be no assurance that the Company will not encounter difficulties that could
delay or prevent the successful and timely development, introduction and
marketing of potential new products or product enhancements. Failure of the
Company, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new
products and product enhancements and new services on a timely basis that are
compatible with industry standards, to respond to technological advances by
others and satisfy changing customer
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
requirements, to successfully manage product transitions, and to minimize the
impact of errors in new products would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. See "Business--
Products," "--Products Under Development" and "--Product Development."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF NT SERVER-BASED
PRODUCTS; IMPACT ON INSTALLED BASE OF OS/2 CUSTOMERS
 
  In 1989, the Company released its original version of RemoteWare for OS/2.
In March 1996, the Company released its first version of RemoteWare for NT,
designated as the 3.x family. The most recent version of the 3.x family is
RemoteWare 3.1. The Company is currently investing significant product
development resources to produce version 3.2 of RemoteWare for NT, which is
scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 1997. Due to the complexity
of remote access computing software in general, and the NT operating system
environment in particular, the develoment of RemoteWare 3.2 is subject to
significant technical risks. Furthermore, software products as complex as
those currently under development by the Company are subject to frequent
delays and undetected errors or compatibility issues following their
introduction or as new versions are released. Because RemoteWare 3.1 was first
released commercially in September 1996, many customers licensing this version
have not yet fully deployed the product and there may remain undetected errors
or compatibility issues in this version. The existence of any such errors or
compatibility issues may delay the release of RemoteWare 3.2 and adversely
affect the acceptance of RemoteWare 3.1, as well as other future products,
either of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition. There can be no assurance
that the Company will not encounter difficulties that could delay or prevent
the successful and timely development, introduction and marketing of future
versions of RemoteWare for NT. Moreover, even if such future versions are
developed and introduced, there can be no assurance that they will achieve any
significant degree of market acceptance.  Failure to release these new
versions of RemoteWare for NT on a timely basis, or the failure of these new
versions, if and when released, to achieve any significant degree of market
acceptance, would have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business,
operating results and financial condition.
 
  As the Company focuses on RemoteWare for NT, it must manage the impact on
the approximately 1,300 organizations that have licensed RemoteWare for OS/2.
These customers accounted for a substantial majority of the Company's software
license fees in 1996. A substantial portion of RemoteWare for OS/2 customers
participate in the Company's software maintenance program, which accounted for
substantially all of the Company's service revenue in 1996. There can be no
assurance that updates to and enhancements for the Company's OS/2 products
will be sufficient to encourage its OS/2 customers to continue participation
in the Company's software maintenance program, that they will continue to
purchase additional products from the Company, that the Company will provide
an economically reasonable and technologically feasible migration path from
the OS/2 products to the NT products, or that any significant portion of the
Company's current OS/2 customers will migrate to its NT products. The failure
of the Company, for any reason, to provide sufficient updates to and
enhancements for its OS/2 products, or to provide an economically reasonable
and technologically feasible migration path from OS/2 to NT, or the failure of
OS/2 customers to migrate to the Company's NT products, would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial
condition. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and "Business--Products" and "--Products Under
Development."
 
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS; SEASONALITY
 
  The Company has experienced and expects to continue to experience
significant fluctuations in quarterly operating results that may be caused by
many factors including, among others, the number, timing and significance of
product enhancements and new product announcements by the Company or its
competitors, the ability of the Company to develop, introduce and market new
and enhanced versions of the Company's products on a timely basis, the length
of the Company's sales cycle, market acceptance of and demand for the
Company's products, the growth rate of the market for remote access products,
the mix of the Company's
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
products sold, the mix between revenues generated from software license fees
and services, customer order deferrals in anticipation of enhancements or new
products offered by the Company or its competitors, renewal rates for service
agreements, software defects and other product quality problems, the Company's
ability to attract and retain key personnel, the extent of international
sales, changes in the level of costs and expenses, trends in the computer
industry, general economic conditions, extraordinary events such as
acquisitions or litigation and the occurrence of unexpected events. The
Company has recently acquired Electronic Commerce, Inc., a systems integration
company. To the extent revenues from the Company's systems integration
business increase as a percentage of services revenues, costs of services are
expected to increase as a percentage of services revenues. Historically, the
Company's software support and maintenance revenues have accounted for a
significant portion of the Company's total revenues. However, there can be no
assurance that such rates will not decline in the future and any such decline
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition.
 
  The Company's revenues are largely dependent on software license fees, which
are difficult to predict. Historically, the Company has operated with
virtually no order backlog because its software products are shipped as orders
are received. Moreover, the Company has in the past recognized and expects to
continue to recognize a substantial portion of its software license fee
revenues in the last month of a quarter, with these revenues frequently
concentrated in the last two weeks of a quarter. As a result, software license
fee revenues in any quarter are dependent on orders booked and shipped in that
quarter, and the revenues for any quarter may not be predictable until the end
of the quarter.
 
  Sales of the Company's software products generally involve a significant
commitment of management attention and resources by prospective customers.
Accordingly, the Company's sales process is often lengthy and subject to
delays associated with the long approval process that accompanies significant
customer initiatives or capital expenditures. The Company's sales cycle, from
initial trial to complete installation, varies substantially from customer to
customer as a result of the foregoing factors. Because the Company's staffing
and operating expenses are based on anticipated revenue levels and a high
percentage of the Company's costs are fixed in the short term, small
variations between anticipated order dates and actual order dates, as well as
nonrecurring or unanticipated large orders, can cause significant variations
in the Company's operating results from quarter to quarter. In addition, the
Company's expenditures for product development are treated differently under
applicable accounting standards depending upon the stage of product
development. Certain of the Company's development expenditures may be expensed
as incurred, while others are capitalized subject to amortization over the
expected useful lives of the products, causing significant variations in the
Company's operating results. For example, capitalized software development
costs increased significantly in 1996 as a result of reaching technological
feasibility for RemoteWare for NT. As a result, the Company believes that
period-to-period comparisons of its results of operations are not necessarily
meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future performance.
 
  The Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant
seasonality in its business in the future. In previous years, the Company has
experienced a significant decline in revenues, and correspondingly, net
income, in the quarter ended September 30 compared to the quarter ended June
30. Revenues may be lower in the summer months when many businesses defer
purchase decisions. In addition, the September 30 quarter is the first quarter
of the Company's annual quota-based sales compensation plan and may be
affected by the efforts of direct sales representatives to accelerate
prospects' buying decisions into the quarter ended June 30, which is the final
quarter of their preceding annual plan. In addition, revenues have in the past
been relatively flat from the quarter ended December 31 to the quarter ended
March 31 primarily as a result of customers' year-end purchasing patterns.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  Due to all of the foregoing factors, it is likely that in some future
quarter or quarters the Company's operating results may be below the
expectations of securities analysts and investors. The Company has previously
failed to meet the expectations of securities analysts and investors, and
there can be no assurance that the Company will meet such expectations in the
future. Failure of the Company to meet such expectations would have a material
adverse effect on the price of the Company's Common Stock. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--
Quarterly Discussion" and "Risk Factors--Volatility of Stock Price."
 
RISK OF INCLUSION OF REMOTE ACCESS UTILITY FUNCTIONALITY IN NETWORK OPERATING
SYSTEMS, NETWORK MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE OR INTRANET SERVER SOFTWARE
 
  In the future, vendors of network operating systems, network management
software or intranet server software, such as Microsoft, IBM, Novell, Inc.,
and Netscape, may enhance their products to include some or all of the
functionality currently provided by the Company's remote access software
utilities. For example, in the past Microsoft incorporated an anti-virus
utility in its release of DOS 6.0. The inclusion of the functionality of the
Company's products as a standard feature of network operating systems, network
management software or intranet server software could, particularly if the
quality of such functionality were comparable to that of the Company's
products, render the Company's products obsolete and unmarketable.
Additionally, the announcement by a vendor of network operating systems,
network management software or intranet server software that it intends to
include in a future product or version some or all of the functionality that
is currently provided by the Company's remote access software utilities, or
the rumor of such an intention absent an announcement by the vendor involved,
could materially adversely affect the marketability of the Company's products.
Furthermore, even if the remote access software utilities provided as standard
features in network operating systems, network management software or intranet
server software were more limited than that of the Company's products, there
can be no assurance that a significant number of customers would not elect to
accept such limited functionality in lieu of purchasing additional software
from another vendor such as the Company. If any of the foregoing events were
to occur, they would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results and financial condition. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
COMPETITION
 
  The market for remote access software, including the Company's specific area
of remote access utilities, is highly competitive, highly fragmented and
characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving standards. Many
software vendors offer products that are competitive with the products offered
by the Company. These competitors vary in size and in the scope and breadth of
the products and services offered. Within specific ranges of functionality,
the Company encounters competition from a number of sources including:
(i) enterprise system management tool vendors such as Microsoft, Tivoli
Systems, Inc. ("Tivoli"), a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM, and Computer
Associates International, Inc. ("Computer Associates"); (ii) messaging-enabled
application vendors such as Lotus and Microsoft; (iii) groupware vendors such
as Lotus; (iv) database application vendors such as Oracle Corporation
("Oracle"); (v) internet software vendors such as Netscape and Microsoft; (vi)
content distribution software vendors such as Microsoft, Pointcast Network
Corporation ("Pointcast") and BackWeb Technologies, Inc. ("BackWeb"); (vii)
remote access software and hardware vendors such as Microsoft, Shiva
Corporation ("Shiva") and Citrix Systems, Inc. ("Citrix"); (viii) vendors of
applications software who incorporate remote access utilities in their
software such as Lotus; and (ix) custom software-based solutions developed by
internal management information systems personnel or third-party professional
service organizations. As the Company offers new products in the future, it
expects that in addition to facing competition from existing competitors it
will have additional competitors. Many of the Company's current competitors
are broadening the functionality of their product offerings. Because there are
relatively low barriers to entry in the software market, the Company also
expects additional competition from other established and emerging companies.
Increased competition is likely to result in price reductions,
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
reduced gross margins and loss of market share, any of which would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition.
 
  The Company believes competition will continue to intensify as the market
for its products and services develops and competitors focus more clearly on
that market's specific requirements. There can be no assurance that other
companies will not develop experience, products and marketing approaches that
will be more successful than those of the Company. Many of the Company's
current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial,
technical, marketing and other resources than the Company. As a result, they
may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and
changes in customer requirements, or to devote greater resources to the
development, promotion, sale and support of their products than the Company.
In addition, current and potential competitors have established or may
establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties to
increase the ability of their products to address the remote computing needs
of the Company's prospective customers. Accordingly, it is possible that new
competitors, alliances among competitors or alliances between competitors and
third parties may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share. If this
were to occur, it would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition.
 
  The Company believes that the principal competitive factors affecting the
market it serves include vendor and product reputation, product architecture,
functionality and features, scalability, ease of use, quality of product and
support, performance, price, brand name recognition and effectiveness of sales
and marketing efforts. There can be no assurance that the Company can maintain
its competitive position against current and potential competitors, especially
those with significantly greater financial, marketing, service, support,
technical and other competitive resources, or that competitive pressures faced
by the Company would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition. See "Business--Pricing"
and "--Competition."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF INTRANET SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT PRODUCT LINE; IMPACT ON REMOTEWARE MARKET
 
  The Company is currently investing significant product development resources
in developing its intranet system management family of products, which the
Company currently anticipates will consist of several products that are being
derived from RemoteWare and are being targeted at companies implementing
corporate intranets. The Company currently plans to release the first of such
products, SessionXpress Basic, in the second quarter of 1997, and currently
plans to release the other products in its intranet system management product
line at various times throughout 1997. Due to the complexity of remote access
computing software in general, and the NT operating system and internet
standards in particular, and the difficulty in gauging the engineering effort
required to develop these planned products, this family of potential intranet
system management products is subject to significant technical risks.
Furthermore, software products as complex as those currently under development
by the Company are subject to frequent delays and undetected errors or
compatibility issues following their introduction or as new versions are
released. There can be no assurance that the Company will not encounter
difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful and timely
development, introduction and marketing of these planned products. Moreover,
even if such planned products are developed and introduced, the Company
believes that the market for intranet system management products in general,
and the market for the Company's planned intranet system management product
line in particular, is highly uncertain and there can be no assurance that the
Company's planned intranet system management products will achieve any
significant degree of market acceptance. Failure to release these planned
products on a timely basis, or failure of these planned products, if and when
released, to achieve any significant degree of market acceptance, would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition.
 
  Each of the Company's planned intranet system management products is being
designed to provide a tailored subset of RemoteWare's functionality, and
accordingly this product line is being developed to include many capabilities
similar to those found in the Company's RemoteWare products. The Company
intends to
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
offer its planned intranet system management products at prices substantially
less than those charged for its RemoteWare products. There can be no assurance
that the similarities between the Company's RemoteWare products and its
planned intranet system management products will not lead to confusion between
the two product families. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that
customers will not purchase one or more of the function-specific, lower-priced
intranet system management products in preference to the more fully functional
RemoteWare products, or that such confusion will not lead to delays in
customer purchasing decisions or cause customers not to purchase the Company's
products at all. Furthermore, there can no assurance that the Company will not
be forced to lower its prices for the RemoteWare family of products in
response to such reaction. The failure of the Company to effectively manage
the introduction of its planned intranet system management products to avoid
any such confusion would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition.
 
  The Company anticipates that, assuming it is successful in developing and
introducing its intranet system management product line, it may market these
products through different marketing channels than the Company uses in
marketing its RemoteWare products. In particular, the Company expects to
market its intranet system management products through its newly created
telesales function and through the World Wide Web (the "Web"). The Company has
no prior experience in marketing its products through such channels. Failure
of the Company to successfully market its intranet system management products
through such channels could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,"
"Business--Products Under Development" and "--Sales and Marketing."
 
DEPENDENCE ON EMERGING REMOTE ACCESS COMPUTING MARKET AND INTRANET EXPANSION
 
  The market for products that address the needs of remote access computing
for users intermittently connected to a corporate network or intranet is
relatively new and rapidly evolving. There can be no assurance that such a
market will continue to expand, or if it does, that the Company's products
will receive widespread acceptance. The continued growth of this market will
depend, in large part, upon the continued growth in portable computing devices
and communications hardware and software, expansion of internet usage and the
number of organizations adopting or expanding intranets, the ability of
enterprise computing and communications infrastructures to support an
increasing number of remote users, and the continued development of new and
improved applications addressing the work requirements of remote users who can
better perform their jobs when able to use their applications offline. If the
remote access computing market fails to grow, or grows more slowly than the
Company currently anticipates, or if the use of intranets fails to expand,
there would be a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition.
 
  In addition, as the remote access computing market continues to evolve, the
Company faces competition from companies that seek to provide remote access
computing solutions based upon approaches different from that employed by the
Company. Some of the vendors providing remote access computing solutions
through alternative approaches have significantly greater financial,
marketing, technical and other resources than the Company. As a result, they
may be able to create a market perception that their approaches are more
appropriate for a potential customer's remote computing solutions. There can
be no assurance that the market for remote computing solutions will not
ultimately be dominated by approaches other than the approach marketed by the
Company. See "Business--Industry Background" and "--Competition."
 
DEPENDENCE UPON CERTAIN LICENSES
 
  The Company licenses certain third-party products that are incorporated into
the Company's products. These components include database drivers, a scripting
engine, a document viewer, a spell checker and X.400 gateway API libraries,
some of which perform key functions within the Company's products. In the
future, the Company may license or acquire other such products or may acquire
products that expand the functionality of the Company's existing or potential
future products where the Company considers such an
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
acquisition preferable to developing the functionality internally. If any of
these current or future third-party vendors were to terminate their
relationship with the Company or to materially increase the cost to the
Company for their products, or if a material problem were to arise in
connection with any of the software products licensed from them, the Company
would be required to license an alternative product from another third party
or attempt to internally develop a replacement for the function of the
licensed software. The loss of or inability to maintain any of these
technology licenses could result in interruptions in the availability of the
Company's existing products and delays in the introduction of new products and
services until equivalent technology, if available, is identified, licensed or
developed, and integrated. There can be no assurance that an alternative
source of a suitable product would be available or that the Company would be
able to develop an alternative product in sufficient time or at a reasonable
cost. The failure of the Company to obtain or develop an alternative product
on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
See "Business--Product Development" and "--Intellectual Property and Third
Party Licenses."
 
PRODUCT CONCENTRATION
 
  The Company has derived substantially all of its revenues since inception
from the licensing of its RemoteWare software products and the provision of
related services, and expects that revenues from these products and services
to both new and existing customers will continue to account for a substantial
majority of revenues for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Company's
future financial performance will depend in large part on the continued market
acceptance of its RemoteWare software and services, as well as the Company's
ability to adapt and modify this software to meet the evolving needs of its
customers. The life cycles of the Company's products are difficult to estimate
due in large measure to the recent emergence of the remote access market, the
future effect of product enhancements, including developments in the hardware
and software environments in which the RemoteWare products operate, and future
competition. Declines in demand for the Company's products or the failure of
the RemoteWare products to gain widespread market acceptance, whether as a
result of competition, technological change or otherwise, would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business--Products."
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY EMPLOYEES
 
  The Company's success is dependent to a significant extent upon a number of
key technical and management employees and technical contractors, the loss of
one or more of whom could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition. The future success of the
Company will depend in large part on its ability to attract and retain
talented and qualified personnel, particularly managerial and technical
personnel. Competition for highly qualified personnel in the computer software
industry is intense. There can be no assurance that the Company can retain its
key employees or that it can attract, assimilate and retain qualified
personnel in the future. The failure of the Company to retain its key
employees and technical contractors or to hire key personnel in the future
would have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition. See "Management."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPANDING DISTRIBUTION; IMPACT OF CHANGES IN SOLUTION
PROVIDER PROGRAM
 
  An integral part of the Company's strategy is to continue to develop both
its internal direct sales force and its telesales function, as well as to
expand the role of third-party channels in the marketing and distribution of
the Company's products. The Company's ability to achieve revenue growth in the
future will depend in large part upon its success in recruiting, training and
retaining sufficient direct sales and telesales personnel and in establishing
and maintaining relationships with indirect channel partners such as systems
integrators, software and hardware vendors and other third parties. Although
the Company is presently
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
committing significant resources to expand its sales force and to develop
distribution relationships with indirect channel partners, the Company may at
times experience difficulty in recruiting qualified sales personnel and in
establishing necessary third-party alliances. In addition, as the Company
hires new sales personnel, it is anticipated that there will be a delay before
such personnel become productive. Any failure by the Company to expand its
direct sales and telesales force and other distribution channels, or the
failure by the Company to increase revenues commensurate with such expansion,
would have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition.
 
  Although the Company intends to focus on increasing its direct sales
efforts, it will continue to be dependent upon indirect channel partners.
Certain indirect channel partners also offer competing products or systems
produced either by third parties or by themselves. In addition, software
reseller marketing and distribution channels historically have experienced
rapid change, consolidations and financial difficulties. There can be no
assurance that the Company's existing or future indirect channel partners will
continue to or be able to provide the level of services and technical support
required by the Company's customers, that the Company will be able to
effectively manage potential conflicts between its direct sales efforts and
its indirect channel partners, or among these partners, or that these partners
will not emphasize their own or third-party products to the detriment of the
Company's products. The loss of indirect channel partners, the failure of such
parties to perform under agreements with the Company, or the inability of the
Company to attract and retain new indirect channel partners with the
technical, industry and application expertise required for the Company's
purposes in the future, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
"Business--Business Strategy," "--Sales and Marketing" and "--Services."
 
