Microsoft Corp – ‘424A’ on 11/2/99

On:  Tuesday, 11/2/99   ·   Accession #:  1032210-99-1498   ·   File #:  333-90119

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Prospectus   —   Rule 424(a)
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Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 424A        Prospectus                                           117    588K 

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                                                   Filed pursuant to Rule 424(a)
                                                      Registration No. 333-90119
[VISIO LOGO]
2211 Elliott Avenue 
Seattle, Washington 98121 

Dear Shareholder:                                                               

We cordially invite you to attend a special meeting of our shareholders,  
which will be held on Monday, December 13, 1999, at 10 a.m. local time, at our  
headquarters at 2211 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, Washington. At the meeting, you   
will be asked to approve a merger agreement that will combine our company with  
Microsoft Corporation. In the merger, you will be entitled to receive 0.45 of a 
share of Microsoft common stock for each share of Visio common stock you own.   
Up to 14,557,518 shares of Microsoft common stock will be issued in the merger. 
Microsoft's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol  
MSFT.                                                                           

  Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to complete, sign
and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid     
envelope to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting. If you      
attend the meeting, you may vote in person if you wish, even though you have    
previously returned your proxy card.                                            

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. The merger cannot be completed unless the    
holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Visio common stock  
as of the record date approve the merger agreement. Your vote is important      
because failing to vote will have the effect of voting against the merger       
agreement. Only holders of Visio common stock at the close of business on       
October 21, 1999 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting.               

Visio's board of directors has determined that the merger is advisable and
fair to, and in the best interests of, Visio and its shareholders. The board of 
directors has approved the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that you 
vote "FOR" approval of the merger agreement.                                    

Attached is a notice of special meeting to shareholders and a proxy       
statement/prospectus, which describes the merger in detail. For your            
convenience, the first two, blue-colored pages of the proxy                     
statement/prospectus contain frequently asked questions and related answers     
about the proposed merger. Please review the proxy statement/prospectus         
carefully.                                                                      

In particular, you should carefully consider the discussion in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" on page 12.                                             

If you would like assistance in completing your proxy card, or if you have
any questions about the procedure for voting your shares described in the       
attached proxy statement/prospectus, please contact Visio Investor Relations at 
(206) 956-6000.                                                                 

 This proxy statement of Visio and prospectus of Microsoft is dated November
3, 1999 and is first being mailed to Visio shareholders on November 5, 1999.    

              Sincerely,

                    /s/ Jeremy Jaech

                Jeremy Jaech
                                 President and Chief Executive
             Officer

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities   
regulator has approved or disapproved of the Microsoft common stock to be       
issued in connection with the merger or determined if this proxy                
statement/prospectus is truthful or accurate. Any representation to the         
contrary is a criminal offense.                                                 

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[VISIO LOGO]

2211 Elliott Avenue 
Seattle, Washington 98121 

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

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 

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

To the shareholders of Visio Corporation:                                       

We will hold a special meeting of shareholders of Visio Corporation on    
Monday, December 13, 1999, at 10 a.m. local time, at our headquarters at 2211   
Elliott Avenue, Seattle, Washington, for the following purpose:                 

To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan
of Reorganization, dated as of September 14, 1999, among Microsoft          
Corporation, MovieSub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, and    
Visio. Under the merger agreement, Visio will become a wholly owned         
subsidiary of Microsoft and each outstanding share of Visio common stock    
(other than dissenters' shares) will be converted into the right to receive 
0.45 of a share of Microsoft common stock. This proposal is more fully      
described in the attached proxy statement/prospectus, which you should read 
carefully.                                                                  

We will conduct no other business at the Visio shareholders' special      
meeting, except business that may be properly brought before the special        
meeting and that is within the purpose of the special meeting described above.  

We cannot complete the merger unless the holders of at least two-thirds of
the shares of Visio common stock outstanding on the record date vote to approve 
the merger agreement. Holders of Visio common stock are entitled to assert      
dissenters' rights with respect to the merger under chapter 23B.13 of the       
Washington Business Corporation Act.                                            

Only holders of record of Visio common stock at the close of business on  
October 21, 1999, the record date, are entitled to vote at the special meeting  
or any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. This notice and the attached 
proxy statement/prospectus are being sent to Visio's shareholders on or about   
November 5, 1999.                                                               

                                      By Order of the Board of Directors
                        of Visio Corporation

                      Wm. Kenneth McGraw
                                 General Counsel and Secretary

Seattle, Washington                                                             
November 5, 1999                                                                

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, sign and      
date the enclosed proxy card and mail it promptly in the postage-paid         
envelope provided. You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is         
voted.                                                                        

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PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

CONTENTS

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                               
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MICROSOFT/VISIO MERGER.....................   1
SUMMARY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS.................................   3
  The Companies............................................................   3
  Summary of the Transaction...............................................   5
  Selected financial data of Microsoft and Visio...........................  10
RISK FACTORS...............................................................  12
COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION...........................  14
THE VISIO SPECIAL MEETING..................................................  16
  Date, time, place and purpose of Visio's special meeting.................  16
  Record date; outstanding shares; shares entitled to vote.................  16
  Quorum; vote required....................................................  16
  Voting of proxies........................................................  16
  Recommendation of Visio's board of directors.............................  16
  Share ownership of management............................................  16
  How to revoke your proxy.................................................  17
  Abstentions and broker nonvotes..........................................  17
  Voting electronically via Internet or telephone..........................  17
  Expenses of proxy solicitation...........................................  17
  Dissenters' rights.......................................................  18
  Accountants..............................................................  18
THE MERGER.................................................................  19
  Background of the merger.................................................  19
  Visio's reasons for the merger...........................................  21
  Recommendation of Visio's board of directors.............................  22
  Opinion of Visio's financial advisor.....................................  22
  Microsoft's reasons for the merger.......................................  28
  Structure of the merger; completion and effectiveness of the merger......  28
  Merger consideration; conversion of Visio common stock...................  28
  Treatment of options and employee stock purchase and benefit plans.......  29
  Interests of Visio's directors and executive officers in the merger......  29
  Restrictions on sales by affiliates of Visio and Microsoft...............  31
  Material United States federal income tax consequences of the merger.....  31
  Accounting treatment of the merger.......................................  33
  Regulatory filings and approvals required to complete the merger.........  33
  Exchange of Visio stock certificates for Microsoft stock certificates....  33
  Listing of Microsoft common stock; delisting and deregistration of Visio     
   common stock............................................................  34
  Operations after the merger..............................................  34
THE MERGER AGREEMENT.......................................................  35
  Conditions to completion of the merger...................................  35
  Representations and warranties...........................................  35
  Conduct of business before closing of the merger.........................  36
  Exclusivity..............................................................  38
  Termination of the merger agreement......................................  39
  Termination fee..........................................................  39
  Extension; waiver........................................................  40
  Amendment to merger agreement............................................  40
  Additional amendments....................................................  40
RELATED AGREEMENTS.........................................................  41
  The Visio stock option agreement.........................................  41

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                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                               
  Visio management voting agreements......................................   42
COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF VISIO COMMON STOCK AND MICROSOFT COMMON     
 STOCK....................................................................   43
RIGHTS OF DISSENTING VISIO SHAREHOLDERS...................................   44
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS, MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS OF         
 VISIO....................................................................   47
LEGAL MATTERS.............................................................   49
EXPERTS...................................................................   49
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS.....................................................   49
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS..   50
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.......................................   50
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION..........................   51
ANNEXES                                                                        
  ANNEX A -- Agreement and Plan of Reorganization                              
  ANNEX B -- Stock Option Agreement                                            
  ANNEX C -- Opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co.                                   
  ANNEX D -- Dissenters' Rights Statute                                        

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MICROSOFT/VISIO MERGER

Q: What is the merger?                                                          

A: In the merger, Visio Corporation will merge with a wholly owned        
    subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation and become a wholly owned subsidiary
of Microsoft.                                                       

Q: Why are Microsoft and Visio proposing to merge?                              

A: The merger will expand Microsoft's product offerings to include Visio's
products in the market for general purpose diagramming tools. These 
   products are a natural complement to the Microsoft Office business. For
Visio's shareholders, the merger offers the opportunity to receive a
      significant premium over the market price that existed for shares of Visio
      common stock before the public announcement of the merger. The merger also
     offers Visio's shareholders the opportunity to continue to participate in
     the growth of the business conducted by Microsoft and Visio following the
merger and to benefit from the potential appreciation in value of   
Microsoft common stock.                                             

Q: What will I receive in the merger?                                           

  A: You will receive 0.45 of a share of Microsoft common stock for each share
of Visio common stock you own. For example, if you own 100 shares of
     Visio common stock, you will receive 45 shares of Microsoft common stock.
   Microsoft will not issue fractional shares of its common stock. Instead
of any fractional share, you will receive cash based on the average 
  market price of Microsoft common stock over a specified period of time
before the closing of the merger.                                   

     Stock options to purchase shares of Visio common stock will be assumed by
 Microsoft and will automatically become options to purchase shares of
  Microsoft common stock on the same terms and conditions as the assumed
Visio options. The number of shares subject to each option and the  
  exercise price per share will be adjusted to reflect the 0.45 exchange
   ratio. Except for accelerated vesting of options granted to nonemployee
 Visio directors, option vesting schedules will not be affected by the
merger.                                                             

Q: What vote is required to approve the merger?                                 

A: The holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Visio  
  common stock must approve the merger agreement. Microsoft shareholders
   are not required to approve the merger and will not vote on the merger.

 You are entitled to cast one vote per share of Visio common stock you
owned at the close of business on October 21, 1999, the record date.

Q: Does the board of directors of Visio recommend voting in favor of the merger 
agreement?                                                                

A: Yes. After careful consideration, Visio's board of directors has       
determined that the terms of the merger are fair to, and in the best
    interests of, Visio and its shareholders and unanimously recommends that
you vote in favor of the merger agreement.                          

Q: Are there risks I should consider in deciding whether to vote for the merger?

A: Yes. For example, Visio shareholders will receive 0.45 of a share of   
 Microsoft common stock for each share of Visio common stock they own,
    regardless of the market price of either Microsoft common stock or Visio
 common stock at the effective time of the merger. The market value of
    Microsoft common stock is likely to fluctuate, and no one can accurately
     predict what the market value will be either at the effective time of the
merger or after the merger. In evaluating the merger, you should    
carefully consider this and other factors discussed in the section  
entitled "Risk Factors" on page 12.                                 

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Q: What do I need to do now?                                                    

A: You should cast your vote on the merger agreement by completing, signing 
 and dating your proxy card. You should return your completed proxy card
  as soon as possible in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you return
your signed proxy card but do not include instructions on how to vote,
   your shares will be voted "FOR" approval of the merger agreement. You can
also attend the special meeting and vote in person.                   

If you abstain from voting or do not vote, it will have the effect of 
voting against approval of the merger agreement.                      

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VISIO UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE  
"FOR" APPROVAL OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT.                               

Q: What do I do if I want to change my vote?                                    

A: You can change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the   
special meeting, in one of three ways. First, you can send ChaseMellon
   Shareholder Services, L.L.C., the firm that Visio has retained to provide
   proxy solicitation services, a written notice stating that you would like
to revoke your proxy. Second, you can complete and send a later-dated 
signed proxy card to ChaseMellon. Third, you can attend the special   
meeting and vote in person.                                           

Q: If my Visio shares are held in "street name" by my broker, will my broker    
vote my shares for me?                                                          

A: Your broker will vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how
to vote. You should fill out the voter instruction form sent to you by
your broker with this proxy statement/prospectus. If you do not give  
instructions to your broker, your shares will not be voted, which will
have the effect of voting against the merger.                         

Q: Should I send in my Visio stock certificates now?                            

A: No. After the merger is completed, we will send you written instructions 
for exchanging your Visio stock certificates for Microsoft stock      
certificates. Please do not send in your stock certificates with your 
proxy card.                                                           

Q: When do you expect the merger to be completed?                               

A: We are working toward completing the merger as quickly as possible. We   
hope to complete the merger in late December 1999 or January 2000, if 
regulatory approvals and other required matters are completed at that 
time.                                                                 

Q: Will I recognize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction?                  

A: We expect that if the merger is completed, you will not recognize a gain 
  or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the
merger, except that you will recognize a gain or loss with respect to 
cash received instead of a fractional share. However, we urge you to  
   consult your own tax advisor to determine the tax consequences particular
to your situation.                                                    

Q: Whom should I call with questions?                                           

A: If you have any questions about the merger or if you need additional     
copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, you should contact:         

Visio Investor Relations                                          
2211 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98121                    
(206) 956-6000                                                    

   You may also obtain additional information about Microsoft and Visio from
documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, by     
following the instructions in the section entitled "Where you can find
more information" on page 50.                                         

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SUMMARY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

This summary highlights selected information from this proxy              
statement/prospectus and may not contain all of the information that is         
important to you. To understand the merger fully and for a more complete        
description of the legal terms of the merger, you should carefully read this    
entire proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents to which we refer     
you. We have included page references in parentheses to direct you to a more    
complete description of some of the topics presented in this summary.           

The Companies 

[MICROSOFT LOGO]

Microsoft Corporation                                                           
One Microsoft Way                                                               
Redmond, Washington 98052                                                       
(425) 882-8080                                                                  
http://www.microsoft.com                                                        

Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a wide
range of software products for a multitude of computing devices. Microsoft      
software includes scalable operating systems for intelligent devices, personal  
computers and servers, server applications for client/server environments,      
knowledge worker productivity applications and software development tools.      
Microsoft's online efforts include the MSN(TM) network of Internet products and 
services, e-commerce platforms and alliances with companies involved with       
broadband access and various forms of digital interactivity. Microsoft also     
licenses consumer software programs, sells personal computer input devices,     
trains and certifies system integrators, and researches and develops advanced   
technologies for future software products.                                      

 Microsoft's business strategy emphasizes the development of a broad line of
software products for information technology professionals, knowledge workers,  
developers and consumers, marketed through multiple channels of distribution.   

Microsoft recently announced its results for the first quarter of fiscal  
2000, ended September 30, 1999. Net income for the quarter was $2.19 billion    
and diluted earnings per share were $0.40. Revenues totaled $5.38 billion, a    
28% increase over $4.19 billion for the comparable quarter of the prior year.   
The current quarter's results include a gain of $156 million on the sale of the 
entertainment city guide portion of the MSN(TM) Sidewalk(R) online guide, while 
the results for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 include a gain of $160 million 
on the sale of Microsoft's Softimage subsidiary. Excluding the sale of these    
businesses, net income for the quarter rose 37% and diluted earnings per share  
grew 36% to $0.38, from $0.28. Including the gains on the sales, diluted        
earnings per share grew 29%.                                                    

For additional information about Microsoft's business, see Microsoft's    
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 and other    
documents Microsoft has filed with the SEC, which are incorporated into this    
proxy statement/prospectus by reference. See "Where you can find more           
information" on page 50. The information on Microsoft's Web site is not part of 
this proxy statement/prospectus.                                                

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[VISIO LOGO]

Visio Corporation                                                               
2211 Elliott Avenue                                                             
Seattle, Washington 98121                                                       
(206) 956-6000                                                                  
http://www.visio.com                                                            

 Visio Corporation is a leading supplier of business drawing and diagramming
software. Visio software, introduced in 1992, enables business and technical    
users to create drawings and diagrams using a drag-and-drop approach. Customers 
use Visio's software for creating drawings and diagrams ranging from simple     
diagrams, such as flowcharts, block diagrams and organizational charts, to      
complex technical drawings, such as space plans, electrical schematics and      
network designs. Visio's flexible product architecture and powerful graphics    
engine allow organizations to standardize on a single, easy-to-use drawing      
technology that meets a broad range of business drawing and diagramming needs,  
and thereby realize savings on purchasing, training and support.                

Visio recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and 
fiscal year ended September 30, 1999. Revenues for the quarter ended September  
30, 1999 were $50.1 million, a 13% increase over revenues for the fourth        
quarter of fiscal 1998 of $44.2 million. Net income for the fourth quarter of   
fiscal 1999 was $9.5 million, excluding merger-related expenses net of taxes,   
compared to net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 of $9.8 million,   
excluding acquisition-related expenses net of taxes. Diluted earnings per share 
for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999, excluding merger-related expenses, were  
$0.30, compared to diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal  
1998 of $0.31, excluding acquisition-related expenses.                          

Revenues for fiscal year 1999 were $200.0 million, a 20% increase over    
fiscal 1998 revenues of $166.0 million. Net income for fiscal 1999, excluding   
merger-related expenses net of taxes, was $39.8 million, compared to net income 
for fiscal 1998, excluding acquisition- and acquired technology-related         
expenses, of $35.0 million. Diluted earnings per share for fiscal 1999,         
excluding merger-related expenses, were $1.27, compared to diluted earnings per 
share for fiscal 1998, excluding acquisition- and acquired technology-related   
expenses, of $1.10. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999, including 
the merger-related charges, was $8.4 million and diluted earnings per share     
were $0.27. Net income for fiscal 1999, including the merger-related charges,   
was $38.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.23.                    

  For additional information about Visio's business, see Visio's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and other documents   
Visio has filed with the SEC, which are incorporated into this proxy            
statement/prospectus by reference. See "Where you can find more information" on 
page 50. The information on Visio's Web site is not part of this proxy          
statement/prospectus.                                                           

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Summary of the Transaction

The merger (page 28)                                                            

In the merger, Visio and a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft will merge
and Visio will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft.                   

The merger agreement, as amended, is attached to this proxy               
statement/prospectus as Annex A. We encourage you to carefully read the merger  
agreement and the discussion of the merger and merger agreement in this proxy   
statement/prospectus.                                                           

Visio's reasons for the merger; recommendation of Visio's board of directors    
(pages 21, 22)                                                                  

  Visio's board of directors believes the merger will provide several benefits
to Visio's shareholders, including:                                             

. the opportunity for Visio's shareholders to receive a significant premium 
over the market price for shares of Visio common stock existing before  
the public announcement of the merger; and                              

. the ability of Visio's shareholders to continue to participate in the     
growth of the business conducted by Microsoft and Visio following the   
merger and to benefit from the potential appreciation in value of shares
of Microsoft common stock.                                              

These potential benefits, however, may not be achieved. In addition, there
are potential risks related to the merger, including:                           

. the risk that the merger may not be consummated and the effect of the     
public announcement of the merger on Visio's sales and operating results
and Visio's ability to attract and retain key management, marketing,    
technical, sales and other personnel; and                               

. the possibility that the market value of Microsoft common stock might     
decrease, causing less aggregate value to be paid to Visio's            
shareholders.                                                           

 After careful consideration, Visio's board of directors approved the merger
agreement and unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" approval of the merger 
agreement.                                                                      

Merger consideration (page 28)                                                  

You will be entitled to receive 0.45 of a share of Microsoft common stock 
for each share of Visio common stock you own. Instead of issuing fractional     
shares of stock, Microsoft will pay cash for fractional shares based on the     
average market price of Microsoft common stock over a specified period of time  
before the closing of the merger.                                               

Treatment of options (page 29)                                                  

  Outstanding options to purchase shares of Visio common stock will be assumed
by Microsoft and will automatically become options to purchase shares of        
Microsoft common stock on the same terms and conditions as the Visio options.   
The number of shares subject to each option and the exercise price per share    
will be adjusted to reflect the 0.45 exchange ratio. Except for accelerated     
vesting of options granted to nonemployee Visio directors, option vesting       
schedules will not be affected by the merger.                                   

Treatment of employee stock purchase and benefit plans (page 29)                

 Visio's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan will be terminated the day before
the merger becomes effective. On that date, all funds that have been withheld   
from the wages of Visio employees for the purchase of Visio common stock under  
the plan will be applied to a final purchase under the plan.                    

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  Immediately before the effective time of the merger, Visio will terminate or
modify according to Microsoft's direction all of Visio's employee benefit       
plans. Microsoft has agreed to offer Visio employees who remain at Microsoft    
benefits commensurate with the benefits it gives to similarly situated          
Microsoft employees.                                                            

Opinion of Visio's financial advisor (page 22; Annex C)                         

 In deciding to approve the merger, Visio's board of directors considered an
opinion from its financial advisor, Morgan Stanley & Co., as to the fairness of 
the exchange ratio from a financial point of view to holders of Visio common    
stock.                                                                          

Visio special meeting (page 16)                                                 

  The special meeting of Visio's shareholders will be held on Monday, December
13, 1999, at 10 a.m. local time, at Visio's headquarters, located at 2211       
Elliott Avenue, Seattle, Washington. At the meeting, you will be asked to       
approve a merger agreement that will cause Visio to become a wholly owned       
subsidiary of Microsoft. You can vote at the special meeting only if you owned  
shares of Visio common stock at the close of business on October 21, 1999, the  
record date.                                                                    

Votes required for approval (page 16)                                           

  The holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Visio common
stock must approve the merger agreement. Visio's shareholders are entitled to   
cast one vote for each share of Visio common stock they owned as of the record  
date. Visio's directors and executive officers, who collectively held           
approximately 14% of Visio's outstanding common stock as of the record date,    
have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger.                        

  Microsoft's shareholders are not required to approve the merger and will not
vote on the merger.                                                             

Conditions to completion of the merger (page 35)                                

Visio's and Microsoft's respective obligations to effect the merger are   
subject to the prior satisfaction or waiver of specific conditions. The         
conditions that must be satisfied or waived before the completion of the merger 
include the following, subject to exceptions and qualifications:                

. Visio's shareholders approve the merger agreement as required by          
Washington law;                                                         

. no statute, regulation, order, decree or injunction prevents the merger;  

. Visio and Microsoft receive all material consents and approvals for the   
merger;                                                                 

. Visio's and Microsoft's respective representations and warranties in the  
agreement are true and correct except in respects that do not have a    
material adverse effect;                                                

. no material adverse change has occurred with respect to Visio's business  
condition or the economic or business benefits expected from the merger;

. both Visio and Microsoft materially perform their obligations under the   
merger agreement;                                                       

. both Visio and Microsoft receive required legal opinions, including       
opinions that the merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes
as a tax-free reorganization; and                                       

. Microsoft receives a letter from Ernst & Young LLP regarding that firm's  
concurrence with the conclusion of Visio's management that Visio meets  
the conditions necessary for it to enter into the business combination  
accounted for as a pooling of interests.                                

 If all of the conditions to closing are satisfied before December 30, 1999,
Microsoft may elect to postpone the closing to a date not later than December   
30, 1999. If Microsoft so elects, the obligations of the parties to effect the  
merger will no longer be subject to any of the conditions to closing.           

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No other negotiations involving Visio (page 38)                                 

Until the merger is completed or the merger agreement is terminated, Visio
has agreed, with limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly take any of  
the following actions with any party other than Microsoft:                      

. solicit, knowingly encourage, initiate or participate in any              
 negotiations, inquiries or discussions regarding any offer or proposal to
acquire all or any significant part of Visio's business, assets or      
capital shares;                                                         

. enter into any agreement related to such an acquisition;                  

. make any public statement, recommendation or solicitation in support of   
such an acquisition; or                                                 

. disclose any customarily nonpublic information about Visio in connection  
with such an acquisition.                                               

However, Visio's board of directors may recommend to shareholders that they     
tender their shares in connection with a tender offer by an acquiror other than 
Microsoft if the board determines in good faith that its fiduciary duty to its  
shareholders requires such a recommendation. In addition, the board can give    
information to a third party which has made an unsolicited acquisition proposal 
that the board reasonably believes is financially more favorable to Visio and   
its shareholders than the merger with Microsoft.                                

 Visio has agreed that it will inform Microsoft of the status and details of
any unsolicited acquisition proposal or request for disclosure of or access to  
nonpublic information that it receives.                                         

Termination of the merger agreement (page 39)                                   

Even if Visio's shareholders approve the merger agreement, Microsoft and  
Visio can agree at any time to terminate the merger agreement without           
completing the merger. In addition, subject to qualifications, the merger       
agreement may be terminated by either Visio or Microsoft under any of the       
following circumstances:                                                        

. if the merger is not completed by March 31, 2000 (subject to extension to 
September 30, 2000, if Microsoft and Visio have agreed to pursue        
litigation against any administrative or judicial action or proceeding  
challenging the merger on the basis that it violates antitrust law);    

. if Visio's shareholders do not approve the merger agreement;              

. if the other party materially breaches a representation, warranty,        
covenant or agreement in the merger agreement and the breach has a      
material adverse effect on the nonbreaching party and cannot reasonably 
be cured; or                                                            

. if a final court order prohibiting the merger is issued and is not        
appealable.                                                             

In addition, the merger agreement may also be terminated by Microsoft if:       

. Visio's board modifies or withdraws its approval or recommendation of the 
merger; or                                                              

. Visio or its representatives engage in the prohibited behavior, described 
above, regarding potential acquisitions of Visio by parties other than  
Microsoft and that action has a material adverse effect on Visio's      
business condition.                                                     

Termination fee (page 39)                                                       

Visio must pay Microsoft a termination fee of $30 million if Microsoft is 
not then in material breach of the merger agreement and Microsoft terminates    
the merger agreement for any of the following reasons:                          

. Visio or its representatives engage in the prohibited behavior, described 
above, regarding potential acquisitions of Visio by parties other than  
Microsoft;                                                              

. Visio's board of directors withdraws or modifies in a manner adverse to   
Microsoft its approval or recommendation of the merger and Visio agrees 
to an acquisition by a party other than Microsoft in a                  

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transaction that will result in a change in the beneficial ownership of 
more than 50% of the voting power of Visio's capital stock; or          

. Visio willfully breaches a material provision of the merger agreement and 
that breach has not been cured.                                         

The stock option agreement (page 41; Annex B)                                   

Visio has entered into a stock option agreement with Microsoft granting   
Microsoft the option, under specific conditions, to buy up to 6,012,500 shares  
of Visio common stock, or 19.9% of Visio's issued and outstanding shares as of  
September 14, 1999. The exercise price of the option is $42.78 per share.       