  During the second half of 1996, the Company implemented changes to its
program for the indirect channel partners on which it relies to provide
application development and systems integration services to RemoteWare
customers and prospects ("Solution Providers"). These changes placed greater
emphasis on Solution Providers who offer substantial RemoteWare integration
services and required that all Solution Providers be NT-qualified. These
changes, and additional program changes that became effective January 1, 1997,
have resulted in fewer Solution Providers authorized to remarket RemoteWare
and remarketing discount rates that range from 20% to 30%, compared to 30% to
40% in prior years. As a result, the Company expects that license fees
generated from Solution Providers as a percentage of total license fees will
decrease. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract
or retain a sufficient number of NT-qualified Solution Providers to adequately
fill the Company's needs. Failure of the Company to attract or retain a
sufficient number of such Solution Providers could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and "Business--Sales and Marketing."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE TO MANAGE GROWTH; POTENTIAL FUTURE ACQUISITIONS
 
  The Company has recently experienced a period of significant growth that has
placed, and could continue to place, a significant strain on its management
and operations, including its sales, marketing, customer support, research and
development, finance and administrative operations. The Company's ability to
manage future growth, if any, will require the Company to continually enhance
its operational and financial control systems, implement new systems as
necessary, and will depend on its ability to attract, assimilate and retain
additional qualified personnel. The failure of the Company's management to
respond effectively to future growth, if any, would have a material adverse
effect upon the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
 
  The Company may in the future undertake acquisitions that could present
challenges to the Company's management. Acquisitions involve numerous risks,
including difficulties assimilating new operations and personnel, implementing
new business processes, the need to manage geographically remote business
units and the diversion of management attention from other business concerns.
Any acquisition, depending on its
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
size, could result in the use of a significant portion of the Company's cash,
or if such acquisition is made utilizing the Company's securities, could
result in significant dilution to the Company's shareholders. Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that any acquired products or service capacity will
gain acceptance in the Company's markets. Should the Company's management fail
to respond effectively to these challenges, it is possible that a future
acquisition could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results and financial condition. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY; RISKS OF INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS
 
  The Company relies primarily on a combination of copyright and trademark
laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to
protect its proprietary technology. For example, the Company licenses rather
than sells its software and generally requires licensees to sign license
agreements that impose certain restrictions on licensees' right to use the
software. In addition, the Company seeks to avoid disclosure of its trade
secrets, including but not limited to, generally requiring those persons with
access to the Company's proprietary information to execute confidentiality
agreements with the Company and restricting access to the Company's source
code.
 
  The Company seeks to protect its software, documentation and other written
materials under trade secret and copyright laws, which afford only limited
protection. In addition, the Company has applied for patents in the United
States and certain other countries with respect to certain aspects of its
software. None of these patents have been granted and there can be no
assurance that a patent will be issued pursuant to any of these applications
or that, if granted, such patent would survive a legal challenge to its
validity or provide significant protection to the Company.
 
  Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary rights,
unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of the Company's products or
to obtain and use information that the Company regards as proprietary.
Policing unauthorized use of the Company's products is difficult, and while
the Company is unable to determine the extent to which piracy of its software
products exists, software piracy can be expected to be a persistent problem.
There can be no assurance that the Company's means of protecting its
proprietary rights will be adequate or that the Company's competitors will not
independently develop similar technology.
 
  For certain of its client products and the RemoteWare Discovery System, the
Company uses "shrinkwrap" licenses that are not signed by licensees to protect
its copyrights and trade secrets in those products. The Company also uses an
electronic version of a shrinkwrap license for all users of the trial version
of its SessionXpress Basic product distributed electronically through the
Company's web site. In addition, the Company expects to use a shrinkwrap
license agreement, or an electronic version of such agreement, for its
intranet system management products when commercially released. Since these
shrinkwrap licenses are not signed by the licensee, many authorities believe
that they may not be enforceable under many state laws and the laws of many
foreign jurisdictions. The laws of the State of Georgia, which govern these
licenses for the Company's products, continue to be unclear on this subject.
In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's
proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
 
  In 1995, the Company received a claim that its products infringe upon a
third party's intellectual property rights, and in March 1997, the Company
received a claim that its use of the name "NetEssentials" in connection with
its intranet system management products infringed a third party's trademark
rights. The Company has elected to discontinue use of the "NetEssentials"
name. There can be no assurance that other third parties will not in the
future claim infringement by the Company with respect to current or future
products, trademarks or other proprietary rights. The Company expects that
software product developers will increasingly be subject to infringement
claims as the number of products and competitors in the Company's industry
segment grows and the functionality of products in different industry segments
overlaps. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming,
result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays or require the
Company to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or
licensing
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to the
Company or available at all, which could have a material adverse effect upon
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. See
"Business--Intellectual Property and Third Party Licenses."
 
VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
 
  The trading price of the Company's Common Stock has been subject to
significant fluctuations in the past. In addition, the stock market has from
time to time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, particularly
among software companies, which often have been unrelated to the operating
performance of particular companies. Any announcement with respect to any
variance in revenue or earnings from levels generally expected by securities
analysts or investors for a given period would have an immediate and
significant effect on the trading price of the Common Stock. In addition,
factors such as announcements of technological innovations or new products by
the Company, its competitors or other third parties, rumors of such
innovations or new products, changing market conditions in the computer
software or hardware industries, changes in estimates by securities analysts,
announcements of extraordinary events, such as acquisitions or litigation, or
general economic conditions may have a significant impact on the market price
of the Common Stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the
market price of a particular company's securities, securities class action
litigation has often been brought against such companies. There can be no
assurance that such litigation will not occur in the future with respect to
the Company. Such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion
of management's attention and resources, which could have a material adverse
effect upon the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
See "Price Range of Common Stock."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
  Approximately 9% of the Company's 1996 revenues were attributable to
revenues from outside of North America. The Company anticipates that over the
next several years it will increase its investment in international operations
and that an increasing percentage of its revenues may be generated outside of
North America. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be
able to maintain or increase international market demand for the Company's
products. International operations generally are subject to certain risks,
including difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations,
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, compliance with foreign
regulatory and market requirements, longer receivables collection periods and
greater difficulty in accounts receivable collection, reduced protection for
intellectual property rights in some countries, potentially adverse tax
consequences, variability of foreign political and economic conditions and
changing restrictions imposed by United States export laws. There can be no
assurance that the Company or its indirect channel partners will be able to
sustain or increase international revenues, or that the foregoing factors will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company's future international
revenues and, consequently, on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition.
 
CONTROL BY MANAGEMENT
 
  Upon completion of this offering, the Company's executive officers,
directors and their affiliates as a group, will beneficially own approximately
24.9% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock (24.2% if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full). As a result, these shareholders
will be able to exercise significant influence over all matters requiring
shareholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of
significant corporate transactions. See "Management" and "Principal and
Selling Shareholders."
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
  Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in the public market
following this offering could adversely affect the market price for the
Company's Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock available for
sale in the public market is limited by restrictions under the Securities Act
of 1933, as
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
amended (the "Securities Act"), and lock-up agreements under which the
officers and directors of the Company have agreed not to sell or otherwise
dispose of any of their shares for a period of 90 days after the effective
date of this offering without the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens
& Company. However, Robertson, Stephens & Company may, in its sole discretion
and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the securities
subject to lock-up agreements. As a result of these restrictions, based on
shares outstanding and options granted as of January 31, 1997, the following
shares of Common Stock will be eligible for future sale. On the date of this
Prospectus, in addition to the 1,433,000 shares offered hereby, 4,874,048
shares of outstanding Common Stock will be eligible for sale and, to the
extent vested, an additional 1,860,246 shares subject to outstanding stock
options as of January 31, 1997. An additional 1,773,277 shares and, to the
extent vested, an additional 330,564 shares subject to outstanding stock
options as of January 31, 1997, will be eligible for sale 90 days after the
effective date of this offering upon expiration of the lock-up agreements and
in compliance with certain limitations set forth in the Securities Act. The
holders of certain shares of the Company's Common Stock are entitled to
include such shares in any registered offerings of the Company's Common Stock
including this offering. The Company is currently seeking waivers of such
rights, but there can be no assurance that such waivers will be obtained. See
"Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Description of Capital Stock--
Registration Rights."
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
  The Board of Directors has authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions, including voting rights, of the Preferred Stock without further
vote or action by the Company's shareholders. The rights of the holders of
Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights
of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued in the future. While
the Company has no present intention to issue shares of Preferred Stock, such
issuance, while providing desired 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 a majority of the outstanding
voting stock of the Company. In addition, the Company's Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws contain provisions
that may discourage proposals or bids to acquire the Company. This could limit
the price that certain acquirors might be willing to pay for shares of the
Company's Common Stock and there can be no assurance that such provisions will
not have an adverse effect on the future market value of the Company's Common
Stock. See "Description of Capital Stock--Preferred Stock" and "--Certain
Charter and Bylaw Provisions."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 655,953 shares of
Common Stock offered by the Company hereby are estimated to be approximately
$10.1 million (approximately $13.6 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company will not receive any
of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling Shareholders. The
Company expects to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate
purposes, including working capital. A portion of the net proceeds may also be
used for the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies that are
complementary to those of the Company. The Company has no present plans,
agreements or commitments and is not currently engaged in any negotiations
with respect to any such transaction. Pending such uses, the net proceeds of
this offering will be invested in investment grade, interest-bearing
securities.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
  The Common Stock of XcelleNet has been traded on the Nasdaq National Market
under the symbol "XNET" since XcelleNet's initial public offering in April
1994. The following table sets forth the range of quarterly high and low sale
prices of the Common Stock of XcelleNet on the Nasdaq National Market since
the Company's initial public offering.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  HIGH    LOW
                                                                 ------ -------
   <S>                                                           <C>    <C>
   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
    Second Quarter (from April 14, 1994)........................    $14 $     8
    Third Quarter............................................... 15 3/4   6 3/4
    Fourth Quarter.............................................. 17 5/8  12 3/4
   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
    First Quarter............................................... 31 3/4  14 3/4
    Second Quarter.............................................. 33 1/4  18 1/4
    Third Quarter............................................... 23 3/4  16 1/4
    Fourth Quarter..............................................     22  13 1/4
   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
    First Quarter............................................... 15 1/4   8 3/4
    Second Quarter.............................................. 15 1/2   9 1/2
    Third Quarter............................................... 14 1/2   8 3/4
    Fourth Quarter..............................................     20  13 1/2
   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
    First Quarter (through March 25, 1997)...................... 23 1/4  15 3/4
</TABLE>
 
  On March 25, 1997, the closing price of XcelleNet's Common Stock as reported
on the Nasdaq National Market was $17.625 per share. As of January 31, 1997,
there were approximately 245 holders of record of the Company's 7,474,372
shares of outstanding Common Stock.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
  The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common
Stock. The Company currently anticipates that it will retain all future
earnings for use in its business and does not anticipate paying cash dividends
in the foreseeable future.
 
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
                                CAPITALIZATION
 
  The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of
December 31, 1996: (i) on an actual basis, and (ii) as adjusted to reflect the
sale by the Company of 655,953 shares of Common Stock offered hereby at an
offering price of $17.00 per share (157,539 of which were reflected as
treasury stock as of December 31, 1996). This table should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                           --------------------
                                                           ACTUAL   AS ADJUSTED
                                                           -------  -----------
                                                             (in thousands)
Shareholders' equity:
<S>                                                        <C>      <C>
  Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares
   authorized; no shares issued
   and outstanding actual or as adjusted.................. $   --     $   --
  Common Stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares
   authorized; 7,537,876 shares issued and 7,380,337
   shares outstanding; 8,036,290 shares issued and
   outstanding as adjusted(1).............................      75         80
  Additional paid-in capital..............................  24,211     31,927
  Retained earnings.......................................   9,232      9,232
  Treasury stock at cost, 157,539 shares; none as
   adjusted...............................................  (2,388)       --
                                                           -------    -------
 Total shareholders' equity............................... $31,130    $41,239
                                                           -------    -------
  Total capitalization.................................... $31,130    $41,239
                                                           =======    =======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Assumes no exercise of options after December 31, 1996. Excludes as of
    December 31, 1996, 1,327,756 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of options outstanding under the 1987 Plan, 240,000 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of options outstanding under the Director Plan,
    437,950 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options
    outstanding under the Long-Term Incentive Plan and 101,172 shares of
    Common Stock issuable upon exercise of other outstanding stock options.
    The weighted average exercise price of such options is $9.90 per share.
    Also excludes, as of December 31, 1996, up to 2,713,149 additional shares
    of Common Stock that could be issued upon exercise of additional options
    available for grant under the 1987 Plan, the Director Plan and the Long-
    Term Incentive Plan and 256,665 additional shares of Common Stock that
    could be issued pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
                     SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
  The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December
31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and the consolidated balance sheet data at December
31, 1995 and 1996 are derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus and should be read in
conjunction with those consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31,
1992 and 1993, and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 1992,
1993 and 1994, are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not
included herein. The selected consolidated financial data set forth below
should also be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                      ----------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
                                       1996     1995    1994    1993    1992
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
                                       (in thousands, except per share data)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
 Revenues:
  Software license fees.............. $30,703  $25,612 $21,399 $14,222 $ 8,932
  Services...........................  11,948    8,487   5,490   3,191   1,425
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
   Total revenues....................  42,651   34,099  26,889  17,413  10,357
 Costs and expenses..................  43,585   29,331  21,707  14,484   9,514
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
 Operating income (loss).............    (934)   4,768   5,182   2,929     843
 Other income, net...................     934    1,264     748     162      96
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
 Income before income taxes..........     --     6,032   5,930   3,091     939
 Provision for income taxes..........     --     2,230   2,375   1,149     100
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
 Net income.......................... $   --   $ 3,802 $ 3,555 $ 1,942 $   839
                                      =======  ======= ======= ======= =======
 Net income per share................ $   --   $  0.45 $  0.45 $  0.30 $  0.15
                                      =======  ======= ======= ======= =======
 Weighted average shares outstanding.   7,915    8,480   7,833   6,450   5,824
                                      =======  ======= ======= ======= =======
<CAPTION>
                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                      ----------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
                                       1996     1995    1994    1993    1992
                                      -------  ------- ------- ------- -------
                                                  (in thousands)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Cash and cash equivalents........... $10,587  $ 9,304 $12,375 $ 4,381  $4,120
 Working capital.....................  23,198   24,968  28,815   7,689   6,810
 Total assets........................  36,683   33,461  36,144  12,208   9,489
 Long-term debt......................     --       --      --      --      --
 Total shareholders' equity..........  31,130   29,849  32,473   9,869   7,465
</TABLE>
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The statements contained in this Prospectus that are not purely
historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including without
limitation statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs,
intentions or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements
included in this document are based on information available to the Company on
the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such
forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of certain factors, including those set forth below, under "Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
OVERVIEW
 
  The Company develops, markets and supports software utilities that improve
the manageability and enhance the performance of remote access computing for
users who routinely work offline and periodically dial in to enterprise
information systems to exchange or synchronize information. The Company was
incorporated in 1986 and began shipping its first product, RemoteWare for
OS/2, in 1989. In 1995, the Company began to develop RemoteWare for NT and
introduced its first such product, RemoteWare 3.0, in March 1996. In September
1996, the Company released RemoteWare 3.1, and is currently investing a
majority of its software development resources to develop RemoteWare 3.2.
 
  The Company's revenues are derived from software license fees and services
related to its RemoteWare products. All of the Company's software license fees
currently result from noncancelable license agreements, including agreements
obtained directly by the Company and agreements obtained through Solution
Providers. Historically, services revenues have been derived substantially
from the Company's RemoteCare Assurance Plan ("RCAP") program, which bundles
software maintenance and help desk support for customers and Solution
Providers. In December 1996, the Company began offering separate plans for
software maintenance and help desk support. The Company's future financial
performance will depend in large part on the continued market acceptance of
its RemoteWare software and services, as well as the Company's ability to
adapt and modify this software to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
See "Risk Factors--Product Concentration."
 
  The Company's revenues are largely dependent on software license fees, which
are difficult to predict. Historically, the Company has operated with
virtually no order backlog because its software products are shipped as orders
are received. Moreover, the Company has often recognized a substantial portion
of its software license fees in the last month of a quarter, with these
revenues frequently concentrated in the last two weeks of a quarter.
Additionally, the Company has experienced, and may continue to experience,
significant seasonality in its business and the Company's results of
operations may be affected by such trends in the future. See "--Quarterly
Discussion" and "Risk Factors--Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results;
Seasonality."
 
  License fees from the RemoteWare for NT products accounted for 17% and 41%
of total license fees in the third and fourth quarters of 1996, respectively.
The Company believes that Microsoft's Windows NT environment is emerging as
the predominant enterprise computing platform, and that its RemoteWare for NT
products will be applicable to a broader range of customers than its
RemoteWare for OS/2 products. While the Company intends to continue to offer
and support its RemoteWare for OS/2 products, the Company anticipates that
sales of the RemoteWare for NT products will constitute an increasing
proportion of total license fees. Because a significant portion of the
Company's installed base is composed of customers (including those who license
RemoteWare through Solution Providers) of the RemoteWare for OS/2 products,
the software maintenance revenue that may be received from those customers in
the future will depend in
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
large part on the Company's ability to introduce updates to or migration paths
for its OS/2 products that encourage these customers to participate in the
Company's software maintenance program. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated
with Development and Introduction of NT Server-based Products; Impact on
Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
  The Company relies primarily on its direct sales force to qualify and sell
to prospective customers. The Company also has a network of Solution Providers
who provide remarketing and/or integration services to RemoteWare customers.
During the second half of 1996, the Company began modifying its Solution
Provider channel model to place greater emphasis on Solution Providers who
offer substantial RemoteWare integration services. These and other program
changes that became effective January 1, 1997 have resulted in fewer Solution
Providers that are authorized to remarket RemoteWare and remarketing discount
rates that range from 20% to 30%, compared to 30% to 40% in prior years. As a
result, the Company expects that license fees generated from Solution
Providers as a percentage of total license fees will decrease. See "Risk
Factors--Risks Associated with Expanding Distribution; Impact of Changes in
Solution Provider Program."
 
  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company
capitalizes certain costs incurred in developing computer software products.
Capitalized software development costs were $786,000, $319,000 and $2.1
million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Capitalized software costs
increased in 1996 primarily due to the development of RemoteWare for NT.
 
  The Company is currently investing significant product development resources
in developing its intranet system management family of products, which the
Company currently anticipates will consist of several products that are being
derived from RemoteWare and that are being targeted at companies implementing
corporate intranets. These products are planned for release throughout 1997,
beginning with the first product in the second quarter. The Company believes
that the market for intranet system management products in general, and for
the its planned products in particular, is highly uncertain and the
development of these new products is subject to significant technical risks.
As a result, the Company does not anticipate that the software license fees
generated from its intranet system management products in 1997 will be
material compared to its total revenues. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance that any customer confusion over the similar capabilities of its
intranet system management and RemoteWare products will not result in price
erosion or reduced sales of the RemoteWare products. See "Risk Factors--Risks
Associated with the Development and Introduction of Intranet System Management
Products; Impact on RemoteWare Market."
 
  In the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company purchased the WorldLink product
line from The NetPlex Group, Inc. for approximately $3.0 million in cash. The
purchase price of the WorldLink technology was allocated to goodwill as of the
acquisition date and written off as a nonrecurring charge in the fourth
quarter due to uncertainties regarding its recoverability. In January 1997,
the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Electronic Commerce,
Inc. ("E-Comm"), a systems integration company that had been one of the
Company's Solution Providers, for stock and cash valued at approximately $2.7
million. As a result of the E-Comm acquisition, the Company anticipates that
revenues from the Company's systems integration business will increase as a
percentage of services revenues in 1997, and that costs of services will
increase as a percentage of services revenues. See "Risk Factors--Fluctuations
in Quarterly Operating Results; Seasonality."
 