  The option becomes exercisable only if the merger agreement is terminated in
circumstances giving rise to payment of the termination fee described above.    
The option will terminate on the earlier of the completion of the merger and    
the termination of the merger agreement in circumstances under which the        
termination fee is not payable.                                                 

The sum of Microsoft's total profit arising from the provisions of the    
option agreement and the termination fee provided for in the merger agreement   
may not exceed $50 million.                                                     

Visio management voting agreements (page 42)                                    

As a condition to the merger, Microsoft required Visio's directors and    
executive officers, who collectively held approximately 14% of Visio's          
outstanding common stock as of October 21, 1999, the record date, to enter into 
voting agreements with Microsoft. The voting agreements require Visio's         
directors and executive officers to vote all the shares of Visio common stock   
beneficially owned by them in favor of the merger agreement. Visio's directors  
and executive officers also agreed not to sell or otherwise dispose of any      
shares of Visio common stock they own or acquire until the expiration of the    
voting agreement, unless the sale would not, in Microsoft's reasonable          
judgment, violate the SEC's pooling-of-interests rules.                         

Interests of Visio's directors and executive officers in the merger (page 29)   

When considering the recommendation of Visio's board of directors, you    
should be aware that some of Visio's directors and executive officers have      
interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, yours.      
These include indemnification rights, potential acceleration of option vesting  
and other benefits and payments under certain agreements and employee benefit   
and retention plans. Visio's board of directors was aware of and considered the 
interests of Visio's directors and executive officers in approving the merger   
agreement and recommending that Visio's shareholders approve the merger         
agreement.                                                                      

Restrictions on the ability to sell Microsoft stock (page 31)                   

 All shares of Microsoft common stock received by you in connection with the
merger will be freely transferable unless you are considered an affiliate of    
either Visio or Microsoft under the Securities Act of 1933. Shares of Microsoft 
common stock held by affiliates may be sold only under a registration statement 
or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.                     

Microsoft has received letter agreements from each of Visio's executive   
officers and directors, each of whom may be considered an affiliate of Visio.   
Each of these persons has agreed that he or she will not sell, transfer or      
otherwise dispose of, except by gift, more than a de minimus amount of shares   
of Visio or Microsoft common stock during the 30 days before the merger and,    
after the merger, until the date that Microsoft files with the SEC or publishes 
financial statements that reflect at least 30 days of combined operations. In   
return, Microsoft has agreed to publish financial statements covering at least  
30 days of combined operations as soon as practicable after the end of a        
calendar month that is at least 30 days after the effective time of the merger. 

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Tax consequences of the merger (page 31)                                        

Microsoft and Visio intend the merger to qualify as a tax-free            
reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code. It is a condition to the        
completion of the merger that both parties receive an opinion from their tax    
counsel that the merger will so qualify. We expect that none of Visio,          
Microsoft or their respective shareholders will recognize a gain or loss for    
United States federal income tax purposes, except for taxes payable for cash    
received instead of fractional shares of Microsoft common stock. Because tax    
matters are complicated, however, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor   
to understand fully how the merger will affect you, including how any state,    
local or foreign tax laws may apply to you.                                     

Accounting treatment of the merger (page 33)                                    

Microsoft expects to account for the merger using the pooling-of-interests
method of accounting under generally accepted accounting principles. Microsoft  
has reserved the right, however, to cause the merger to be accounted for as a   
purchase.                                                                       

Regulatory approvals required to complete the merger (page 33)                  

  The merger is subject to antitrust laws, including the reporting and waiting
period provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Microsoft and Visio have made   
the required premerger notification filings with the Federal Trade Commission   
and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. On October 29, 1999,   
pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the Antitrust Division issued requests   
for additional information and documents to both Microsoft and Visio. The       
requests extended the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for a      
period ending 20 days after both parties have filed a proper response.          

Due to the international scope of Microsoft's and Visio's businesses,     
regulatory filings will also be required in certain European and other          
jurisdictions. Microsoft and Visio do not expect those filings to affect the    
expected timing of the merger.                                                  

Dissenters' rights (page 44; Annex D)                                           

Under Washington law, Visio's shareholders have the right to dissent from 
the merger and to receive payment in cash for the fair value of their shares of 
Visio common stock. To preserve their rights, Visio's shareholders who wish to  
exercise their statutory dissenters' rights must precisely follow the           
procedures described in chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation   
Act, a copy of which is attached as Annex D.                                    

Differences in rights of Visio and Microsoft shareholders (page 43)             

The rights of Visio's shareholders are governed by Washington law and     
Visio's articles of incorporation and bylaws. When the merger is completed,     
Visio's shareholders will become shareholders of Microsoft. Because Microsoft,  
like Visio, is a Washington corporation, the rights of Visio's shareholders     
will continue to be governed by Washington law. However, the rights of Visio's  
shareholders will also be governed by Microsoft's articles of incorporation and 
bylaws, which differ in some respects from Visio's.                             

Comparative market price information (page 14)                                  

Shares of both Microsoft common stock and Visio common stock are listed on
the Nasdaq Stock Market. On September 14, 1999, the last full trading day       
before the public announcement of the proposed merger, Microsoft's common stock 
closed at $95.06 per share and Visio's common stock closed at $33.50 per share. 
On October 29, 1999, the last full trading day for which closing prices were    
available at the time of the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus,       
Microsoft's common stock closed at $92.56 per share and Visio's common stock    
closed at $39.59 per share. We urge you to obtain current market quotations.    

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Selected financial data of Microsoft and Visio

  The following tables provide selected financial data of Microsoft and Visio,
which were derived from the audited financial statements of Microsoft and Visio 
for the last five years for which audited financial statements have been        
prepared. The data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements, 
related notes and other financial information of Microsoft and Visio that are   
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. The Visio table 
also provides selected financial data of Visio as of June 30, 1999 and for the  
nine months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998, which were derived from unaudited     
financial statements of Visio. In Visio's opinion, the unaudited financial      
statements include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of       
Visio's financial position and results of operations for those periods. The     
historical results for the nine-month periods may not be indicative of the      
results of operations for a full year.                                          

Selected financial data of Microsoft

                                                                [Download Table]

                                               Fiscal Year Ended June 30,      
                                         --------------------------------------
                                          1995   1996    1997    1998    1999  
                                         ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
                                           (in millions, except earnings per   
                                                         share)                
                                                                               
Income Statement Data:                                                         
Revenue................................  $6,075 $ 9,050 $11,936 $15,262 $19,747
Net income.............................   1,453   2,195   3,454   4,490   7,785
Basic earnings per share...............    0.31    0.46    0.72    0.92    1.54
Diluted earnings per share.............    0.29    0.43    0.66    0.84    1.42


                                                        June 30,               
                                         --------------------------------------
                                          1995   1996    1997    1998    1999  
                                         ------ ------- ------- ------- -------
                                          (in millions, except book value per  
                                                         share)                
                                                                               
Balance Sheet Data:                                                            
Cash and short-term investments........  $4,750 $ 6,940 $ 8,966 $13,927 $17,236
Total assets...........................   7,210  10,093  14,387  22,357  37,156
Stockholders' equity...................   5,333   6,908  10,777  16,627  28,438
Historical book value per share(1).....                                 $  5.57
Shares used in computing book value per                                        
 share(2)..............................                                   5,109

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Selected financial data of Visio

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                                                                    Nine Months Ended
                              Fiscal Year Ended September 30,           June 30,     
                         ------------------------------------------ -----------------
                          1994     1995    1996     1997     1998   1998(2)  1999(2) 
                         -------  ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
                                    (in thousands, except per share data)            
                                                                                     
Income Statement Data:                                                               
Revenue................. $20,616  $34,224 $59,862 $100,775 $165,995 $121,772 $149,888
Operating income........     157    2,932  13,570   14,836   32,786   21,903   37,646
Net income (loss).......    (152)   2,185  10,496   13,700   28,108   19,153   30,304
Basic earnings (loss)                                                                
 per share..............   (0.02)    0.23    0.41     0.49     0.96     0.66     1.00
Diluted earnings (loss)                                                              
 per share..............   (0.02)    0.10    0.36     0.44     0.89     0.60     0.96

                                                                [Download Table]

                                         September 30,                         
                           ------------------------------------------- June 30,
                            1994     1995     1996     1997     1998   1999(2) 
                           -------  -------  ------- -------- -------- --------
                            (in thousands, except book value per share data)   
                                                                               
Balance Sheet Data:                                                            
Cash and short-term                                                            
 investments.............  $ 3,669  $ 7,424  $62,058 $ 81,212 $109,018 $112,104
Total assets.............    7,879   19,770   73,207  112,701  159,377  186,481
Debt.....................      587      453      158      387      --       -- 
Stockholders' equity                                                           
 (deficit)...............   (3,476)    (521)  55,359   78,768  127,207  144,429
Historical book value per                                                      
 share(1)................                                     $   4.21 $   4.79
Shares used in computing                                                       
 book value per                                                                
 share(2)................                                       30,191   30,125

--------                                                                        
(1) Historical book value per share is computed by dividing total stockholders' 
   equity by the number of common shares outstanding at the end of the period.

(2) Unaudited.                                                                  

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RISK FACTORS

 In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference
into this proxy statement/prospectus and in the documents to which we refer     
you, you should carefully consider the following risk factors in deciding       
whether to vote for approval of the merger agreement.                           

The exchange ratio for Visio common stock to be received in the merger is fixed 
and will not be adjusted in the event of any change in stock price.             

Regardless of the market prices of Microsoft and Visio common stock at the
effective time of the merger, Visio shareholders will receive 0.45 of a share   
of Microsoft common stock for each share of Visio common stock they own. The    
market value of Microsoft common stock is likely to change, both before and     
after the merger, and no one can accurately predict what the market value will  
be at any given time. Market prices of Microsoft and Visio common stock may     
vary for many reasons, including changes in the business, operations or         
prospects of Microsoft or Visio, market assessments of the likelihood that the  
merger will be completed, the timing of regulatory considerations and general   
market and economic conditions. Because the merger will be completed after the  
special meeting, the prices of Microsoft and Visio common stock on the date of  
the special meeting may not be indicative of their prices on the date the       
merger is completed. Visio cannot "walk away" from the merger or resolicit the  
vote of its shareholders based solely on changes in the value of Microsoft      
common stock. We urge you to obtain current market quotations for Microsoft and 
Visio common stock.                                                             

Visio's directors and executive officers have conflicts of interest that may    
influence them to support the merger.                                           

The directors and executive officers of Visio participate in arrangements 
that provide them with interests in the merger that are different from, or are  
in addition to, yours. These interests include indemnification rights,          
potential acceleration of option vesting and other benefits under certain       
agreements and employee benefit plans. In addition, some of Visio's executive   
officers may receive payments and other benefits under a retention and          
transition bonus plan that Microsoft implemented under the merger agreement. As 
a result, Visio's directors and executive officers could be more likely to vote 
to approve the merger agreement than if they did not hold these interests. You  
should consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and 
executive officers to support and recommend the merger.                         

Failure to complete the merger could negatively impact Visio's stock price and  
future business and operations.                                                 

If the merger is not completed for any reason, Visio may be subject to a  
number of material risks, including the following:                              

. Visio may be required to pay Microsoft a termination fee of $30 million;  

. the stock option granted to Microsoft by Visio may become exercisable;    

. the price of Visio common stock may decline to the extent that the        
current market price of Visio common stock reflects an assumption that  
the merger will be completed; and                                       

. Visio must pay its costs related to the merger, such as legal, accounting 
and financial advisory fees and employee retention bonuses, even if the 
merger is not completed.                                                

In addition, Visio's customers may, in response to the announcement of the
merger, delay or defer purchasing decisions. Any delay or deferral in           
purchasing decisions by Visio customers could have a material adverse effect on 
Visio's business, regardless of whether or not the merger is ultimately         
completed. Similarly, current and prospective Visio employees may experience    
uncertainty about their future role with Microsoft until Microsft's strategies  
with regard to Visio are announced or executed. This may adversely affect       
Visio's ability to attract and retain key management, marketing, technical,     
sales and other personnel.                                                      

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Further, if the merger is terminated and Visio's board of directors       
determines to seek another merger or business combination, it may not be able   
to find a partner willing to pay an equivalent or more attractive price than    
that which would have been paid in the merger. In addition, while the merger    
agreement is in effect, subject to limited exceptions described on page 38 of   
this proxy statement/prospectus, Visio is prohibited from soliciting,           
initiating, participating in any negotiations regarding, or entering into       
specified extraordinary transactions, such as a merger, sale of assets or other 
business combination with any party other than Microsoft. Furthermore, if the   
merger agreement is terminated and Microsoft's option to purchase Visio common  
stock becomes exercisable, Visio would not be able to account for the           
transaction that triggered the exercisability of the option as a pooling of     
interests.                                                                      

The price of Microsoft common stock may be affected by factors different from   
those affecting the price of Visio common stock.                                

  Upon completion of the merger, the holders of Visio common stock will become
holders of Microsoft common stock. Microsoft's business differs from that of    
Visio, and Microsoft's results of operations and the price of Microsoft common  
stock may be affected by factors different from those that affected Visio's     
results of operations and the price of Visio common stock before the merger.    
For a discussion of Microsoft's and Visio's businesses and factors to consider  
in connection with those businesses, see Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K 
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, other documents Microsoft has          
subsequently filed with the SEC, Visio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the     
fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and other documents Visio has subsequently 
filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this proxy         
statement/prospectus.                                                           

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COMPARATIVE STOCK PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

Visio common stock has been traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the   
symbol VSIO since November 10, 1995, the date of Visio's initial public         
offering. Microsoft common stock has been traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market     
under the symbol MSFT since March 13, 1986, the date of Microsoft's initial     
public offering.                                                                

  The following table lists, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and
low sales prices per share of Visio common stock and Microsoft common stock as  
reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Sales prices in the table have been        
adjusted to reflect Microsoft's two-for-one splits of its common stock in March 
1999 and February 1998 and Visio's two-for-one split of its common stock in     
August 1997.                                                                    

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                     Visio       Microsoft  
                                                 Common Stock  Common Stock 
                                                 ------------- -------------
                                                  High   Low    High   Low  
                                                 ------ ------ ------ ------
                                                                            
Calendar year ended December 31, 1997:                                      
  First quarter................................. $26.75 $18.13 $25.88 $20.19
  Second quarter................................  35.03  19.13  33.74  22.44
  Third quarter.................................  42.50  32.00  37.69  30.82
  Fourth quarter................................  42.63  26.50  36.66  29.50
Calendar year ended December 31, 1998:                                      
  First quarter.................................  48.13  32.38  45.47  31.10
  Second quarter................................  50.88  39.88  54.28  40.94
  Third quarter.................................  50.75  19.00  59.81  47.25
  Fourth quarter................................  38.50  14.00  72.00  48.13
Calendar year ending December 31, 1999:                                     
  First quarter.................................  43.50  22.00  94.63  68.00
  Second quarter................................  38.06  21.88  95.63  75.50
  Third quarter.................................  42.25  24.00  99.44  81.75
  Fourth quarter (through October 29, 1999).....  40.88  36.50  95.25  85.06

The following table lists the closing prices per share of Microsoft common
stock and Visio common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on (a)      
September 14, 1999, the last full trading day preceding the public announcement 
that Microsoft and Visio had entered into the merger agreement and (b) October  
29, 1999, the last full trading day for which closing prices were available at  
the time of the printing of this proxy statement/prospectus. The table also     
lists the equivalent per share price of Visio common stock on those dates. The  
equivalent per share price is equal to the closing price of a share of          
Microsoft common stock on that date multiplied by 0.45, the number of shares of 
Microsoft common stock to be issued in connection with the merger in exchange   
for each share of Visio common stock.                                           

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                  Microsoft Visio  Equivalent
                                                   Common   Common Per Share 
                                                    Stock   Stock    Price   
                                                  --------- ------ ----------
                                                                             
September 14, 1999...............................  $95.06   $33.50   $42.78  
October 29, 1999.................................   92.56    39.59    41.65  

We believe that Visio common stock presently trades on the basis of the   
value of the Microsoft common stock expected to be issued in exchange for Visio 
common stock in the merger, discounted primarily for the uncertainties          
associated with the merger. Microsoft cannot state with certainty what factors  
account for changes in the market price of Microsoft common stock.              

  We advise you to obtain current market quotations for Microsoft common stock
and Visio common stock. The market prices of Microsoft common stock and Visio   
common stock at any time before the merger, and the market price of Microsoft   
common stock at any time after the merger, may fluctuate. The exchange ratio    
will                                                                            

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not be adjusted for any increases or decreases in the market price of Microsoft 
common stock that occur before the merger becomes effective. If the market      
price of Microsoft common stock decreases or increases before the merger, the   
value of the Microsoft common stock to be received in the merger in exchange    
for Visio common stock will correspondingly decrease or increase.               

Neither Visio nor Microsoft has ever paid cash dividends on its shares of 
common stock. Visio has agreed not to pay cash dividends before the merger      
without Microsoft's written consent. If the merger is not completed, Visio      
presently intends that it would continue to retain all earnings to finance the  
expansion of its business. Similarly, Microsoft has no present intention to pay 
cash dividends on its common stock before or after the merger.                  

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THE VISIO SPECIAL MEETING 

Date, time, place and purpose of Visio's special meeting                        

The special meeting of Visio's shareholders will be held at 10 a.m. local 
time on December 13, 1999, at Visio's headquarters, located at 2211 Elliott     
Avenue, Seattle, Washington. At the meeting, Visio's shareholders as of the     
record date will be asked to approve the merger agreement with Microsoft.       

Record date; outstanding shares; shares entitled to vote                        

Only holders of record of Visio common stock at the close of business on  
the record date, October 21, 1999, are entitled to notice of and to vote at     
the special meeting. As of the record date, there were 30,431,714 shares of     
Visio common stock outstanding, held of record by approximately 18,000          
shareholders. Each holder of Visio common stock is entitled to one vote for     
each share of Visio common stock he or she owned as of the record date. If you  
do not vote, either in person or by proxy, it will have the same effect as      
voting against the merger agreement.                                            

Quorum; vote required                                                           

The required quorum for the transaction of business at the special meeting
is a majority of the shares of Visio common stock outstanding on the record     
date, represented in person or by proxy.                                        

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the         
outstanding shares of Visio common stock is required to approve the merger      
agreement.                                                                      

Voting of proxies                                                               

The Visio board of directors requests that you return the proxy card      
accompanying this proxy statement/prospectus for use at the meeting. Please     
complete, date and sign the proxy card and promptly return it to ChaseMellon    
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., the firm that Visio has retained to provide       
proxy solicitation services, in the enclosed envelope. All properly signed      
proxies received by ChaseMellon and not revoked before the vote at the meeting  
will be voted at the meeting according to the instructions indicated on the     
proxies or, if no instructions are given, to approve the merger agreement.      

We do not expect that any matter other than approval of the merger        
agreement will be brought before the special meeting. If other matters are      
properly presented and are within the purpose of the special meeting, however,  
the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their judgment with   
respect to those matters.                                                       

If you have questions or need assistance in completing or submitting your 
proxy card, please contact ChaseMellon at the following address and telephone   
number:                                                                         

ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.                                  
520 Pike Street, Suite 1220                                               
Seattle, Washington 98101                                                 
(800) 610-3775                                                            

Recommendation of Visio's board of directors                                    

VISIO'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR"     
APPROVAL OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT.                                               

Share ownership of management                                                   

As of the record date, Visio's directors and executive officers           
collectively owned 4,206,137 shares of Visio                                    

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common stock, or approximately 14% of Visio's outstanding shares. All of        
Visio's executive officers and directors have executed voting agreements with   
Microsoft, under which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the    
merger.                                                                         

How to revoke your proxy                                                        

  You may revoke your proxy at any time by taking any of the following actions
before your proxy is voted at the meeting:                                      

. delivering to ChaseMellon a written notice bearing a date later than the  
date of the proxy card, stating that you revoke the proxy;              

. signing and delivering to ChaseMellon a proxy card relating to the same   
shares and bearing a later date; or                                     

. attending the meeting and voting in person, although attendance at the    
meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.                            

Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, 
bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must bring to    
the meeting a letter from the broker, bank or other nominee confirming your     
beneficial ownership of the shares.                                             

Abstentions and broker nonvotes                                                 

Only shares affirmatively voted for approval of the merger agreement,     
including shares represented by properly executed proxies that do not contain   
voting instructions, will be counted as votes "for" the merger agreement.       

 Brokers who hold shares of Visio common stock in street name for a customer
who is the beneficial owner of those shares may not give a proxy to vote the    
customer's shares without specific instructions from the customer. These        
nonvoted shares are referred to as broker nonvotes. If your broker holds your   
Visio stock in street name, your broker will vote your shares only if you       
provide instructions on how to vote by filling out the voter instruction form   
sent to you by your broker with this proxy statement/prospectus.                

  Abstentions and broker nonvotes will be included in determining the presence
of a quorum, but will have the same effect as voting against the merger         
agreement.                                                                      

Voting electronically via Internet or telephone                                 

A large number of banks and brokerage firms are participating in the ADP  
Investor Communication Services online program. This program provides           
shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a participating bank or 
brokerage firm the opportunity to vote via the Internet or by telephone. The    
voting form sent to a beneficial owner will provide instructions if such        
options are available.                                                          

Expenses of proxy solicitation                                                  

The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of Visio's board of      
directors. Visio will pay the expenses of soliciting proxies to be voted at the 
meeting. Following the original mailing of the proxies and other soliciting     
materials, Visio and its agents also may solicit proxies by mail, telephone,    
facsimile or in person. Visio has retained a proxy solicitation firm,           
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., to aid it in the solicitation         
process. Visio will pay that firm a fee of $7,500, plus an additional amount    
for each shareholder contacted by ChaseMellon, plus reasonable expenses. Visio  
intends to reimburse persons who hold Visio stock of record but not             
beneficially, such as brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, for their  
reasonable expenses in forwarding copies of proxies and other soliciting        
materials to, and requesting authority for the exercise of proxies from, the    
persons for whom they hold the shares.                                          

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Dissenters' rights                                                              

Under Washington law, you have the right to dissent from the merger and to
receive payment in cash for the fair value of your shares of Visio common       
stock. To preserve your rights if you wish to exercise your statutory           
dissenters' rights, you must:                                                   

. deliver to the secretary of Visio before the special meeting written      
notice of your intent to demand payment for your shares of Visio common 
stock if the merger is completed;                                       

. not vote your shares in favor of the merger agreement; and                

. follow the statutory procedures for perfecting dissenters' rights under   
Washington law, which are described in the section entitled "Rights of  
dissenting Visio shareholders" on page 44.                              

Merely voting against the merger agreement will not preserve your         
dissenters' rights. Chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation Act   
is reprinted in its entirety and attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as 
Annex D. Failure to precisely comply with all procedures required by Washington 
law will result in the loss of your dissenters' rights.                         

Accountants                                                                     

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, Visio's accountants, are expected to
be present at the special meeting, will have the opportunity to make a          
statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.            

You should not send in any certificates representing Visio common stock.      
Following the effective time of the merger, you will receive instructions     
for the surrender and exchange of your Visio stock certificates.              

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THE MERGER  

This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the proposed     
merger. While we believe that this description covers the material terms of     
the merger, this summary may not contain all of the information that is         
important to you. You should carefully read this entire proxy                   
statement/prospectus and the other documents to which we refer for a more       
complete understanding of the merger.                                           

Background of the merger                                                        

 Visio and Microsoft have enjoyed a close working relationship since Visio's
initial product launch. Visio has historically been a developer of products     
based on Microsoft platforms. For example, the Visio graphics engine employs    
Microsoft Windows(R) technology, and Visio has worked extensively with          
Microsoft to more fully utilize the capabilities of Windows technology.         
Visio's products are very compatible with several Microsoft applications, with  
similar user interfaces, similar help systems and built-in Microsoft            
development tools. Visio and Microsoft have also developed joint marketing      
initiatives from time to time and have purchased and sold products to each      
other.                                                                          

In late 1998, Jeremy Jaech, the chief executive officer of Visio, met with
Microsoft representatives to discuss the possibility of the two companies       
partnering in some manner to further expand their existing relationship.        

During regularly scheduled meetings in late 1998 and early 1999, the      
members of Visio's board of directors discussed the strategic opportunities     
and challenges arising in connection with Visio's business. At meetings in      
January and April 1999, Visio's board noted the possible synergistic benefits   
of a broader relationship with Microsoft and agreed that Mr. Jaech should       
explore, on a preliminary basis, such a relationship with senior management of  
Microsoft.                                                                      

 In early February 1999, Mr. Jaech began discussions with Robert McDowell, a
Microsoft officer, regarding Mr. McDowell joining Visio's board. Mr. McDowell   
was elected to Visio's board on April 23, 1999.                                 

In early May 1999, Mr. Jaech met with Steven Ballmer, the president of    
Microsoft, to begin the process of determining whether a closer relationship,   
including a business combination, would be desirable. Messrs. Jaech and         
Ballmer agreed to continue to explore, on a preliminary basis, such a           
relationship.                                                                   

Robert Muglia, the senior vice president of Microsoft's Business          
Productivity group, Mr. Jaech and other Microsoft and Visio representatives     
met in late May 1999 to discuss generally Visio's business and its products.    