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of
total revenues of the line items in the Company's Consolidated Statements of
Operations and the percentage changes from the preceding periods:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      PERCENTAGE OF
                                      TOTAL REVENUES       YEAR-TO-YEAR CHANGES
                                      ----------------  ---------------------------
                                      1994  1995  1996  1995 VS. 1994 1996 VS. 1995
                                      ----  ----  ----  ------------- -------------
<S>                                   <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>           <C>
Revenues:
 Software license fees...............  80%   75%   72%        20%           20 %
 Services............................  20    25    28         55            41
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
  Total revenues..................... 100   100   100         27            25
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
Costs and expenses:
 Costs of license fees...............   4     5     5         48             9
 Costs of services...................   7     7     9         31            63
 Sales and marketing.................  43    43    51         25            49
 Product development.................   9    15    15        116            26
 General and administrative..........  18    16    14         18            12
 Nonrecurring charges................  --    --     8         --            --
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
  Total costs and expenses...........  81    86   102         35            49
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
Operating income (loss)..............  19    14    (2)        (8)         (120)
Other income, net....................   3     4     2         69           (26)
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
Income before income taxes...........  22    18    --          2          (100)
Provision for income taxes...........   9     7    --         (6)         (100)
                                      ---   ---   ---        ---          ----
Net income...........................  13%   11%   --%         7%         (100)%
                                      ===   ===   ===        ===          ====
</TABLE>
 
 Revenues
 
  Total revenues were $26.9 million, $34.1 million and $42.7 million in 1994,
1995 and 1996, respectively, representing increases of 27% from 1994 to 1995
and 25% from 1995 to 1996. These increases in total revenues were due to
increases in both license fees and service revenues.
 
  The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the Statement of Position
91-1 on "Software Revenue Recognition" issued by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants. Software license fees are recognized when a
noncancelable license agreement has been signed, the product has been shipped
and all significant contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Company
licenses its products directly to licensees and through Solution Providers.
All licensees, whether licensed directly or through Solution Providers, are
referred to throughout this Prospectus as the Company's customers. Software
licensed to a customer through a Solution Provider is recognized net of the
discount to the Solution Provider. Services revenues are primarily derived
from the RCAP program, which includes help desk support and maintenance for
customers and Solution Providers, and to a lesser extent from training and
systems integration services. Revenues from the RCAP program are recognized
proportionately over the term of the 12-month agreement, while revenues for
training and systems integration services are recognized as services are
performed. Starting in December 1996, the Company began offering separate
plans for software maintenance and help desk support to all new customers and
to existing customers as their RCAP agreements expired. Software maintenance
revenues under these new agreements will be recognized over their 12-month
terms.
 
  Software license fees. The Company currently derives all of its software
license fees from noncancelable license agreements for its RemoteWare
products. Software license fees were $21.4 million, $25.6 million and $30.7
million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, representing increases of 20%
from 1994 to 1995 and from 1995 to 1996. The increases in software license
fees reflect increased market acceptance by new customers and additional
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
sales to the Company's installed base. Software license fees as a percentage
of total revenues were 80%, 75% and 72% in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively,
reflecting the effect of the growth of services revenues associated with the
Company's larger installed base and the high rate of participation of
RemoteWare customers in the RCAP program.
 
  In March 1996, the Company released its first version of RemoteWare for NT,
and the most recent version was released in September 1996. Software license
fees from the RemoteWare for NT products accounted for 17% and 41% of total
software license fees in the third and fourth quarters of 1996, respectively.
The Company believes that Microsoft's Windows NT environment is emerging as
the predominant enterprise computing platform, and that its RemoteWare for NT
products will be applicable to a broader range of customers than its
RemoteWare for OS/2 products. While the Company intends to continue to offer
and support its RemoteWare for OS/2 products, the Company anticipates that
sales of the RemoteWare for NT products will constitute an increasing
proportion of total software license fees.
 
  Software license fees from new customers were $11.6 million, $11.1 million
and $13.3 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, representing 54%, 43%
and 43% of total software license fees in those years, respectively. The
decline in the percentage of software license fees from new customers is
related to the growth of the Company's installed base and the additional
software purchased by this installed base of customers. The Company added 247,
301 and 296 new customers in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The average
revenues received by the Company from initial RemoteWare purchases by these
new customers was $46,000, $36,000 and $45,000 during the same three years.
Average revenues received by the Company from initial purchases vary as a
function of the number of clients and servers included in the sale, whether
the sale was direct or through a Solution Provider, and the specific products
and options licensed.
 
  Software license fees from existing customers were $9.8 million, $14.5
million and $17.4 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, representing
46%, 57% and 57% of total software license fees in those years, respectively.
Software license fees from existing customers increased 48% from 1994 to 1995
and 20% from 1995 to 1996. Existing customers that purchase additional
RemoteWare products do so to complete deployment of an initial pilot or
limited production implementation and to extend RemoteWare to additional
clients and projects within the enterprise. The vast majority of the Company's
existing installed base is composed of customers who purchased RemoteWare for
OS/2. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Development and Introduction of
NT Server-based Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
  Software license fees generated by Solution Providers represented 40%, 48%
and 38% of total software license fees in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
During the second half of 1996, the Company implemented changes to its
Solution Provider channel to place greater emphasis on Solution Providers who
offer substantial RemoteWare integration services. These changes, and
additional program changes that became effective January 1, 1997, have
resulted in fewer Solution Providers authorized to remarket RemoteWare and
remarketing discount rates that range from 20% to 30%, compared to 30% to 40%
in prior years. As a result, the Company expects that software license fees
generated from Solution Providers as a percentage of total software license
fees will decrease. See "Business--Sales and Marketing" and "Risk Factors--
Risks Associated with Expanding Distribution; Impact of Changes in Solution
Provider Program."
 
  The Company is currently investing significant product development resources
in developing its intranet system management family of products, which the
Company currently anticipates will consist of several products that are being
derived from RemoteWare and are being targeted at companies implementing
corporate intranets. The Company currently plans to release the first of such
products, SessionXpress Basic, in the second quarter of 1997 and currently
plans to release the other intranet system management products at various
times throughout 1997. The Company believes that the market for intranet
system management products in general, and the market for its planned product
line in particular, is highly uncertain. Furthermore, the development of these
new products is subject to significant technical risks. As a result, the
Company does not anticipate that the software license fees
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
generated from its intranet system management products in 1997 will be
material compared to its total revenues. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated
with the Development and Introduction of Intranet System Management Products;
Impact on RemoteWare Market."
 
  Services. Services revenues have historically been derived substantially
from the Company's RCAP program, which bundles help desk support and software
maintenance for customers and Solution Providers. Services revenues were $5.5
million, $8.5 million and $11.9 million for 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively,
representing increases of 55% from 1994 to 1995 and 41% from 1995 to 1996. The
percentage of total revenues derived from services increased from 20% in 1994
to 25% in 1995 and to 28% in 1996. The growth in services revenues, and the
relative significance of such revenues to total revenues, is primarily due to
the Company's growing customer base and their significant rate of
participation in the RCAP program. Because a significant portion of the
Company's installed base is composed of customers of the RemoteWare for OS/2
products, the software maintenance revenue that may be received from those
customers in the future will depend in large part on the Company's ability to
introduce updates to or migration paths for its OS/2 products that encourage
these customers to continue their participation in the Company's software
maintenance program. There can be no assurance that such services revenues
will not decline in the future. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with
Development and Introduction of NT Server-based Products; Impact on Installed
Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
  Services revenues also include field engineering and systems integration
services that are focused on selected RemoteWare customer implementations and
that facilitate Solution Provider development, certification and quality
assurance. The revenue generated from these activities totaled $152,000,
$343,000 and $438,000 in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. In January 1997,
the Company acquired Electronic Commerce, Inc., a 14-person privately owned
systems integration company to provide project management and systems
expertise. Consequently, the Company anticipates that its revenues from
systems integration services will increase as a percentage of services
revenues in 1997, and that costs of services will increase as a percentage of
services revenues. See Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 Costs and Expenses
 
  Costs of license fees. Costs of license fees consist of amortization of
capitalized software development costs, packaging and documentation materials,
royalties and personnel costs for shipping. Costs of license fees were $1.2
million, $1.8 million and $2.0 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively,
representing 6%, 7% and 6% of software license fees for those years,
respectively. The increases reflect the higher volume of products shipped in
each year, as well as increased amortization of capitalized software
development costs in 1996 associated with the development of RemoteWare for
NT. As a result of the higher level of capitalization of software development
costs in 1996, the Company anticipates an increase in amortization of
capitalized software development costs in 1997. This increase in amortization
may increase costs of license fees as a percentage of software license fees.
 
  Costs of services. Costs of services consist primarily of personnel costs
for field services, customer support and training. In addition, a portion of
packaging and documentation materials and personnel costs for shipping are
allocated to costs of services for upgrades and enhancements shipped to
customers participating in the maintenance program. Costs of services were
$1.8 million, $2.3 million and $3.8 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively, representing 33%, 28% and 32% of service revenues in those
years, respectively. These increases were primarily due to increased personnel
costs for field engineers, systems integration personnel and trainers. The
Company believes that costs of services will continue to increase as a
percentage of service revenues as a result of the Company's planned expansion
of its systems integration business.
 
  Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of
salaries and commissions of direct sales and marketing personnel and marketing
program costs. These expenses were $11.6 million, $14.5 million and $21.6
million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, representing 43%, 43% and 51% of
total revenues in those years, respectively. The increase in sales and
marketing expenses, in absolute dollars and as a percentage of total revenues,
in 1996 was due primarily to a new advertising campaign initiated in 1996,
personnel
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
additions and investments in Europe. Advertising expenses were $707,000,
$194,000 and $2.0 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company
expects that sales and marketing expenses will increase in dollar amount in
1997, but may decrease as a percentage of total revenues.
 
  Product development. The table below summarizes product development
expenditures:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
                                                              31,
                                                      1994     1995     1996
                                                     ------   ------   -------
                                                        (in thousands)
<S>                                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
   Product development expenditures................. $3,163   $5,447   $ 8,559
   Less: capitalized software development costs.....   (786)    (319)   (2,108)
                                                     ------   ------   -------
   Net product development expenses................. $2,377   $5,128   $ 6,451
                                                     ======   ======   =======
  As a percentage of total revenues:
   Product development expenditures.................     12 %     16 %      20 %
   Less: capitalized software development costs.....     (3)%     (1)%      (5)%
                                                     ------   ------   -------
   Net product development expenses.................      9 %     15 %      15 %
                                                     ======   ======   =======
  Capitalized product development rate..............     25 %      6 %      25 %
                                                     ======   ======   =======
</TABLE>
 
  Most product development costs are personnel related. Product development
expenditures (expenses plus capitalized software development costs) were $3.2
million, $5.4 million and $8.6 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively,
representing increases of 72% from 1994 to 1995 and 57% from 1995 to 1996.
These increases were primarily due to additional personnel costs (including
outside contractor costs) for development of RemoteWare for NT.
 
  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86 ("SFAS
86"), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to Be Sold, Leased, or
Otherwise Marketed", the Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in
developing computer software products. These rules require capitalization of
certain product development expenditures from the time technological
feasibility is established for a new product or significant enhancement of an
existing product until it is generally available for all customers. The
Company defines technological feasibility as the release of product to
selected customers for beta testing. Thus, capitalization levels each year
depend on product development cycles. The Company amortizes capitalized
software development costs on a product-by-product basis over periods not
exceeding three years, with such amortization included in costs of license
fees.
 
  Capitalized software development costs were $786,000, $319,000 and $2.1
million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Capitalized software development
costs in 1994 related to RemoteWare for OS/2. The substantial majority of the
capitalized software development costs in 1995 and 1996 related to the
development of RemoteWare for NT.
 
  General and administrative. General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of personnel costs for general management, finance and
administration, information systems and human resources. General and
administrative expenses were $4.7 million, $5.5 million and $6.2 million in
1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, representing increases of 18% from 1994 to
1995 and 12% from 1995 to 1996. General and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenues were 18%, 16% and 14% in 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The Company expects that general and administrative expenses
will increase in absolute dollars, but may fluctuate as a percentage of
revenues.
 
  Nonrecurring charges. In November 1996, the Company purchased the WorldLink
product line from The NetPlex Group, Inc. for approximately $3.0 million in
cash. The purchase price of the WorldLink technology was allocated to goodwill
as of the acquisition date and written off as a nonrecurring charge in the
fourth quarter due to uncertainties regarding its recoverability. In addition,
the Company recorded
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
nonrecurring charges of $459,000 primarily representing severance and hiring
costs associated with certain key employees. See Note 6 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
 
Provision for Income Taxes
 
  The effective tax rate was 40%, 37% and 0% in 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The 1994 rate exceeded the statutory rate primarily due to
losses in the Company's U.K. operations. Such losses will not provide a tax
benefit until those operations are profitable. The 1995 tax rate declined as a
result of increases in tax-exempt interest income and research and development
tax credits and a decrease in losses from the U.K. operation. Since the
Company reported no taxable income in 1996, no provision was made for income
taxes in 1996.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
  The following tables set forth consolidated statement of operations data for
each of the eight quarters beginning January 1, 1995 and ending December 31,
1996, and the percentage of the Company's total revenues represented by each
item. This information has been derived from unaudited consolidated quarterly
financial statements of the Company, which include all adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments, that the Company considers necessary for
a fair presentation of the information when read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus. The results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      THREE MONTHS ENDED
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            MAR. 31, JUN. 30, SEP. 30, DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUN. 30,  SEP. 30,   DEC. 31,
                              1995     1995     1995     1995     1996     1996      1996       1996
                            -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------  --------   --------
                                             (in thousands, except per share data)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS:
<S>                         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>
Revenues:
 Software license fees....   $6,851   $7,002   $4,918   $6,841   $6,931  $ 7,381   $ 6,133    $10,258
 Services.................    1,822    2,037    2,195    2,433    2,519    2,745     3,227      3,457
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
  Total revenues..........    8,673    9,039    7,113    9,274    9,450   10,126     9,360     13,715
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Costs and expenses:
 Costs of license fees....      484      440      417      476      477      524       387        598
 Costs of services........      591      529      581      638      731      856       938      1,281
 Sales and marketing......    3,501    3,759    3,281    3,959    4,368    5,471     5,384      6,405
 Product development......    1,189    1,315    1,251    1,373    1,341    1,561     1,500      2,049
 General and
  administrative..........    1,369    1,562    1,200    1,416    1,489    1,393     1,506      1,830
 Nonrecurring charges.....      --       --       --       --       --       --        384      3,112
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
  Total costs and
   expenses...............    7,134    7,605    6,730    7,862    8,406    9,805    10,099     15,275
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Operating income (loss)...    1,539    1,434      383    1,412    1,044      321      (739)    (1,560)
Other income, net.........      304      334      330      296      288      265       204        177
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Income (loss) before
 income taxes.............    1,843    1,768      713    1,708    1,332      586      (535)    (1,383)
Provision for (benefit
 from) income taxes.......      715      654      264      597      466      223      (160)      (529)
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Net income (loss).........   $1,128   $1,114   $  449   $1,111   $  866  $   363   $  (375)   $  (854)
                             ======   ======   ======   ======   ======  =======   =======    =======
Net income (loss) per
 share....................   $ 0.13   $ 0.13   $ 0.05   $ 0.14   $ 0.11  $  0.05   $ (0.05)   $ (0.12)
                             ======   ======   ======   ======   ======  =======   =======    =======
Weighted average shares
 outstanding..............    8,624    8,602    8,502    8,160    7,852    7,883     7,238      7,345
                             ======   ======   ======   ======   ======  =======   =======    =======
<CAPTION>
                                                      THREE MONTHS ENDED
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            MAR. 31, JUN. 30, SEP. 30, DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUN. 30,  SEP. 30,   DEC. 31,
                              1995     1995     1995     1995     1996     1996      1996       1996
                            -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------  --------   --------
<S>                         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
 REVENUES:
Revenues:
 Software license fees....       79%      77%      69%      74%      73%      73%       66 %       75 %
 Services.................       21       23       31       26       27       27        34         25
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
 Total revenues...........      100%     100%     100%     100%     100%     100%      100 %      100 %
Costs and expenses:
 Costs of license fees....        5        5        6        5        5        5         4          4
 Costs of services........        7        6        8        7        8        9        10          9
 Sales and marketing......       40       42       46       43       46       54        58         47
 Product development......       14       14       18       15       14       15        16         15
 General and
  administrative..........       16       17       17       15       16       14        16         13
 Nonrecurring charges.....       --       --       --       --       --       --         4         23
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
  Total costs and
   expenses...............       82       84       95       85       89       97       108        111
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Operating income (loss)...       18       16        5       15       11        3        (8)       (11)
Other income, net.........        3        3        5        3        3        3         2          1
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Income (loss) before
 income taxes.............       21       19       10       18       14        6        (6)       (10)
Provision for (benefit
 from) income taxes.......        8        7        4        6        5        2        (2)        (4)
                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------  -------   -------    -------
Net income (loss).........       13%      12%       6%      12%       9%       4%       (4)%       (6)%
                             ======   ======   ======   ======   ======  =======   =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
QUARTERLY DISCUSSION
 
  License fees in the first half of 1995 increased 34% compared to the first
half of 1994 and 6% in the second half of 1995 compared to the same period in
1994. The slower growth rate experienced in the second half of 1995 continued
through the first half of 1996, with license fees increasing only 3% compared
to the first half of 1995. The Company believes that this 12-month period of
lower growth rates partly reflects purchasing delays of networking and remote
access systems as corporate information system departments evaluated the
applicability of internet technology to enterprise information systems and
purchasing delays as potential customers considered the Company's RemoteWare
for NT products, which were initially released in March 1996.
 
  The Company has experienced, and may continue to experience, significant
seasonality in its business and the Company's results of operations may be
affected by such trends in the future. In previous years, the Company has
experienced a significant decline in revenues, and correspondingly, net
income, in the quarter ended September 30 compared to the quarter ended June
30. Revenues may be lower in the summer months when many businesses defer
purchase decisions. In addition, the September 30 quarter is the first quarter
of the Company's annual quota-based sales compensation plan and may be
affected by the efforts of direct sales representatives to accelerate
prospects' buying decisions into the quarter ended June 30, which is the final
quarter of their preceding annual plan. In addition, revenues have in the past
been relatively flat from the quarter ended December 31 to the quarter ended
March 31 primarily as a result of customers' year-end purchasing patterns.
 
  The Company has experienced and expects to continue to experience
significant fluctuations in quarterly operating results that may be caused by
many factors including, among others, the number, timing and significance of
product enhancements and new product announcements by the Company or its
competitors, the ability of the Company to develop, introduce and market new
and enhanced versions of the Company's products on a timely basis, the length
of the Company's sales cycle, market acceptance of and demand for the
Company's products, the growth rate of the market for remote access products,
the mix of the Company's products sold, the mix between revenues generated
from software license fees and services, customer order deferrals in
anticipation of enhancements or new products offered by the Company or its
competitors, renewal rates for service agreements, software defects and other
product quality problems, the Company's ability to attract and retain key
personnel, the extent of international sales, changes in the level of costs
and expenses, trends in the computer industry, general economic conditions,
extraordinary events such as acquisitions or litigation and the occurrence of
unexpected events. Historically, the Company's software support and
maintenance revenues have accounted for a significant portion of the Company's
total revenues. However, there can be no assurance that such rates will not
decline in the future.
 
  The Company's revenues are largely dependent on software license fees, which
are difficult to predict. Historically, the Company has operated with
virtually no order backlog because its software products are shipped as orders
are received. Moreover, the Company has in the past recognized and expects to
continue to recognize a substantial portion of its software license fee
revenues in the last month of a quarter, with these revenues frequently
concentrated in the last two weeks of a quarter. As a result, software license
fee revenues in any quarter are dependent on orders booked and shipped in that
quarter, and the revenues for any quarter may not be predictable until the end
of the quarter.
 