Visio's board met at a regularly scheduled meeting on May 27-28 to discuss
principally international strategic issues. At that meeting, the board          
received a report concerning the preliminary discussions held with Microsoft.   
After its consideration of the report, the board advised Visio's executive      
management team that it should continue exploratory discussions. Because Mr.    
McDowell is a member of Visio's board and a Microsoft executive, Mr. McDowell   
excused himself from all deliberations by Visio's board regarding a possible    
business combination with Microsoft.                                            

 On June 9, 1999, Visio and Microsoft entered into a nondisclosure agreement
containing customary terms.                                                     

During the early and mid-part of June 1999, Visio provided Microsoft      
limited product, financial and geographic information concerning Visio's        
business. In the second week of July 1999, Messrs. Muglia and Jaech and other   
representatives of Visio and Microsoft met to discuss Visio's products and      
sales strategies. At the meeting, the Visio representatives demonstrated        
Visio's products to the Microsoft representatives. Following the meeting,       
Visio provided Microsoft with additional requested information regarding its    
products and business.                                                          

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On July 28, 1999, representatives of Visio and Microsoft met again to     
further review Visio's products and its sales strategies, particularly with     
respect to corporate customers. In addition, Visio retained legal counsel       
during the last week of July 1999 and retained a financial advisor, Morgan      
Stanley & Co., during the second week of August 1999 to assist Visio in its     
discussions with Microsoft.                                                     

On July 30, 1999, Messrs. Muglia and Jaech discussed their respective     
company's mutual desire to explore a possible business combination on a         
preliminary basis. They further discussed how to proceed with due diligence     
reviews of each company. During early August, Microsoft continued its due       
diligence review of Visio. On August 9, 1999, Visio and Microsoft entered into  
an amended nondisclosure agreement.                                             

At a meeting of Microsoft's board of directors on August 8, 1999,         
Microsoft's management made a presentation to Microsoft's board regarding the   
potential for an acquisition of Visio. After the presentation, which included   
Microsoft's reasons for entering into the merger discussed on page 28 of this   
proxy statement/prospectus, Microsoft's board approved the transaction and      
delegated to Microsoft's management the responsibility to negotiate and execute 
a definitive merger agreement and related documents.                            

Visio's board met telephonically on August 11, 1999. At that meeting, Mr. 
Jaech reported on the status of the discussions with Microsoft, and Visio's     
senior management team, together with legal and financial advisors, discussed   
with the board various legal, commercial, employee and financial                
considerations. The board advised the management team to continue to explore    
the possible terms and conditions of a business combination transaction.        
Throughout the remainder of August, Mr. Jaech regularly communicated with       
members of Visio's board to update the members regarding the status of the      
preliminary discussions with Microsoft.                                         

In late August, representatives of Visio and Microsoft held preliminary   
discussions regarding a range of possible values to be paid on a per share      
basis to the shareholders of Visio. The representatives also discussed various  
other financial, tax and accounting issues during this period. On August 23,    
1999, with due diligence continuing, Microsoft's legal counsel forwarded a      
draft merger agreement to Visio and its legal and financial advisors.           

Beginning on September 8, 1999, Visio and Microsoft representatives and   
legal counsel held numerous discussions regarding the terms and conditions of   
the proposed merger agreement and various other legal, financial, accounting    
and regulatory issues, including, among other things, closing conditions, the   
identification of required regulatory filings and the treatment of Visio        
employee benefit plans.                                                         

  On September 12, 1999, Visio's board met to review the terms of the proposed
merger. Representatives of Morgan Stanley made a presentation regarding the     
financial terms of the proposed merger and discussed with Visio's board, among  
other things, the financial performance of Visio and Microsoft. Visio's outside 
legal counsel also reviewed certain legal matters with Visio's board, including 
a detailed review of the proposed merger agreement, the board's fiduciary       
duties in the context of the proposed transaction and other relevant aspects of 
applicable law. Following these presentations and discussions, Visio's board    
authorized senior management to continue to pursue the proposed merger.         

From September 12-14, 1999, the management teams of Visio and Microsoft,  
together with their legal advisors, continued to discuss various issues,        
including those relating to employee benefits, the rights of either party to    
terminate the merger agreement and whether any payment would be due as a result 
of a termination of the merger agreement under certain circumstances.           

Visio's board met again on September 14, 1999 to continue its discussions 
regarding the merger and to further review the terms and conditions of the      
proposed merger with senior management, outside legal counsel and Morgan        
Stanley. During this meeting, Visio's board received the oral opinion of Morgan 
Stanley, later confirmed in writing, that, as of that date, the exchange ratio  
set forth in the merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to    
holders of Visio common stock. Following further discussions, Visio's board     
determined that the merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, Visio and  
its shareholders, approved the merger and the merger agreement and related      
agreements, and resolved to recommend that the shareholders of Visio vote to    
approve the merger agreement.                                                   

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The merger agreement and related documents were signed by Visio and       
Microsoft late in the evening on September 14, 1999. On the morning of          
September 15, 1999, before trading commenced on Nasdaq, the companies issued a  
joint press release announcing the execution of the merger agreement.           

 On October 29, 1999, the parties amended provisions of the merger agreement
relating to the closing date, accountants' comfort letters, certain employee    
benefits matters and the publication of post-closing financial results.         

Visio's reasons for the merger                                                  

In reaching its decision to approve and adopt the merger agreement and to 
unanimously recommend that Visio shareholders approve the merger agreement,     
Visio's board identified reasons why the merger should be beneficial to Visio   
and its shareholders. These potential benefits include the following:           

. the opportunity for Visio shareholders to receive a significant premium   
over the market price for shares of Visio common stock existing before  
the public announcement of the merger. Specifically, the exchange ratio 
in the merger represented a 27.7% premium over the closing price for    
Visio common stock on September 14, 1999, the day that Visio and        
Microsoft reached final agreement on the merger agreement, as well as   
39.4%, 29.4% and 27.4% premiums over the average closing price of Visio 
common stock for the 10, 30 and 60 trading days, respectively, ending on
September 10, 1999;                                                     

. the ability of Visio shareholders to continue to participate in the       
growth of the business conducted by Microsoft and Visio following the   
merger and to benefit from the potential appreciation in value of shares
of Microsoft common stock; and                                          

. the larger public float and trading volumes of shares of Microsoft common 
 stock compared to the public float and trading volumes of shares of Visio
common stock, which would provide Visio shareholders, to the extent that
 they receive Microsoft common stock, with the opportunity to gain greater
liquidity in their investment.                                          

In the course of deliberations, Visio's board also reviewed with its      
executive management team and its legal and financial advisors a number of      
additional factors relevant to the merger, including:                           

. the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, including termination   
fees and closing conditions;                                            

. the likelihood that the merger would be completed;                        

. the expected qualification of the merger as a tax-free reorganization     
under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;                      

. the opinion of Morgan Stanley that, as of the date of the merger          
 agreement and subject to the considerations set forth in the opinion, the
0.45 exchange ratio is fair to shareholders of Visio from a financial   
point of view;                                                          

. information relating to the business, assets, management, competitive     
position, operating performance, trading performance and prospects of   
each of Visio and Microsoft, including the prospects of Visio if it were
to continue as an independent company;                                  

. current economic and financial market conditions and historical market    
prices, volatility and trading information for Visio common stock and   
Microsoft common stock;                                                 

. the belief, based on presentations by Visio's legal and financial         
advisors, that the terms of the merger agreement and the stock option   
agreement, including the limited conditions to Microsoft's obligation to
close the merger and the ability of Visio to consider proposed          
alternative business combinations under certain circumstances, are      
generally customary for transactions such as the merger;                

. whether strategic alternatives to the merger would enhance long-term      
shareholder value; and                                                  

. discussions with management and Morgan Stanley as to their due diligence  
investigations of Microsoft.                                            

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  Visio's board also considered and balanced against the potential benefits of
the merger a number of potentially negative factors, including, without         
limitation, the following:                                                      

. the risk that the merger would not be consummated and the effect of the   
public announcement of the merger on Visio's sales and operating results
and Visio's ability to attract and retain key management, marketing,    
technical, sales and other personnel;                                   

. the possibility that the market value of Microsoft common stock might     
decrease, causing less aggregate value to be paid to Visio shareholders;

. a recognition that Microsoft common stock is traded at high valuation     
 multiples, and the risk that such multiples might not be sustained in the
future;                                                                 

. the fact that shareholders of Visio will not receive the full benefit of  
any future growth in the value of their equity that Visio may have      
achieved as an independent company, and the potential disadvantage to   
Visio shareholders who receive Microsoft common stock in the event that 
Microsoft does not perform as well in the future as Visio may have      
performed as an independent company;                                    

. the possibility that some provisions of the merger agreement, including   
 the no-solicitation and termination fee payment provisions, together with
the stock option agreement, might have the effect of discouraging other 
persons potentially interested in merging with or acquiring Visio from  
pursuing such an opportunity; and                                       

. other matters described in the section entitled "Risk factors" on page    
12.                                                                     

Visio's board concluded that overall these risks were outweighed by the   
potential benefits of the merger, and determined that the merger was fair to    
and in the best interests of Visio and its shareholders.                        

The above discussion does not include all of the information and factors  
considered by Visio's board. In view of the variety of factors considered in    
connection with its evaluation of the merger agreement, Visio's board did not   
find it practicable to and did not quantify or otherwise assign relative weight 
to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition,  
individual members of Visio's board may have given different weight to          
different factors.                                                              

Recommendation of Visio's board of directors                                    

After carefully evaluating these factors, both positive and negative,     
Visio's board of directors has determined that the merger is fair to, and in    
the best interests of, Visio and its shareholders. Visio's board of directors   
unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" approval of the merger agreement.    

Because Robert McDowell, a member of Visio's board, is also a Microsoft   
executive, he excused himself from all deliberations by Visio's board regarding 
the merger with Microsoft.                                                      

Opinion of Visio's financial advisor                                            

Under an engagement letter dated August 12, 1999, Visio retained Morgan   
Stanley & Co. to provide Visio with financial advisory services and a financial 
fairness opinion in connection with the merger. Visio's board of directors      
selected Morgan Stanley to act as its financial advisor based on Morgan         
Stanley's qualifications, expertise and reputation and its knowledge of Visio's 
business and affairs. At the meeting of Visio's board of directors on September 
14, 1999, Morgan Stanley rendered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in   
writing, that as of September 14, 1999, based on and subject to the various     
considerations described in the opinion, the exchange ratio in the merger       
agreement was fair from a financial point of view to holders of shares of Visio 
common stock.                                                                   

 We urge you to read the full text of Morgan Stanley's written opinion dated
September 14, 1999, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as     
Annex C. The description below is only a summary. The opinion                   

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describes, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed,       
matters considered and limitations on the scope of the review undertaken by     
Morgan Stanley in rendering its opinion. Morgan Stanley's opinion is directed   
to Visio's board of directors and addresses only the fairness of the exchange   
ratio to Visio's shareholders from a financial point of view as of the date of  
the opinion. It does not address any other aspect of the merger and is not a    
recommendation to any holder of Visio common stock as to how to vote at the     
special meeting.                                                                

In connection with rendering its opinion, Morgan Stanley, among other     
things:                                                                         

. reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other        
business and financial information of Visio and Microsoft;              

. reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and    
operating data concerning Visio prepared by Visio's management;         

. discussed with Visio's senior executives the past and current operations  
 and financial condition and the prospects of Visio, including information
relating to strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated   
from the merger;                                                        

. discussed with senior executives of Microsoft the past and current        
operations and financial condition and the prospects of Microsoft,      
including information relating to certain strategic, financial and      
operational benefits anticipated from the merger;                       

. reviewed and discussed with the senior managements of Visio and Microsoft 
their strategic rationales for the merger;                              

. reviewed the pro forma impact of the merger on the earnings per share of  
Microsoft;                                                              

. reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for Visio common stock  
and Microsoft common stock;                                             

. compared the financial performance of Visio and Microsoft and the prices  
and trading activity of Visio common stock and Microsoft common stock   
with that of a number of other publicly traded companies comparable with
Visio and Microsoft and their securities;                               

. reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of a      
number of comparable acquisition transactions;                          

. participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of     
Visio and Microsoft and their financial and legal advisors;             

. reviewed the draft merger agreement and certain related agreements; and   

. performed other analyses that Morgan Stanley deemed appropriate.          

Morgan Stanley assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, 
the accuracy and completeness of the information it reviewed for its opinion.   
With respect to the internal financial statements and other financial and       
operating data that Visio provided and the discussions with Visio relating to   
the strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the merger,  
Morgan Stanley assumed that Visio had, in each case, reasonably prepared them   
on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the 
prospects of Visio and Microsoft. Morgan Stanley also relied upon, without      
independent verification, the assessment by the managements of Visio and        
Microsoft of:                                                                   

. the ability of Microsoft and Visio to retain key Visio employees;         

. the strategic, financial, operational and other benefits expected to      
result from the merger;                                                 

. the timing and risks associated with the integration of Visio and         
Microsoft; and                                                          

. the validity of, and risks associated with, Visio's and Microsoft's       
existing and future services, technologies and business models.         

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Morgan Stanley did not make any independent valuation or appraisal of the 
assets or liabilities or technology of Visio and Microsoft, nor has Morgan      
Stanley been furnished with any such appraisals. In addition, Morgan Stanley    
assumed, among other things, that the merger will be consummated in accordance  
with the terms of the merger agreement and that the merger will be accounted    
for as a pooling-of-interests business combination in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles and that the merger will be treated as a tax-    
free reorganization or exchange under the Internal Revenue Code. Morgan         
Stanley's opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other 
conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to it as of,     
September 14, 1999.                                                             

 The following is a brief summary of analyses performed by Morgan Stanley in
connection with its oral opinion and the preparation of its opinion letter. In  
some cases, the summary of financial analyses includes information presented in 
tabular format. The tables alone are not a complete description of the          
financial analyses, and in order to fully understand the financial analyses     
used by Morgan Stanley, you should read the tables together with the text of    
each summary.                                                                   

Visio stock price performance. Morgan Stanley reviewed the recent stock   
price performance of Visio common stock over various time periods ending        
September 10, 1999, and observed the following:                                 

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                      Visio Common Stock    
                                                         Closing Price      
                                                      ----------------------
Period Ending September 10, 1999                        High          Low   
--------------------------------                      ---------    ---------
                                                                            
Prior two years...................................... $   50.50    $   14.63
Prior 12 months......................................     40.88        14.63
Prior 90 days........................................     39.00        26.50
Prior 60 days........................................     39.00        27.78
Prior 30 days........................................     34.25        27.78
Prior 10 days........................................     33.88        27.78
September 10, 1999...................................     33.88(1)          

--------                                                                        
(1) Closing price                                                               

Comparative stock price performance. Morgan Stanley reviewed the recent   
stock price performance of Visio and Microsoft and compared their performance   
with that of a comparable group of companies. The group of companies (referred  
to as the Comparable Companies Index) included:                                 

. Parametric Technology Corporation;                                        

. Network Associates, Inc.;                                                 

. Macromedia, Inc.;                                                         

. Autodesk, Inc.;                                                           

. Corel Corporation;                                                        

. Adobe Systems, Inc.;                                                      

. Symantec Corporation; and                                                 

. Remedy Corporation.                                                       

Morgan Stanley observed the following percentage changes in Visio common  
stock, Microsoft common stock, the Comparable Companies Index and the Nasdaq    
Index, for the following periods ended September 10, 1999:                      

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                               Last          
                                                                12   Last Two
Percentage Price Change (as of 9/10/99)                       Months  Years  
---------------------------------------                       ------ --------
                                                                             
Visio Corporation............................................   35%     -3%  
Microsoft Corporation........................................   89%    181%  
Comparable Companies Index...................................  174%     67%  
Nasdaq Index.................................................   82%     76%  

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Comparable company trading analysis. Morgan Stanley compared financial    
information of Visio and Microsoft with publicly available information for the  
companies comprising the Comparable Companies Index. Based on estimates from    
securities research analysts and using the closing prices of Visio and          
Microsoft common stock on September 10, 1999 of $33.88 for Visio and $95.00 for 
Microsoft, the following table presents the price to earnings (commonly known   
as P/E) ratios for calendar years 1999 and 2000, the aggregate value to revenue 
ratios for calendar years 1999 and 2000, and the P/E for calendar year 2000 to  
average long-term earnings per share growth rate:                               

                                                                [Download Table]

                                             Aggregate Value to    P/E to
                           Price/Earnings          Revenue         Growth
                           ----------------  --------------------  ------
                           CY1999   CY2000    CY1999     CY2000    CY2000
                           -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ------
                                                                         
Visio Corporation.........   23.3x    17.8x       4.1x       3.0x  0.59x 
Microsoft Corporation.....   66.1     54.7       25.2       20.7   2.19  
Comparable Companies                                                     
  Parametric Technology                                                  
   Corporation............   22.9     16.5        3.6        2.9   0.70  
  Network Associates,                                                    
   Inc....................     NM     25.1        4.5        3.3   0.91  
  Macromedia, Inc.........   70.1     46.4       10.0        7.5   1.55  
  Autodesk, Inc...........   29.0     16.2        1.2        1.0   0.85  
  Corel Corporation.......   49.4     26.0        1.2        1.0   1.04  
  Adobe Systems, Inc......   35.7     30.3        6.2        5.1   1.60  
  Symantec Corporation....   20.3     16.4        2.8        2.3   0.82  
  Remedy Corporation......   30.2     24.6        3.5        2.8   0.86  

No company in the Comparable Companies Index is identical to Visio or     
Microsoft. In evaluating the comparable companies, Morgan Stanley made          
judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, general          
business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of  
which are beyond the control of Visio and Microsoft. These matters include the  
impact of competition on the businesses of Visio and Microsoft and the industry 
in general, industry growth and the absence of any adverse material change in   
the financial condition and prospects of Visio and Microsoft or the industry or 
in the financial markets in general. Mathematical analysis, such as determining 
the average or median, is not in itself a meaningful method of using comparable 
companies data.                                                                 

Discounted analyst price targets. Morgan Stanley performed an analysis of 
the present value of research analysts' 12-month price targets of Visio common  
stock. At a discount rate of 16%, the discounted analyst price target range as  
of September 10, 1999 is $31 to $44.                                            

Exchange ratio analysis. Morgan Stanley reviewed the ratios of the closing
prices of Visio common stock divided by the corresponding closing prices of     
Microsoft common stock over various periods during the 12-month period ended    
September 10, 1999, and examined the premiums represented by the exchange ratio 
over the averages of these exchange ratios over various periods:                

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                  Period        Premium    
   Period Ended                                  Average     Transaction to
September 10, 1999                            Exchange Ratio Period Average
------------------                            -------------- --------------
                                                                           
Market (9/10/99).............................     0.357x          26.2%    
Prior 5 days.................................     0.335           34.3     
Prior 10 days................................     0.323           39.4     
Prior 20 days................................     0.333           35.3     
Prior 30 days................................     0.348           29.4     
Prior 60 days................................     0.353           27.4     
Prior 90 days................................     0.365           23.3     

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Analysis of selected precedent transactions. Morgan Stanley compared      
statistics based on publicly available information for selected software        
transactions to the relevant financial statistics for Visio based on the value  
of Visio implied by the exchange ratio and the closing share price of Microsoft 
common stock on September 10, 1999. The following table presents the implied    
multiples paid to the last 12-month (commonly known as LTM) earnings and LTM    
revenue.                                                                        

                                                                [Download Table]

                                        Equity Value to Aggregate Value to
Target / Acquiror                        LTM Earnings      LTM Revenue    
-----------------                       --------------- ------------------
                                                                          
Edify / Security One...................        NM              4.4x       
PC Docs Group / Hummingbird............        NM              1.4        
Platinum / Computer Associates.........        NM              3.5        
New Dimension / BMC Software...........      10.7x             0.7        
Boole & Babbage / BMC Software.........      27.6              4.2        
Discreet Logic / Autodesk..............      21.7              3.2        
Memco Software / Platinum..............      43.8              9.8        
Dr. Solomon / Network Associates.......      42.5              6.9        
Hyperion Software / Arbor Software.....      38.9              2.7        
Logic Works / Platinum.................       6.3              4.0        
Scopus / Siebel Systems................      58.9              5.7        
BGS Systems / BMC Software.............      30.7              5.3        
Visio / Microsoft......................      33.2              6.5        

The following table presents the premiums paid above the 30-day-prior-to- 
announcement exchange ratio and 60-day-prior-to-announcement exchange ratio for 
selected software transactions and for this transaction on September 10, 1999:  

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                      Premium to Premium to
                                                        30-Day     60-Day  
Target / Acquiror                                     Ex. Ratio  Ex. Ratio 
-----------------                                     ---------- ----------
                                                                           
Edify / Security One.................................     94%        88%   
Boole & Babbage / BMC Software.......................     54         49    
Discreet Logic / Autodesk............................     45         56    
Memco Software / Platinum............................     33         15    
Dr. Solomon / Network Associates.....................     20         13    
Hyperion Software / Arbor Software...................      3          3    
Logic Works / Platinum...............................     53         65    
Scopus / Siebel Systems..............................     55         41    
BGS Systems / BMC Software...........................     26         24    
Visio / Microsoft....................................     29         27    

No transaction used as a comparison in the selected precedent transactions
analysis is identical to the Visio/Microsoft merger. In evaluating the          
transactions listed above, Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with   
regard to industry performance, general business, economic, market and          
financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of 
Visio and Microsoft. These matters include the impact of competition on Visio,  
Microsoft or the industry or in the financial markets in general. Mathematical  
analysis, such as determining the average or median, is not in itself a         
meaningful method of using precedent transaction data.                          

  Discounted equity value. Morgan Stanley performed an analysis of the present
value per share of the implied value of Visio common stock on a standalone      
basis based on Visio's projected future equity value. The following table       
presents the discounted equity value of Visio common stock based on the         
specified assumed variable ranges:                                              

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                                Fully Diluted
Next 12 Months                                         Discount   Price per  
P/E Ratio                                               Rates       Share    
--------------                                         -------- -------------
                                                                             
15x-25x..............................................  16%-20%  $32.14-$53.56

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Pro forma merger analysis. Morgan Stanley analyzed the pro forma impact of
the merger on Microsoft's combined projected earnings per share for calendar    
years 1999 and 2000. This analysis was based on average earnings projections by 
securities research analysts for Visio and Microsoft. Morgan Stanley observed   
that the merger would result in earnings per share accretion for Microsoft,     
before giving effect to any synergies, of 0.3% for calendar year 1999 and 0.4%  
for calendar year 2000.                                                         

The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not     
necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving 
at its opinion, Morgan Stanley considered the results of all of its analyses as 
a whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor   
it considered. Furthermore, Morgan Stanley believes that selecting any portion  
of its analyses, without considering all analyses, would create an incomplete   
view of the process underlying its opinion. In addition, Morgan Stanley may     
have given various analyses and factors more or less weight than other analyses 
and factors, and may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than 
other assumptions, so that the ranges of valuations resulting from any          
particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Morgan Stanley's  
view of the actual value of Visio or Microsoft. In performing its analyses,     
Morgan Stanley made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance,  
general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are   
beyond the control of Visio or Microsoft. Any estimates contained in Morgan     
Stanley's analyses are not necessarily indicative of future results or actual   
values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested  
by those estimates.                                                             

The analyses performed were prepared solely as part of Morgan Stanley's   
analysis of the fairness of the exchange ratio in the merger agreement to       
holders of Visio common stock from a financial point of view and were conducted 
in connection with the delivery of the opinion to Visio's board of directors.   
The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which  
Visio or Microsoft might actually be sold.                                      

 The exchange ratio was determined through arm's-length negotiations between
Visio and Microsoft and was approved by Visio's board of directors. Morgan      
Stanley gave Visio advice during those negotiations, but Morgan Stanley did not 
recommend any specific consideration or exchange ratio or state that any        
specific consideration or exchange ratio was the only appropriate consideration 
or exchange ratio for the merger.                                               

In addition, Morgan Stanley's opinion and presentation to Visio's board of
directors was only one of many factors taken into consideration by the board in 
making its decision to approve the merger. Consequently, Morgan Stanley's       
opinion should not be viewed as determinative of the opinion of Visio's board   
of directors with respect to the exchange ratio or of whether the board would   
have been willing to agree to a different consideration or exchange ratio.      

Visio's board of directors retained Morgan Stanley based upon Morgan      
Stanley's qualifications, experience and expertise. Morgan Stanley is an        
internationally recognized investment banking and advisory firm. As part of its 
investment banking business, Morgan Stanley is continuously engaged in the      
valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and           
acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary         
distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and         
valuations for corporate, estate and other purposes. In the past, Morgan        
Stanley and its affiliates have provided financing services and financial       
advisory services for Microsoft and have received fees for these services. In   
the ordinary course of Morgan Stanley's trading and brokerage activities,       
Morgan Stanley or its affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions   
or may trade or otherwise effect transactions, for its own account or for the   
accounts of customers, in the equity securities of Visio, Microsoft or any      
other parties involved in the transaction.                                      

Under the engagement letter, Morgan Stanley provided financial advisory   
services and a financial fairness opinion to Visio in connection with the       
merger, and Visio agreed to pay Morgan Stanley a customary fee. Visio has also  
agreed to reimburse Morgan Stanley for its expenses incurred in performing its  
services. In addition, Visio has also agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley and    
its affiliates, their respective directors, officers, agents and employees and  
each person, if any, controlling Morgan Stanley or any of its affiliates        
against specific liabilities and expenses, including specific liabilities under 
the federal securities laws, related to or arising out of Morgan Stanley's      
engagement.                                                                     

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Microsoft's reasons for the merger                                              

  Microsoft's board of directors has determined that the merger is in the best
interests of Microsoft and its shareholders. Microsoft's board of directors has 
approved the merger and the issuance of shares of Microsoft common stock in the 
merger.                                                                         

  In reaching its determination, Microsoft's board of directors identified the
following reasons, among others, for entering into the merger agreement:        

. Visio has built a strong business and has developed a strong set of       
products in the market for general-purpose diagramming tools and        
Microsoft does not have a similar product offering;                     

. the nature of Visio's products and its customers creates a natural        
complement to the Microsoft Office business. Specifically, (a) Visio, a 
highly regarded general purpose productivity tool, should appeal to     
Office customers and (b) Visio's products will not require substantial  
redevelopment because they already implement various Microsoft Office   
technologies;                                                           

. in Microsoft's opinion, Visio's future growth prospects will be derived   
in enterprise licensing to corporate customers, as opposed to retail    
sales. Microsoft believes that the merger will allow it to accelerate   
distribution of Visio's products through the efforts of Microsoft's     
 existing sales force, and thereby increase revenues from Visio's existing
and future products; and                                                

. Visio has a strong engineering and management team based in Seattle that  
will complement the continued development of the Visio business, going  
forward, as a division of Microsoft.                                    

Structure of the merger; completion and effectiveness of the merger             

The merger agreement provides for the merger of MovieSub, Inc., a wholly  
owned subsidiary of Microsoft, with and into Visio. Before the effective time   
of the merger, Microsoft, MovieSub, Inc. and Visio will be separate entities.   

  The merger will be completed when all of the conditions to completion of the
merger are satisfied or waived, including approval of the merger agreement by   
Visio's shareholders. If all conditions are satisfied before December 30, 1999, 
however, Microsoft may elect to postpone the closing of the merger to a date    
not later than December 30, 1999. If Microsoft so elects, the obligations of    
each party to effect the merger will no longer be subject to any of the         
conditions specified in the merger agreement.                                   

At the effective time of the merger, which occurs the day that articles of
merger and an agreement and plan of merger are filed with the Secretary of      
State of the state of Washington, MovieSub, Inc. and Visio will merge. Visio    
will survive the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft.              

Merger consideration; conversion of Visio common stock                          

 At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of Visio common
stock will be automatically converted into the right to receive 0.45 of a share 
of Microsoft common stock. You will receive cash for any fractional share you   
would otherwise receive in the merger. The exchange ratio of 0.45 was           
determined through arm's-length negotiations between Microsoft and Visio.       

  The amount of cash that Microsoft will pay you in lieu of a fractional share
is equal to the average closing price of Microsoft common stock on the Nasdaq   
Stock Market over the 20 trading days ending on the fifth trading day before    
the closing date, multiplied by the fraction of a share of Microsoft common     
stock to which you would otherwise be entitled. Visio shareholders will not     
receive interest on cash payments in lieu of fractional shares.                 

The conversion of Visio common stock into the right to receive Microsoft  
common stock will occur automatically at the effective time of the merger. At   
that time, all shares of Visio common stock will no longer                      

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be outstanding, will automatically be canceled and will cease to exist. Subject 
to the dissenters' rights described elsewhere in this proxy                     
statement/prospectus, each holder of a certificate representing shares of Visio 
common stock will cease to have any rights as a shareholder except the right to 
receive the Microsoft common stock into which those shares were converted in    
the merger and the right to receive cash for any fractional share of Microsoft  
common stock.                                                                   

Treatment of options and employee stock purchase and benefit plans              

At the effective time of the merger, each then-outstanding option to      
purchase shares of Visio common stock will be assumed by Microsoft and will     
automatically become an option to purchase shares of Microsoft common stock.    
The number of shares of Microsoft common stock for which the assumed option     
will be exercisable will be determined by multiplying the number of Visio       
shares subject to the option by 0.45, and the per share exercise price will be  
determined by dividing the per share exercise price of the Visio option by      
0.45. To avoid options to purchase fractional shares, the number of shares of   
Microsoft common stock subject to an assumed option will be rounded to the      
nearest whole share. Except for vesting of options granted to Visio directors,  
the other terms of the assumed Visio options, including exercisability and      
vesting schedules, will remain unchanged. Microsoft will issue the shares of    
Microsoft common stock issuable upon the exercise of assumed Visio options      
under Microsoft's amended 1991 Stock Option Plan, which is subject to a         
currently effective registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC.      
Alternatively, Microsoft may file a registration statement with the SEC to      
register the shares of Microsoft common stock to be issued upon exercise of the 
assumed Visio options, and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to 
maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement for as long as any     
assumed Visio options remain outstanding.                                       

Visio will terminate its 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of the day  
before the merger becomes effective. This termination will not result in any    
loss of rights for those employees who purchased stock under this plan. On the  
date of the termination of the plan, all funds that have been withheld from the 
wages of Visio employees for the purchase of Visio common stock under the plan  
will be applied to a final purchase under the plan.                             

  Immediately before the effective time of the merger, Visio will terminate or
modify according to Microsoft's direction all of Visio's employee benefit       
plans. Microsoft has agreed to offer Visio employees who remain at Microsoft    
benefits commensurate with the benefits it gives to similarly situated          
Microsoft employees. To the extent that length of service determines            
eligibility, vesting or benefit accruals under any Microsoft employee benefit   
plan, Microsoft will credit former Visio employees for any service credit       
recognized by Visio or its subsidiaries.                                        

Interests of Visio's directors and executive officers in the merger             

When considering the recommendation of Visio's board of directors, you    
should be aware that some of Visio's directors and executive officers have      
interests in the merger and have arrangements that are different from, or are   
in addition to, their interests as shareholders of Visio generally. These       
include, among other things, indemnification rights, potential acceleration of  
option vesting and other benefits and payments under certain agreements and     
employee benefit and retention plans.                                           

. Stock ownership. As of October 21, 1999, the record date, Visio's         
directors and executive officers collectively owned 4,206,137 shares, or
approximately 14%, of Visio's outstanding common stock (not including   
options, which are described below).                                    

. Stock options. Under the terms of the merger agreement, at the time the   
merger is completed, each outstanding option to purchase shares of Visio
common stock issued to employees and directors of Visio will be assumed 
by Microsoft and will automatically become an option to purchase shares 
 of Microsoft common stock. The terms of an assumed Visio option held by a
 Visio employee or officer will not be affected by the merger, except that
the number of shares subject to the option and the exercise price per   
share will be adjusted to reflect the exchange ratio. In accordance with
the provisions of Visio's 1995                                          

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 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, vesting of options will accelerate
if, within two years following the approval of the merger by Visio's    
shareholders, an option holder's employment terminates under specified  
   qualifying circumstances. In accordance with the provisions of Visio's 1995
    Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors, any outstanding options granted
  under that plan that are not otherwise vested will become fully vested and
exercisable immediately before the effective time of the merger.        

As of the record date, directors and executive officers of Visio        
   collectively held outstanding options to purchase 1,267,500 shares of Visio
  common stock. Of these options, 550,997 were vested as of the record date.
 The vesting of the remaining 40,500 options held by nonemployee directors
    will accelerate at the effective time of the merger. To the extent they have
not already vested in accordance with their terms, the vesting of the   
   remaining 676,003 options held by Visio executive officers could accelerate
during the two-year period following the completion of the merger if the
option holder's employment terminates under specified qualifying        
circumstances.                                                          

. Employment offer letters; nonemployee directors. Microsoft has issued     
offer letters to Jeremy Jaech, Visio's president and chief executive    
officer, and Ted Johnson, Visio's executive vice president and chief    
 technology officer. Under the terms of these offer letters, Mr. Jaech and
Mr. Johnson would each serve as a vice president of Microsoft after the 
closing of the merger and would be paid an annual salary of $200,000 and
$190,000, respectively. In addition, Mr. Jaech and Mr. Johnson would    
receive options to purchase 40,000 and 35,000 shares of Microsoft common
stock, respectively. Microsoft does not plan to retain any nonemployee  
directors of Visio following completion of the merger.                  

. Microsoft retention and transition bonus plan. In accordance with the     
merger agreement, Microsoft has implemented a retention plan for Visio  
executives. Under the plan, each Visio executive, other than Messrs.    
Jaech and Johnson, who six months after the closing of the merger either
 is not offered a position with Microsoft or rejects the position offered,
will receive a retention bonus equal to 40% of his or her annual base   
 salary, provided that the executive has not voluntarily terminated his or
her employment with Microsoft and has not been terminated for cause     
before that time. Each Visio executive, other than Messrs. Jaech and    
Johnson, who six months after the closing of the merger has accepted a  
 position with Microsoft, will receive a signing bonus equal to 60% of his
or her annual base salary and will be eligible to receive additional    
signing bonuses equal to 20% of his or her annual base salary at six-   
month intervals through the second anniversary of the closing of the    
merger, provided the executive has not voluntarily terminated his or her
employment before that time. Six months following the closing of the    
merger, or such earlier date as may be determined by a transition       
committee established by Microsoft and Visio, these executives, other   
than Messrs. Jaech and Johnson, also will be entitled to receive a      
transition bonus equal to 40% of his or her base salary.                

. Severance. In addition to amounts that may be payable under the retention 
 and transition bonus plan described in the preceding paragraph, the Visio
executives will be entitled to receive a severance package that includes
a payment of six weeks' base salary plus Microsoft's standard severance.
Microsoft's standard severance includes two weeks' base salary for every
six months of service, capped at 26 weeks. The 26-week cap does not     
include the six weeks' base salary payment. If Microsoft's standard     
severance is less than six months' base salary, Microsoft will make a   
 supplemental payment for the difference. The executives are also entitled
to outplacement assistance.                                             

. Visio retention plan. If the merger does not close before June 1, 2000,   
 each executive, other than Messrs. Jaech and Johnson, will be entitled to
receive a "stay bonus" equal to 40% of his or her base salary. The stay 
bonus will not be paid if the merger closes before June 1, 2000.        

. Indemnification and insurance. Microsoft has agreed that if the merger is 
completed, all rights to indemnification (including advancement of      
 expenses) of current or former directors, officers and employees of Visio
and its subsidiaries arising from actions taken before the consummation 
of the merger, as provided in Visio's articles of incorporation and     
bylaws and existing indemnification agreements, will be assumed by      
Microsoft, will continue in full force and effect for six years from the
effective date of the merger and will be guaranteed by Microsoft.       

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Visio's board of directors was aware of and considered the interests of   
Visio's directors and executive officers in approving the merger agreement and  
recommending that Visio's shareholders approve the merger agreement.            

Restrictions on sales by affiliates of Visio and Microsoft                      

All shares of Microsoft common stock received by Visio shareholders in    
connection with the merger will be freely transferable unless the shareholder   
is considered an affiliate of either Visio or Microsoft under the Securities    
Act.                                                                            

  Shares of Microsoft common stock held by affiliates may be sold only under a
registration statement or an exemption from registration under the Securities   
Act. In addition, each of Visio's executive officers and directors, each of     
whom may be deemed to be an "affiliate" of Visio, as that term is defined under 
Rule 145 of the Securities Act, signed a letter agreement with Microsoft,       
agreeing that:                                                                  

. for 30 days before the merger, the affiliate will not sell, transfer or   
otherwise dispose of (except by gift) or reduce his or her risk in (as  
defined by SEC accounting rules) more than a de minimus number of the   
shares of Visio common stock or Microsoft capital stock held by the     
affiliate; and                                                          

. until Microsoft has publicly filed or announced results covering at least 
 30 days of combined operations of Microsoft and Visio, the affiliate will
not sell, otherwise dispose of or reduce his or her risk in more than a 
de minimus number of the shares of Microsoft common stock that the      
affiliate receives in the merger.                                       

  In return, Microsoft has agreed to publish results of operations covering at
least 30 days of combined operations as soon as practicable after the end of a  
calendar month that is at least 30 days after the effective time of the merger. 
The results of operations may be in the form of an earnings report, an          
effective registration statement or report filed with the SEC, or any other     
public filing or announcement that includes sales and net income.               

 Each Visio affiliate also agreed that he or she will sell, offer to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Microsoft common stock issued in connection with the   
merger only under an effective registration statement or in compliance with     
Rule 145 or other exemption from registration under the Securities Act.         
Microsoft has agreed to use its reasonable efforts to permit affiliate sales    
under Rule 145 and Rule 144 and to file all reports required to be filed under  
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.                                            

Material United States federal income tax consequences of the merger            

The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal    
income tax consequences to Visio and Visio's shareholders in connection with    
the merger. This summary does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing  
of all of the potential tax effects of the merger. It does not deal with all    
federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to some Visio            
shareholders in light of their particular circumstances, such as dealers in     
securities, shareholders who do not hold their Visio common stock as capital    
assets, foreign persons, tax-exempt entities, or persons who are subject to the 
alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore,   
it does not address the tax consequences particular to Visio shareholders who   
acquired their shares in connection with stock options or stock purchase plans  
or in other compensatory transactions, and does not address the effects of the  
merger on holders of Visio stock options. Moreover, it does not address the tax 
consequences of the merger under foreign, state or local tax laws.              

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER,   
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES  
APPLICABLE TO YOU.                                                              

 It is a condition to the merger that Visio receive an opinion from Shearman
& Sterling that the merger will constitute a reorganization under section 368   
of the Code. Microsoft will receive a similar opinion from its                  

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counsel. The tax opinion will be based on and subject to certain assumptions    
and limitations as well as factual representations received from Visio and      
Microsoft, as discussed below. An opinion of counsel represents only counsel's  
best legal judgment and has no binding effect or official status of any kind,   
and contrary positions may be taken by the Internal Revenue Service or a court  
considering the issues. Neither Visio nor Microsoft has requested or will       
request a ruling from the IRS with regard to any of the United States federal   
income tax consequences of the merger. The tax opinion and this discussion are  
based on currently existing provisions of the Code, existing and proposed       
Treasury regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions.    
Future legislative, judicial or administrative changes or interpretations may   
adversely affect the accuracy of the tax opinion or of the statements and       
conclusions in this discussion. Any such changes or interpretations could be    
applied retroactively and could affect the tax consequences of the merger.      

Assuming the merger qualifies as a tax-free reorganization, the material  
United States federal income tax consequences of the merger are as follows:     

. Nature of the merger. Visio, Microsoft and MovieSub will each be "a party 
to a reorganization" within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Code if
 the merger is carried out in the manner provided in the merger agreement.

. Consequences to Visio. Visio will not recognize gain or loss upon         
 Microsoft's issuance of Microsoft common stock to Visio's shareholders in
the merger and the transfer by operation of law of MovieSub's assets and
liabilities to Visio upon consummation of the merger.                   

. Consequences to Visio's shareholders. No gain or loss will be recognized  
by Visio's shareholders upon their receipt in the merger of Microsoft   
 common stock, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional
shares of Microsoft common stock.                                       

The aggregate tax basis of the Microsoft common stock you receive in the  
merger (including any fractional share deemed received) will be the same as the 
aggregate tax basis of the Visio common stock you surrendered in exchange for   
the Microsoft common stock. The holding period of each share of Microsoft       
common stock you receive in the merger will include the period during which you 
held your Visio common stock.                                                   

Cash payments in lieu of a fractional share should be treated as if a     
fractional share of Microsoft common stock had been issued in connection with   
the merger and then redeemed by Microsoft. If you receive cash, you should      
generally recognize a gain or loss at the time of that payment equal to any     
difference between the amount of cash received and your basis in the fractional 
share (which will be a pro rata portion of your basis in the Microsoft common   
stock received in the merger).                                                  

If you receive solely cash for your Visio common stock by exercising      
dissenters' rights, you will be obligated to report either (a) capital gain or  
loss equal to the difference between the cash you received and your basis in    
your Visio common stock or (b) dividend income, depending on whether the deemed 
redemption resulting from the exercise of dissenters' rights qualifies for sale 
or exchange treatment under the tests set forth in section 302(b) of the Code.  
Under those tests, most Visio shareholders who exercise their dissenters'       
rights should receive capital gain or loss treatment, rather than dividend      
treatment, if the deemed redemption of their Visio common stock constitutes a   
"complete redemption" of their interests in Visio (and Microsoft, after the     
merger). To the extent that persons related to any such shareholder continue to 
hold stock in Microsoft after the merger, the rules of section 318 of the Code  
may require dividend treatment unless section 302 of the Code permits those     
rules to be waived in a particular instance.                                    

 Limitations on opinion and discussion. A successful challenge by the IRS to
the tax-free reorganization status of the merger would result in Visio's        
shareholders recognizing a taxable gain or loss for each share of Visio common  
stock surrendered, equal to the difference between the shareholder's basis in   
that share and the fair market value, as of the effective date of the merger,   
of the Microsoft common stock received in exchange for the Visio share, plus    
any cash received. This gain or loss would be treated as capital gain or loss   
for each                                                                        

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shareholder. In that event, a shareholder's aggregate basis in Microsoft common 
stock received would equal its fair market value at the effective date of the   
merger and the holding period for the stock would begin on the day after the    
effective date of the merger.                                                   

Accounting treatment of the merger                                              

Microsoft expects to account for the merger using the pooling-of-interests
method of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting           
principles. Under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting, the assets,    
liabilities and shareholders' equity of Visio and Microsoft will be carried     
forward by Microsoft at their recorded amounts. Microsoft has reserved the      
right, however, to cause the merger to be accounted for as a purchase.          

 Microsoft's obligation to effect the merger, but not Visio's, is subject to
the receipt by Microsoft of a letter from Ernst & Young LLP, addressed to       
Visio, regarding that firm's concurrence with the conclusion of Visio's         
management that Visio meets the conditions necessary for it to enter into the   
business combination accounted for as a pooling of interests.                   

Regulatory filings and approvals required to complete the merger                

 Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended,
certain acquisition transactions, including the merger, cannot be consummated   
unless specified information has been furnished to the Federal Trade Commission 
and the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice and       
specific waiting period requirements have been satisfied. Under the Hart-Scott- 
Rodino Act, the merger may not be consummated until the expiration of at least  
30 days following the receipt of the filing, unless the waiting period is       
earlier terminated by the FTC or the Antitrust Division or extended by the      
issuance of a request for additional information and documents. On October 29,  
1999, the Antitrust Division issued requests for additional information and     
documents to both Microsoft and Visio. The requests extend the waiting period   
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for a period ending 20 days after both parties  
have filed a proper response. The FTC and the Antitrust Division are charged    
with enforcing antitrust laws concerning transactions such as the merger. At    
any time before or after the consummation of the merger, the FTC or the         
Antitrust Division could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems  
appropriate, including seeking to enjoin the consummation of the merger or      
seeking the divestiture of assets of Visio or Microsoft. Visio and Microsoft    
believe that the proposed merger does not violate the antitrust laws. However,  
a challenge to the merger on antitrust grounds could be made. If such a         
challenge is made, it is uncertain what the results would be. Due to the        
international scope of Microsoft's and Visio's businesses, regulatory filings   
may also be required in certain European and other jurisdictions. Microsoft and 
Visio do not expect those filings to affect the expected timing of the merger.  
Other than as described in this paragraph and the filing of the actual merger   
documents with the Secretary of State of the state of Washington, Microsoft and 
Visio believe that the merger does not require the approval of any federal,     
state or other agency.                                                          

Exchange of Visio stock certificates for Microsoft stock certificates           

  After the closing of the merger, Microsoft will send a letter of transmittal
to all former Visio shareholders. In order to exchange Visio common stock for   
Microsoft common stock, you must deliver the letter of transmittal to the       
exchange agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C. To be effective, the    
letter of transmittal must be properly completed, signed and submitted to the   
exchange agent in the return envelope mailed with the letter of transmittal and 
accompanied by (a) the certificates as to which the exchange is proposed to be  
made or (b) an appropriate guarantee of delivery of the certificates from a     
firm that is a member of a registered national securities exchange or of the    
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust 
company having an office or correspondent in the United States, provided that   
you do in fact deliver the certificates to the exchange agent within three      
Nasdaq trading days after the date you executed the guarantee of delivery.      

Microsoft has the reasonable discretion, which it may delegate in whole or
in part to the exchange agent, to determine whether any letter of transmittal   
has been properly completed, signed and submitted or revoked                    

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and to disregard immaterial defects in the form of election or letter of        
transmittal. The exchange agent will make all computations contemplated by the  
merger agreement, and, in the absence of manifest error, all such computations  
will be conclusive and binding on the holders of Visio common stock.            

As soon as practicable after receipt of your properly completed letter of 
transmittal, the exchange agent will deliver to you a certificate representing  
the appropriate number of shares of Microsoft common stock, together with a     
check representing the cash payment for any fractional share.                   

Listing of Microsoft common stock; delisting and deregistration of Visio common 
stock                                                                           

If the merger is completed, Microsoft is obligated to cause the shares of 
Microsoft common stock that will be issued in connection with the merger, and   
the shares of Microsoft common stock that will be issued on exercise of assumed 
Visio options, to be quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market or listed on the same    
national securities exchange as Microsoft common stock is listed. Visio common  
stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market and will be deregistered    
under the Exchange Act.                                                         

Operations after the merger                                                     

After the merger, Visio will continue to operate as a division within     
Microsoft's Business Productivity Group. The Business Productivity Group is     
charged with delivering business productivity solutions that empower knowledge  
workers.                                                                        

Jeremy Jaech, Visio's president and chief executive officer, will lead the
Visio division as a Microsoft vice president, reporting to Microsoft senior     
vice president Robert Muglia. Visio co-founder Ted Johnson, Visio's executive   
vice president and chief technology officer, also will become a Microsoft vice  
president, reporting to Mr. Jaech and directing future product development for  
the Visio division.                                                             

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the merger       
agreement. While we believe that the description covers the material terms of   
the merger agreement, as amended, this summary may not contain all of the       
information that is important to you. We urge you to carefully read the merger  
agreement, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.     

Conditions to completion of the merger                                          

The obligations of each of Microsoft and Visio to effect the merger are   
subject to the satisfaction before the closing date of specific conditions, any 
or all of which may be waived, including:                                       

. the approval by Visio's shareholders of the merger agreement as required  
by Washington law;                                                      

. the obtaining of all legally required consents and approvals, including   
expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino 
Act, except when the failure to obtain a consent would not have a       
 material adverse effect on the consummation of the merger or the business
condition of Microsoft or Visio;                                        

. the effectiveness of the registration statement relating to the Microsoft 
common stock to be issued in connection with the merger;                

. the absence of any statute, rule, regulation, order, decree or injunction 
prohibiting the merger;                                                 

. the absence of any material adverse change with respect to Visio's        
business condition or the economic and business benefits expected from  
the merger;                                                             

. the accuracy of the other party's representations and warranties in the   
 agreement, except in respects that do not have a material adverse effect,
and the receipt by each party of a certificate to that effect from a    
designated executive officer of the other party;                        

. the performance by both parties of their obligations under the merger     
agreement, except for breaches that would not have a material adverse   
 effect on the other party, and the receipt by each party of a certificate
to that effect from a designated executive officer of the other party;  

. the receipt by Microsoft of a letter from Ernst & Young LLP, addressed to 
Visio, regarding that firm's concurrence with the conclusion of Visio's 
 management that Visio meets the conditions necessary for it to enter into
the business combination accounted for as a pooling of interests;       

. receipt by each of Visio and Microsoft of an opinion from its tax counsel 
that the merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal   
income tax purposes; and                                                

. receipt by each of Visio and Microsoft of a legal opinion from the other  
party's legal counsel.                                                  

If Microsoft elects to postpone the closing date once these conditions are
satisfied, the obligations of each party to effect the merger will no longer be 
subject to any of the conditions. See the section entitled "Structure of the    
merger; completion and effectiveness of the merger" on page 28.                 

Representations and warranties                                                  

The merger agreement contains customary representations and warranties of 
each of Visio and Microsoft relating to, among other things:                    

. organization and related matters;                                         

. capital structure;                                                        

. authorization, execution, delivery, performance and enforceability of the 
merger agreement and related matters;                                   

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. an absence of defaults and violations under charter documents,            
instruments and laws;                                                   

. documents filed by the parties with the SEC and the accuracy of the       
information contained in those documents;                               

. the accuracy of information supplied by the parties for inclusion in      
filings and other documents contemplated by the merger agreement;       

. an absence of defaults under any obligations of the parties;              

. an absence of undisclosed material adverse changes; and                   

. an absence of any action of a party that would preclude pooling-of-       
interests accounting treatment.                                         

 Visio has made additional customary representations and warranties relating
to, among other things:                                                         

. litigation;                                                               

. an absence of undisclosed liabilities;                                    

. ownership of Visio's subsidiaries;                                        

. an absence of violations of any applicable law, rule, regulation,         
judgment, decree or order of any governmental entity;                   

. employee benefit plans;                                                   

. major contracts;                                                          

. taxes;                                                                    

. interests of officers and directors of Visio;                             

. intellectual property;                                                    

. the receipt of a fairness opinion from Visio's financial advisor;         

. the vote required for approval of the merger agreement and the            
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;  

. leases; and                                                               

. environmental matters.                                                    

Conduct of business before closing of the merger                                

Microsoft and Visio have each agreed that until the earlier of the        
termination of the merger agreement or the effective time of the merger, except 
as expressly contemplated by the merger agreement or with the prior written     
consent of the other party, it will take specified actions and decline to take  
specified actions, as described below.                                          

Each of Microsoft and Visio has agreed that it will, among other things:  

. not take any action that would breach its respective representations and  
warranties under the merger agreement;                                  

. use its commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain all consents and   
approvals required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement;                                                

. take all reasonable steps to (a) make the filings required under the      
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act with respect to the merger, (b) comply in a timely
manner with any request under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act for additional  
information from the FTC, the Antitrust Division of the Department of   
Justice or other governmental entity with respect to such filings, and  
(c) cooperate with the other party in connection                        

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with any such filing and in connection with resolving any investigation or
other inquiry of any agency or other governmental entity under any        
antitrust laws with respect to any such filing, the merger, or any other  
relevant transaction;                                                     

. take all reasonable (a) steps to resolve any objections asserted by any   
governmental entity with respect to the merger and (b) actions required 
 to cause the expiration of the notice periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Act or other antitrust laws with respect to the merger and any other    
relevant transactions;                                                  

. use its commercially reasonable best efforts to effectuate the            
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and fulfill the       
conditions to the closing of the merger, subject to certain exceptions; 

. use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause each of its         
principal shareholders to cooperate with counsel to Visio and Microsoft 
to assist them in providing the required tax opinions;                  

. establish a transition committee, which will coordinate the joint efforts 
of Visio and Microsoft to transition Visio's employees to Microsoft     
positions; and                                                          

. take any necessary action so that the acquisition of Microsoft common     
stock or options and the disposition of Visio common stock or options by
Visio employees subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and by Visio  
directors will be exempt from the short-swing profit liability rules of 
Section 16(b) and Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.                       