  Sales of the Company's software products generally involve a significant
commitment of management attention and resources by prospective customers.
Accordingly, the Company's sales process is often lengthy and subject to
delays associated with the long approval process that accompanies significant
customer initiatives or capital expenditures. The Company's sales cycle, from
initial trial to complete installation, varies substantially from customer to
customer as a result of the foregoing factors. Because the Company's staffing
and operating expenses are based on anticipated revenue levels and a high
percentage of the Company's costs are fixed in the short term, small
variations between anticipated order dates and actual order dates, as well as
nonrecurring or unanticipated large orders, can cause significant variations
in the Company's operating results
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
from quarter to quarter. In addition, the Company's expenditures for product
development are treated differently under applicable accounting standards
depending upon the stage of product development. Certain of the Company's
development expenditures may be expensed as incurred, while others are
capitalized subject to amortization over the expected useful lives of the
products, causing significant variations in the Company's operating results.
For example, capitalized software development costs increased significantly in
1996 as a result of reaching technological feasibility for RemoteWare for NT.
As a result, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its
results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied
upon as indications of future performance.
 
  Due to all of the foregoing factors, it is likely that in some future
quarter or quarters the Company's operating results may be below the
expectations of securities analysts and investors. The Company has previously
failed to meet the expectations of securities analysts and investors, and
there can be no assurance that the Company will meet such expectations in the
future. Failure of the Company to meet such expectations would have a material
adverse effect on the price of the Company's Common Stock. See "Risk Factors--
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results; Seasonality" and "--Volatility of
Stock Price."
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
  Since 1994, the Company has financed its operations primarily through the
public sale of its Common Stock in its initial public offering, and through
cash generated from operations. At December 31, 1996, the Company had $10.6
million in cash and cash equivalents, $23.2 million in working capital and no
debt.
 
  Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.5 million, $4.9 million,
and $1.6 million in 1994, 1995, and 1996, respectively. In 1994 and 1995, net
cash provided by operating activities consisted primarily of net income plus
depreciation and amortization, offset primarily by increases in trade
receivables. In 1996, net cash provided by operating activities resulted
primarily from depreciation and amortization, the write-off of the WorldLink
product line, and an increase in liabilities, offset primarily by an increase
in trade receivables.
 
  Net cash used in investing activities was $14.0 million, $1.9 million, and
$1.4 million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 1994, net cash used in
investing activities resulted primarily from the purchase of short-term
investments, fixed asset additions, and capitalized software development
costs. In 1995, the net cash used in investing activities resulted primarily
from the fixed asset additions offset by a decrease in short-term investments.
In 1996, net cash used in investing activities resulted primarily from the
purchase of the WorldLink product line from The NetPlex Group, Inc., fixed
asset additions, and capitalized software development costs, offset by a
decrease in short-term investments. The Company expects that its capital
expenditures, primarily for computer workstations and file servers, will
remain approximately the same or increase as the Company's employee base
grows.
 
  Net cash provided by financing activities was $18.9 million and $1.1 million
in 1994 and 1996, respectively. Net cash used in financing activities in 1995
was $6.4 million. Net cash provided by financing activities in 1994 consisted
primarily of net proceeds from issuance of common stock and in 1996 consisted
of the proceeds from, and income tax benefits associated with, the exercise of
stock options. Net cash used in financing activities in 1995 resulted
primarily from the Company's purchase of treasury stock.
 
  To date, the Company has not invested in derivative securities or any other
financial instruments that involve a high level of complexity or risk.
Management expects that, in the future, cash in excess of current
requirements, if any, will be invested in investment grade, interest-bearing
securities. The Company's principal commitments consist primarily of leases on
its headquarters facilities. See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
 
  The Company believes that the net proceeds from the sale of Common Stock
offered by the Company hereby, together with its current cash balances and
cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet its working capital and
capital expenditure requirements through 1997. There can be no assurance that,
in the event additional financing is required, the Company will be able to
raise such additional financing on acceptable terms or at all.
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
                                   BUSINESS
 
  XcelleNet develops, markets and supports software utilities that improve the
manageability and enhance the performance of remote access computing for users
who routinely work offline and periodically dial in to enterprise systems to
exchange or synchronize information. These intermittently connected users have
traditionally included field sales and service workers and remote users in
branch offices or retail locations. The number of these users has grown
significantly as the ability to quickly and easily share information
throughout the enterprise has become a key asset. Increasingly, these users
may also include a broader constituency of both internal and external users
who access corporate intranets.
 
  The Company's products make many popular messaging, groupware, database and
web-based applications work more effectively for remote users who routinely
work offline and connect intermittently. The foundation of the Company's
products is its Queued Event Architecture ("QEA") and its session automation
technology. QEA's three-tier, client/agent/server design facilitates the
automated staging of various types of user- and system-initiated events that
are executed whenever communication sessions occur. Session automation
technology provides secure, fast and reliable file transfers and advanced
session scripting to control which tasks occur before, during and after a
communication session. Session scripting and automation hide many of the
technical complexities of remote access computing from the user and provide
scheduling capabilities for the system administrator. The Company believes
that its products can reduce its customers' operating and support costs by
increasing user productivity and improving system management for many remote
users whose corporate information needs are not adequately addressed by
existing mainframe, client/server and internet technologies.
 
  The Company's original RemoteWare product family was introduced in 1989. The
first generation of RemoteWare products was developed to operate on the OS/2
server platform and was marketed to corporations designing customized
solutions for remote sites and users. From its introduction, RemoteWare was
designed to provide a scalable, secure and user-friendly environment for the
remote site automation of business processes such as sales order entry,
inventory query, field activity reporting and catalog delivery. Consequently,
the Company's early marketing efforts were focused on industries with large
numbers of remote sites engaged in these activities. As of December 31, 1996,
the Company had licensed, directly or through its Solution Providers,
RemoteWare for the IBM OS/2 platform ("RemoteWare for OS/2") to approximately
1,300 organizations supporting approximately 470,000 users.
 
  In 1995, the Company recognized the growing popularity of Windows NT as an
enterprise computing platform and the increased deployment of third-party and
customized applications based on industry standards. As a result, in early
1995 XcelleNet began committing significant resources to develop RemoteWare
products that (i) operate on Microsoft Windows NT servers and are integrated
with Microsoft Back Office products, (ii) embrace widely used Microsoft
standards, such as MAPI, ODBC and ActiveX, (iii) support popular products with
large installed bases of remote users such as IBM's Lotus Notes and Sybase's
SQL AnyWhere, and (iv) support internet standards and browser and server
offerings from Microsoft and Netscape.
 
  In March 1996, the Company introduced RemoteWare for the Windows NT platform
("RemoteWare for NT"), which the Company believes will expand the potential
market for RemoteWare and the number of its potential marketing partners.
Software license fees from RemoteWare for NT products accounted for 17% and
41% of the Company's total software license fees in the third and fourth
quarters of 1996, respectively.
 
  The Company believes that the widespread adoption of internet technologies
by organizations with enterprise information networks and the emergence of
corporate intranets will create significant opportunities for the Company to
expand the applicability of its core technologies. The Company intends to
aggressively pursue these opportunities by developing and marketing a new
family of intranet system and application management utilities.
 
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
  The ability to quickly and easily share information throughout the
enterprise has become a key asset in today's increasingly competitive business
environment. Accordingly, enterprise information systems have expanded to
include not only users who are local to central systems, but also those who
are remote. These remote users include branch office workers, mobile
professionals and telecommuters, and with the growing deployment of corporate
intranets, increasingly may include suppliers, distributors, customers and
sales prospects. The need to disseminate information to these remote users,
whether by electronic mail or more complex groupware or database applications,
is accelerating the deployment of remote access technology.
 
  The needs of remote users can be classified by the nature of their
connection to a central system and the nature of the software applications
they use remotely. Connection methods can either be intermittent (e.g., dial-
up lines) or continuous (e.g., leased lines). Software applications can be
classified as offline or interactive, depending upon the degree of network
interaction required between the user and the network while the application is
in use.
 
  Many dial-up users employ remote access software (generally known as "remote
node" software) to dial in to a network and function as a slow-speed,
interactive LAN user. This software provides transparent access to a network
and is a popular solution for interactive applications. Increasingly, many
client/server applications, such as electronic mail, workgroup software, and
databases, have been designed to allow users to download, review and modify
centrally stored data, and to synchronize any changes with the central data at
a later time. These applications are especially valuable for remote users who
need to work offline but also need access to the latest corporate information.
Such users need remote access utilities that can work over various
intermittent connections such as traditional dial-up lines and internet or
cellular services. They also need remote access utilities that can support and
coordinate multiple applications during a single, highly efficient connection.
Finally, they need remote access that is easy to use, secure, fast and
reliable.
 
  Dial-up users also pose a challenge to the system administrator since
monitoring and maintaining remote users' hardware, software and data files is
inherently difficult if the user is not continuously connected to the
enterprise network. As the number of remote dial-up users grows, system
administrators need efficient and reliable tools to manage and support them.
The Company believes that as the Internet and corporate intranets become
popular tools for disseminating corporate information, remote system
management for dial-up users will become increasingly important to intranet
managers.
 
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
THE XCELLENET SOLUTION
 
  XcelleNet develops, markets and supports software utilities that address the
remote user's needs and the system management issues associated with
intermittently connected users who routinely work offline. RemoteWare provides
advanced system management capabilities and performance enhancements for many
popular messaging, groupware, database and web-based applications. For many
remote users, RemoteWare can make remote computing easier and more reliable
while reducing connect time and increasing the remote user's productivity.
RemoteWare also provides remote system management features and is typically
marketed to system administrators within large enterprises.
 
  The following diagram illustrates the target market for the RemoteWare
family of products.
 
GRAPHIC: A set of horizontal and vertical axes is the basis for the graphic.  
The vertical axis is labelled "Intermittent Connections (e.g., dial-up lines)" 
on the top and "Continuous Connections (e.g., leased lines,)" on the bottom.  
The horizontal axis is labelled "Interactive Applications" on the left and 
"Offline Applications" on the right.  Superimposed on the axes is a circle that 
is located primarily in the "Northeast" quadrant but edges of which fall within 
the "Northwest" and "Southeast" quadrants.  
The word "RemoteWare" is centered in the circle.

  The foundation of the Company's products is its Queued Event Architecture
and its session automation technology. QEA's three-tier, client/agent/server
design facilitates the automated staging of various types of user- and system-
initiated events that are executed whenever communication sessions occur.
Automated staging increases remote user efficiency by queuing user-initiated
network transactions, thereby allowing the user to work productively offline.
Session automation technology provides secure, fast and reliable file
transfers and advanced session scripting to control which tasks occur before,
during and after a communication session. The combination of QEA and session
automation allows the RemoteWare server to "push" applications and various
types of content to individual dial-up users based on pre-defined user
profiles. Similarly, the RemoteWare client may "pull" content from the server
by requesting or subscribing to specified content. The Company's products
provide advanced system management capabilities that allow system
administrators to manage user sessions, and to deploy user-specific
implementations of software and data files based on individual user profiles.
 
  Remote users sometimes require access to both interactive and offline
applications. For these users, RemoteWare can be used in conjunction with
remote node software to allow the user to work interactively in an application
during a communication session, while RemoteWare concurrently services the
offline applications and performs system management tasks in the background.
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
  The Company's objective is to become the leading provider of software
utilities that improve the manageability and enhance the performance of remote
access computing for users who routinely work offline, but periodically need
to exchange and synchronize information with enterprise application resources.
 
  Important features of the Company's strategy are to:
 
  Enhance Functionality and Extend Applicability of RemoteWare for NT. The
Company intends to continue to enhance RemoteWare for NT by including more
robust software distribution and asset management capabilities and other
features. The Company also intends to pursue opportunities to adapt its system
management capabilities to work with other vendors' system management
products. The Company plans additional feature and performance improvements
that embrace industry standards and support popular messaging, groupware,
database and web-based applications. The Company also intends to focus its
RemoteWare development and marketing efforts on complementing and enhancing
third-party products that are designed for offline use and have large and
growing installed bases, such as Lotus Notes, SQL AnyWhere and Vantive On-the-
Go. Specifically, the Company has recently introduced products to improve the
replication efficiency of Lotus Notes for remote users. To further extend the
applicability of RemoteWare, the Company plans to pursue technology alliances
and OEM relationships with vendors of complementary hardware and software
products.
 
  Leverage Microsoft Technologies. The Company believes that Microsoft's
Windows NT environment is emerging as the predominant enterprise computing
platform. By leveraging Microsoft's enterprise platform, the Company believes
that its RemoteWare for NT products will be applicable to a broader range of
customers than its OS/2-based products. The Company intends to expand its
support for Microsoft technologies, including further integration with
Microsoft Back Office products such as Exchange Server, and to leverage the
Microsoft Solution Provider channel for complementary sales and support
services.
 
  Pursue Intranet System Management Opportunities. As corporate intranets are
increasingly used to disseminate information and software to remote users, the
Company is seeking to leverage its core technologies to address intranet
system management. The Company intends to aggressively pursue these
opportunities by developing and marketing a new family of intranet system
management and application enhancement utilities. This line of products, which
is currently under development, is being designed to support internet
standards and browser and server offerings from Microsoft and Netscape, and is
derived from RemoteWare's QEA and session automation technology. A trial
version of SessionXpress Basic, the first of these products, was released on
the Company's web site in February 1997.
 
  Expand Distribution and Marketing Channels. The Company relies on its direct
sales force as its primary distribution channel and intends to increase the
number of its direct sales personnel in the future. In addition, the Company
is developing new distribution and marketing channels for its RemoteWare
product family and its intranet system management product line. These new
channels will include a telesales function, indirect sales through OEM and
bundling arrangements, and web-based marketing. The Company's objectives for
these new channels are to facilitate product trials, generate qualified leads,
and generally increase market awareness and sales of the Company's products.
 
PRODUCTS
 
  The Company's products improve the manageability and enhance the performance
of remote access computing for users who routinely work offline and
periodically dial in to enterprise systems to exchange or synchronize
information.
 
  The foundation of the Company's products is its Queued Event Architecture
and its session automation technology. QEA's three-tier, client/agent/server
design facilitates the automated staging of various types of
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
user- and system-initiated events that are executed whenever communications
sessions occur. Automated staging increases remote user efficiency by queuing
user-initiated network transactions, thereby allowing the user to work
productively offline. These events may include database transactions (such as
the entry of sales orders), the sending and receiving of electronic mail, the
replication of Lotus Notes databases or the request for web pages to be viewed
offline. Similarly, system-initiated transactions tailored to each remote user
are queued at the central site server. These events typically include software
upgrades and updates to standard corporate data such as product catalogs,
price lists, sales reports and administrative manuals. Whenever a connection
takes place, whether initiated by the user or the system, the events queued at
the user site and the events queued at the central site are executed
automatically.
 
  The Company's session automation technology provides secure, fast, and
reliable file transfers and advanced session scripting to control which tasks
occur before, during and after communication sessions. XcelleNet's products
can reduce online connection time by performing pre-connection processing,
using compression algorithms and employing automated checkpoint restart and
recovery to avoid duplicate processing when a session is terminated
prematurely.
 
  The combination of QEA and session automation allows the RemoteWare server
to "push" applications and various types of content to individual dial-up
users based on pre-defined user profiles. Similarly, the RemoteWare client may
"pull" content from the server by requesting or subscribing to specified
content.
 
 RemoteWare Products
 
  In 1989, XcelleNet released its original version of RemoteWare for OS/2. The
Company designates its RemoteWare for OS/2 products as the 2.x family and the
most recently released version is RemoteWare 2.5. In March 1996, the Company
released its first version of RemoteWare for NT, designated as the 3.x family.
The most recent version of the 3.x family is RemoteWare 3.1. The Company
intends to continue to offer and support its RemoteWare 2.x family, but
believes that sales of RemoteWare for NT products will constitute an
increasing proportion of the Company's RemoteWare sales. "See Risk Factors--
Risks Associated with Development and Introduction of NT Server-based
Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
  RemoteWare consists of two components: the RemoteWare server software
installed at the central site and the RemoteWare client software installed on
each user's personal computer. The RemoteWare server software provides
integrated facilities for:
 
  .  Session automation services providing a variety of flexible scheduling
     options through advanced session scripting; secure, fast, and reliable
     file transfers; checkpoint restart and recovery; and compression
     algorithms.
 
  .  System management services, enabling remote client systems to be managed
     through electronic software distribution and version management,
     providing disk and memory monitoring and offering problem logging and
     reporting capabilities.
 
  .  Communications services, providing support for multiple transports and
     protocols, such as asynchronous serial communications, TCP/IP, IPX/SPX
     and NetBios.
 
  .  Messaging services, providing support for Microsoft Messaging API
     ("MAPI"), which permits MAPI-enabled applications to benefit from the
     speed and reliability of RemoteWare's session automation services.
 
  .  Subscription and publishing services, enabling RemoteWare Subscriber
     users to select and automatically receive multiple types of content for
     offline viewing using "push" and "pull" methods (Extended Client only).
 
  .  User environment management services, allowing administrators to
     centrally create, manage and distribute password-protected graphical
     application menus to insulate RemoteWare Workshop users from the
     complexities of the client operating system (Extended Client only).
 
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
  RemoteWare servers support up to 32 simultaneous communication sessions per
server and are designed to support clustering of up to five servers. To date,
the largest installation of RemoteWare is on an OS/2 system that supports
approximately 13,000 licensed clients. The cluster feature for RemoteWare for
NT has been made available only to a limited number of customers in RemoteWare
3.1. Because RemoteWare 3.1 was first released commercially in September 1996,
many customers licensing this version have not yet fully deployed the product
and there may remain undetected errors or compatibility issues in this
version. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Development and Introduction
of NT Server-based Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
  The RemoteWare client provides an easy-to-use interface that simplifies
communication sessions with the RemoteWare server and takes advantage of the
server's integrated services. Options available as add-ons to extend the
functionality of the RemoteWare client are:
 
  .  RemoteWare Extended Client, which includes both RemoteWare Subscriber
     and Workshop, allowing the client to utilize subscription and publishing
     services and user environment management services, respectively.
 
  .  RemoteWare Replication Agent for Lotus Notes, which reduces replication
     time by up to approximately 80% for remote Lotus Notes users through the
     intelligent preprocessing and compression of records.
 
  The replication capabilities of RemoteWare can also be purchased as a
standalone product, RemoteWare ESSENTIALS for Lotus Notes. This product
consists of a limited-function RemoteWare for NT server that performs only
Lotus Notes replication and a client component.
 
PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
  The Company's product development efforts are currently focused on
increasing the functionality of RemoteWare for NT and developing its intranet
system management product line.
 
 RemoteWare for NT
 
  The Company is currently investing significant product development resources
to produce RemoteWare 3.2, which is scheduled to be released in the second
quarter of 1997. The Company currently plans for this version to include
facilities for central management and distribution of web content to
RemoteWare users and integration of RemoteWare's messaging services with
Microsoft's Exchange Server. There can be no assurance that the Company will
not encounter difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful and
timely development, introduction and marketing of future versions of
RemoteWare for NT. Moreover, even if such future versions are developed and
introduced, there can be no assurance that they will achieve any significant
degree of market acceptance. See "Risk Factors--Dependence upon Product
Development; Risks of Technological Change and Evolving Industry Standards"
and "--Risks Associated with Development and Introduction of NT Server-based
Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
 Intranet System Management Product Line
 
  The Company is currently developing an intranet system management product
line, a new family of software utilities being designed to provide a tailored
subset of RemoteWare functionality to companies that are implementing
intranets. These products are derived from the Company's QEA and session
automation technology and will run on Microsoft Windows NT servers. It is
anticipated that these products would be sold individually or as a suite to
address specific customer needs. One of these planned products, SessionXpress,
is being developed to provide efficient "push" and "pull" delivery of content
and to include integrated capabilities for remote disk, file and directory
management. SessionXpress is expected to be offered in two versions,
SessionXpress and SessionXpress Basic, with SessionXpress Basic to have a more
limited set of
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
features. A trial version of SessionXpress Basic was released on the Company's
web site in February 1997, and commercial availability of SessionXpress Basic
is scheduled for the second quarter of 1997.
 