  Visio has agreed that it and each of its significant subsidiaries will carry
on their businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, and   
use all reasonable efforts consistent with past practice to preserve intact     
their business organizations, keep their present officers, consultants and      
employees and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers,           
distributors and others having business with them. Visio will promptly notify   
Microsoft of any event that is not in the ordinary course of business of Visio  
or its subsidiaries and is materially adverse to Visio's business condition. In 
addition, Visio has agreed that, except as previously disclosed to Microsoft,   
neither it nor any of its subsidiaries will:                                    

. alter or accelerate any exercisability, vesting or similar provisions of  
stock option or benefit plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for
awards under those plans, except in the ordinary course of business;    

. grant any severance pay to any officer, director or employee, except in   
the ordinary course consistent with past practice;                      

. transfer to any person or entity any rights to Visio's intellectual       
property;                                                               

. enter into or amend any agreement granting a third party exclusive        
marketing or manufacturing rights for more than two years;              

. commence or settle any claim, action or proceeding, except in the         
ordinary course of business or in immaterial amounts and except for     
specified types of lawsuits;                                            

. enter into leases that extend beyond September 14, 2004 and obligate      
Visio to pay aggregate gross rent in excess of $1 million;              

. declare or pay any dividends or make any other distributions with respect 
to its capital stock, split or reclassify its capital stock, issue or   
authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of or in      
substitution for its capital stock, or repurchase or otherwise acquire  
 any of its capital stock other than repurchasing vested stock from former
employees;                                                              

. issue or agree to issue any capital stock, options, warrants, calls,      
conversion rights or other similar securities, subject to certain       
exceptions;                                                             

. amend its corporate charter documents;                                    

. acquire or agree to acquire any corporation, partnership or other         
business organization or assets that are material to Visio's business   
condition;                                                              

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. dispose of any assets, except in the ordinary course of business or in    
immaterial amounts;                                                     

. incur material indebtedness;                                              

. enter into or materially amend employee benefit plans or, except in the   
 ordinary course of business, enter into employment agreements or increase
employee remuneration; or                                               

. knowingly take any action that would disqualify the merger from being     
accounted for as a pooling of interests.                                

In addition, Visio has agreed that it will:                               

. call a special meeting of Visio shareholders for the consideration and    
 approval of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement;                                                       

. provide Microsoft with such information for inclusion in this proxy       
statement/prospectus and the related registration statement as Microsoft
may reasonably request;                                                 

. terminate or modify any employee benefit plans as directed by Microsoft   
immediately before the effective time of the merger or take such action 
as may be directed by Microsoft to merge those plans with Microsoft     
employee benefit plans at the effective time of the merger; and         

. promptly file all tax returns and pay all taxes required to be filed or   
paid before the closing of the merger.                                  

Microsoft has agreed that it will:                                        

. promptly notify Visio of any event or occurrence that is material and     
adverse to Microsoft's business condition;                              

. delay any filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act relating to the         
 acquisition by Microsoft or its subsidiaries of any business entity whose
products could reasonably be considered to be competitive with Visio's, 
until the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act has expired for
the merger;                                                             

. use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of       
Microsoft common stock to be issued in connection with the merger and   
upon the exercise of assumed Visio options to be quoted at the effective
time on the Nasdaq Stock Market or listed on the same national exchange 
as Microsoft common stock is listed; and                                

. implement a retention bonus plan and a severance plan for the benefit of  
Visio employees.                                                        

Exclusivity                                                                     

 Visio has agreed that it will not, and will use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to ensure that none of its officers, directors, agents,            
representatives or affiliates will not, take or cause or permit any subsidiary  
to take any of the following actions with any party other than Microsoft:       

. solicit, knowingly encourage, initiate or participate in any              
 negotiations, inquiries or discussions regarding any offer or proposal to
acquire all or a significant part of Visio's or its subsidiaries'       
business, assets or capital shares;                                     

. enter into any agreement related to such an acquisition;                  

. authorize or announce any public statement, recommendation or             
solicitation in support of such an acquisition; or                      

. disclose any customarily nonpublic information about Visio in connection  
with such an acquisition.                                               

However, Visio's board of directors may recommend to shareholders that they     
tender their shares in connection with a tender offer by an acquiror other than 
Microsoft if the board determines in good faith and after                       

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consultation with legal counsel that its fiduciary duty to its shareholders     
requires such a recommendation. In addition, the board may give information to  
a third party who has made an unsolicited acquisition proposal that the board   
reasonably believes is financially more favorable to Visio and its shareholders 
than the merger with Microsoft, as long as Visio notifies Microsoft one         
business day before furnishing the information. Visio will promptly inform      
Microsoft of any inquiry or proposal that it receives with respect to an        
acquisition transaction or any request by any person for nonpublic information  
concerning Visio or any of its subsidiaries, and will provide Microsoft with    
the material facts relating to any such offer, proposal or request, including   
the identity of the third party making the inquiry or proposal. After that      
notification, Visio is obligated to inform Microsoft of additional material     
facts as they arise and to provide Microsoft with any additional information    
Visio gives to the third party.                                                 

Termination of the merger agreement                                             

Even if Visio's shareholders approve the merger agreement, the merger     
agreement may be terminated by the mutual agreement of the parties at any time  
before the effective time of the merger. In addition, the merger agreement may  
be terminated by either Visio or Microsoft under any of the following           
circumstances:                                                                  

. as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty, covenant or        
 agreement by the other party, if the breach has a material adverse effect
on the business of the nonbreaching party and the breach has not been   
cured or commercially reasonable best efforts are not being employed to 
cure the breach;                                                        

. if the merger has not been consummated before March 31, 2000 (subject to  
extension until September 30, 2000 if Visio and Microsoft have agreed to
pursue litigation against any administrative or judicial action or      
 proceeding challenging the merger on the basis that it violates antitrust
law);                                                                   

. if Visio shareholders have voted on but not approved the merger           
agreement; or                                                           

. if any permanent injunction or other order preventing the merger has      
become final and non-appealable.                                        

In addition, Microsoft may terminate the merger agreement if:             

. Visio's board of directors withdraws or modifies its approval of the      
merger; or                                                              

. Visio or its representatives take any action prohibited by the            
exclusivity provisions of the merger agreement and that action has a    
material adverse effect on Visio's business condition.                  

Termination fee                                                                 

Visio has agreed to pay Microsoft a termination fee of $30 million if     
Microsoft is not then in material breach of the merger agreement and Microsoft  
terminates the agreement for any of the following reasons:                      

. Visio's board of directors has withdrawn or modified, in a manner adverse 
 to Microsoft, its approval or recommendation of the merger, and Visio has
agreed with any person other than Microsoft to a transaction that will  
result in a change in the beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the  
voting power of Visio capital stock;                                    

. Visio or its representatives have taken any action prohibited by the      
exclusivity provisions of the merger agreement and that action has a    
material adverse effect on Visio's business condition; or               

. Visio has willfully and materially breached its representations,          
 warranties, covenants or agreements and that breach has not been cured as
required by the merger agreement.                                       

The right to payment of the termination fee is the exclusive remedy at law
or in equity to which Microsoft may be entitled on termination of the merger    
agreement under the conditions described above. The termination fee may         
increase the likelihood of the completion of the merger in accordance with the  
terms of the merger agreement. The termination fee may also discourage persons  
from making an offer to acquire all of or a significant interest in Visio by    
increasing the cost of an acquisition.                                          

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If the merger agreement is terminated under circumstances that entitle    
Microsoft to the termination fee, Microsoft will also be entitled to exercise   
its option to purchase up to 6,012,500 shares of Visio common stock at $42.78   
per share. See the section entitled "The Visio stock option agreement" on page  
41.                                                                             

Extension; waiver                                                               

At any time before the effective time of the merger, any party to the     
merger agreement may, to the extent legally allowed, extend the time for the    
performance of any other party's obligations under the merger agreement, waive  
any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party in    
the merger agreement or related documents, and waive compliance with any of     
the agreements, conditions or covenants in the merger agreement that are for    
the benefit of the waiving party.                                               

Amendment to merger agreement                                                   

On October 29, 1999, Microsoft and Visio amended the merger agreement. The
merger agreement originally provided that closing would occur no later than     
the third business day after satisfaction of the conditions to closing. As      
amended, once the conditions to closing have been satisfied Microsoft may       
elect to postpone the closing to a date not later than December 30, 1999. If    
Microsoft so elects, the obligations of the parties to effect the merger will   
no longer be subject to any of the closing conditions. By the amendment, the    
parties also eliminated a requirement relating to accountants' comfort          
letters, and Microsoft agreed to publish interim financial results covering 30  
days of combined operations as soon as practicable after the end of a calendar  
month that is at least 30 days after the effective time of the merger.          

 The merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A
reflects these amendments.                                                      

Additional amendments                                                           

The merger agreement may be further amended by Microsoft and Visio at any 
time before or after approval by Visio's shareholders, except that, after       
shareholder approval, Visio and Microsoft may not make any amendment that by    
law requires the further approval of Visio's shareholders without obtaining     
that approval.                                                                  

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RELATED AGREEMENTS

 This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes agreements related
to the merger agreement, including the stock option agreement, the Visio        
management voting agreements and letters of Visio affiliates. While we believe  
that these descriptions cover the material terms of these agreements, these     
summaries may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You  
should read the related agreements, which are attached to this proxy            
statement/prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement filed 
by Microsoft with the SEC, of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part.  

The Visio stock option agreement                                                

As a condition to Microsoft entering into the merger agreement, Visio     
entered into a stock option agreement with Microsoft. The stock option          
agreement grants Microsoft the option to buy up to 6,012,500 shares of Visio    
common stock, which represented 19.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of   
Visio common stock as of September 14, 1999. The exercise price of the option   
is $42.78 per share. The number of shares issuable upon exercise of the option  
and the exercise price of the option are subject to adjustment to prevent       
dilution and to maintain the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the     
option at 19.9% of Visio's outstanding common stock.                            

Unless the option is terminated as described below, Microsoft may exercise
the option, in whole or part, up to one year from the date on which Microsoft   
has the right to be paid the termination fee described in the section entitled  
"Termination fee" on page 39.                                                   

Microsoft's option will terminate upon the earlier of either of the       
following:                                                                      

. the completion of the merger or                                           

. the termination of the merger agreement, if the termination occurs before 
an event that causes the option to become exercisable and in            
circumstances under which Visio is not required to pay the termination  
fee.                                                                    

With some exceptions and qualifications, on Microsoft's request within 30 
days of an event that makes the option exercisable, Visio must register at its  
own expense the shares of common stock issued and issuable to Microsoft under   
the option. Visio must use its best efforts to keep that registration statement 
effective until Microsoft can dispose of the shares issued to it under the      
option, up to a maximum 180 days.                                               

If, before the termination of the option, Visio:                          

. merges with an entity other than Microsoft or its subsidiaries, and is    
not the surviving corporation;                                          

. is the surviving corporation in a merger with an entity other than        
 Microsoft or its subsidiaries, after which the then-outstanding shares of
Visio common stock represent less than 50% of the outstanding securities
of the merged company; or                                               

. sells all or substantially all of its assets to an entity other than      
Microsoft or its affiliates,                                            

the agreement governing the transaction must provide that Microsoft's option    
will be converted into an option of, at the election of Microsoft, either the   
acquiring entity or any entity controlling the acquiring entity. On request of  
the holder of the substitute option, the issuer of the substitute option must   
repurchase the substitute option from the holder. Visio has agreed not to enter 
into any of the transactions described above unless the acquiror agrees in      
writing to assume Visio's obligations under the option agreement.               

The sum of Microsoft's total profit arising from the provisions of the    
option agreement and the termination fee provided for in the merger agreement   
may not exceed $50 million. If Microsoft's total profit would exceed that       
amount, Microsoft may choose to reduce the number of shares subject to the      
option, have Visio cancel shares of common stock issued to Microsoft, pay cash  
to Visio, or do any combination of these, to reduce its realized profit to no   
more than $50 million.                                                          

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  Microsoft intends the option to increase the likelihood that the merger will
be completed. The stock option agreement may have the effect of discouraging    
persons who might be interested in acquiring all or a significant interest in   
Visio or Visio's assets before completion of the merger by increasing the cost  
of such an acquisition. In addition, if the merger agreement is terminated and  
Microsoft's option becomes exercisable, Visio would not be able to account for  
the transaction that triggered the exercisability of the option as a pooling of 
interests.                                                                      

  The stock option agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as
Annex B. We urge you to read it carefully and in its entirety.                  

Visio management voting agreements                                              

  As a condition to the merger agreement, Microsoft required Visio's directors
and executive officers to enter into voting agreements. These voting agreements 
require Visio's directors and executive officers to vote all of the shares of   
Visio common stock they beneficially own in favor of the merger. As of October  
21, 1999, the record date, Visio's directors and executive officers             
collectively owned 4,206,137 shares of Visio common stock, which represented    
approximately 14% of Visio's outstanding common stock.                          

Each Visio director and executive officer also agreed not to sell or      
otherwise dispose of Visio common stock currently owned or later acquired until 
the expiration of the voting agreement, unless the sale would not, in           
Microsoft's reasonable judgment, violate the SEC's pooling-of-interests rules.  
In connection with the agreement, Visio's directors and executive officers      
granted an irrevocable proxy to the directors of Microsoft, giving the          
Microsoft directors the right to vote the shares covered by the voting          
agreement as described above.                                                   

The voting agreement will expire on the earlier of the termination of the 
merger agreement in accordance with its terms or the completion of the merger.  
None of Visio's directors or executive officers were paid additional            
consideration in connection with a voting agreement.                            

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COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF
VISIO COMMON STOCK AND MICROSOFT COMMON STOCK 

After completion of the merger, the holders of Visio common stock will    
become shareholders of Microsoft. Because Visio and Microsoft are both          
Washington corporations, the rights of former Visio shareholders will continue  
to be governed by Washington law. Before the merger, the rights of shareholders 
of Visio are governed by Visio's articles of incorporation and bylaws. After    
the merger, as Microsoft shareholders, their rights will be governed by         
Microsoft's articles of incorporation and bylaws, as those documents currently  
exist or may exist in the future.                                               

The following discussion summarizes the material differences between the  
rights of holders of Microsoft common stock and holders of Visio common stock   
under the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Microsoft and Visio. This     
summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to        
Microsoft's articles of incorporation and bylaws, Visio's articles of           
incorporation and bylaws and the relevant provisions of Washington law. Copies  
of the charter documents are attached as exhibits to Visio's and Microsoft's    
filings with the SEC. See "Documents incorporated by reference into this proxy  
statement/prospectus" and "Where you can find more information" on page 50.     

Right to call special meeting of shareholders. The Washington Business    
Corporation Act allows a public company to limit or deny the right of           
shareholders to call a special meeting of shareholders to the extent provided   
in the company's articles of incorporation. Visio's articles of incorporation   
provide that, because the company qualifies as a public company, only the board 
of directors or the holders of more than 50% of the shares entitled to vote at  
the meeting may call a special meeting. Microsoft's articles of incorporation   
deny shareholders the right to call a special meeting by providing that a       
special meeting of shareholders may be called only by Microsoft's board of      
directors or by a duly designated committee of the board.                       

Rights of holders of preferred stock. The WBCA permits a corporation's    
articles of incorporation to grant the board of directors the right to          
authorize and issue series of preferred stock with the preferences,             
limitations, voting powers and relative rights that the board deems             
appropriate. Both Visio's and Microsoft's articles of incorporation permit the  
board of directors to issue preferred stock. No shares of Visio preferred stock 
are currently outstanding, and 12,519,562 shares of Microsoft preferred stock   
were outstanding as of August 31, 1999. No Microsoft preferred stock will be    
issued in connection with the merger. Holders of Microsoft preferred stock are  
entitled to dividends and preferences upon liquidation that are superior to the 
rights enjoyed by holders of Microsoft common stock.                            

Treasury stock. The WBCA provides that when a corporation acquires its own
shares from shareholders, those shares become authorized but unissued shares.   
Visio's articles of incorporation do not alter this rule. Microsoft's articles  
of incorporation provide that, notwithstanding the WBCA, shares acquired by     
Microsoft are considered treasury stock and are considered to be authorized,    
issued and held by Microsoft.                                                   

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RIGHTS OF DISSENTING VISIO SHAREHOLDERS 

The following is a brief summary of the rights of holders of Visio common 
stock to dissent from the merger and receive cash equal to the fair value of    
their Visio common stock instead of receiving shares of Microsoft common stock. 
This summary is not exhaustive, and you should read the applicable sections of  
chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA, which is attached to this proxy                     
statement/prospectus as Annex D.                                                

 If you are contemplating the possibility of dissenting from the merger, you
should carefully review the text of Annex D, particularly the procedural steps  
required to perfect dissenters' rights, which are complex. You should also      
consult your legal counsel. If you do not fully and precisely satisfy the       
procedural requirements of the WBCA, you will lose your dissenters' rights.     

Requirements for exercising appraisal rights                                    

To exercise dissenters' rights, you must:                                 

. file with Visio before the vote is taken at the special meeting written   
notice of your intent to demand the fair value for your Visio common    
stock if the merger is consummated and becomes effective; and           

. not vote your shares of Visio common stock at the special meeting in      
favor of the proposal to approve the merger agreement.                  

If you do not satisfy each of these requirements, you cannot exercise     
dissenters' rights and will be bound by the terms of the merger agreement.      

Submitting a proxy card that does not direct how the Visio common stock   
represented by that proxy is to be voted will constitute a vote in favor of the 
merger and a waiver of your statutory dissenters' rights. In addition, voting   
against the proposal to approve the merger will not satisfy the notice          
requirement referred to above. You must file the written notice of the intent   
to exercise dissenters' rights with Visio at: Visio Corporation, 2211 Elliott   
Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, Attn: Wm. Kenneth McGraw, General Counsel and        
Secretary.                                                                      

Appraisal procedure                                                             

 Within 10 days after the proposed merger has been approved, Visio will send
written notice to all shareholders who have given written notice under the      
dissenters' rights provisions and have not voted in favor of the merger as      
described above. The notice will contain:                                       

. the address where the demand for payment and certificates representing    
 shares of Visio common stock must be sent and the date by which they must
be received;                                                            

. any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares that will apply     
after the demand for payment is received;                               

. a form for demanding payment that states the date of the first            
announcement to the news media or to shareholders of the proposed merger
 and requires certification of the date the shareholder, or the beneficial
 owner on whose behalf the shareholder dissents, acquired the Visio common
stock or an interest in it; and                                         

. a copy of the dissenters' rights provisions of the WBCA, attached as      
Annex D.                                                                

If you wish to assert dissenters' rights, you must demand payment and     
deposit your Visio certificates within 30 days after the notice is given. If    
you fail to make demand for payment and deposit your Visio certificates within  
the 30-day period, you will lose the right to receive fair value for your       
shares under the dissenters' rights provisions, even if you filed a timely      
notice of intent to demand payment.                                             

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 Except as provided below, within 30 days of the later of the effective time
of the merger or Visio's receipt of a valid demand for payment, Visio will      
remit to each dissenting shareholder who complied with the requirements of the  
WBCA the amount Visio estimates to be the fair value of the shareholder's Visio 
common stock, plus accrued interest. Visio will include the following           
information with the payment:                                                   

. financial data relating to Visio;                                         

. Visio's estimate of the fair value of the shares and a brief description  
of the method used to reach that estimate;                              

. a copy of chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA; and                                 

. a brief description of the procedures to be followed in demanding         
supplemental payment.                                                   

 For dissenting shareholders who were not the beneficial owner of the shares
of Visio common stock before September 15, 1999, Visio may withhold payment and 
instead send a statement setting forth its estimate of the fair value of their  
shares and offering to pay such amount, with interest, as a final settlement of 
the dissenting shareholder's demand for payment.                                

 If you are dissatisfied with your payment or offer, you may, within 30 days
of the payment or offer for payment, notify Visio in writing of and demand      
payment of your estimate of fair value of your shares and the amount of         
interest due. If any dissenting shareholder's demand for payment is not settled 
within 60 days after receipt by Visio of his or her payment demand, section     
23B.13.300 of the WBCA requires that Visio commence a proceeding in King County 
Superior Court and petition the court to determine the fair value of the shares 
and accrued interest, naming all the dissenting shareholders whose demands      
remain unsettled as parties to the proceeding.                                  

The court may appoint one or more appraisers to receive evidence and make 
recommendations to the court as to the amount of the fair value of the shares.  
The fair value of the shares as determined by the court is binding on all       
dissenting shareholders and may be less than, equal to or greater than the      
market price of the Microsoft common stock to be issued to nondissenting        
shareholders for their Visio common stock if the merger is consummated. If the  
court determines that the fair value of the shares is in excess of any amount   
remitted by Visio, then the court will enter a judgment for cash in favor of    
the dissenting shareholders in an amount by which the value determined by the   
court, plus interest, exceeds the amount previously remitted.                   

 The court will determine the costs and expenses of the court proceeding and
assess them against Visio, except that the court may assess part or all of the  
costs against any dissenting shareholders whose actions in demanding            
supplemental payments are found by the court to be arbitrary, vexatious or not  
in good faith. If the court finds that Visio did not substantially comply with  
the relevant provisions of sections 23B.13.200 through 23B.13.280 of the WBCA,  
the court may also assess against Visio any fees and expenses of attorneys or   
experts that the court deems equitable. The court may also assess those fees    
and expenses against any party if the court finds that the party has acted      
arbitrarily, vexatiously or not in good faith in bringing the proceedings. The  
court may award, in its discretion, fees and expenses of an attorney for the    
dissenting shareholders out of the amount awarded to the shareholders, if it    
finds the services of the attorney were of substantial benefit to the other     
dissenting shareholders and that those fees should not be assessed against      
Visio.                                                                          

A shareholder of record may assert dissenters' rights as to fewer than all
of the shares registered in the shareholder's name only if he or she dissents   
with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any one person and notifies    
Visio in writing of the name and address of each person on whose behalf he or   
she asserts dissenters' rights. The rights of the partial dissenting            
shareholder are determined as if the shares as to which he or she dissents and  
his or her other shares were registered in the names of different shareholders. 
Beneficial owners of Visio common stock who desire to exercise dissenters'      
rights themselves must obtain and submit the registered owner's written consent 
at or before the time they file the notice of intent to demand fair value.      

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  For purposes of the WBCA, "fair value" means the value of Visio common stock
immediately before the effective time of the merger, excluding any appreciation 
or depreciation in anticipation of the merger, unless that exclusion would be   
inequitable. Under section 23B.13.020 of the WBCA, a Visio shareholder has no   
right, at law or in equity, to set aside the approval and adoption of the       
merger or the consummation of the merger except if the approval, adoption or    
consummation fails to comply with the procedural requirements of chapter 23B.13 
of the WBCA, Revised Code of Washington sections 25.10.900 through 25.10.955,   
Visio's articles of incorporation or Visio's bylaws, or was fraudulent with     
respect to that shareholder or Visio.                                           

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SHARE OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS,
MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS OF VISIO 

  The following table provides information concerning the beneficial ownership
of Visio common stock as of October 21, 1999, the record date, for the          
following:                                                                      

. each person or entity who is known by Visio to beneficially own more than 
5% of the outstanding shares of Visio common stock;                     

. each of Visio's current directors;                                        

. Visio's chief executive officer and its five other executive officers;    
and                                                                     

. all of Visio's directors and executive officers as a group.               

This table includes percentage ownership data reflecting ownership both   
before and after consummation of the merger with Microsoft. The pre-merger      
percentage ownership is based on 30,431,714 shares of Visio common stock        
outstanding as of the record date. The post-merger percentage ownership         
includes only the 13,694,271 shares of Microsoft common stock that would be     
issued to Visio shareholders based on the 30,431,714 shares of Visio common     
stock outstanding as of the record date. All shares subject to options          
exercisable within 60 days after October 21, 1999 are deemed to be beneficially 
owned by the person or entity holding that option and to be outstanding solely  
for calculating that person's or entity's percentage ownership.                 

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.        

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]

                                   Pre-Merger                    Post-Merger         
                          ----------------------------- -----------------------------
                                                        Number of Shares  Percent of 
                          Number of Shares  Percent of    of Microsoft    Microsoft  
                           of Visio Stock  Visio Stock    Common Stock   Common Stock
Name and Address of         Beneficially   Beneficially   Beneficially   Beneficially
Beneficial Owner               Owned          Owned          Owned          Owned    
-------------------       ---------------- ------------ ---------------- ------------
                                                                                     
PRINCIPAL                                                                            
 SHAREHOLDERS(1)                                                                     
Microsoft                                                                            
 Corporation(2).........     10,805,012        29.6%             --           --     
 One Microsoft Way                                                                   
 Redmond, WA 98052                                                                   
J.W. Seligman & Co.                                                                  
 Incorporated(3)........      3,040,935        10.0%       1,368,421           *     
 100 Park Avenue, 8th                                                                
  Floor                                                                              
 New York, NY 10006                                                                  
T. Rowe Price                                                                        
 Associates, Inc.(4)....      2,559,900         8.4%       1,151,955           *     
 100 E. Pratt Street                                                                 
 Baltimore, MD 21202                                                                 
DIRECTORS                                                                            
Tom A. Alberg(5)........         79,500           *           35,775           *     
Tom Byers, Ph.D.(6).....         33,600           *           15,120           *     
Jeremy A. Jaech(7)(8)...      2,020,262         6.6%         909,118           *     
Theodore C.                                                                          
 Johnson(8)(9)..........      1,772,050         5.8%         797,423           *     
John R. Johnston(10)....        204,979           *           92,241           *     
Douglas J.                                                                           
 Mackenzie(11)..........         99,940           *           44,973           *     
Robert McDowell.........          5,000           *            2,250           *     
Scott Oki(12)...........        299,384           *          134,723           *     
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS                                                                   
Steve M. Gordon(13).....        152,750           *           68,738           *     
Jim Horsburgh(14).......         38,949           *           17,527           *     
M. Thomas Hull(15)......         30,869           *           13,891           *     
Evelyn Cruz Sroufe(16)..         56,479           *           25,416           *     
All directors and                                                                    
 executive officers as a                                                             
 group                                                                               
 (12 persons)(17).......      4,793,762        15.8%       2,157,193           *     

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--------                                                                        
* Less than 1%                                                              

(1) Based on Visio's review of schedules and reports filed with the SEC under 
sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act.                         

(2) Includes 6,012,500 shares issuable upon exercise of a stock option, which 
is exercisable only if Microsoft terminates the merger agreement under
  specified conditions. See "The Visio stock option agreement" on page 41.
Also includes 4,792,512 shares subject to a voting agreement between  
Microsoft and Visio's directors and executive officers, under which   
 Visio's directors and executive officers have agreed to vote all of the
shares beneficially owned by them in favor of the merger agreement.   

(3) Includes 1,800,000 shares held by Seligman Communications & Information   
    Fund, Inc., for whom J.W. Seligman & Co. Incorporated serves as investment
advisor.                                                              

(4) Represents the aggregate number of shares held by all client accounts and 
 mutual funds managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. No single client
account or fund managed by T. Rowe Price owns 5% or more of the       
outstanding shares of Visio common stock.                             

(5) Includes 77,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options            

(6) Consists of 33,600 share issuable upon exercise of stock options.         

(7) Includes an aggregate of 110,000 shares over which Mr. Jaech has voting   
control with respect to the Ryan Philip Johnson Trust of 1995 (55,000 
shares) and the Matthew Tyler Johnson Trust of 1995 (55,000 shares),  
   trusts created for the benefit of Mr. Johnson's children. Mr. Johnson has
   not retained any control over the trusts. Mr. Johnson's father, Vernon D.
 Johnson, as trustee, has investment power with respect to these shares.
Does not include an aggregate of 289,900 shares held by three trusts  
  established for the benefit of Mr. Jaech's children and other relatives.
Mr. Jaech is neither a trustee nor a beneficiary of these trusts and  
disclaims any beneficial ownership of the common stock held by these  
trusts.                                                               

(8) Messrs. Jaech and Johnson are also executive officers of Visio. The       
    business address for Messrs. Jaech and Johnson is: Visio Corporation, 2211
Elliott Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98121.                            

(9) Includes an aggregate of 289,900 shares over which Mr. Johnson has voting 
  control with respect to the Christopher Leo Jaech Trust of 1993 (139,900
  shares), the Elisabeth Anna Jaech Trust of 1991 (140,000 shares) and the
  Jeremy and Linda Jaech Educational Trust (10,000 shares), trusts created
    for the benefit of Mr. Jaech's children and other relatives. Mr. Jaech has
not retained any control over these trusts. Seattle-First Stock Bank, 
   N.A., as trustee, has investment power with respect to these shares. Also
  includes 60,000 shares held by Mr. Johnson's spouse. Does not include an
    aggregate of 110,000 shares held by two trusts established for the benefit
of Mr. Johnson's children. Mr. Johnson is neither a trustee nor a     
   beneficiary of these trusts and disclaims any beneficial ownership of the
common stock held by these trusts.                                    

(10) Includes 49,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.            

(11) Includes 43,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.            

(12) Includes 109,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.           

(13) Consists of 152,750 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.        

(14) Includes 36,650 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.            

(15) Includes 28,375 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.            

(16) Includes 56,250 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.            

(17) Includes 587,625 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.           

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LEGAL MATTERS 

The validity of the Microsoft common stock to be issued to Visio          
shareholders in the merger will be passed upon by Preston Gates & Ellis LLP,    
Seattle, Washington. It is a condition to the completion of the merger that     
Visio receive an opinion from Shearman & Sterling, Menlo Park, California, and  
that Microsoft receive an opinion from Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, with respect  
to the tax treatment of the merger.                                             

EXPERTS 

The financial statements of Microsoft incorporated into this proxy        
statement/prospectus by reference to Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, 
independent auditors, as stated in their report. Deloitte & Touche's report is  
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference in reliance on   
their report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.   

Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited Visio's consolidated
financial statements included in Visio's annual report on Form 10-K for the     
fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, as set forth in their report, which is    
incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. Visio's         
consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on  
the auditors' report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and     
auditing.                                                                       

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS 

Visio will hold an annual meeting of Visio shareholders in the year 2000  
only if the merger is not completed before the time of that meeting. If the     
merger is not completed, you may present proper proposals for consideration at  
the next annual meeting of Visio shareholders by submitting your proposal in    
writing to the secretary of Visio in a timely manner.                           

Federal securities law and Visio's bylaws establish an advance notice     
procedure with regard to matters to be brought before an annual meeting of      
shareholders, including shareholder proposals not included in Visio's proxy     
statement. Under federal proxy rules, a shareholder proposing to transact       
business at Visio's annual meeting of shareholders and who wishes to include    
the proposal in Visio's proxy statement and form of proxy for the annual        
meeting must provide notice of the proposal no later than 120 days before the   
date the proxy materials for the previous year's annual meeting were sent to    
Visio's shareholders. Under Visio's bylaws, a shareholder proposing to transact 
business at Visio's annual meeting of shareholders must provide notice of the   
proposal, in the manner required by Visio's bylaws, no later than 60 days       
before the date of the annual meeting (or, if Visio provides less than 60 days' 
notice of the meeting, no later than 10 days after the date of Visio's notice). 
For shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in Visio's proxy       
statement and form of proxy relating to its 2000 annual meeting of              
shareholders, the proposals must have been received by Visio by September 10,   
1999. For shareholder proposals that will not be included in Visio's proxy      
statement and form of proxy, the proposals must be received by Visio no later   
than December 27, 1999. If Visio receives notice of a shareholder proposal      
after November 24, 1999, however, the persons named as proxies in the proxy     
statement and form of proxy will have discretionary authority to vote on the    
shareholder proposal.                                                           

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS 
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

  This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates documents by reference that are
not presented in or delivered with this document.                               

  The SEC allows Microsoft and Visio to "incorporate by reference" information
into this proxy statement/prospectus, which means that we can disclose          
important information to you by referring you to another document filed         
separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to 
be part of this proxy statement/prospectus, except for any information          
superseded by information included in or incorporated by reference from         
subsequently filed documents into this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy   
statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that  
Microsoft and Visio have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain 
important information about Microsoft's and Visio's business and finances.      

                                                                [Download Table]

         Microsoft SEC Filings (File No. 0-14278)               Date Filed    
         ----------------------------------------               ----------    
                                                                              
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June                     
 30, 1999.................................................. September 28, 1999
Definitive Proxy Statement for the annual meeting to be                       
 held November 10, 1999.................................... September 28, 1999
Description of Microsoft's common stock, contained in                         
 Microsoft's Registration Statement on Form S-3............ December 13, 1996 

           Visio SEC Filings (File No. 0-26772)                 Date Filed    
           ------------------------------------                 ----------    
                                                                              
Current Report on Form 8-K................................. September 15, 1999
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June                      
 30, 1999.................................................. August 11, 1999   
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March                     
 31, 1999.................................................. May 17, 1999      
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended                           
 December 31, 1998......................................... February 16, 1999 
Definitive Proxy Statement for the annual meeting held                        
 February 24, 1999......................................... January 7, 1999   
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended                          
 September 30, 1998........................................ December 24, 1998 
Description of Visio's common stock, contained in Visio's                     
 Registration Statement on Form 8-A........................ September 15, 1995

 We also incorporate by reference any additional documents that Microsoft or
Visio files with the SEC after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and  
before the date of the special meeting.                                         

This proxy statement/prospectus is dated November 5, 1999. You should not 
assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is     
accurate as of any other date, and neither the mailing of the proxy             
statement/prospectus to shareholders nor the issuance of Microsoft common stock 
in the merger shall create any implication to the contrary. Please note that    
Microsoft has supplied all information contained or incorporated by reference   
into this proxy statement/prospectus relating to Microsoft, and Visio has       
supplied all information relating to Visio.                                     

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or in  
documents to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to       
provide you with different information.                                         

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 

On your written or oral request, Visio or Microsoft will provide you,     
without charge, with a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference   
into this proxy statement/prospectus, not including exhibits to the information 
unless those exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference. You should    
make any request for documents by Monday, December 6, 1999 to ensure timely     
delivery of the documents.                                                      

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                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                              
Requests for documents relating to Visio    Requests for documents relating to
 should be directed to:                      Microsoft should be directed to: 

Visio Corporation                           Microsoft Corporation             
2211 Elliott Avenue                         One Microsoft Way                 
Seattle, Washington 98121                   Redmond, Washington 98052         
(206) 956-6000                              (800) 285-7772                    
Attention: Investor Relations               Attention: Investor Relations     

Visio and Microsoft file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy     
statements and other information with the SEC. Copies of Visio's or Microsoft's 
reports, proxy statements and other information may be inspected and copied at  
the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC:                          

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                              
Judiciary Plaza            Citicorp Center            Seven World Trade Center
Room 1024                  500 West Madison Street    13th Floor              
450 Fifth Street, N.W.     Suite 1400                 New York, New York 10048
Washington, D.C. 20549     Chicago, Illinois 60661                            

Copies of these materials can also be obtained by mail at prescribed rates
from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,           
Washington, D.C. 20549, or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC        
maintains a Web site that includes reports, proxy statements and other          
information regarding Microsoft and Visio. The address of the SEC Web site is   
http://www.sec.gov.                                                             

Microsoft has filed a registration statement under the Securities Act with
the SEC to register the Microsoft common stock to be issued to Visio's          
shareholders in the merger. This proxy statement/prospectus is part of that     
registration statement. As allowed by SEC rules, this proxy                     
statement/prospectus does not contain all of the information you can find in    
the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement, and   
constitutes a prospectus of Microsoft in addition to being a proxy statement of 
Visio for the special meeting. You may inspect and copy the registration        
statement at any of the addresses listed above.                                 

If you have any questions about the merger, please call Visio's investor  
relations group at (206) 956-6000. You may also call Microsoft's investor       
relations group at (800) 285-7772.                                              

STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 This proxy statement/prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference
into this proxy statement/prospectus contain forward-looking statements within  
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of   
1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Words     
such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks" and   
"estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, and    
any statements regarding the benefits of the merger and Microsoft's and Visio's 
financial condition, results of operations and business are forward-looking     
statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future       
performance and are subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties that      
could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated   
by the forward-looking statements.                                              

Factors that may affect such forward-looking statements include:          

. the ability to retain Visio's key employees after the consummation of the 
merger;                                                                 

. competitive factors in the businesses in which Microsoft and Visio        
compete;                                                                

. changes in governmental regulation; and                                   

. overall economic and business conditions.                                 

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For a description of some of the factors or uncertainties in Visio's and  
Microsoft's respective operations and business environment that could cause     
actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements,    
see Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,   
1999, other documents Microsoft has subsequently filed with the SEC, Visio's    
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and     
other documents Visio has subsequently filed with the SEC, all of which are     
incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.                 

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                                                                         ANNEX A

MICROSOFT CORPORATION 

MOVIESUB, INC.

VISIO CORPORATION 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

Dated as of September 14, 1999
and amended as of October 29, 1999

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CONTENTS

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                               
ARTICLE I THE MERGER......................................................  A-1
1.1  Effective Time of the Merger.........................................  A-1
1.2  Closing..............................................................  A-1
1.3  Effects of the Merger................................................  A-2
1.4  Tax-Free Reorganization..............................................  A-2
1.5  Accounting Treatment.................................................  A-2

ARTICLE II EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT        
 CORPORATIONS, EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES...................................  A-2
2.1  Effect on Capital Stock..............................................  A-2
     2.1.1  Capital Stock of Sub.........................................   A-2
     2.1.2  Cancellation of Company Common Stock.........................   A-2
     2.1.3  Conversion of Company Common Stock...........................   A-3
     2.1.4  Adjustments of Exchange Ratio................................   A-3
     2.1.5  Dissenters' Rights...........................................   A-3
     2.1.6  Fractional Shares............................................   A-3
2.2  Exchange of Certificates.............................................  A-4
     2.2.1  Exchange Agent...............................................   A-4
     2.2.2  Microsoft to Provide Common Stock and Cash...................   A-4
     2.2.3  Exchange Procedures..........................................   A-4
     2.2.4  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock..........   A-4
     2.2.5  Return to Microsoft..........................................   A-5
2.3  Company Options......................................................  A-5
     2.3.1  Assumption by Microsoft......................................   A-5
     2.3.2  Registration.................................................   A-5
     2.3.3  Notice; Reservation of Shares................................   A-6
2.4  Employee Stock Purchase Plan.........................................  A-6

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................  A-6
3.1  Representations and Warranties of Company............................  A-6
     3.1.1  Organization, Standing and Power.............................   A-6
     3.1.2  Capital Structure............................................   A-7
     3.1.3  Authority....................................................   A-7
     3.1.4  SEC Documents and Financial Statements.......................   A-8
     3.1.5  Information Supplied.........................................   A-8
     3.1.6  No Defaults..................................................   A-9
     3.1.7  Litigation...................................................   A-9
     3.1.8  No Material Adverse Change...................................   A-9
     3.1.9  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities...........................  A-10
     3.1.10 No Violations................................................  A-10
     3.1.11 Certain Agreements...........................................  A-10
     3.1.12 Employee Benefit Plans.......................................  A-10
     3.1.13 Major Contracts..............................................  A-11
     3.1.14 Taxes........................................................  A-11
     3.1.15 Interests of Officers........................................  A-12
     3.1.16 Technology and Intellectual Property Rights..................  A-12
     3.1.17 Opinion of Financial Advisor.................................  A-14
     3.1.18 Vote Required................................................  A-14
     3.1.19 Accounting Matters...........................................  A-15
     3.1.20 Brokers and Finders..........................................  A-15
     3.1.21 Change of Control............................................  A-15

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CONTENTS--(Continued) 

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                               
     3.1.22 Leases in Effect.............................................  A-15
     3.1.23 Environmental................................................  A-15
     3.1.24 Certain Payments.............................................  A-16
     3.1.25 Reliance.....................................................  A-16
3.2  Representations and Warranties of Microsoft and Sub.................. A-16
     3.2.1  Organization; Standing and Power.............................  A-16
     3.2.2  Capital Structure............................................  A-16
     3.2.3  Authority....................................................  A-17
     3.2.4  SEC Documents and Financial Statements.......................  A-17
     3.2.5  Information Supplied.........................................  A-18
     3.2.6  No Defaults..................................................  A-18
     3.2.7  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.........................  A-18
     3.2.8  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities...........................  A-18
     3.2.9  No Vote Required.............................................  A-18
     3.2.10 Accounting Matters...........................................  A-18
     3.2.11 Brokers and Finders..........................................  A-19
     3.2.12 Interim Operation of Sub.....................................  A-19
     3.2.13 Reliance.....................................................  A-19

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS OF COMPANY........................................... A-19
4.1  Conduct of Business.................................................. A-19
     4.1.1  Ordinary Course..............................................  A-19
     4.1.2  Dividends: Changes in Stock..................................  A-20
     4.1.3  Issuance of Securities.......................................  A-20
     4.1.4  Governing Documents..........................................  A-20
     4.1.5  Exclusivity; Acquisition Proposals...........................  A-20
     4.1.6  No Acquisitions..............................................  A-22
     4.1.7  No Dispositions..............................................  A-22
     4.1.8  Indebtedness.................................................  A-22
     4.1.9  Plans........................................................  A-22
     4.1.10 Claims.......................................................  A-22
     4.1.11 Agreement....................................................  A-22
4.2  Breach of Representations and Warranties............................. A-22
4.3  Pooling.............................................................. A-22
4.4  Consents............................................................. A-23
4.5  Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts................................. A-23
4.6  Information for Prospectus/Proxy Statement........................... A-23
4.7  Company Plans........................................................ A-23
4.8  Employee Transition Committee........................................ A-23
4.9  Shareholder Approval................................................. A-23
4.10 Tax Returns.......................................................... A-24
4.11 Representations of Shareholders...................................... A-24
4.12 Employee Benefits Matters............................................ A-24
     4.12.1 Service Credit...............................................  A-24
     4.12.2 Section 16 Approval..........................................  A-24
     4.12.3 Retention Plans and Related Matters..........................  A-25

ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF MICROSOFT.......................................... A-25
5.1  Representations and Warranties....................................... A-25
5.2  Conduct of Business by Microsoft Pending the Merger.................. A-25
5.3  Consents............................................................. A-25

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CONTENTS--(Continued) 

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                               
5.4  Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts................................. A-25
5.5  Agreements of Microsoft Affiliates................................... A-26
5.6  Representations of Shareholders...................................... A-26
5.7  Tax Free Reorganization.............................................. A-26
5.8  Nasdaq Listing....................................................... A-26
5.9  Employee Transition Committee........................................ A-27
5.10 Retention Plans...................................................... A-27

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.......................................... A-27
6.1  Preparation of S-4................................................... A-27
6.2  Intentionally deleted................................................ A-27
6.3  Intentionally deleted................................................ A-27
6.4  Access to Information................................................ A-27
6.5  Legal Conditions to the Merger....................................... A-28
6.6  Affiliates........................................................... A-28
6.7  HSR Act Filings...................................................... A-28
     6.7.1  Filings and Cooperation......................................  A-28
     6.7.2  Objections...................................................  A-28
6.8  Officers and Directors............................................... A-29
6.9  Expenses............................................................. A-29
6.10 Stock Option Agreement............................................... A-29
6.11 Additional Agreements................................................ A-29
6.12 Public Announcements................................................. A-30
6.13 State Takeover Laws.................................................. A-30
6.14 Publication of Operating Results..................................... A-30

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.......................................... A-30
7.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger........... A-30
     7.1.1  Shareholder Approval.........................................  A-30
     7.1.2  Consents.....................................................  A-30
     7.1.3  S-4..........................................................  A-31
     7.1.4  No Restraints................................................  A-31
     7.1.5  Tax-Free Reorganization......................................  A-31
     7.1.6  No Burdensome Condition......................................  A-31
7.2  Conditions of Obligations of Microsoft and Sub....................... A-31
     7.2.1  Representations and Warranties of Company....................  A-31
     7.2.2  Performance of Obligations of Company........................  A-31
     7.2.3  Affiliates...................................................  A-31
     7.2.4  Pooling of Interests; Comfort Letters........................  A-32
     7.2.5  Opinion of Company's Counsel.................................  A-32
7.3  Conditions of Obligation of Company.................................. A-32
     7.3.1  Representations and Warranties of Microsoft and Sub..........  A-32
     7.3.2  Performance of Obligations of Microsoft and Sub..............  A-32
     7.3.3  Opinion of Microsoft Counsel.................................  A-32

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER............................ A-33
8.1  Termination.......................................................... A-33
8.2  Effect of Termination................................................ A-33
8.3  Break-up Fee......................................................... A-33
8.4  Amendment............................................................ A-34
8.5  Extension, Waiver.................................................... A-34

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CONTENTS--(Continued) 

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ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................. A-34
9.1   Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements........... A-34
9.2   Notices............................................................. A-35
9.3   Interpretation...................................................... A-35
9.4   Counterparts........................................................ A-36
9.5   Miscellaneous....................................................... A-36
9.6   No Joint Venture.................................................... A-36
9.7   Governing Law....................................................... A-36
9.8   Specific Performance................................................ A-36

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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                                
                                       A                                        
Acquisition Transaction.................................................... A-21
affiliate..................................................................  A-4
Affiliate Letters.......................................................... A-28
Affiliates................................................................. A-28
Antitrust Laws............................................................. A-29

                                       B                                        

blue sky...................................................................  A-8
Business Condition.........................................................  A-6

                                       C                                        

Certificate................................................................  A-3
Closing....................................................................  A-1
Closing Date...............................................................  A-1
Code.......................................................................  A-2
Company....................................................................  A-1
Company Business...........................................................  A-6
Company Common Stock.......................................................  A-2
Company Disclosure Schedule................................................  A-6
Company Employee........................................................... A-24
Company Financial Statements...............................................  A-8
Company Incentive and Stock Option Plans...................................  A-7
Company Intellectual Property.............................................. A-12
Company Licensed Intellectual Property..................................... A-13
Company Options............................................................  A-7
Company Owned Intellectual Property........................................ A-13
Company Preferred Stock....................................................  A-7
Company Required Statutory Approvals.......................................  A-8
Company SEC Documents......................................................  A-8
Company Section 16 Insider................................................. A-24
Company Shareholders Meeting............................................... A-23
Company Voting Debt........................................................  A-7
Company's Principal Shareholders........................................... A-24
Competitive Business....................................................... A-25
Condition Satisfaction Date................................................  A-1
Confidentiality Agreement.................................................. A-28
Consents...................................................................  A-8

                                       E                                        

Effective Time.............................................................  A-1
ERISA...................................................................... A-10
Exchange Act...............................................................  A-8
Exchange Agent.............................................................  A-4
Exchange Ratio.............................................................  A-3

                                       G                                        

GAAP.......................................................................  A-8
Governmental Entity........................................................  A-8

                                       H                                        

Hazardous Material......................................................... A-16
HSR Act....................................................................  A-8

                                       I                                        

include.................................................................... A-35
includes................................................................... A-35
including.................................................................. A-35
Indemnified Parties........................................................ A-29

                                       L                                        

Lease...................................................................... A-15
Leases..................................................................... A-15
Liabilities................................................................ A-10

                                       M                                        

Material Adverse Effect....................................................  A-6
Merger.....................................................................  A-1
Merger Consideration.......................................................  A-3
Merger Documents...........................................................  A-1
Microsoft..................................................................  A-1
Microsoft Average Closing Price............................................  A-3
Microsoft Common Stock.....................................................  A-3
Microsoft Disclosure Schedule.............................................. A-16
Microsoft Financial Statements............................................. A-17
Microsoft Options.......................................................... A-16
Microsoft Preferred Stock.................................................. A-16
Microsoft Required Statutory Approvals..................................... A-17
Microsoft SEC Documents.................................................... A-17
multiemployer plan......................................................... A-11

                                       N                                        

Non-U.S. Plans............................................................. A-10

                                       O                                        

Order...................................................................... A-29

                                       P                                        

Plan....................................................................... A-10
plan of reorganization.....................................................  A-2
prohibited transaction..................................................... A-10
Proxy Statement............................................................  A-8
Proxy Statement/Prospectus.................................................  A-8

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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS--(Continued) 

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                                
                                       R                                        

Real Property.............................................................. A-15
Required Statutory Approvals............................................... A-17
Retention Plan............................................................. A-25
Returns.................................................................... A-11

                                       S                                        

S-4........................................................................  A-8
SEC........................................................................  A-8
Securities Act.............................................................  A-4
single-employer plan....................................................... A-11
Stock Option Agreement..................................................... A-29
Sub........................................................................  A-1
Subsidiaries...............................................................  A-3
Subsidiary.................................................................  A-3
Superior Proposal.......................................................... A-21
Surviving Corporation......................................................  A-2
                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                                
                                       T                                        

tax........................................................................ A-11
taxes...................................................................... A-11
Transition Committee....................................................... A-23

                                       U                                        

U.S. Plans................................................................. A-10

                                       V                                        

Violation..................................................................  A-7

                                       W                                        

WBCA.......................................................................  A-1

                                       Y                                        

Year 2000 Compliant........................................................ A-14

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION, dated as of September 14, 1999 and  
amended as of October 29, 1999, among Microsoft Corporation, a Washington       
corporation ("Microsoft"), MovieSub, Inc., a Washington corporation and a       
wholly-owned subsidiary of Microsoft ("Sub"), and Visio Corporation, a          
Washington corporation ("Company").                                             

WITNESSETH

 WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and
in accordance with the Washington Business Corporation Act (the "WBCA"),        
Microsoft and Company will enter into a business combination transaction        
pursuant to which Sub will merge with and into Company (the "Merger");          

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Company (i) has determined that the    
Merger is advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Company and its  
shareholders and has adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other           
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) has recommended the        
approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of Company;                      

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Microsoft and Sub have     
determined that the Merger is advisable and fair to, and in the best interests  
of, Microsoft and Sub;                                                          

WHEREAS, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Merger is     
intended to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of    
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and                

WHEREAS, the parties intend that the Merger shall be accounted for as a   
"pooling of interests" for financial reporting purposes.                        

 INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND, and in consideration of the premises and the
mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein,  
Microsoft, Sub and Company hereby agree as follows:                             

ARTICLE I THE MERGER

1.1 Effective Time of the Merger                                                

Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Sub will be merged with and  
into Company. An Agreement and Plan of Merger, and articles, certificates or    
other appropriate filing documents (the "Merger Documents") shall be duly       
prepared, executed and acknowledged by the parties and thereafter delivered to  
the Secretary of State of Washington, for filing, as provided in the WBCA as    
soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2).   
The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Merger Documents with  
the Secretary of State of Washington or at such time thereafter as is provided  
in the Merger Documents (the "Effective Time"). Company acknowledges and agrees 
that Microsoft will have no obligation to make any payment or issue any         
securities pursuant to this Agreement until the Merger has been confirmed in    
writing by the Secretary of State of Washington.                                

1.2 Closing                                                                     

 Unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto,
the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place at the offices of     
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, Seattle, Washington, on a date (the "Closing Date")  
that is as soon as practicable after, but no later than the third business day  
after, satisfaction or waiver of the last to be fulfilled of the conditions set 
forth in Article VII that by their terms are not to occur at the Closing (the   
date on which such conditions are satisfied or waived being the "Condition      
Satisfaction Date"); provided, however, that if the Condition Satisfaction Date 
is prior to December 30, 1999, Microsoft                                        

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may elect to postpone the Closing Date to a date not later than December 30,    
1999 by providing written notice of such election to the Company not later than 
three business days after the Condition Satisfaction Date; provided, further,   
that if Microsoft so elects to postpone the Closing Date, then, notwithstanding 
anything to the contrary contained in Article VII of this Agreement, after the  
Condition Satisfaction Date, the obligations of each party to effect the Merger 
shall not be subject to any of the conditions specified in Article VII of this  
Agreement.                                                                      

1.3 Effects of the Merger                                                       

  At the Effective Time, (i) the separate existence of Sub shall cease and Sub
shall be merged with and into Company (Company after the Merger is sometimes    
referred to herein as the "Surviving Corporation"), (ii) the Articles of        
Incorporation of Company shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the          
Surviving Corporation, except that such Articles of Incorporation shall be      
amended to provide that the authorized capital stock of the Surviving           
Corporation shall be 1,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, until duly   
amended, (iii) the Bylaws of Sub shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving           
Corporation, (iv) the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the       
directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, (v) the officers of   
the Surviving Corporation shall be the officers of Sub immediately prior to the 
Effective Time, and (vi) the Merger shall, from and after the Effective Time,   
have all the effects provided by applicable law.                                

1.4 Tax-Free Reorganization                                                     

 The Merger is intended to be a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and this     
Agreement is intended to be a "plan of reorganization" within the meaning of    
the regulations promulgated under Section 368 of the Code. Each party hereto    
and its affiliates agree to treat the Merger as a reorganization within the     
meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and this Agreement is intended to be a      
"plan of reorganization" within the meaning of the regulations promulgated      
under Section 368 of the Code, unless and until there is a determination,       
within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code that such conclusions are wholly 
or partially incorrect. Microsoft agrees to act in good faith consistent with   
the intent of the parties expressed in this provision.                          

1.5 Accounting Treatment                                                        

The business combination to be effected by the Merger is intended to be   
treated for accounting purposes as a "pooling of interests." However, Microsoft 
has reserved the right under this Agreement to cause the Merger to be treated   
for accounting purposes as a "purchase."                                        

ARTICLE II EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS, EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES 

2.1 Effect on Capital Stock                                                     

As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action  
(except as provided in Section 4.9) on the part of the holder of any shares of  
Company common stock, par value $.001 per share ("Company Common Stock"):       

2.1.1 Capital Stock of Sub                                                    

 All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Sub shall continue to
be issued and shall be converted into 1,000 shares of Surviving Corporation     
Common Stock with the stock certificate of Sub evidencing ownership of such     
shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.                           

2.1.2 Cancellation of Company Common Stock                                    

 All shares of Company Common Stock that are owned directly or indirectly by
Company or Microsoft or by any Subsidiary (as defined below) of Company or      
Microsoft immediately prior to the Merger shall be                              

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canceled and no stock of Microsoft or other consideration shall be delivered in 
exchange therefor. In this Agreement, "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall mean 
an entity of which an amount of the voting securities, or other voting          
ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect a     
majority of its board of directors or other governing body (or, if there are no 
such interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly 
or indirectly by Company. All Subsidiaries of Company are identified in the     
Company Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Section 3.1). All references to      
Company, unless otherwise indicated shall include each of Company's             
Subsidiaries.                                                                   

2.1.3 Conversion of Company Common Stock                                      

  Each issued and outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than shares
to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.1.2 and dissenting shares as described in  
Section 2.1.5) shall be converted, without any action on the part of the        
holders thereof, into the right to receive .45 shares (the "Exchange Ratio") of 
common stock, par value $0.0000125 per share, of Microsoft (the "Microsoft      
Common Stock") (the "Merger Consideration"). All such shares of Company Common  
Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall cease to exist, and each         
certificate (a "Certificate") previously representing any such shares shall     
represent only the right to receive (i) whole shares of Microsoft Common Stock  
and (ii) cash in lieu of fractional shares, in each case as provided by this    
Section 2.1.                                                                    

2.1.4 Adjustments of Exchange Ratio                                           

If, between the date of this agreement and the Effective Time, the        
outstanding shares of Microsoft Common Stock or Company Common Stock shall have 
been changed into a different number of shares or a different class or series   
or otherwise changed by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization,       
split-up, stock dividend, stock combination, exchange of shares or readjustment 
or similar transaction, the Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly adjusted.   

2.1.5 Dissenters' Rights                                                      

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each     
outstanding share of Company Common Stock, the holder of which has demanded and 
perfected such holder's right to dissent from the Merger and to be paid the     
fair value of such shares in accordance with Sections 23B.13.010 et seq. of the 
WBCA and, as of the Effective Time, has not effectively withdrawn or lost such  
dissenters' rights, shall not be converted into or represent a right to receive 
the Merger Consideration, but the holder thereof shall be entitled only to such 
rights as are granted by the WBCA. Company shall give Microsoft (i) prompt      
written notice of any notice of intent to demand fair value for any shares of   
Company Common Stock, withdrawals of such notices, and any other instruments    
served pursuant to the WBCA or any other provisions of Washington law and       
received by the Company, and (ii) the opportunity to conduct jointly all        
negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for fair value for shares  
of Company Common Stock under the WBCA. Company shall not, except with the      
prior written consent of Microsoft, voluntarily make any payment with respect   
to any demands for fair value for shares of Company Common Stock or offer to    
settle or settle any such demands.                                              

2.1.6 Fractional Shares                                                       

  No fractional shares of Microsoft Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger
and such fractional interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote. In   
lieu of any fractional share, each holder of shares of Company Common Stock who 
would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Microsoft       
Common Stock will be entitled to receive from Microsoft an amount of cash,      
without interest, equal to the Microsoft Average Closing Price (as defined      
below) multiplied by the fraction of a share of Microsoft Common Stock to which 
such holder would otherwise be entitled. The "Microsoft Average Closing Price"  
shall mean the average closing price of the Microsoft Common Stock as publicly  
reported for the NASDAQ National Market System as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time     
over the last 20 trading days ending on the fifth trading day prior to the      
Closing Date.                                                                   

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2.2 Exchange of Certificates                                                    

2.2.1 Exchange Agent                                                          

Prior to the Closing Date, Microsoft shall appoint ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, LLC, or other bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to        
Company, to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in the Merger.         

2.2.2 Microsoft to Provide Common Stock and Cash                              

As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, Microsoft shall make 
available to the Exchange Agent the certificates representing whole shares of   
Microsoft Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 2.1 in exchange for           
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and, from time to time, cash for     
payment in lieu of fractional shares.                                           

2.2.3 Exchange Procedures                                                     

As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Microsoft shall cause the
Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record as of the Effective Time of a   
Certificate or Certificates, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall be in     
customary form and specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss    
and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the             
Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting  
the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for certificates representing     
Microsoft Common Stock. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the 
Exchange Agent, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal and such    
other documents as the Exchange Agent shall require, the holder of such         
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the number of     
whole shares of Microsoft Common Stock to which the holder of Company Common    
Stock is entitled pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof plus cash in lieu of           
fractional shares as provided in Section 2.1.6. The Certificate so surrendered  
shall forthwith be canceled. Notwithstanding any other provision of this        
Agreement, until holders of Certificates have surrendered them for exchange as  
provided herein, (i) no dividends or other distributions shall be paid with     
respect to any shares represented by such Certificates and no payment for       
fractional shares shall be made, and (ii) without regard to when such           
Certificates are surrendered for exchange as provided herein, no interest shall 
be paid on any dividends or other distributions or any payment for fractional   
shares. Upon surrender of a Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder of   
such Certificate the amount of any dividends or other distributions which       
theretofore became payable, but which were not paid by reason of the foregoing, 
with respect to the number of whole shares of Microsoft Common Stock            
represented by the certificate or certificates issued upon such surrender. If   
any certificate for Microsoft Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than 
in which the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefore is registered, it    
shall be a condition of such exchange that the person requesting such exchange  
pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of           
certificates for such shares of Microsoft Common Stock in a name other than     
that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or establish to   
the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is 
not applicable. In connection with its undertakings pursuant to this Section    
2.2.3, the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to withhold any income taxes as     
required by the Code.                                                           

2.2.4 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock                     

All Microsoft Common Stock delivered upon the surrender for exchange of   
shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be     
deemed to have been delivered in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to  
such shares of Company Common Stock. After the Effective Time there shall be no 
transfers on the stock transfer books of Company of shares of Company Common    
Stock. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the          
Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as   
provided in this Article II. Certificates surrendered for exchange by any       
person constituting an "affiliate" of Company for purposes of Rule 145(c) under 
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or for purposes  
of preserving pooling of interests accounting treatment for the Merger shall    
not be exchanged until Microsoft receives a written agreement from such persons 
as provided by Section 6.6.                                                     

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2.2.5 Return to Microsoft                                                     

Any Microsoft Common Stock and any cash in lieu of fractional share       
interests made available to the Exchange Agent and not exchanged for            
Certificates within one year after the Effective Time and any dividends and     
distributions held by the Exchange Agent for payment or delivery to the holders 
of unsurrendered Certificates representing Company Common Stock and unclaimed   
at the end of such one year period shall be redelivered or repaid by the        
Exchange Agent to Microsoft, after which time any holder of Certificates who    
has not theretofore delivered or surrendered such Certificates to the Exchange  
Agent, subject to applicable law, shall look as a general creditor only to      
Microsoft for payment of the Microsoft Common Stock, cash in lieu of fractional 
shares, and any such dividends or distributions. Notwithstanding any provision  
of this Agreement, none of Microsoft, the Exchange Agent, the Surviving         
Corporation or any other party hereto shall be liable to any holder of Company  
Common Stock for any Microsoft Common Stock, cash in lieu of fractional shares  
or dividends or distributions delivered to a public official pursuant to        
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.                          

2.3 Company Options                                                             

2.3.1 Assumption by Microsoft                                                 

At the Effective Time, each of the then outstanding Company Options (as   
defined in Section 3.1.2) shall, by virtue of the Merger and at the Effective   
Time, and without any further action on the part of any holder thereof, be      
assumed by Microsoft and converted into an option to purchase that number of    
shares of Microsoft Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of shares 
of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option at the Effective Time by 
the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share of Microsoft Common Stock    
equal to the exercise price per share of such Company Option immediately prior  
to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio. If the foregoing           
calculation results in an assumed Company Option being exercisable for a        
fraction of a share of Microsoft Common Stock, then the number of shares of     
Microsoft Common Stock subject to such option shall be rounded to the nearest   
whole number of shares. Continuous employment with Company or any Company       
Subsidiaries shall be credited to the optionee for purposes of determining the  
vesting of the number of shares of Microsoft Common Stock subject to exercise   
under the optionee's converted Company Option after the Effective Time. Except  
as provided in this Section 2.3.1, each Company Option assumed by Microsoft     
hereunder shall be exercisable upon, and otherwise be subject to, the same      
terms and conditions as under the applicable Company Incentive and Stock Option 
Plan (as defined in Section 3.1.2), the applicable option agreement issued      
thereunder and any other plan or agreement pertaining to the exercisability or  
any other term of such Company Option. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 
2.3.1 to the contrary, the Company Options shall be assumed by Microsoft in     
such a manner that Microsoft (i) is a corporation "assuming a stock option in a 
transaction to which Section 424(a) applies" within the meaning of Section 424  
of the Code and the regulations thereunder or (ii) to the extent that Section   
424 of the Code does not apply to any such Company Options, would be such a     
corporation were Section 424 of the Code applicable to such Company Options.    

2.3.2 Registration                                                            

Microsoft shall cause the shares of Microsoft Common Stock issuable upon  
exercise of the assumed Company Options to be registered, or to be issued       
pursuant to a then effective registration statement, as soon as practicable     
after the Effective Time, but in no event later than 10 days after the          
Effective Time, on Form S-8 promulgated by the SEC or, in the event that Form   
S-8 is not available under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC for  
shares of Microsoft Common Stock, on Form S-3 promulgated by the SEC for the    
portion of such shares not registrable on Form S-8, and shall use its           
commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such      
registration statement or registration statements for so long as such assumed   
Company Options remain outstanding. With respect to those individuals who       
subsequent to the Merger will be subject to the reporting requirements under    
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 4.12.2), Microsoft     
shall administer Company Options assumed pursuant to this Section 2.3 in a      
manner that complies                                                            

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with Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, but shall have   
no responsibility for such compliance by Company or its predecessors.           

2.3.3 Notice; Reservation of Shares                                           

 As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Microsoft shall deliver to
each holder of an assumed Company Option an appropriate notice setting forth    
such holder's rights pursuant thereto. Microsoft shall comply with the terms of 
all such Company Options and shall take all corporate action necessary to       
reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Microsoft Common Stock    
for delivery upon exercise of the assumed Company Options.                      

2.4 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                                

Company shall cause its 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to be terminated
as of the day immediately prior to the Effective Time, and all funds which have 
been withheld from the wages of Company's employees for the purchase of Company 
Common Stock as of such time shall be applied to a final purchase thereunder.   

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of Company                                   

 Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents (as defined below) or in a
Disclosure Schedule which identifies by section number the section and          
subsection to which such disclosure relates (provided, however, that Company    
shall be deemed to have adequately disclosed with respect to any section or     
subsection any matters that are clearly described elsewhere in such document if 
a reader(s) who has not been actively involved in Company but is generally      
familiar with the software development industry can understand the              
applicability of such disclosure to such non-referenced sections or             
subsections) and is delivered by Company to Microsoft concurrently with the     
execution of this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"), whether or not 
the Company Disclosure Schedule is referred to in a specific section or         
subsection and except as specifically provided for in this Agreement or any     
agreement attached as an Exhibit hereto, Company represents and warrants to     
Microsoft and Sub as follows:                                                   

3.1.1 Organization, Standing and Power                                        

   Each of Company and its Subsidiaries is an entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing, as applicable under the laws of its jurisdiction 
of incorporation or organization has all requisite power and authority to own,  
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as now being    
conducted, and is duly qualified and in good standing to do business in each    
jurisdiction in which it owns, leases or operates its properties or conducts    
its businesses so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to 
be so organized, existing, qualified or in good standing or to have such        
corporate or other applicable power and authority have not had, and would not   
have, a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined) on the Business        
Condition (as hereinafter defined) of Company. As used in this Agreement,       
"Business Condition" with respect to any entity shall mean the financial        
condition and results of operations (without giving effect to the consequences  
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) of such entity and its      
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term     
"Material Adverse Effect" means material adverse effect other than resulting    
from (i) changes attributable to conditions affecting the Company Business      
generally or the software industry generally, (ii) changes in general economic, 
political or regulatory conditions, (iii) changes attributable to the           
announcement or pendency of the Merger, or the other transactions contemplated  
hereby, or (iv) with respect to Company, litigation arising from allegations of 
a breach of fiduciary duty relating to this Agreement. Company has made         
available to Microsoft complete and correct copies of the Certificate or        
Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and minutes of each meeting of the board     
(and each committee thereof) of directors of Company and each of its            
Subsidiaries, in each case, as amended to the date hereof. "Company Business"   

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means the business generally related to the development and sale of software    
for business diagramming, technical drawing and information technology design   
and documentation together with all other Company assets dedicated to such      
business.                                                                       

3.1.2 Capital Structure                                                       

The authorized capital stock of Company consists of 200,000,000 shares of 
Company Common Stock of which 30,213,572 were outstanding as of September 10,   
1999 and 40,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock (the "Company Preferred Stock"),  
of which none are outstanding as of the date hereof and none of which are held  
by Subsidiaries of Company. In addition, as of September 10, 1999 there were    
4,494,597 shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of          
outstanding stock options ("Company Options") under the 1995 Nonemployee        
Director Stock Option Plan, the 1995 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, the 
1990 Stock Option Plan and any other stock option plans and other options       
(together with the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the "Company Incentive    
and Stock Option Plans"). All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are,   
and any shares of Company Common Stock issued upon exercise of any Company      
Options will be, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the     
instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, validly issued, fully paid,    
nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, or to any agreement to  
which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or any  
of its Subsidiaries may be bound other than agreements pursuant to which        
Company has the right to repurchase shares of Company Common Stock. Except for  
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Company Options, there 
are not any options, warrants, calls, conversion rights, commitments,           
agreements, contracts, understandings, restrictions, arrangements or rights of  
any character to which Company or any Subsidiary of Company is a party or by    
which any of them may be bound obligating Company or any Subsidiary of Company  
to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional 
shares of the capital stock of Company or of any Subsidiary of Company or       
obligating Company or any Subsidiary of Company to grant, extend or enter into  
any such option, warrant, call, conversion right, commitment, agreement,        
contract, understanding, restriction, arrangement or right. Company does not    
have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness the holders 
of which have the right to vote (or convertible or exercisable into securities  
having the right to vote) with holders of Company Common Stock on any matter    
("Company Voting Debt"). Company is the owner, directly or indirectly, of all   
outstanding shares of capital stock of each of its Subsidiaries free and clear  
of all liens, pledges, security interests, claims or other encumbrances and all 
such shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  

3.1.3 Authority                                                               

Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and subject, in the case of this Agreement, to approval of this       
Agreement by the shareholders of Company and the Company Required Statutory     
Approvals (as defined below), to consummate the transactions contemplated       
hereby. The execution and delivery by Company of this Agreement and the         
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized  
by all necessary corporate action on the part of Company, including the         
unanimous approval of the Board of Directors of Company, subject only to        
approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of Company. This Agreement has   
been duly executed and delivered by Company and assuming the due authorization, 
execution and delivery by Microsoft and Sub, constitutes a valid and binding    
obligation of Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that     
such enforceability may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,               
reorganization or other similar laws relating to enforcement of creditors'      
rights generally and (ii) general equitable principles. Subject to the          
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.3, the execution 
and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby will not, conflict with or result in any violation of, or   
default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise  
to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to 
loss of a material benefit under, or the creation of a lien, pledge, security   
interest, charge or other encumbrance on assets (any such conflict, violation,  
default, right, loss or creation being referred to herein as a "Violation")     
pursuant to (i) any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of     
Company                                                                         

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or the comparable governing instruments of any Subsidiary or (ii) any loan or   
credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, lease, or other    
agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment,      
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to        
Company or any Subsidiary of Company or their respective properties or assets,  
other than, in the case of (ii), any such Violation which individually or in    
the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business          
Condition of Company. No consent, approval, order or authorization of or        
registration, declaration or filing with or exemption by (collectively          
"Consents"), any court, administrative agency or commission or other            
governmental authority or instrumentality, whether domestic or foreign (each a  
"Governmental Entity"), is required by or with respect to Company in connection 
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by        
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for Consents, if any,   
relating to (i) the filing of a premerger notification report and all other     
required documents by Microsoft and Company, and the expiration of all          
applicable waiting periods, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements  
Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (ii) any filings with the Securities   
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") including such reports and information as   
may be required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the      
"Exchange Act"), the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated   
by the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act and the declaration of  
the effectiveness of the S-4 (as defined in Section 3.1.5) by the SEC, (iii)    
such filings, authorizations, orders and approvals as may be required under     
foreign laws, state securities laws and the NASD Bylaws or "blue sky" laws, and 
(iv) the filing of the Merger Documents with the Secretary of State of the      
State Washington (the filings and approvals referred to in clauses (i) through  
(iii) are collectively referred to as the "Company Required Statutory           
Approvals") and except for such other Consents which if not obtained or made    
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company.  

3.1.4 SEC Documents and Financial Statements                                  

Company has filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed by
it with the SEC since November 30, 1995 through the date of this Agreement      
(collectively, the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective filing      
dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the     
requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be, and 
the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC  
Documents, and none of the Company SEC Documents contained any untrue statement 
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated    
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the   
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their           
respective filing dates, the financial statements of Company included in the    
Company SEC Documents (the "Company Financial Statements") complied as to form  
in all material respects with all applicable accounting requirements and with   
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and were    
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")   
consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and      
fairly presented, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position 
of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of      
their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the     
case of unaudited statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments not        
material in scope or amount). There has been no change in Company's accounting  
policies or the methods of making accounting estimates or changes in estimates  
that are material to Company Financial Statements, except as described in the   
notes thereto.                                                                  

3.1.5 Information Supplied                                                    

None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Company or its      
Subsidiaries, auditors, attorneys, financial advisors or other consultants or   
advisors for inclusion in (i) the registration statement on Form S-4, and any   
amendment thereto, to be filed under the Securities Act with the SEC by         
Microsoft in connection with the issuance of the Microsoft Common Stock in or   
as a result of the Merger (the "S-4"), or (ii) the proxy statement and any      
amendment or supplement thereto to be distributed in connection with Company's  
meetings of shareholders to vote upon this Agreement and the transactions       
contemplated hereby (the "Proxy Statement" and, together with the prospectus    
included in the S-4, the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus") will, in the case of     

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the Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of the 
mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto, and at  
the time of the meeting of shareholders of Company to vote upon this Agreement  
and the transactions contemplated hereby, or, in the case of the S-4, as        
amended or supplemented, at the time it becomes effective and at the time of    
any post-effective amendment thereto and at the time of the meeting of          
shareholders of Company, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or     
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to   
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are    
made, not misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier       
filing with the SEC of such Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or      
supplement thereto or any earlier communication (including the Proxy            
Statement/Prospectus) to shareholders of Company with respect to the            
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.                                    

3.1.6 No Defaults                                                             

Neither Company nor any Subsidiary of Company is, or has received notice  
that it would be with the passage of time, in default or violation of any term, 
condition or provision of (i) the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of        
Company or any comparable governing instrument of any Subsidiary of Company,    
(ii) any judgment, decree or order applicable to Company or any Subsidiary of   
Company or (iii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, 
contract, agreement, lease, license or other instrument to which Company or any 
Subsidiary of Company is now a party or by which it or any of its properties or 
assets may be bound, except for defaults and violations which, individually or  
in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business      
Condition of Company.                                                           

3.1.7 Litigation                                                              

There is no claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge
of Company, threatened, which would, if adversely determined, individually or   
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of   
Company, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any    
Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against Company or any of its     
Subsidiaries having, or which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, in the    
future would have, any Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of     
Company. There is no investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Company,     
threatened against Company or any Subsidiary of Company, before any foreign,    
federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board,  
bureau, agency, instrumentality or other Government Entity which would have a   
Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company. To the Company's  
knowledge, the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to any      
pending action, suit, proceeding, or investigation to which Company or any of   
its Subsidiaries is a party (other than (i) cases involving the collection of   
monies owed to Company or in the ordinary course of business or (ii) trademark  
infringement or anti-piracy actions in the ordinary course of business in which 
Company is the plaintiff), the forum, the parties thereto, the subject matter   
thereof, and the amount of damages claimed.                                     