  Due to the complexity of remote access computing software in general, and
the NT operating system and internet standards in particular, and the
difficulty in gauging the engineering effort required to develop these planned
products, the development of RemoteWare 3.2 and the family of intranet system
management products, is subject to significant technical risks. Furthermore,
software products as complex as those currently under development by the
Company are subject to frequent delays and undetected errors or compatibility
issues following their introduction or as new versions are released. There can
be no assurance that the Company will not encounter difficulties that could
delay or prevent the successful and timely development, introduction and
marketing of these planned products. Moreover, even if such planned products
are developed and introduced, there can be no assurance that there will be a
significant market for such products, that RemoteWare 3.2 or the planned
intranet system management products will achieve any significant degree of
market acceptance, or that the intranet system management products will not
result in price erosion or reduced sales of the RemoteWare products. Failure
to release these planned products on a timely basis, failure of these planned
products, if and when released, to achieve any significant degree of market
acceptance, or failure to effectively manage the introduction of the planned
intranet system management products without eroding the sales or sales prices
of RemoteWare products, would have a material adverse effect upon the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence upon Product Development; Risks of Technological Change
and Evolving Industry Standards," "--Risks Associated with Development and
Introduction of NT Server-based Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2
Customers," and "--Risks Associated with the Development and Introduction of
Intranet System Management Product Line; Impact on RemoteWare Market."
 
SERVICES
 
  In addition to its product offerings, the Company provides systems
integration services, a software maintenance program, help desk support and
training programs.
 
  Through 1996, the Company relied primarily upon Solution Providers to
provide application development and systems integration services to RemoteWare
customers and prospects. In mid-1996, the Company established its own
integration services group to offer a range of consulting and integration
services required by large customers. In January 1997, the Company acquired
Electronic Commerce, Inc., a 14-person systems integrator that had been one of
the Company's Solution Providers. This acquisition significantly expanded the
Company's ability to provide integration services directly. The Company
intends to focus its integration services on new, large accounts as well as on
customers migrating from RemoteWare for OS/2 to RemoteWare for NT.
 
  The Company offers help desk support and software maintenance together under
its RCAP program to customers and Solution Providers. In December 1996, the
Company began offering separate plans for software maintenance and help desk
support to all new customers and to existing customers as their RCAP
agreements expired. Software maintenance offered under a RemoteWare
Maintenance Agreement ("RMA") provides an extension of the Company's software
warranty and the right to receive upgrades during the 12-month, renewable term
of the agreement. A customer's annual fee under RCAP and RMA is based on the
cumulative software license fees paid by the customer. Separately, help desk
support is available on an annual fee or per-incident fee basis.
 
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
 
  All of the Company's products have been developed by its internal product
development staff, which has from time to time included a number of
independent development contractors. The Company's product development staff
consisted of 81 full-time employees and nine independent contractors as of
December 31, 1996. The Company's total product development expenditures were
$3.2 million, $5.4 million and $8.6 million
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
in fiscal 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, substantially all of which were
attributable to the development of RemoteWare products. Beginning in 1995, the
Company substantially increased its product development expenditures in order
to develop its RemoteWare for NT products and to increase the functionality of
its existing RemoteWare for OS/2 products. In accordance with SFAS 86, the
Company capitalizes software development expenditures once a product has
established technological feasibility until such time as the resulting
software product is available for commercial sale. See "Risk Factors--
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results; Seasonality," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--
Costs and Expenses" and Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
  The market for the Company's products is characterized by rapid change in
computer hardware and software technology, evolving industry standards and
changing customer requirements, and is highly competitive with respect to
timely product innovation. The introduction of competitive products embodying
new technologies, the emergence of new industry standards and the acceptance
of new communications and data delivery channels, such as the Internet, may
render the Company's existing products or underlying technologies obsolete or
unmarketable. For example, the Company may be required to change and improve
its products in response to changes in operating systems, application and
networking software, computer and communications hardware, programming tools
and computer language technology. Announced and unannounced changes or errors
in operating and other systems with which the Company's products are used may
adversely affect the performance of the Company's products and require the
Company to modify its products to compensate for such changes or errors. As a
result, the Company's future success will depend in large part upon its
ability to enhance its current products and services and develop new products
and services that maintain technological leadership, address the increasingly
sophisticated needs of customers, keep pace with new competitive product
offerings and emerging industry standards, and achieve broad market
acceptance. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
developing and marketing new products or product enhancements that respond to
technological change or evolving industry standards, that the Company will not
experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful
development, introduction and marketing of these new products or product
enhancements, or that its new products and product enhancements will
adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and achieve market
acceptance.
 
  In order to introduce and market new or enhanced products successfully with
minimal disruption in customer purchasing patterns, the Company must
effectively manage the transition from existing products. Announcements by the
Company or its competitors of new products, capabilities or technologies that
have the potential to replace or shorten the life cycles of the Company's
existing products may cause customers to defer purchases of existing Company
products. Furthermore, software products as complex as those offered by the
Company may contain undetected errors or compatibility issues following their
introduction or as new versions are released, which may result in reduced
orders, delays in collecting accounts receivable and additional service costs.
The Company has previously experienced delays in software development,
including delays in the commercial release of RemoteWare for NT, and has
discovered software errors in new products after commercial release. There can
be no assurance that the Company will not encounter difficulties that could
delay or prevent the successful and timely development, introduction and
marketing of potential new products or product enhancements. Failure of the
Company, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new
products and product enhancements and new services on a timely basis that are
compatible with industry standards, to respond to technological advances by
others and satisfy changing customer requirements, to successfully manage
product transitions, and to minimize the impact of errors in new products
would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Dependence upon Product
Development; Risks of Technological Change and Evolving Industry Standards."
 
  The Company licenses certain third-party products that are incorporated into
the Company's products. These components include database drivers, a scripting
engine, a document viewer, a spell checker and X.400 gateway API libraries,
some of which perform key functions within the Company's products. In the
future, the Company may license or acquire other such products or may acquire
products that expand the
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
functionality of the Company's existing or potential future products where the
Company considers such an acquisition preferable to developing the
functionality internally. If any of these current or future third-party
vendors were to terminate their relationship with the Company or to materially
increase the cost to the Company for their products, or if a material problem
were to arise in connection with any of the software products licensed from
them, the Company would be required to license an alternative product from
another third party or attempt to internally develop a replacement for the
function of the licensed software. The loss of or inability to maintain any of
these technology licenses could result in interruptions in the availability of
the Company's existing products and delays in the introduction of new products
and services until equivalent technology, if available, is identified,
licensed or developed, and integrated. There can be no assurance that an
alternative source of a suitable product would be available or that the
Company would be able to develop an alternative product in sufficient time or
at a reasonable cost. The failure of the Company to obtain or develop an
alternative product on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Dependence upon Certain Licenses."
 
PRICING
 
  The Company generally grants non-exclusive, perpetual licenses for the
RemoteWare products at license fees based upon the server and client
components licensed. List prices for RemoteWare licenses in North America
range from $5,000 to $30,000 for each server, depending on the number of ports
and clients supported. List prices for RemoteWare client licenses in North
America range from $200 to $550 per seat, depending upon the options selected.
Volume pricing discounts are also available for purchases of 100 clients or
more. A RemoteWare installation of approximately 300 clients licensed directly
by the Company would typically represent license fees ranging from $66,000 to
$110,000, depending on the options selected.
 
  RemoteWare licenses include a six-month warranty period. A customer may
obtain software maintenance for a 12-month renewable term through RCAP or RMA,
which are generally effective as of the date of the license agreement. For
RemoteWare for OS/2 customers only, RCAP and RMAs also provide the right to
migrate to a RemoteWare for NT license without incurring additional license
fees. The annual cost of a subscription to either RCAP or RMA is 15% of
cumulative license fees.
 
  In 1996, the Company began to offer the RemoteWare Discovery System, which
allows customers to evaluate the full RemoteWare product suite for a maximum
of 20 clients. The RemoteWare Discovery System is priced at $3,750 for a ten-
client system and $3,750 for an additional ten-client pack. The purchase price
of the RemoteWare Discovery System can be credited against license fees due
for a full production RemoteWare system. No maintenance plan is available for
the RemoteWare Discovery System.
 
  The Company intends to price each of its planned intranet system management
products on a per server basis, with separate prices for unlimited and limited
concurrent session capacity. The Company intends to price SessionXpress at
$4,995 for eight concurrent sessions and at $9,995 for unlimited concurrent
sessions. The Company also intends to offer SessionXpress Basic, a version of
SessionXpress with a limited set of features, at a lower price.
 
  The market for the Company's products is characterized by significant price
competition, and the Company expects that it will face increasing pricing
pressures from current or future competitors. In addition, annual fees for
software support and maintenance have been a material part of the Company's
revenues in the past. These agreements are optional for the Company's
licensees and there can be no assurance that licensees who are currently
parties to RCAP or RMAs will renew those agreements or that new customers will
elect to enter into RMAs in the same numbers. See "Risk Factors--Competition"
and "--Risks Associated with Development and Introduction of NT Server-based
Products; Impact on Installed Base of OS/2 Customers."
 
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
  The Company's sales and marketing efforts typically target Fortune 1000
companies with large numbers of remote and mobile users as potential customers
for the RemoteWare product line. XcelleNet relies primarily on its direct
sales force to qualify and sell to prospective customers. The Company also has
a network of Solution Providers who provide remarketing and integration
services to RemoteWare customers. In addition, XcelleNet has recently created
a telesales function to augment its direct sales force. The Company conducts
comprehensive targeted marketing programs to generate sales leads, which
include advertising, direct mail, public relations, user and partner
conferences, seminars, trade shows and telemarketing.
 
  The Company has established informal marketing relationships with remote
access, database and sales force automation vendors, as well as with Microsoft
and IBM. These relationships are intended to promote awareness of the
Company's products among potential customers and to provide leads for the
Company's direct sales force.
 
  The Company is in the early stages of developing its sales and marketing
channels for its planned intranet system management products. The Company is
expanding its recently created telesales function and intends to leverage the
Web for building market awareness, as well as for selling its planned intranet
system management products. The Company also intends to pursue OEM and
bundling opportunities with software and hardware vendors. The planned
intranet system management product line will also be offered by the Company's
direct sales force.
 
  The Company's direct sales, Solution Provider and telesales sales efforts
are described in more detail below.
 
  The Company's direct sales force is divided into: (i) four regional "area
teams" in North America; (ii) a team responsible for Europe, the Middle East
and Africa; and (iii) a team responsible for Australia and New Zealand. The
Company intends to strengthen its direct selling efforts by increasing its
direct sales force in 1997. In 1996, 62% of the Company's software license fee
revenues were attributable to sales made by the Company's direct sales force.
 
  The primary function of Solution Providers is to assist the Company's
customers in implementing RemoteWare by providing application development and
systems integration services. Certain Solution Providers are authorized to
remarket the Company's products in connection with providing their services.
The Company is changing its network of Solution Providers in two respects.
First, in order to increase the Microsoft support capability of the Company's
Solution Provider network, the Company is requiring that all Solution
Providers be Windows NT-qualified in order for their agreements with the
Company to be renewed. Second, the Company's experience has been that most of
the sales produced by the Company's Solution Provider network have been
generated by a small number of effective Solution Providers; therefore, the
Company is renewing the agreements of only some of its Solution Providers. As
a result, the Company expects that license fees generated from Solution
Providers as a percentage of total license fees will decrease. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to attract or retain a sufficient
number of NT-qualified Solution Providers to adequately fill the Company's
needs. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Expanding Distribution; Impact
of Changes in Solution Provider Program."
 
  The Company's telesales effort focuses on sales of services, including
training and integration services, and RemoteWare ESSENTIALS for Lotus Notes.
The telesales effort was initiated in January 1997.
 
  Any failure by the Company to expand its direct sales and telesales force
and other distribution channels, or the failure by the Company to increase
revenues commensurate with such expansion, would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Expanding Distribution; Impact of
Changes in Solution Provider Program."
 
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
CUSTOMERS
 
  As of December 31, 1996, XcelleNet, either directly or through its Solution
Providers, had licensed RemoteWare systems to over 1,400 organizations
supporting approximately 500,000 users. The Company receives license fees and
service revenues from end-user customers and in some cases through Solution
Partners. In 1996, no Solution Provider accounted for more than 8% of the
Company's total revenues and no customer licensed directly by the Company
accounted for more than 2% of the Company's revenues.
 
  The Company's products are predominantly used by field sales and service
workers and remote users in branch offices or retail locations spanning a
range of industries. The following is a representative list as of December 31,
1996 of end-user customers in the indicated industries:
 
HEALTHCARE/PHARMACEUTICAL                 SERVICES
Coulter Corporation                       ADP, Inc.
Manor Care, Inc.                          HBO & Company
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyJenny Craig, Inc.
Sandoz Corporation                        Mail Boxes, Etc.
Schering-Plough Corporation               Securities Industry Automation
                                          Corporation
 
RESTAURANTS (FOOD CHAINS)                 Vanstar Corporation
 
Black-Eyed Pea Management Corp.
Brinker International, Inc.               MANUFACTURING
Chick-Fil-A, Inc.                         Coors Brewing Company
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.    Holophane Company, Inc.
Denny's, Inc.                             Lanier Worldwide, Inc.
Whataburger, Inc.                         Liebert Corporation
                                          Siemens Industrial Automation, Inc.
 
SPECIALTY RETAIL
General Nutrition Corporation
Kits Cameras, Inc.
Mrs. Fields, Inc.
Sharper Image Corp.
The Southland Corporation
Victoria's Secret Stores, Inc.
Wilson's House of Suede, Inc.
 
COMPETITION
 
  The market for remote access software, including the Company's specific area
of remote access utilities, is highly competitive, highly fragmented and
characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving standards. Many
software vendors offer products that are competitive with the products offered
by the Company. These competitors vary in size and in the scope and breadth of
the products and services offered. Within specific ranges of functionality,
the Company encounters competition from a number of sources including: (i)
enterprise system management tool vendors such as Microsoft, Tivoli and
Computer Associates; (ii) messaging-enabled application vendors such as Lotus
and Microsoft; (iii) groupware vendors such as Lotus; (iv) database
application vendors such as Oracle; (v) internet software vendors such as
Netscape and Microsoft; (vi) content distribution software vendors such as
Microsoft, Pointcast and BackWeb; (vii) remote access software and hardware
vendors such as Microsoft, Shiva and Citrix; (viii) vendors of applications
software who incorporate remote access utilities in their software such as
Lotus; and (ix) custom software-based solutions developed by internal
management information systems personnel or third-party professional service
organizations.
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
  As the Company offers new products in the future, it expects that in
addition to facing competition from existing competitors it will have
additional competitors. Many of the Company's current competitors are
broadening the functionality of their product offerings. In addition, vendors
of network operating systems, network management software or intranet server
software, such as Microsoft, IBM, Novell and Netscape, may enhance their
products to include some or all of the functionality currently provided by the
Company's products, which would render the Company's products obsolete or
unmarketable. Because there are relatively low barriers to entry in the
software market, the Company also expects additional competition from other
established and emerging companies. Increased competition is likely to result
in price reductions, reduced gross margins and loss of market share, any of
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results or financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Risk of Inclusion
of Remote Access Utility Functionality in Network Operating Systems, Network
Management Software or Intranet Server Software."
 
  The Company believes its principal competitive advantages are its focus on,
and experience with, the requirements of remote access computing for users who
intermittently dial in to enterprise information systems, its product
architecture, and its extensive customer base. The Company believes
competition will continue to intensify as the market for its products and
services develops and competitors focus more clearly on that market's specific
requirements. There can be no assurance that other companies will not develop
experience, products and marketing approaches that will be more successful
than those of the Company. Many of the Company's current and potential
competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and
other resources than the Company. As a result, they may be able to respond
more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer
requirements, or to devote greater resources to the development, promotion,
sale and support of their products than the Company. In addition, current and
potential competitors have established or may establish cooperative
relationships among themselves or with third parties to increase the ability
of their products to address the remote computing needs of the Company's
prospective customers. Accordingly, it is possible that new competitors,
alliances among competitors, or alliances between competitors and third
parties may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share. If this were
to occur, it would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results and financial condition.
 
  The Company believes that the principal competitive factors affecting the
market it serves include vendor and product reputation, product architecture,
functionality and features, scalability, ease of use, quality of product and
support, performance, price, brand name recognition and effectiveness of sales
and marketing efforts. Although the Company believes that its products
currently compete favorably with respect to such factors, there can be no
assurance that the Company can maintain its competitive position against
current and potential competitors, especially those with significantly greater
financial, marketing, service, support, technical and other competitive
resources, or that competitive pressures faced by the Company would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results or
financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Competition."
 
  In the future, vendors of network operating systems, network management
software or intranet server software, such as Microsoft, IBM, Novell, Inc.,
and Netscape, may enhance their products to include some or all of the
functionality currently provided by the Company's remote access software
utilities. For example, in the past Microsoft incorporated an anti-virus
utility in its release of DOS 6.0. The inclusion of the functionality of the
Company's products as a standard feature of network operating systems, network
management software or intranet server software could, particularly if the
quality of such functionality were comparable to that of the Company's
products, render the Company's products obsolete and unmarketable.
Additionally, the announcement by a vendor of network operating systems,
network management software or intranet server software that it intends to
include in a future product or version some or all of the functionality that
is currently provided by the Company's remote access software utilities, or
the rumor of such an intention absent an announcement by the vendor involved,
could materially adversely affect the marketability of the Company's products.
Furthermore, even if the remote access software utilities provided as standard
features in network
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
operating systems, network management software or intranet server software
were more limited than that of the Company's products, there can be no
assurance that a significant number of customers would not elect to accept
such limited functionality in lieu of purchasing additional software from
another vendor such as the Company. If any of the foregoing events were to
occur, they would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results and financial condition. See "Risk Factors--Risk of
Inclusion of Remote Access Utility Functionality in Network Operating Systems,
Network Management Software or Intranet Server Software" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND THIRD PARTY LICENSES
 
  The Company relies primarily on a combination of copyright and trademark
laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to
protect its proprietary technology. For example, the Company licenses rather
than sells its software and generally requires licensees to sign license
agreements that impose certain restrictions on licensees' right to use the
software. In addition, the Company seeks to avoid disclosure of its trade
secrets, including but not limited to, generally requiring those persons with
access to the Company's proprietary information to execute confidentiality
agreements with the Company and restricting access to the Company's source
code.
 
  The Company seeks to protect its software, documentation and other written
materials under trade secret and copyright laws, which afford only limited
protection. In addition, the Company has applied for patents in the United
States and certain other countries with respect to certain aspects of its
software. None of these patents have been granted and there can be no
assurance that a patent will be issued pursuant to any of these applications
or that, if granted, such patent would survive a legal challenge to its
validity or provide significant protection to the Company.
 
  Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary rights,
unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of the Company's products or
to obtain and use information that the Company regards as proprietary.
Policing unauthorized use of the Company's products is difficult, and while
the Company is unable to determine the extent to which piracy of its software
products exists, software piracy can be expected to be a persistent problem.
There can be no assurance that the Company's means of protecting its
proprietary rights will be adequate or that the Company's competitors will not
independently develop similar technology. While the Company's competitive
position may be affected by its ability to protect its proprietary
information, the Company believes that trade secret, copyright and, if
granted, patent protections are less significant to the Company's competitive
position than other factors such as the knowledge, ability and experience of
the Company's personnel, name recognition and ongoing product development and
support.
 
  For certain of its client products and the RemoteWare Discovery System, the
Company uses "shrinkwrap" licenses that are not signed by licensees to protect
its copyrights and trade secrets in those products. In addition, the Company
uses an electronic version of a shrinkwrap license for all users of the trial
version of its SessionXpress Basic product distributed electronically through
the Company's web site. In addition, the Company expects to use a shrinkwrap
license agreement, or an electronic version of such agreement, for its
intranet system management products when commercially released. Since these
shrinkwrap licenses are not signed by the licensee, many authorities believe
that they may not be enforceable under many state laws and the laws of many
foreign jurisdictions. The laws of the State of Georgia, which govern these
licenses for the Company's products, continue to be unclear on this subject.
In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's
proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
 
  In 1995, the Company received a claim that its products infringe upon a
third party's intellectual property rights, and in March 1997, the Company
received a claim that its use of the name "NetEssentials" in connection with
its intranet system management products infringed a third party's trademark
rights. The Company has elected to discontinue use of the "NetEssentials"
name. There can be no assurance that other third parties will not in the
future claim infringement by the Company with respect to current or future
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
products, trademarks or other proprietary rights. The Company expects that
software product developers will increasingly be subject to infringement
claims as the number of products and competitors in the Company's industry
segment grows and the functionality of products in different industry segments
overlaps. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming,
result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays or require the
Company to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or
licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to
the Company or available at all, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence on Proprietary Technology; Risks of Infringement Claims."
 
  The Company licenses certain third-party products that are incorporated into
the Company's products. These components include database drivers, a scripting
engine, a document viewer, spell checker and X.400 gateway API libraries, some
of which perform key functions within the Company's products. In the future,
the Company may license or acquire other such products or may acquire products
that expand the functionality of the Company's existing or potential future
products where the Company considers such an acquisition preferable to
developing the functionality internally. If any of these current or future
third-party vendors were to terminate their relationship with the Company or
to materially increase the cost to the Company for their products, or if a
material problem were to arise in connection with any of the software products
licensed from them, the Company would be required to license an alternative
product from another third party or attempt to internally develop a
replacement for the function of the licensed software. The loss of or
inability to maintain any of these technology licenses could result in
interruptions in the availability of the Company's existing products and
delays in the introduction of new products and services until equivalent
technology, if available, is identified, licensed or developed, and
integrated. There can be no assurance that an alternative source of a suitable
product would be available or that the Company would be able to develop an
alternative product in sufficient time or at a reasonable cost. The failure of
the Company to obtain or develop an alternative product on a timely basis and
at a reasonable cost would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, operating results or financial condition. See "Risk Factors--
Dependence upon Certain Licenses."
 
EMPLOYEES
 
  As of December 31, 1996, the Company had 280 full-time employees, consisting
of 81 in product development, 57 in sales, 45 in marketing, 50 in customer
service and 47 in finance and administration. The Company's employees are not
represented by any collective bargaining organization, and the Company has
never experienced a work stoppage.
 
FACILITIES
 
  The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, in a
leased facility consisting of approximately 98,000 square feet of office space
under a lease expiring September 1, 2000. The Company also leases an
additional 2,700 square feet in Raleigh, North Carolina for its E-Comm
subsidiary under a lease expiring December 31, 1999 and an additional 2,500
square feet in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in the United Kingdom for its
European operations center under a lease expiring in 2006. Additionally, the
Company leases direct sales offices with square footage ranging from 150 to
400 square feet and lease terms of one to two years, in 14 locations in the
United States and in Sydney, Australia, Montreal, Canada, and Dusseldorf and
Munich, Germany. The Company believes that its existing facilities and offices
and additional space available to it are adequate to meet its requirements
through December 1997, and that, if necessary, additional or alternative space
will be available on commercially reasonable terms.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings.
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
                                  MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
  The executive officers and directors of the Company and their ages as of
February 28, 1997 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       YEAR FIRST
          NAME           AGE                POSITION                ELECTED DIRECTOR
          ----           ---                --------                ----------------
<S>                      <C> <C>                                    <C>
Dennis M.                 44 Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive       1986
 Crumpler(3)(4).........     Officer and Director
Shereef W. Nawar(3).....  37 Chief Technical Officer and Director         1987
Corey M. Smith..........  40 President
Sidney V. Sack..........  51 Executive Vice President, Chief
                             Financial Officer and Assistant
                             Secretary
Stefanus F. Coetzee.....  44 Vice President--North American
                             Customer Operations
W. Michael Parham.......  43 Vice President--North American Sales
Jeanne N. Bateman.......  42 Vice President--Finance, Treasurer and
                             Secretary
Joel A. Miller..........  37 Vice President--Human Resources
Stephen P.                55 Director                                     1995
 Bradley(2)(3)..........
Donald L. House(1)(4)...  55 Director                                     1992
Richard C.                58 Director                                     1990
 Marcus(1)(2)(4)........
Geoffrey A. Moore(3)....  50 Director                                     1996
Richard L. Nolan(3).....  56 Director                                     1995
Jeffrey P. Parker(2)....  53 Director                                     1990
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
(2) Member of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee.
(3) Member of the Strategic Oversight Committee.
(4) Member of the Nominating Committee.
 
  Each of the directors of the Company serves until the next annual meeting of
the shareholders of the Company or until his successor is elected and
qualifies. Each of the executive officers of the Company serves at the
pleasure of the Board of Directors.
 
  Mr. Crumpler is a co-founder of the Company and has served as Chairman of
the Board, a director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its
inception in 1986. Mr. Crumpler also served as the President of the Company
from September 1986 to October 1992 and from September 1996 to January 1997.
 
  Mr. Nawar is a co-founder of the Company. Mr. Nawar has served as a director
of the Company since 1987, and has served as the Company's Chief Technical
Officer since October 1992. Mr. Nawar served as the Company's Vice President
of Development from 1987 until October 1992.
 
  Mr. Smith joined the Company in September 1996 as its Executive Vice
President responsible for marketing and became President in January 1997.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Smith was the President of Decision Point
Data, a human resources decision support software company, from October 1995
until September 1996. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Creative Multimedia, Inc., a consumer CD-ROM multimedia company, from
December 1993 until September 1995. In July 1992, Mr. Smith founded Legacy
Venture Capital and served as its President and General Partner from July 1992
until September 1994 and continues to serve as General Partner. From January
1988 until May 1992, Mr. Smith was the President and Chief Executive Officer
of Central Point Software, Inc., a personal computer utilities
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
software company. From 1978 to October 1988, Mr. Smith served in various
positions at Hewlett-Packard Company including market development and product
marketing manager positions.
 
  Mr. Sack joined the Company in September 1990 as its Chief Financial
Officer. Mr. Sack has served as an Executive Vice President of the Company
since September 1996. Mr. Sack has served as Assistant Secretary of the
Company since January 1995 and from October 1990 to October 1991, and served
as the Secretary of the Company from October 1991 to January 1995. He also
served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company from September 1996 to
January 1997.
 
  Mr. Coetzee joined the Company in April 1992 as Managing Director of
XcelleNet Ltd. Mr. Coetzee served as the Company's Vice President--
International from January 1995 until August 1995, Vice President--Global
Customer Operations from August 1995 to April 1996, and has been Vice
President--North American Customer Operations since April 1996. From 1988
until 1992, he was employed by Dun & Bradstreet Europe Ltd., a business
information services company.
 
  Mr. Parham joined the Company in November 1988 as its Director of Sales,
served as the Vice President--Sales from December 1990 to April 1996, and has
served as Vice President--North American Sales since April 1996.
 
  Ms. Bateman joined the Company in December 1993 as its Vice President and
Treasurer, and has been Secretary of the Company since January 1995 and Vice
President--Finance since April 1995. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Bateman
was employed by HBO & Company, a healthcare information systems company, from
December 1985 until August 1993, and served as its Vice President and
Treasurer from March 1993 to August 1993 and its Assistant Treasurer, Investor
Relations from January 1991 to March 1993.
 
  Mr. Miller joined the Company as its Director of Human Resources in February
1995 and has served as the Company's Vice President--Human Resources since
October 1995. Prior to joining the Company, he held various positions in
manufacturing, sales and administration with Procter & Gamble Company, a
consumer products company, over a period of fourteen years, including Manager
of Corporate Training & Development for P&G China, Ltd. from February 1992
until April 1994.
 
  Mr. Bradley has served as a director of the Company since October 1995. Mr.
Bradley is currently a professor at the Harvard Business School, a position he
has held since 1968. He also serves as the Chairman of the Harvard Business
School's Competition and Strategy Area. From September 1993 to January 1996,
Mr. Bradley served as the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the
Harvard Business School. Mr. Bradley is a director of RDM Sports Group, Inc.
(formerly Roadmaster Industries, Inc.), a sporting goods company.
 
  Mr. House has served as a director of the Company since 1992. Mr. House has
served as the Chairman of the Board of SQL Financials International, Inc., an
early-stage client/server software company since January 1993. From January
1992 until December 1992, he was President of Prentice Hall Professional
Software, a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1988, he has been a
consultant and investor in a number of early-stage technology firms, including
the Company.
 
  Mr. Marcus has served as a director of the Company since 1990. Mr. Marcus is
a principal of InterSolve Group Inc., a firm that provides management
consulting services to companies in several industries. He has served in this
capacity since InterSolve was formed in 1991. From December 1994 until
December 1995, Mr. Marcus was also the Chief Executive Officer of Plaid
Clothing Group, Inc., a manufacturer of tailored clothing. Plaid Clothing
Group filed a voluntary federal bankruptcy petition in July 1995. From January
1989 to January 1992, Mr. Marcus was a principal of RCM Consulting, a provider
of consulting services to the retail industry. From 1979 until 1988, Mr.
Marcus was Chief Executive Officer of Neiman-Marcus, a department store
retailer. Mr. Marcus is a director of Zale Corporation, a specialty retailer
of fine jewelry, and a member of its compensation committee. He is also a
director of Edisol Bros. Stores, a specialty retailer of apparel.
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
  Mr. Moore has served as a director of the Company since March 1996. Mr.
Moore is a founder of The Chasm Group, a firm that provides marketing strategy
and organizational consulting to high-technology companies. He has served as
President of that firm since it was founded in 1992. From 1987 until 1992, Mr.
Moore was a principal and partner of Regis McKenna, Inc., a high-technology
marketing and communications company. Mr. Moore is a director of BroadVision,
Inc., a supplier of software applications for enabling personalized business
on the Web.
 
  Mr. Nolan has served as a director of the Company since 1995. Mr. Nolan is
currently a professor at the Harvard Business School, a position he has held
since July 1991. From 1977 to July 1991, Mr. Nolan served as a principal of
KPMG Peat Marwick, and as Chairman of the Board of Nolan, Norton & Co., a
technology-strategy consulting firm. Mr. Nolan was a general partner of
Lincoln North Associates Limited Partnership ("Lincoln") from 1986 to 1994,
and was a general partner of Cranberry Hill Associates Limited Partnership
("Cranberry") from 1984 to 1993. Lincoln and Cranberry owned office buildings
in Massachusetts. Lincoln and Cranberry filed voluntary federal bankruptcy
petitions in May 1993 and July 1992, respectively. Mr. Nolan is a director of
H.F. Ahmanson & Company, a bank holding company.
 
  Mr. Parker has served as a director of the Company since 1990. Mr. Parker is
a private investor focusing on start-up and early-stage investments. From
October 1986 until December 1990, Mr. Parker was the Chief Executive Officer
of Thomson Financial Services ("Thomson"), and from October 1986 to December
1991, Mr. Parker was also Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
First Call Corporation ("First Call"). Both Thomson and First Call are
financial information service companies.
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
                      PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
  The following table sets forth certain information known to the Company with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of
January 31, 1997, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the Common Stock
offered hereby (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment
option) by (i) each Selling Shareholder, (ii) all persons known by the Company
to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of
the Company, (iii) each director of the Company, (iv) the Chief Executive
Officer and each of the Company's five most highly compensated executive
officers other than the Chief Executive Officer who were serving as executive
officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year, and (v) all executive
officers and directors as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       SHARES                      SHARES
                                    BENEFICIALLY                BENEFICIALLY
                                   OWNED PRIOR TO                OWNED AFTER
                                     OFFERING (1)   NUMBER OF    OFFERING (1)
   NAME AND ADDRESS OF            -----------------  SHARES   -----------------
    BENEFICIAL OWNER               NUMBER   PERCENT  OFFERED   NUMBER   PERCENT
   -------------------            --------- ------- --------- --------- -------
<S>                               <C>       <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>
Motorola, Inc....................   731,047   9.8%   731,047        --      *
 1303 East Algonquin Road
 Schaumburg, Illinois 60196
GeoCapital Corporation (2).......   685,616   9.2        --     685,616   8.4%
 767 Fifth Avenue
 New York, New York 10153
Robert Fleming Inc. (3)..........   410,750   5.5        --     410,750   5.1
 320 Park Avenue, 11th Floor
 New York, New York 10022
Dennis M. Crumpler (4)........... 1,434,831  19.2     33,000  1,401,831  17.2
Stephen P. Bradley (5)...........    10,000     *        --      10,000     *
Donald L. House (6)..............    36,599     *        --      36,599     *
Richard C. Marcus (7)............    81,494   1.1        --      81,494   1.0
Geoffrey A. Moore (5)............    10,000     *        --      10,000     *
Shereef W. Nawar (8).............   157,498   2.1      3,000    154,498   1.9
Richard L. Nolan (9).............    20,000     *        --      20,000     *
Jeffrey P. Parker (10)...........   136,751   1.8        --     136,751   1.7
Stefanus F. Coetzee (11).........    42,694     *        --      42,694     *
W. Michael Parham (12)...........    82,630   1.1        --      82,630   1.0
Sidney V. Sack (13)..............   103,666   1.4        --     103,666   1.3
Corey M. Smith...................    10,000     *     10,000        --      *
All executive officers and
 directors as a group
 (14 persons)(14)................ 2,149,841  27.5     46,000  2,103,841  24.9
</TABLE>
 
- --------
 *Less than one percent.
 (1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
     Securities and Exchange Commission that deem shares to be beneficially
     owned by any person who has or shares voting or investment power with
     respect to such shares. Unless otherwise indicated below, the persons and
     entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power
     with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community
     property laws where applicable. Shares of Common Stock subject to options
     that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of January
     31, 1997 are deemed to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the
     person holding such options for the purpose of computing the percentage
     ownership of such person but are not treated as outstanding for the
     purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
 (2) GeoCapital Corporation ("GeoCapital") is an investment advisor registered
     under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. GeoCapital has
     sole investment power with respect to all of these shares and voting
     power with respect to none of these shares. The information herein
     regarding
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
    GeoCapital's stock ownership was obtained from a Schedule 13G filed by
    GeoCapital with the Securities and Exchange Commission and received by the
    Company on February 25, 1997. The Company makes no representation as to
    the accuracy or completeness of the information reported regarding
    GeoCapital.
 (3) Robert Fleming Inc. ("Fleming") is an investment advisor registered under
     Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. Fleming has shared
     investment power and shared voting power with respect to all of these
     shares. The information herein regarding Fleming's stock ownership was
     obtained from a Schedule 13G filed by Fleming with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission and received by the Company on February 25, 1997. The
     Company makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the
     information reported regarding Fleming.
 (4) Includes 1,200,000 shares held by a limited partnership, the general
     partner of which is a limited liability company of which Mr. Crumpler is
     the controlling manager. As such, Mr. Crumpler has voting and investment
     power over these shares. Also includes 104,800 shares owned by Mr.
     Crumpler's spouse. In November 1989, Mr. Crumpler entered into an
     agreement with his spouse that provides that Mr. Crumpler has sole voting
     power with respect to the shares of Common Stock presently held, or
     acquired in the future, by her. This agreement also places certain
     restrictions on the ability of Mr. Crumpler's spouse to transfer her
     shares of Common Stock and provides Mr. Crumpler a right of first refusal
     in connection with such shares. Also includes 3,800 shares held by Mr.
     Crumpler as trustee of a trust for the benefit of his mother, as to which
     he retains sole voting and investment power. Also includes 3,000 shares
     held by Mr. Crumpler as custodian for his minor children and as to which
     he retains sole voting and investment power.
 (5) Consists of 10,000 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
 (6) Includes 30,350 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
 (7) Consists of 33,114 shares held jointly by Mr. Marcus and his spouse and
     48,380 shares subject to stock options that are currently exercisable or
     will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.
 (8) Includes 64,661 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
 (9) Consists of 20,000 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
(10) Includes 21,050 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
(11) Includes 900 shares held by Mr. Coetzee's spouse. Also includes 40,551
     shares subject to stock options that are currently exercisable or will
     become exercisable within 60 days of January 31, 1997.
(12) Includes 39,098 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
(13) Includes 39,352 shares held jointly by Mr. Sack and his spouse. Also
     includes 36,718 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
(14) Includes 330,564 shares subject to stock options that are currently
     exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of January 31,
     1997.
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 30,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
  As of January 31, 1997, there were 7,474,372 shares of Common Stock
outstanding, held of record by approximately 245 shareholders. Holders of
Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters
submitted to a vote of shareholders 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 directors may elect all of the directors 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 Stock. 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
Stock. Holders of Common Stock, as such, have no preemptive, subscription,
redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are,
and the shares offered by the Company in this offering will be, when issued
and paid for, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and
privileges of holders of 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 from time to time in the
future.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to certain limitations
prescribed by law, without further shareholder approval, to issue from time to
time up to an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more
series and to fix or alter the designations, preferences, rights and any
qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the shares of each such series
thereof, including the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights,
voting rights, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions),
redemption price or prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares
constituting any series or designations of such series. The issuance of
Preferred Stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a
change in control of the Company. No shares of Preferred Stock are currently
outstanding.
 
CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS
 
  Certain shareholders' rights and related matters are governed by the Georgia
Business Corporation Code and the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation (the "Articles") and Amended and Restated Bylaws. Certain
provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of
the Company, which are summarized below, could, either alone or in combination
with each other, have the effect of preventing a change in control of the
Company or making changes in management more difficult.
 
 Corporate Takeover Provisions
 
  The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws make applicable to the Company
provisions authorized by the Georgia Business Corporation Code relating to
business combinations with interested shareholders ("Corporate Takeover
Provisions"). The Corporate Takeover Provisions are designed to encourage any
person, before acquiring 10% of the Company's voting shares, to seek approval
of the Board of Directors for the terms of any contemplated business
combination. The Corporate Takeover Provisions will prevent for five years
certain business combinations with an "interested shareholder" (as defined in
the Corporate Takeover Provisions) unless (i) prior to the time such
shareholder became an interested shareholder the Board of Directors approved
either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the
shareholder
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
becoming an interested shareholder, (ii) in the transaction that resulted in
the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder
became the beneficial owner of at least 90% of the outstanding voting shares
of the Company excluding, however, shares owned by the Company's officers,
directors, affiliates, subsidiaries and certain employee stock plans or (iii)
subsequent to becoming an interested shareholder, such interested shareholder
acquired additional shares resulting in the interested shareholder becoming
the owner of at least 90% of the Company's outstanding voting shares and the
business combination is approved by the holders of a majority of the Company's
voting shares, excluding from said vote the stock owned by the interested
shareholder or by the Company's officers, directors, affiliates, subsidiaries
and certain employee stock plans.
 
 Constituency Considerations
 
  The Company's Articles provide for the right of the Board of Directors to
consider the interests of various constituencies, including employees,
customers, suppliers and creditors of the Company, as well as the communities
in which the Company is located, in addition to the interest of the Company
and its shareholders, in discharging their duties in determining what is in
the Company's best interests.
 
 Limitation of Directors' Liability
 
  The Articles eliminate, subject to certain exceptions, the personal
liability of directors to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages
for breaches of such directors' duty of care or other duties as a director.
The Articles do not provide for the elimination of or any limitation on the
personal liability of a director for (i) any appropriation, in violation of
the director's duties, of any business opportunity of the Company, (ii) acts
or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) unlawful corporate distributions or (iv) any transaction from which
the director received an improper benefit. In addition, the Company's Amended
and Restated Bylaws provide broad indemnification rights to directors and
officers so long as the director or officer acted in a manner believed in good
faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Company, and with
respect to criminal proceedings, if the director had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The personal liability of directors
for monetary damages for violations of federal securities laws is not affected
by these provisions. These provisions of the Articles and Amended and Restated
Bylaws will limit the remedies available to a shareholder who is dissatisfied
with a Board decision protected by these provisions, and such shareholder's
only remedy in that circumstance may be to bring a suit to prevent the Board's
action. In many situations, this remedy may not be effective, as, for example,
when shareholders have no prior awareness of the Board's consideration of the
particular transaction or event.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
  In the event the Company proposes to register any of its shares of Common
Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the offering
contemplated by this Prospectus, certain holders of the Company's Common Stock
are entitled to require the Company to include all or a portion of their
shares in such registration, subject to certain conditions. While the Company
expects to obtain waivers of these registration rights, any shareholder that
does not waive such rights will be entitled to include certain of their shares
in this offering or in future registered offerings by the Company that are
declared effective prior to April 14, 1999. All fees, costs and expenses of
such registration will be borne by the Company, with certain exceptions,
provided that such holders will be required to bear their pro rata share of
the underwriting discounts and commissions.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
  The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is SunTrust Bank,
Atlanta, Georgia.
 
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
  Upon completion of this offering, the Company will have 8,130,325 shares of
Common Stock outstanding (assuming no exercise of options after January 31,
1997). In addition to the 1,433,000 shares sold in this offering, 4,874,048 of
such outstanding shares will be freely tradeable without restriction or
further registration under the Securities Act, except that any shares
purchased by "affiliates" of the Company, as that term is defined under the
Securities Act ("Affiliates"), may generally only be sold in compliance with
the limitations of Rule 144 described below.
 
  Of the remaining outstanding shares of Common Stock, 50,000 are deemed
"restricted securities" under Rule 144 (the "Restricted Securities"). The
number of shares of Common Stock available for sale in the public market is
limited by restrictions under the Securities Act and, with respect to shares
held by officers and directors of the Company, lock-up agreements under which
the officers and directors have agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any
of their shares for a period of 90 days after the effective date of this
offering without the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens & Company.
Because of these restrictions, on the date of this Prospectus, all of the
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock other than the shares that
are Restricted Securities or subject to lock up agreements will be eligible
for sale. Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this offering (or
earlier with the prior written consent of Robertson, Stephens & Company),
1,773,277 shares held by executive officers and directors, but none of the
Restricted Securities, will become available for sale in the public market
subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
 
  In general, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, a
person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned
restricted securities for at least two years (after the effective date of the
recently adopted amendment to Rule 144, such period will be reduced to one
year), including a person who may be deemed an Affiliate of the Company, is
entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares of Common
Stock that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then-outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company (approximately 81,304 shares after giving effect
to this offering) or the average weekly trading volume of the Common Stock as
reported through the Nasdaq National Market during the four calendar weeks
preceding such sale. Sales under Rule 144 of the Securities Act are subject to
certain restrictions relating to manner of sale, notice and the availability
of current public information about the Company. In addition, under Rule
144(k) of the Securities Act, a person who is not an Affiliate of the Company
at any time 90 days preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned shares
for at least three years (after the effective date of the recently adopted
amendment to Rule 144, such period will be reduced to two years), would be
entitled to sell such shares immediately following this offering without
regard to the volume limitations, manner of sale provisions or notice or other
requirements of Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
 
  As of January 31, 1997, options to purchase a total of 484,733 shares of
Common Stock pursuant to the 1987 Plan, the Director Plan, the Long-Term
Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Option Plans") and pursuant to options
granted on an individual basis outside of these plans were outstanding and
exercisable and options to purchase a total of 1,706,077 shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Option Plans were outstanding but not yet exercisable.
An additional 2,583,182 shares of Common Stock were available for future
option grants or direct issuances under the Option Plans, and an additional
256,665 shares of Common Stock were available for sale pursuant to the
Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.
 
  The Company has registered on registration statements on Form S-8, a total
of 2,030,657 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
Option Plans, Employee Stock Purchase Plan and options granted on an
individual basis outside of the Option Plans (assuming no exercise of
outstanding stock options after January 31, 1997).
 
  Any sale of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the open market may
adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock offered hereby.
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
  In the event the Company proposes to register any of its shares of Common
Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the offering
contemplated by this Prospectus, certain holders of the Company's Common Stock
are entitled to require the Company to include all or a portion of their
shares in such registration, subject to certain conditions. While the Company
expects to obtain waivers of these registration rights, any shareholder that
does not waive such rights will be entitled to include certain of their shares
in this offering or in future registered offerings by the Company that are
declared effective prior to April 14, 1999. All fees, costs and expenses of
such registration will be borne by the Company, with certain exceptions,
provided that such holders will be required to bear their pro rata share of
the underwriting discounts and commissions. If the Company were required to
include in a Company-initiated registration shares held by such holders
pursuant to the exercise of their registration rights, such sales may have an
adverse effect on the Company's ability to raise needed capital.
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
                                 UNDERWRITING
 
  The Underwriters named below, acting through their representatives,
Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC, Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated and Punk,
Ziegel & Knoell, L.P. (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed with the
Company and the Selling Shareholders, subject to the terms and conditions of
the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock
set forth opposite their respective names below. The Underwriters are
committed to purchase and pay for all such shares if any are purchased.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        NUMBER
         UNDERWRITER                                                   OF SHARES
         -----------                                                   ---------
   <S>                                                                 <C>
   Robertson, Stephens & Company LLC..................................   573,200
   Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated....................................   429,900
   Punk, Ziegel & Knoell, L.P.........................................   429,900
                                                                       ---------
     Total............................................................ 1,433,000
                                                                       =========
</TABLE>
 
  The Representatives have advised the Company and the Selling Shareholders
that they propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at the
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to certain
dealers at such price less a concession of not more than $.56 per share, of
which $.10 may be reallowed to other dealers. After the public offering, the
public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may be reduced by
the Underwriters. No such reduction shall change the amount of proceeds to be
received by the Company or the Selling Shareholders as set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus.
 
  The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable during
the 30-day period after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 214,950
additional shares of Common Stock, at the same price per share as will be paid
for the 1,433,000 shares that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from
the Company and the Selling Shareholders. To the extent that the Underwriters
exercise such option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm commitment to
purchase approximately the same percentage of such additional shares that the
number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by it shown in the above
table represents as a percentage of the 1,433,000 shares offered hereby. If
purchased, such additional shares will be sold by the Underwriters on the same
terms as those on which the 1,433,000 shares are being sold.
 
  The Underwriting Agreement contains covenants of indemnity among the
Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Shareholders against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
 
  Each officer and director of the Company has agreed with the Representatives
that for a period of 90 days after the effective date of the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part (the "Lock-up Period"), subject
to certain limited exceptions, they will not offer to sell, contract to sell,
or otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect
to any shares of Common Stock, any options or warrants to purchase any shares
of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Representatives. The
Representatives may, at their sole discretion and at any time or from time to
time, without notice, release all or any portion of the shares subject to the
lock-up agreements. In addition, the Company has agreed that during the Lock-
up Period, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives, subject to certain limited exceptions, issue, sell, contract
to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into, exercisable for or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock other than
the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of outstanding options and
under the existing Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and the Company's issuance of
options under the Option Plans.
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
  The offering price for the Common Stock was determined by negotiations among
the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Representatives of the
Underwriters, based largely upon the market price for the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market.
 
  In connection with this offering, certain underwriters and selling group
members (if any) who are qualifying registered market makers on the Nasdaq
Stock Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market in accordance with Rule 103 of
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended during the
qualifying period which is two business days before commencement of sales in
this offering. The passive market making transactions must comply with
applicable price and volume limits and be identified as such. In general, a
passive market maker may display its bid at a price not in excess of the
highest independent bid for the security; if all independent bids are lowered
below the passive market maker's bid, however, such bid must then be lowered
when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Net purchases by a passive market
maker on each day are generally limited to 30% of the passive market maker's
average daily trading volume in the Common Stock during a prior period and
must be discontinued when such limit is reached. Passive market making may
stabilize the market price of the Common Stock at a level above that which
might otherwise prevail, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
 
  The Representatives have advised the Company that, pursuant to Regulation M
under the Securities Act, certain persons participating in the offering may
engage in transactions, including stabilizing bids, syndicate covering
transactions or the imposition of penalty bids which may have the effect of
stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the Common Stock at a level
above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. A "stabilizing
bid" is a bid for or the purchase of the Common Stock on behalf of the
Underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the Common
Stock. A "syndicate covering transaction" is the bid for or the purchase of
the Common Stock on behalf of the Underwriters to reduce a short position
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the offering. A "penalty bid"
is an arrangement permitting the Representatives to reclaim the selling
concession otherwise accruing to an Underwriter or syndicate member in
connection with the offering if the Common Stock originally sold by such
Underwriter or syndicate member is purchased by the Representatives in a
syndicate covering transaction and has therefore not been effectively placed
by such Underwriter or syndicate member. The Representatives have advised the
Company that such transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq National Market
or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
 
  The Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the Common Stock offered
hereby to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company and the Selling Shareholders by Alston & Bird LLP,
Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
Underwriters by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP,
Menlo Park, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in this
Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen
LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect
thereto and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in giving said report.
 
 
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement and the exhibits thereto. For further information with respect to
the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to the
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. Statements contained in this
Prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or other document to which
reference is made are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference
is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all
respects by such reference. A copy of the Registration Statement and the
exhibits thereto may be inspected without charge at the offices of the
Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, Washington, D.C. 20549, and
copies of all or any part of the Registration Statement may be obtained from
the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549 upon
the payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission.
 
  The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act
and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices
located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such
material can 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 makes electronic filings publicly available on the
Internet within 24 hours of acceptance. The Commission's Internet address is
http://www.sec.gov. The Commission web site also contains reports, proxy and
information statements, and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission. The Common Stock of the Company is quoted
on the Nasdaq National Market. Reports, proxy and information statements and
other information concerning the Company may be inspected at the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20006.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents previously filed with the Commission (File No. 0-
23560) pursuant to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated in this Prospectus
by reference: (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996, as filed with the Commission on February 24, 1997 and as
amended on February 28 and March 21 and 26, 1997, and (ii) the description of
the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement
on Form 8-A as filed with the Commission on March 2, 1994.
 
  All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the respective
dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein 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 modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified and superseded, to constitute a part of
this Prospectus.
 
  The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a Prospectus
is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and
all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus (excluding exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents). Please direct such requests to
XcelleNet, Inc., 5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attn:
Investor Relations, telephone (770) 804-8100.
 
                                      55
<PAGE>
 
                        XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants................................... F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995............. F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31,
   1996, 1995 and 1994..................................................... F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended
   December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994........................................ F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31,
   1996, 1995 and 1994..................................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................. F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors of
XcelleNet, Inc.:
 
  We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of XCELLENET,
INC. (a Georgia corporation) AND SUBSIDIARIES as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders'
equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
  In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of XcelleNet, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Atlanta, Georgia
January 23, 1997
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                        XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ----------------
                                                               1996     1995
                                                              -------  -------
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents................................... $10,587  $ 9,304
 Short-term investments......................................   2,157    9,115
 Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
  $503 and $325 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively..  13,306    8,091
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets...................   1,049      714
 Income tax receivable.......................................     793      522
                                                              -------  -------
    Total current assets.....................................  27,892   27,746
                                                              -------  -------
Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net.......................   5,378    4,885
Capitalized software development costs, net of accumulated
 amortization of $1,566 and $922 at December 31, 1996 and
 1995, respectively..........................................   2,231      767
Deferred income tax assets...................................     754      --
Other noncurrent assets......................................     428       63
                                                              -------  -------
                                                              $36,683  $33,461
                                                              =======  =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable............................................ $ 1,207  $   991
 Accrued bonuses and commissions.............................   1,375      610
 Sales tax payable...........................................     360      146
 Deferred income tax liabilities.............................     --        33
 Other current liabilities...................................   1,752      998
                                                              -------  -------
    Total current liabilities................................   4,694    2,778
                                                              -------  -------
Long-term liabilities........................................     859      834
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
 Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares
  authorized; no shares issued or outstanding................     --       --
 Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized,
  7,537,876 shares issued and 7,380,337 shares outstanding in
  1996 and 7,537,876 shares issued and 7,039,641 outstanding
  in 1995....................................................      75       75
 Additional paid-in capital..................................  24,211   28,093
 Retained earnings...........................................   9,232    9,232
 Treasury stock at cost, 157,539 shares in 1996 and 498,235
  shares in 1995.............................................  (2,388)  (7,551)
                                                              -------  -------
    Total shareholders' equity...............................  31,130   29,849
                                                              -------  -------
                                                              $36,683  $33,461
                                                              =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance
                                    sheets.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
                        XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                       ------------------------
                                                        1996     1995    1994
                                                       -------  ------- -------
<S>                                                    <C>      <C>     <C>
REVENUES
 Software license fees................................ $30,703  $25,612 $21,399
 Services.............................................  11,948    8,487   5,490
                                                       -------  ------- -------
    Total revenues....................................  42,651   34,099  26,889
                                                       -------  ------- -------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
 Costs of license fees................................   1,986    1,816   1,230
 Costs of services....................................   3,806    2,340   1,786
 Sales and marketing..................................  21,628   14,500  11,621
 Product development..................................   6,451    5,128   2,377
 General and administrative...........................   6,218    5,547   4,693
 Nonrecurring charges.................................   3,496      --      --
                                                       -------  ------- -------
    Total costs and expenses..........................  43,585   29,331  21,707
                                                       -------  ------- -------
Operating income (loss)...............................    (934)   4,768   5,182
Other income, net.....................................     934    1,264     748
                                                       -------  ------- -------
Income before income taxes............................     --     6,032   5,930
Provision for income taxes............................     --     2,230   2,375
                                                       -------  ------- -------
NET INCOME............................................ $   --   $ 3,802 $ 3,555
                                                       =======  ======= =======
NET INCOME PER SHARE.................................. $   --   $   .45 $   .45
                                                       =======  ======= =======
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING...................   7,915    8,480   7,833
                                                       =======  ======= =======
</TABLE>
 
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
                        XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                       (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            CONVERTIBLE
                          PREFERRED STOCK     COMMON STOCK    TREASURY STOCK    ADDITIONAL
                         ------------------ ---------------- -----------------   PAID-IN   RETAINED
                           SHARES    AMOUNT  SHARES   AMOUNT  SHARES   AMOUNT    CAPITAL   EARNINGS  TOTAL
                         ----------  ------ --------- ------ --------  -------  ---------- -------- -------
<S>                      <C>         <C>    <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>
Balance, December 31,
 1993...................  1,062,594   $ 11  1,702,881  $17        --   $   --    $ 7,966    $1,875  $ 9,869
 Conversion of preferred
  stock to common stock. (1,062,594)   (11) 3,187,782   32                           (21)               --
 Initial public offering
  of common stock, net
  of issuance costs.....                    1,810,000   18                        17,748             17,766
 Stock options exercised
  for cash..............                      451,276    4                           172                176
 Compensation related to
  stock options.........                                                             121                121
 Income tax benefits
  related to exercise of
  stock options.........                                                             948                948
 Net income.............                                                                     3,555    3,555
 Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment............                                                              38                 38
                         ----------   ----  ---------  ---   --------  -------   -------    ------  -------
Balance, December 31,
 1994...................        --     --   7,151,939   71        --       --     26,972     5,430   32,473
 Purchase of treasury
  shares................                                     (527,879)  (8,000)                      (8,000)
 Stock options exercised
  for cash..............                      385,937    4     17,100      259        37                300
 Employee stock purchase
  plan shares issued....                                       12,544      190        15                205
 Income tax benefits
  related to exercise of
  stock options.........                                                           1,131              1,131
 Net income.............                                                                     3,802    3,802
 Unrealized loss on
  short-term
  investments...........                                                             (50)               (50)
 Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment............                                                             (12)               (12)
                         ----------   ----  ---------  ---   --------  -------   -------    ------  -------
Balance, December 31,
 1995...................        --     --   7,537,876   75   (498,235)  (7,551)   28,093     9,232   29,849
 Exercise of stock
  options...............                                      347,831    5,450    (4,282)             1,168
 Shares acquired related
  to stock option
  exercises.............                                      (47,926)    (906)                        (906)
 Employee stock purchase
  plan shares issued....                                       30,791      467       (94)               373
 Restricted stock
  issuance..............                                       10,000      152       (28)               124
 Income tax benefits
  related to exercise of
  stock options.........                                                             480                480
 Net income.............                                                                       --       --
 Unrealized loss on
  short-term
  investments...........                                                             (21)               (21)
 Foreign currency
  translation
  adjustment............                                                              63                 63
                         ----------   ----  ---------  ---   --------  -------   -------    ------  -------
Balance, December 31,
 1996...................        --    $--   7,537,876  $75   (157,539) $(2,388)  $24,211    $9,232  $31,130
                         ==========   ====  =========  ===   ========  =======   =======    ======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
                        XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    --------------------------
                                                     1996     1995      1994
                                                    -------  -------  --------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>      <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net Income........................................ $   --   $ 3,802  $  3,555
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
  Writeoff of WorldLink product line...............   3,037      --        --
  Issuance of restricted stock.....................     124      --        --
  Depreciation and amortization....................   3,030    2,330     1,351
  Increase in trade receivables....................  (5,215)  (1,601)   (2,101)
  Increase in prepaid expenses and other current
   assets..........................................    (335)     (55)     (251)
  (Increase) decrease in income taxes receivable...    (271)     494      (899)
  (Increase) decrease in deferred income tax
   assets..........................................    (754)     --        295
  Decrease in other long-term assets...............     --       --        186
  Increase (decrease) in current liabilities.......   1,916      (77)    1,253
  Increase in long-term liabilities................      25       18        83
                                                    -------  -------  --------
    Total adjustments..............................   1,557    1,109       (83)
                                                    -------  -------  --------
    Net cash provided by operating activities......   1,557    4,911     3,472
                                                    -------  -------  --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Decrease (increase) in short-term investments.....   6,958    1,655   (10,770)
 Purchase of WorldLink product line................  (3,037)     --        --
 Purchases of furniture, fixtures and equipment....  (2,879)  (3,217)   (2,749)
 Additions to capitalized software development
  costs............................................  (2,108)    (319)     (786)
 Decrease (increase) in long-term investments......    (225)     (35)      142
 Other.............................................     (77)     (12)      114
                                                    -------  -------  --------
    Net cash used in investing activities..........  (1,368)  (1,928)  (14,049)
                                                    -------  -------  --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Purchase of treasury stock........................     --    (8,000)      --
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of
  related costs....................................     635      505    17,942
 Income tax benefits related to exercise of stock
  options..........................................     480    1,131       948
 Other.............................................     (21)     (50)       41
                                                    -------  -------  --------
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities....................................   1,094   (6,414)   18,931
                                                    -------  -------  --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equiva-
 lents.............................................   1,283   (3,431)    8,354
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year.......   9,304   12,735     4,381
                                                    -------  -------  --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR............. $10,587  $ 9,304  $ 12,735
                                                    =======  =======  ========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
 Interest paid..................................... $   --   $   --   $      1
 Income taxes paid................................. $   887  $ 1,253  $  1,771
</TABLE>
 
 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 Organization
 
  The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
XcelleNet, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company
develops, markets and supports software utilities that improve the
manageability and enhance the performance of remote access computing for users
who routinely work offline and periodically dial in to enterprise systems to
exchange or synchronize information.
 
  The Company's foreign subsidiaries accounted for approximately 9%, 9% and 7%
of consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. Thus, separate disclosure is not included.
 
  On April 14, 1994, the Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective
the Company's registration statement relating to the initial public offering
of its common stock. The offering was comprised of 2,300,000 shares (1,810,000
shares issued by the Company and 490,000 shares sold by certain existing
shareholders) at an initial offering price of $11.00 per share. The net
proceeds to the Company (after underwriters' discounts and commissions and
other costs associated with the offering of $2,144,000) totaled $17,766,000.
 
 Basis of Presentation
 
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 Change in Company Year-End
 
  Effective December 31, 1993, the Company changed its fiscal year-end from
June 30 to December 31. All prior year financial statements have been restated
to reflect a December 31 year-end.
 
 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
  In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long Lived Assets and for Long Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of"
("SFAS 121"), which became effective for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 1995. SFAS 121 established standards for determining when impairment
losses on long lived assets have occured and how impairment losses should be
measured. The Company adopted SFAS 121 effective January 1, 1996. The
financial statement impact of adopting SFAS 121 was not material.
 
  The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans under Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees"
("APB 25"). Effective in 1996, the Company adopted the disclosure option of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-
Based Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). SFAS 123 requires that companies which do
not choose to account for stock-based compensation as prescribed by this
statement, shall disclose the pro forma effects on
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
earnings per share as if SFAS 123 had been adopted. Additionally, certain
other disclosures are required with respect to stock compensation and the
assumptions used to determine the pro forma effects of SFAS 123.
 
 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
 
  The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an
original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Short-term
investments consist of the following (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                  1996    1995
                                                                 ------- -------
<S>                                                              <C>     <C>
Municipal securities............................................  $1,658  $5,860
U.S. Government agencies........................................     499   1,751
Corporate notes and bonds.......................................     --    1,005
U.S. Treasury securities........................................     --      499
                                                                 ------- -------
Short-term investments..........................................  $2,157  $9,115
                                                                 ======= =======
</TABLE>
 
  The fair value of financial instruments is estimated based on quoted market
prices. Differences between the fair value and the cost of investments are
recorded as unrealized gains (losses) in additional paid-in capital. All
investments are considered available for sale and have effective maturities of
less than one year.
 
 Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
 
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is
provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
related assets ranging from three to five years. Maintenance and repairs are
charged to expense as incurred. Replacements and improvements are capitalized.
Furniture, fixtures and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                               ----------------
                                                                1996     1995
                                                               -------  -------
<S>                                                            <C>      <C>
Computer equipment............................................ $ 7,814  $ 6,771
Furniture and fixtures........................................   2,540    2,408
Leasehold improvements........................................     676      600
Automobiles...................................................     168       81
                                                               -------  -------
                                                                11,198    9,860
Less accumulated depreciation.................................  (5,820)  (4,975)
                                                               -------  -------
Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net........................ $ 5,378  $ 4,885
                                                               =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
 Capitalized Software Development Costs
 
  In accordance with SFAS No. 86, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed," the Company capitalizes
certain software development costs when a new or enhanced product is released
for customer testing and ceases capitalization when the product is released
for sale. Software development costs of $2,108,000, $319,000 and $786,000 were
capitalized in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Amortization of capitalized
software development costs begins as products are made available for sale,
with annual amortization equal to the greater of the amount computed using the
ratio that current gross revenues bear to the total of current and anticipated
future gross revenues for the product or
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
the straight-line method over the remaining estimated economic life of the
product, which is a maximum of three years. Amortization expense is included
in costs of license fees. Amortization totaled $644,000, $332,000 and $48,000
in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
 Revenue Recognition
 
  The Company's revenues are generated from the licensing of its software
products; from fees paid for extended warranties and rights to upgrades and
updates ("maintenance") of the software products; and from training,
installation, implementation, support, and consulting services related to such
software products. In accordance with AICPA Statement of Position No. 91-1,
Software Revenue Recognition, the Company recognizes revenue from software
licenses upon the execution of a license agreement and delivery of the product
to a customer, provided the Company has no significant future obligations and
collection of the license fees is probable. Maintenance fees are recognized on
a straight-line basis over the period covered by the related contract. Service
revenues are recognized when the specific service is performed.
 
 Advertising
 
  The Company expenses the production costs of advertising at the time
incurred, except for direct-response advertising, which is capitalized and
amortized over its expected period of future benefits. Direct-response
advertising consists primarily of advertisements in business, financial, and
software magazines and newspapers. The cost of each advertisement is amortized
over the four-month period following the issuance of the publication in which
it appears. Advertising expenditures totaled $2,171,000, $194,000 and $707,000
for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Advertising expense was $2,027,000,
$194,000 and $707,000 for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Unamortized
advertising costs included in prepaid expenses were $144,000 and $0 at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
 Other Income, Net
 
  Other income primarily includes interest income. Interest income was
$911,000, $1,256,000, and $719,000 in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.
 
 Income Taxes
 
  Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the
differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities.
 
 Net Income Per Share
 
  Net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares
of common stock outstanding. Common equivalent shares from convertible
preferred stock and stock options have been included in the computation when
dilutive. The difference between primary and fully diluted earnings per share
is not material for any of the periods presented, and fully diluted earnings
per share have therefore been excluded.
 
 Foreign Currency Translation
 
  Non-U.S. assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the
balance sheet date exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at
average rates during the period. Foreign currency translation adjustments are
reflected as increases (decreases) in additional paid-in capital and were
$63,000, $(12,000)
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
and $38,000 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Cumulative foreign currency
translation adjustments were $76,000 and $13,000 at December 31, 1996 and
1995, respectively.
 
 Reclassifications
 
  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the
current year presentation.
 
2. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 Convertible Preferred Stock
 
  Upon closing of the Company's initial public offering in April 1994, all of
the outstanding shares of each series of convertible preferred stock were
converted, on a 3-for-1 basis, into a total of 3,187,782 shares of common
stock. The convertible preferred stock converted into common stock has been
returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.
At December 31, 1996 and 1995, 10,000,000 shares were authorized and none were
issued or outstanding.
 
 Stock Options
 
  The Company maintains three stock option plans: the 1987 Stock Option Plan
(the "1987 Plan"), the 1994 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the
"Director Plan"), and the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP"). The 1987
Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options ("ISOs"),
nonqualified stock options ("NQSOs"), and stock appreciation rights ("SARs")
to employees and officers of the Company. The Director Plan provides for the
issuance of NQSOs to non-employee members of the Company's Board of Directors
who are not prohibited by their employer from receiving options under the
Director Plan. The LTIP Plan provides for the issuance of ISOs, NQSOs, SARs
and other stock-based awards to employees, officers and directors of the
Company. Additionally, the Company has granted NQSOs to non-employee directors
and consultants on an individual basis and not under a plan. A total of
516,945 options were exercisable at December 31, 1996.
 
  Under the 1987 Plan, ISOs, NQSOs, and SARs to purchase a total of 2,650,000
shares were authorized for issuance, of which 1,327,756 options were
outstanding and 345,773 options were exercisable at December 31, 1996. All
options have been granted at the fair market value of the Company's common
stock at the date of grant. The ISOs and NQSOs are generally exercisable
beginning one to three years from the date of grant, after which options vest
over a period not to exceed ten years from the date of grant and terminate ten
years from the date of grant. No SARs have been granted under the plan.
 
  During 1994, the Company adopted the Director Plan, under which 300,000
shares were authorized for issuance. Under the Director Plan, the Company
automatically grants nonqualified stock options to purchase 40,000 shares of
common stock, at the fair market value of the Company's common stock at the
date of grant, to each eligible non-employee member of the Company's Board of
Directors. These options vest over a four-year period and terminate five years
from the date of grant. A total of 240,000 options were outstanding, of which
70,000 options were exercisable, at December 31, 1996.
 
  During 1996, the Company adopted the LTIP Plan, under which 3,000,000 shares
were authorized for issuance, of which 437,950 options were outstanding, and
none were exercisable, at December 31, 1996. All options have been granted at
the fair market value or higher of the Company's common stock at the date of
grant. The ISOs and NQSOs are exercisable beginning one year from the date of
grant, after which options
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
vest over a period not to exceed ten years from the date of grant and
terminate up to ten years from the date of grant. No SARs or other stock-based
awards have been granted under the plan.
 
  The Company has granted NQSOs to purchase shares on an individual basis and
not under a plan, on terms similar to the 1987 Plan. At December 31, 1996,
101,172 options were outstanding and exercisable.
 
  Changes in all outstanding options are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PRICE RANGE   SHARES
                                                         ------------- ---------
   <S>                                                   <C>           <C>
   Outstanding at December 31, 1993..................... $  .07-$ 4.00 1,962,138
    Granted.............................................   7.50- 14.50   437,800
    Exercised...........................................    .07-  4.00   451,276
    Forfeited...........................................    .32-  4.00   103,215
                                                         ------------- ---------
   Outstanding at December 31, 1994.....................    .07- 14.50 1,845,447
    Granted.............................................  15.50- 30.25   488,500
    Exercised...........................................    .07- 11.00   403,037
    Forfeited...........................................    .47- 23.50   197,071
                                                         ------------- ---------
   Outstanding at December 31, 1995.....................    .07- 30.25 1,733,839
    Granted.............................................  10.00- 19.00 1,172,007
    Exercised...........................................    .32- 10.00   347,831
    Forfeited...........................................    .47- 30.25   451,137
                                                         ------------- ---------
   Outstanding at December 31, 1996..................... $  .07-$23.50 2,106,878
                                                         ============= =========
</TABLE>
 
  In 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company recognized income tax benefits of
$480,000, $1,131,000 and $948,000, respectively, related to disqualifying
dispositions of ISOs and NQSO exercises. These benefits were recorded as
increases to additional paid-in capital.
 
 Stock-Based Compensation
 
  During 1995, the FASB issued SFAS 123 which defines a fair value-based
method of accounting for an employee stock option plan or similar equity
instrument. However, it also allows an entity to continue to measure
compensation cost for those plans using the method of accounting prescribed by
APB 25. Entities electing to remain with the accounting in APB 25 must make
pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share, as if the fair
value-based method of accounting defined in SFAS 123 had been applied.
 
  The Company has elected to account for its stock-based compensation plans
under APB 25; however, the Company has computed for pro forma disclosure
purposes the value of all options granted during 1996 and 1995 using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model as prescribed by SFAS 123 using the
following weighted average assumptions for grants in 1996 and 1995:
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                             <C>
   Risk free interest rate........................................   6.17%-6.48%
   Expected dividend yield........................................            0%
   Expected lives................................................. 4.2-5.8 years
   Expected volatility............................................         73.6%
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
  The total fair value of the options granted during the years ended December
31, 1996 and 1995 were computed as approximately $7,580,000 and $4,938,000,
respectively, which would be amortized over the vesting period of the options.
If the Company had accounted for these plans in accordance with SFAS 123, the
Company's reported pro forma net income (loss) and pro forma net income (loss)
per share for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 would have been as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                  1996     1995
                                                                 -------  ------
<S>                                                              <C>      <C>
Net income (loss):
 As reported.................................................... $    --  $3,802
 Pro forma......................................................  (2,027)  2,817
Primary EPS:
 As reported....................................................      --     .45
 Pro forma......................................................    (.28)    .33
</TABLE>
 
  Because the SFAS 123 method of accounting has not been applied to options
granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma compensation cost
may not be representative of that expected in future years.
 
  The following table summarizes information about fixed-price stock options
outstanding at December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                 ------------------------------------------- --------------------------
    ACTUAL         NUMBER    WEIGHTED-AVERAGE   WEIGHTED-      NUMBER      WEIGHTED-
   RANGE OF      OUTSTANDING    REMAINING        AVERAGE     EXERCISABLE    AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICES  AT 12/31/96 CONTRACTUAL LIFE EXERCISE PRICE AT 12/31/96 EXERCISE PRICE
- ---------------  ----------- ---------------- -------------- ----------- --------------
<S>              <C>         <C>              <C>            <C>         <C>
$  .07-
    .47             176,689        2.9            $  .27       176,689       $  .27
  1.08-
   1.08             136,227        5.6              1.08        89,754         1.08
  2.33-
   2.33              34,095        6.2              2.33        14,101         2.33
  4.00-
   4.00             257,199        6.7              4.00       122,925         4.00
  7.50-
   7.50              81,150        7.6              7.50            --           --
 10.00-
  14.99           1,188,192        8.4             12.32        84,900        10.71
 15.50-
  19.00             180,076        6.8             16.99        17,926        15.81
 23.50-
  23.50              53,250        8.3             23.50        10,650        23.50
- -------           ---------        ---            ------       -------       ------
$  .07-
  23.50           2,106,878        7.3            $ 9.90       516,945       $ 4.09
=======           =========        ===            ======       =======       ======
</TABLE>
 
 Restricted Stock
 
  During 1996, the Company issued 10,000 shares of restricted stock to an
executive officer at no cost. The fair market value of the stock at the date
of issuance was $12.375 per share, and the Company recorded compensation
expense of $123,750 related to the stock issuance.
 
                                     F-12
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
  During 1995, the Company established an employee discount stock purchase
plan for eligible employees of XcelleNet, Inc. and designated subsidiaries and
authorized 300,000 shares for issuance under this plan. Participants may use
up to 10% of their compensation to purchase the Company's common stock at the
end of each six-month plan period for 85% of the lower of the beginning or
ending stock price in the plan period. At December 31, 1996, there were
256,665 shares of stock reserved for issuance under this plan. The weighted
average fair value of the purchase rights granted in 1996 and 1995 was $14.42
and $18.49, respectively.
 
 Treasury Stock
 
  In November 1995, the Company's Board of Directors approved the repurchase
of 527,879 shares of its common stock from Motorola, Inc. at a negotiated
price of approximately $15.15 per share. The closing price of the Company's
common stock on the date of the transaction was $15.50. After the transaction,
Motorola, Inc. owned 731,047 shares of the Company's common stock.
 
  Additionally, on October 27, 1995, the Company's Board of Directors
authorized a common stock repurchase program of up to 350,000 shares. The
stock repurchase plan authorizes the Company to periodically purchase shares
in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions to meet the
requirements of its stock-based compensation plans.
 
3. INCOME TAXES
 
  The components of the income tax provision are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      --------------------------
                                                       1996      1995     1994
                                                      -------  -------- --------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Current:
    Federal.......................................... $   621  $  1,792 $  1,657
    State............................................     113       303      278
    Foreign..........................................      33        --       --
                                                      -------  -------- --------
                                                          767     2,095    1,935
                                                      -------  -------- --------
   Deferred:
    Federal..........................................    (663)      128      410
    State............................................    (104)        7       30
    Foreign..........................................      --        --       --
                                                      -------  -------- --------
                                                         (767)      135      440
                                                      -------  -------- --------
                                                      $    --  $  2,230 $  2,375
                                                      =======  ======== ========
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
  The Company's effective tax rate varies from the statutory federal income
tax rate as a result of the following items:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                    1996      1995      1994
                                                   --------  -------   -------
   <S>                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
   Statutory federal income tax rate..............       34%      34%       34%
   Foreign losses providing no tax benefit........       25        1         2
   State income taxes, net of federal benefit.....        3        3         3
   R&D tax credits................................      (35)      (3)       (2)
   FSC tax benefit................................       (2)      --        --
   State tax credits..............................       (9)      --        --
   Tax exempt interest income.....................      (19)      (2)       --
   Other, net.....................................        3        4         3
                                                   --------  -------   -------
   Effective tax rate.............................       --%      37%       40%
                                                   ========  =======   =======
</TABLE>
 
  The sources of the difference between the financial reporting and income tax
bases of the Company's assets and liabilities that give rise to the deferred
income tax liabilities and assets and the tax effects of each are as follows
(in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                               -----------------
                                                                 1996     1995
                                                               --------  -------
<S>                                                            <C>       <C>
Deferred income tax liabilities:
 Capitalized software development costs....................... $    832  $  286
 Prepaid marketing expense....................................       55     121
 Other........................................................       83      99
                                                               --------  ------
                                                                    970     506
                                                               --------  ------
Deferred income tax assets:
 Software acquisition.........................................   (1,115)     --
 Net losses from foreign subsidiaries.........................     (533)   (433)
 Deferred lease credits.......................................     (302)   (316)
 Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable...................     (181)    (97)
 Other........................................................     (126)    (60)
                                                               --------  ------
                                                                 (2,257)   (906)
                                                               --------  ------
Valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets............      533     433
                                                               --------  ------
Net deferred income tax (assets) liabilities.................. $   (754) $   33
                                                               ========  ======
</TABLE>
 
  The losses from the Company's U.K. operations were $258,000, $190,000 and
$289,000 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The income tax benefit related
to losses since inception of $533,000 and $433,000 at December 31, 1996 and
1995, respectively, has been offset by a valuation allowance due to the
uncertainty of realization.
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
4. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
 Operating Leases
 
  The Company leases certain office space and equipment under noncancelable
operating lease agreements, which expire at various dates through 2001. In
1996, 1995 and 1994, rent expense under these agreements totaled $1,754,000,
$1,131,000 and $790,000, respectively.
 
  For financial reporting purposes, rent expense and lease incentives related
to the office lease are being recognized on a straight-line basis over the
term of the lease. The lease incentives and accrued lease costs resulted in
deferred credits of $885,000 and $847,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, the majority of which are included in long-term liabilities in
the accompanying balance sheets.
 
  Future minimum payments due under all noncancelable operating lease
agreements at December 31, 1996 are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
                                                        ------------------------
       <S>                                              <C>           
       1997............................................        $2,412
       1998............................................         2,411
       1999............................................         2,472
       2000............................................         1,737
       2001............................................            41
       Thereafter......................................            --
                                                        -------------
                                                               $9,073
                                                        =============
</TABLE>
 
 Employment Agreement
 
  The Company has entered into an agreement with its Chief Executive Officer
("CEO") that permits the CEO to obtain, at no cost, a license to use the full
range of the Company's products at one central site, and on up to 250 nodes
for his own internal business, charitable, or educational purposes. The CEO's
license right commences when his employment with the Company, any subsidiary
of the Company, or any 40% shareholder of the Company, is terminated other
than for cause, or in the event the CEO resigns from employment following a
change in control, as defined. This agreement has a term of twenty years
following the CEO's termination of employment.
 
 Legal Proceedings
 
  The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings.
 
5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
  Electronic Commerce, Inc. ("E-Comm"), a system integrator based in Raleigh,
North Carolina that remarkets the Company's software to end-user customers, is
partially owned by the brother of the Company's CEO. During 1995 the Company's
CEO personally loaned E-Comm $200,000, which was outstanding at December 31,
1996, in the form of an unsecured note for working capital purposes.
Subsequent to year-end, this loan was paid back in full in conjunction with
the acquisition of E-Comm by the Company. See Note 7 "Subsequent Events."
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
                       XCELLENET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
  During 1996, 1995 and 1994, E-Comm purchased software from the Company
totaling $734,000, $852,000 and $63,000, respectively, of which $734,000,
$664,000 and $63,000 were remarketed to end-user customers and the balance was
used internally. All of these transactions were at the Company's standard
terms and conditions. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, $107,000 and $243,000,
respectively, were receivable from E-Comm and related to remarketing
activities. See Note 7 "Subsequent Events."
 
6. NONRECURRING CHARGES
 
  Effective November 5, 1996, the Company acquired all tangible and intangible
WorldLink software rights from The NetPlex Group, Inc. under the terms of an
asset purchase agreement for a total consideration of approximately
$3,037,000. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16, "Accounting for Business
Combinations" ("APB 16"), and accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to
goodwill as of the acquisition date. An amount equal to the purchase price was
included in nonrecurring charges on the Company's statement of operations due
to uncertainties regarding its recoverability.
 
  In addition, the Company recorded nonrecurring charges of $459,000 primarily
representing severance plus hiring costs associated with certain key
employees.
 
7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
  The following events have occurred subsequent to December 31, 1996:
 
 Acquisition of E-Comm
 
  During January 1997, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of
E-Comm for a total consideration comprising cash and stock of approximately
$2,675,000. The Company will account for the acquisition as a purchase in
accordance with APB 16. See Note 5 "Related Party Transactions."
 
 Potential Public Stock Offering
 
  The Company filed a registration statement on February 24, 1997 for the sale
of 655,953 shares of the Company's common stock (excluding shares that may be
sold upon the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and any
selling shareholders' shares and including 157,539 shares classified as
treasury stock in the Company's accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets).
There can be no assurance that the offering will be successfully completed.
 
 Employment Agreements
 
  During February 1997, the Company entered into employment agreements with
certain of its executive officers that provide for compensation and benefit
arrangements upon a change in control as defined in the agreements.
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
 
                        [LOGO OF XCELLENET APPEARS HERE]


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