3.1.8 No Material Adverse Change                                              

 Since October 3, 1998 through the date hereof, Company and its Subsidiaries
have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course and there has 
not been: (i) any Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company  
or any development or combination of developments of which management of        
Company has knowledge which is reasonably likely to result in such an effect;   
(ii) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance,      
having a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company; (iii)    
any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution 
(whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to the capital stock of       
Company; (iv) any material increase or change in the compensation or benefits   
payable or to become payable by Company or any Subsidiary to their employees in 
the aggregate, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past   
practice; (v) any acquisition or sale of a material amount of property of       
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business   
and which would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of 
Company; (vi) any                                                               

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material increase or modification in any bonus, pension, insurance or other     
employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for, or with its         
employees in the aggregate; or (vii) the granting of stock options, restricted  
stock awards, stock bonuses, stock appreciation rights and similar equity based 
awards other than consistent with Company's past practices and which will not   
result in a compensation charge against earnings or the loss of deductions for  
federal or state income tax purposes.                                           

3.1.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities                                      

Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have no liabilities or    
obligations (whether absolute, accrued or contingent) except (i) liabilities,   
obligations or contingencies ("Liabilities") that are accrued or reserved       
against in the consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as of 
October 3, 1998 or reflected in the notes thereto or disclosed in the financial 
statements of Company filed as a part of the Company SEC Documents, (ii)        
Liabilities that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business       
Condition of Company, or (iii) additional Liabilities reserved against since    
October 3, 1998 that (x) have arisen in the ordinary course of business and (y) 
are accrued or reserved against on the books and records of Company and its     
Subsidiaries.                                                                   

3.1.10 No Violations                                                          

The businesses of Company and its Subsidiaries are not being conducted in 
violation of, or in a manner which could cause liability under any applicable   
law, rule or regulation, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity,  
except for any violations or practices, which, individually or in the           
aggregate, have not had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect on the      
Business Condition of Company.                                                  

3.1.11 Certain Agreements                                                     

  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including, 
without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, parachute payment,    
bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director, employee or independent       
contractor of Company or its Subsidiaries, from Company or any of its           
Subsidiaries under any Plan (as hereinafter defined), agreement or otherwise,   
(ii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Plan or       
agreement, or (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or        
vesting of any such benefits.                                                   

3.1.12 Employee Benefit Plans                                                 

Each material employee benefit plan ("Plan") covering active, former or   
retired employees of Company and any of its Subsidiaries that is subject to     
U.S. law ("U.S. Plans") is listed in the Company Disclosure Schedule. With      
respect to each U.S. Plan, Company has provided to Microsoft a copy of each     
such Plan, and where applicable, any related trust agreement, annuity or        
insurance contract and, where applicable, all annual reports (Form 5500) filed  
with the IRS. With respect to each Plan that is not subject to U.S. law ("Non-  
U.S. Plans"), Company shall provide to Microsoft a copy of such Plan and, where 
applicable, any related trust agreement, annuity or insurance contract, as soon 
as practicable after the date hereof. To the extent applicable, each U.S. Plan  
complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Employee         
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and the Code, and 
any U.S. Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has     
been determined by the IRS to be so qualified and has remained tax-qualified to 
this date and its related trust is tax-exempt and has been so since its         
creation. No U.S. Plan is covered by Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the    
Code. No material "prohibited transaction," as defined in ERISA Section 406 or  
Code Section 4975 has occurred with respect to any U.S. Plan. Each U.S. Plan    
has been maintained and administered in all material respects in compliance     
with its terms and with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes,    
orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, 
which are applicable to such U.S. Plans. There are no pending or reasonably     
anticipated material claims against or otherwise involving any of the U.S.      
Plans and no suit, action or other litigation (excluding claims for benefits    
incurred in the ordinary course of Plan activities) has been brought against or 
with respect to any U.S.                                                        

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Plan. All material contributions, reserves or premium payments to U.S. Plans,   
accrued to the date hereof have been made or provided for. Company has not      
incurred any material liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA with 
respect to any "single-employer plan," within the meaning of                    
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by Company, or   
any entity which is considered one employer with Company under Section 4001 of  
ERISA. Company has not incurred, and will not incur as a result of the          
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any withdrawal liability under     
Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA with respect to any "multiemployer plan,"       
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. Company has no obligation    
for retiree health and life benefits under any U.S. Plan, except as required to 
avoid excise taxes under Section 4980(B) of the Code. There are no restrictions 
on the rights of Company to amend or terminate any U.S. Plan without incurring  
any liability thereunder (other than any liability for accrued benefits         
thereunder). Company has not engaged in, nor is it a successor to, an entity    
that has engaged in, a transaction described in ERISA Section 4069. There have  
been no amendments to, written interpretation of, or announcement (whether or   
not written) by Company relating to, or change in employee participation or     
coverage under, any U.S. Plan that would increase materially the expense of     
maintaining such Plan above the level of expense incurred in respect thereof    
for the year ended December 31, 1998. Neither Company nor any of its ERISA      
affiliates have any current or projected liability in respect of post-          
employment or post-retirement welfare benefits for retired or former employees  
of Company. No tax under Section 4980B of the Code has been incurred in respect 
of any U.S. Plan that is a group health plan, as defined in Section 5000(b)(1)  
of the Code. Each Non-U.S. Plan has been maintained and administered in all     
material respects in compliance with its terms and with the requirements        
prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations that are      
applicable to such Non-U.S. Plan. Each Non-U.S. Plan that is required by        
contract or under applicable local law to be funded has been funded to the      
extent required and if and to the extent any Non-U.S. Plan is not funded, the   
unfunded obligations under such Non-U.S. Plan are reflected on the books and    
records of the entity maintaining the plan.                                     

3.1.13 Major Contracts                                                        

As of the date of this Agreement, all of Company's "material contracts" as
such term is defined under Item 601 of Regulation S-K, have been filed under    
the Exchange Act. Except to the extent that such agreements have expired by     
their own terms, each agreement disclosed by Company under the Exchange Act is  
in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in full force and      
effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of    
Company. None of the parties to any of such agreements have terminated, except  
when such agreements have expired under their own terms, or, to the Company's   
knowledge, in any way expressed an intent to terminate or otherwise materially  
modify such agreements in the future. Company has provided to Microsoft lease   
documents for any real or personal property in which the amount of payments     
that Company is required to make on an annual basis exceeds $100,000 and that   
have not been filed as an exhibit to any Company SEC Documents.                 

3.1.14 Taxes                                                                  

For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms "tax" and "taxes" shall     
include all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments, duties,       
tariffs, registration fees, and other governmental charges including without    
limitation all income, franchise, property, production, sales, use, payroll,    
license, windfall profits, severance, withholding, excise, gross receipts and   
other taxes, as well as any interest, additions or penalties relating thereto   
and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties. Company and each of 
its Subsidiaries has timely filed (or caused to be filed), taking into account  
all extensions, all material federal, state, local and foreign tax returns,     
reports and information statements ("Returns") required to be filed by each of  
them, which returns, reports and statements are true, correct and complete in   
all material respects, and paid or accrued all material taxes shown as due on   
such returns, reports and statements. Company and each of its Subsidiaries has  
fully accrued in accordance with GAAP all material unpaid taxes in respect of   
all periods (or the portion of any such periods) subsequent to the periods      
covered by such returns). Company has received no written notice of any         
claimed, proposed or assessed material deficiencies or adjustments for any tax, 
nor to the best of Company's knowledge, have any such deficiencies or           
adjustments been threatened. Company and its Subsidiaries are not               

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subject to any ongoing tax audit or examination nor, to the best of Company's   
knowledge, are such audits or examinations pending or threatened, and Company   
has not waived or entered into any other agreement with respect to any statute  
of limitation with respect to the assessment of any tax.                        

 Company has made available to Microsoft true and correct copies of all U.S.
Returns for the fiscal years 1996, 1997 and 1998 reasonably requested by        
Microsoft. Company covenants to provide to Microsoft at its reasonable request  
true and correct copies of all tax returns, information, statements, reports,   
work papers and other tax data as soon as practicable after the date hereof. No 
consent or agreement has been made under Section 341 of the Code by or on       
behalf of Company or any predecessor thereof. Other than interests in certain   
leasehold improvements, Company has no interests in real estate in the State of 
Washington, the transfer or disposition of which would give rise to Washington  
State real estate excise tax.                                                   

 Company has withheld all taxes required to be withheld in respect of wages,
salaries and other payments to all employees, officers and directors and timely 
paid all such amounts withheld to the proper taxing authority. Neither the      
Company nor the Subsidiaries are parties to any tax sharing agreements and      
neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries have been members of any        
affiliated group for federal income tax purposes other than the one of which    
they are currently a member. The Company does not have an "overall foreign      
loss" as defined in Section 904(f) of the Code. Prior to the Merger, the use of 
any net operating loss carryover, net capital loss carryover, unused investment 
credit or other credit carryover of the Company is not subject to any           
limitation pursuant to Section 382 of the Code or otherwise. The Company is not 
and has never been a real property holding corporation within the meaning of    
Section 897 of the Code. Neither Company nor any Subsidiary has participated    
in, or cooperated with, an international boycott within the meaning of          
Section 999 of the Code. There are no material liens for taxes upon the assets  
of Company or its Subsidiaries except for taxes that are not yet payable. The   
Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all states or foreign            
jurisdictions where the Company believes it or any Subsidiary is required to    
file Returns.                                                                   

Neither Company nor any Subsidiary of Company is a party to any agreement,
contract, or arrangement that would result in the payment of any "excess        
parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. None of      
Company or any Subsidiary is "tax exempt use property" within the meaning of    
Section 168(h) of the Code. None of the assets of Company or of any Subsidiary  
secures any debt the interest on which is tax exempt under Section 103 of the   
Code.                                                                           

  To the knowledge of Company, there are no facts or circumstances relating to
the Company including any covenants or undertakings of the Company pursuant to  
this Agreement, that would prevent Shearman & Sterling from delivering the      
opinion referred to in Section 7.1.5 as of the date hereof.                     

3.1.15 Interests of Officers                                                  

  None of Company's officers or directors has, nor to the knowledge of Company
does any officer or director of any Subsidiary have, any material interest in   
any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including inventions,   
copyrights, trademarks or trade names, used in or pertaining to the business of 
Company or that of its Subsidiaries, or any supplier, distributor or customer   
of Company or its Subsidiary, except, in the case of Company, for the normal    
rights of a shareholder, and except for rights under existing employee benefit  
plans.                                                                          

3.1.16 Technology and Intellectual Property Rights                            

(a) "Company Intellectual Property" shall mean:                           

(i) all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names,
copyrights and any renewal rights, applications and registrations for any   
of the foregoing, and all trade dress, schematics, technology, trade        
secrets, know-how, moral rights and computer software programs or           
applications (in both source and object code form) owned by Company; and    

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(ii) all license rights in any third party intellectual property,     
proprietary or personal rights, documentation, or tangible or intangible    
property, including without limitation the types of intellectual property   
and tangible and intangible proprietary information described in (i) above; 
that are being, and/or have been, used in, or are currently under           
development for use in, and are material to, the business of Company as it  
has been, is currently or is currently anticipated to be (up to the         
Closing), conducted. Company Intellectual Property described in clause (i)  
above is referred to herein as "Company Owned Intellectual Property" and    
Company Intellectual Property described in clause (ii) above is referred to 
herein as "Company Licensed Intellectual Property". Unless otherwise noted, 
all references to "Company Intellectual Property" shall include both        
Company Owned Intellectual Property and Company Licensed Intellectual       
Property.                                                                   

(b) The Company Disclosure Schedule lists: (i) all patents, registered    
copyrights, trademarks, and service marks and any applications and              
registrations for any of the foregoing, that are included in the Company Owned  
Intellectual Property; (ii) all software products and services that are         
currently published, offered, or under development by Company and scheduled to  
be commercially released within six months of the date hereof; (iii) licenses   
and sublicenses of Company Owned Intellectual Property that are material to the 
business of Company as it has been, is currently or is currently anticipated to 
be (up to the Closing), conducted; (iv) all Company Licensed Intellectual       
Property (other than license agreements for standard "shrink wrapped, off the   
shelf," commercially available, third party products used by the Company); and  
(v) any obligations of exclusivity, non-competition, non-solicitation, or first 
negotiation to which Company is subject under any agreement that does not fall  
within the ambit of (iii) or (iv) above and that are either material to         
Company's business or that to Company's knowledge could reasonably be expected  
to be materially adverse to Microsoft's business.                               

(c) Each item of the Company Intellectual Property is either: (i) owned by
Company, (ii) in the public domain, or (iii) rightfully used by Company         
pursuant to a valid license or other agreement. Company has all rights in the   
Company Intellectual Property reasonably necessary to carry out Company's       
current, and anticipated future (up to the Closing) activities and has or had   
during the relevant period all rights in the Company Intellectual Property      
reasonably necessary to carry out Company's former activities. All software and 
firmware listings that are part of the Company Owned Intellectual Property are  
commented in accordance with a reasonable developer standard.                   

(d) Company is not, nor as a result of the execution or delivery of this  
Agreement, or performance of Company's obligations hereunder, will Company be,  
in violation of any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to the      
Company Intellectual Property or of any non-disclosure agreement to which       
Company is a party or otherwise bound, except for any such violations that      
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company.  

(e) Except pursuant to the terms of the agreements listed in the Company  
Disclosure Schedule, Company is not obligated to provide any financial          
consideration or other material consideration to any third party, nor is any    
third party otherwise entitled to any financial consideration or other material 
consideration, with respect to any exercise of rights by Company or its         
successors in the Company Intellectual Property contained in Company's current  
products as listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company         
Intellectual Property contained in any Company web site.                        

(f) The use, reproduction, modification, distribution, licensing,         
sublicensing, sale, or any other exercise of rights in any Company Owned        
Intellectual Property by Company or its licensees, does not infringe any        
copyright, patent, trade secret, trademark, service mark, trade name, firm      
name, logo, trade dress, moral right, other intellectual property right, right  
of privacy, right of publicity or right in personal or other data of any        
person, except for any such violations that would not have a Material Adverse   
Effect on the Business Condition of Company. Further, to the knowledge of       
Company, the use, reproduction, modification, distribution, licensing,          
sublicensing, sale, or any other exercise of rights in any Company Licensed     
Intellectual Property or any other authorized exercise of rights in or to the   
Company Licensed Intellectual Property by Company or its licensees              

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does not infringe any copyright, patent, trade secret, trademark, service mark, 
trade name, firm name, logo, trade dress, moral right, other intellectual       
property right, right of privacy, right of publicity or right in personal or    
other data of any person, except for any such violations that would not have a  
Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company. No claims (i)     
challenging the validity, enforceability, or ownership by Company of any of the 
Company Owned Intellectual Property or (ii) to the effect that the use,         
reproduction, modification, manufacturing, distribution, licensing,             
sublicensing, sale or any other exercise of rights in any Company Owned         
Intellectual Property by Company or its licensees infringes any intellectual    
property or other proprietary or personal right of any person, have been        
asserted or, to the knowledge of Company, are threatened by any person. To the  
knowledge of Company, there is no unauthorized use, infringement or             
misappropriation of any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property by any third 
party, employee or former employee.                                             

(g) No parties other than Company possess any current or contingent rights
to any source code that is part of the Company Owned Intellectual Property      
(including, without limitation, through any escrow account).                    

(h) Company's standard practice is to secure from all parties who have    
created any material portion of, or otherwise have any material rights in or    
to, the Company Owned Intellectual Property written assignments or licenses of  
any such work or other rights to Company.                                       

 (i) Company has provided Microsoft with a copy of or access to all material
support and maintenance agreements relating to Company Owned Intellectual       
Property or to which Company is a party as to Company Licensed Intellectual     
Property.                                                                       

(j) To the knowledge of Company, Company has obtained written agreements  
from all employees and third parties with whom Company has shared confidential  
information (i) of Company, or (ii) received from others which Company is       
obligated to treat as confidential, which agreements require such employees and 
third parties to keep such information confidential.                            

(k) Company's practices regarding the collection and use of consumer      
personal information are in accordance in all material respects with Company's  
privacy policy as published on its website.                                     

(l) Any Company Owned Intellectual Property is, and any products          
manufactured and commercially released by Company or currently under            
development, are Year 2000 Compliant in all material respects and will not      
cease to be Year 2000 Compliant in any material respect at any time prior to,   
during or after the calendar year 2000. To Company's knowledge, the Company     
Licensed Intellectual Property material to the operation of Company is Year     
2000 Compliant in all material respects and will not cease to be Year 2000      
Compliant in any material respect at any time prior to, during or after the     
calendar year 2000. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Year 2000 Compliant"   
means that neither the performance nor the functionality of the applicable      
Company Intellectual Property or applicable product is or will be materially    
affected by dates prior to, during or after the calendar year 2000 AD.          

3.1.17 Opinion of Financial Advisor                                           

  Company has received the opinion of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, dated
the date hereof, a copy of which has been provided to Microsoft, to the effect  
that, as of such date, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a financial point of    
view, to Company's shareholders.                                                

3.1.18 Vote Required                                                          

 The affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock is the only vote of the holders of Company's capital    
stock necessary to approve this Agreement and the consummation of the           
transactions contemplated hereby.                                               

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3.1.19 Accounting Matters                                                     

To the knowledge of Company, neither Company nor any of its affiliates has
taken or agreed to take any action that, without giving effect to any action    
taken or agreed to be taken by Microsoft or any of its affiliates, would        
prevent Microsoft from accounting for the business combination to be effected   
by the Merger as a pooling of interests.                                        

3.1.20 Brokers and Finders                                                    

Other than Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, in accordance with the terms
of its engagement letter, a copy of which has previously been provided to       
Microsoft, none of Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their          
respective directors, officers or employees has employed any broker or finder   
or incurred any liability for any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees,      
commissions or similar payments in connection with the transactions             
contemplated by this Agreement.                                                 

3.1.21 Change of Control                                                      

With regard to any options, stock, restricted stock, stock bonus or other 
awards granted under the Company Incentive and Stock Option Plans which are not 
exercisable or vested prior to the Effective Time, Company has not taken any    
action to make such options or awards exercisable or vested by reason of the    
Merger. Prior to the Effective Time, Company shall take all action necessary    
relating to the Company Incentive and Stock Option Plans to provide that the    
occurrence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not entitle 
participants under such plans to a cash-out of the stock options, restricted    
stock, stock bonus or other awards granted to them thereunder.                  

3.1.22 Leases in Effect                                                       

  All real property leases and subleases as to which Company or any Subsidiary
is a party and any amendments or modifications thereof which have been filed as 
exhibits to the Company SEC Documents or are listed on the Company Disclosure   
Schedule (each a "Lease" and collectively, the "Leases") are valid, in full     
force and effect, enforceable, and there are no existing defaults on the part   
of Company, and Company has not received nor given notice of default or claimed 
default with respect to any Lease, nor is there any event that with notice or   
lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default thereunder, except for       
defaults, claimed defaults or events that with notice or lapse of time, or      
both, would constitute a default that have not had, and would not have,         
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Business     
Condition of Company. No consent is required from any party under any Lease in  
connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by this         
Agreement, and Company has not received notice that any party to any Lease      
intends to cancel, terminate, or refuse to renew the same or to exercise any    
option or other right thereunder, except where the failure to receive such      
consent, or where such cancellation, termination or refusal, would not have a   
Material Adverse Effect on Company's Business Condition.                        

3.1.23 Environmental                                                          

(a) There has not been a discharge or release on any real property at the 
time it was owned or leased by Company (the "Real Property") of any Hazardous   
Material (as defined below), including without limitation contamination of      
soil, groundwater or the environment, generation, handling, storage,            
transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials or exposure to Hazardous      
Materials, except for those that would not, individually or in the aggregate    
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company;            

(b) No Hazardous Material has been used by Company in the operation of    
Company's business in amounts that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the  
Business Condition of Company; and                                              

  (c) Company has not received from any Governmental Entity or third party any
written request for information, notice of claim, demand letter, or other       
notification, notice or information that Company is or may                      

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be potentially subject to or responsible for any investigation or clean-up or   
other remediation of Hazardous Material present on any Real Property or at any  
other location.                                                                 

 "Hazardous Material" means any substance (i) that is a "hazardous waste" or
"hazardous substance" under any federal, state or local statute, regulation,    
rule, or order or (ii) that is toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,          
infectious, radioactive, or otherwise hazardous and is regulated by any         
Governmental Entity.                                                            

3.1.24 Certain Payments                                                       

 To the knowledge of Company, neither Company nor any person or other entity
acting on behalf of Company has, directly or indirectly, on behalf of or with   
respect to Company: (i) made an unreported political contribution, (ii) made or 
received any payment which was not legal to make or receive, (iii) engaged in   
any transaction or made or received any payment which was not properly recorded 
on the books of Company, (iv) created or used any "off-book" bank or cash       
account or "slush fund", or (v) engaged in any conduct constituting a violation 
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.                                   

3.1.25 Reliance                                                               

The foregoing representations and warranties are made by Company with the 
knowledge and expectation that Microsoft and Sub are placing reliance thereon.  

3.2 Representations and Warranties of Microsoft and Sub                         

Except as disclosed in a Disclosure Schedule which identifies by section  
number the section and subsection to which such disclosure relates (unless the  
applicability of such disclosure to any section or subsection is reasonably     
apparent in light of the circumstances under which made) and is delivered by    
Microsoft to Company concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the     
"Microsoft Disclosure Schedule"), Microsoft and Sub represent and warrant to    
Company as follows:                                                             

3.2.1 Organization; Standing and Power                                        

 Each of Microsoft and Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, has all    
requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to   
carry on its businesses as now being conducted, and is duly qualified and in    
good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which it owns, leases or   
operates its properties or conducts its businesses so as to require such        
qualification, except where the failure to be so organized, existing, qualified 
or in good standing or to have such corporate or other applicable power and     
authority have not had, and would not have, a Material Adverse Effect on the    
Business Condition of Microsoft.                                                

3.2.2 Capital Structure                                                       

 The authorized capital stock of Microsoft consists of 12,000,000,000 shares
of Microsoft Common Stock of which 5,137,062,528 are outstanding as of August   
31, 1999 and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share   
(the "Microsoft Preferred Stock") of which 12,519,562 are outstanding as of     
August 31, 1999, and no shares are held by Subsidiaries of Microsoft. In        
addition, as of August 31, 1999, there are 755,669,934 shares of Microsoft      
Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding stock   
options ("Microsoft Options") under the Microsoft 1991 Stock Option Plan. The   
authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 10,000 shares of common stock, par  
value $.01 per share, all of which are duly authorized, validly issued, fully   
paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights in respect thereof and 
all of which are owned by Microsoft. The shares of Microsoft Common Stock to be 
issued pursuant to the Merger in accordance with Section 2.1.3(i) will be duly  
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to     
preemptive rights created by statute, Microsoft's Restated Articles of          
Incorporation or Bylaws or any                                                  

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agreement to which Microsoft is a party or is bound and (ii) will, when issued, 
be registered under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and registered or   
exempt from registration under applicable blue sky laws.                        

3.2.3 Authority                                                               

 Microsoft and Sub have all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement, and subject to the Microsoft Required Statutory Approvals  
(as defined below), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The     
execution and delivery by Microsoft of this Agreement and the consummation of   
the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary 
corporate action on the part of Microsoft. This Agreement has been duly         
executed and delivered by Microsoft and Sub and assuming the due authorization, 
execution and delivery by Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation   
of Microsoft and Sub enforceable in accordance with its terms. Subject to       
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2, the execution 
and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby will not, conflict with or result in any Violation of (i)   
any provision of the Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Microsoft  
or the comparable governing instruments of any Subsidiary of Microsoft or (ii)  
any loan or credit agreement note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, lease,  
or other agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license,       
judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable 
to Microsoft or any Subsidiary of Microsoft or their respective properties or   
assets, other than, in the case of (ii), any such Violation, which individually 
or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business    
Condition of Microsoft. No Consent is required by or with respect to Microsoft  
or Sub in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by       
Microsoft or Sub or the consummation by Microsoft and Sub of the transactions   
contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing of a premerger notification      
report by Microsoft and Company under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing of the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and the          
Securities Act and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and  
compliance with various state securities or blue sky laws, and (iii) the filing 
of the Merger Documents with the Secretary of State of the State of Washington  
(the filings and approvals referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) are         
collectively referred to as the "Microsoft Required Statutory Approvals" and    
together with the Company Required Statutory Approvals, the "Required Statutory 
Approvals") and except for such other Consents which if not obtained or made    
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the value of the Microsoft Common   
Stock and would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of 
Microsoft.                                                                      

3.2.4 SEC Documents and Financial Statements                                  

  Microsoft has filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed by
it with the SEC since July 1, 1995 through the date of this Agreement           
(collectively, the "Microsoft SEC Documents"). As of their respective filing    
dates, the Microsoft SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the   
requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the case may be, and 
the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Microsoft    
SEC Documents, and none of the Microsoft SEC Documents contained any untrue     
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in    
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of    
their respective filing dates, the financial statements of Microsoft included   
in the Microsoft SEC Documents (the "Microsoft Financial Statements") complied  
as to form in all material respects with all applicable accounting requirements 
and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto    
and were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles   
consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and      
fairly presented, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position 
of Microsoft and its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of    
their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the     
case of unaudited statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments not        
material in scope or amount). There has been no change in Microsoft's           
accounting policies or the methods of making accounting estimates or changes in 
estimates that are material to Microsoft Financial Statements or estimates      
except as described in the notes thereto.                                       

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3.2.5 Information Supplied                                                    

None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Microsoft or its    
Subsidiaries, auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, other consultants or     
advisors or Sub for inclusion in the S-4 or the Proxy Statement/Prospectus,     
will, in the case of the Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement        
thereto, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendment or 
supplement thereto, and at the time of any meeting of shareholders of Company   
to vote upon this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, or in the 
case of the S-4, as amended or supplemented, at the time it becomes effective   
and at the time of any post-effective amendment thereto and at the time of the  
meeting of shareholders of Company, contain any untrue statement of a material  
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or        
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in      
which they are made, not misleading or necessary to correct any statement in    
any earlier filing with the SEC of such Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any       
amendment or supplement thereto or any earlier communication (including the     
Proxy Statement/Prospectus) to shareholders of Company with respect to the      
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.                                    

3.2.6 No Defaults                                                             

  Microsoft has not received notice that it would be with the passage of time,
in default or violation of any term, condition or provision of (i) the Restated 
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Microsoft; (ii) any judgment, decree or  
order applicable to Microsoft; or (iii) any loan or credit agreement, note,     
bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license or other         
instrument to which Microsoft is now a party or by which it or any of its       
properties or assets may be bound, except for defaults and violations which,    
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on   
the Business Condition of Microsoft.                                            

3.2.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events                                    

Since July 1, 1998 through the date of this Agreement, except as          
contemplated by or as disclosed in this Agreement, as set forth in the          
Microsoft Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in any Microsoft SEC Documents    
filed since July 1, 1998 and prior to the date of this Agreement, Microsoft and 
its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses only in the ordinary course    
and in a manner consistent with past practice and, since such date, there has   
not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Microsoft.    

3.2.8 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities                                      

Microsoft and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have no liabilities or  
obligations (whether absolute, accrued or contingent) except (i) Liabilities    
that are accrued or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of       
Microsoft and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1998 or reflected in the notes    
thereto or disclosed in the financial statements filed as a part of the         
Microsoft SEC Documents, (ii) Liabilities that would not have a Material        
Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Microsoft, or (iii) additional      
Liabilities reserved against since July 1, 1998 that (x) have arisen in the     
ordinary course of business; and (y) are accrued or reserved against on the     
books and records of Microsoft and its Subsidiaries.                            

3.2.9 No Vote Required                                                        

No vote of the shareholders of Microsoft is required by law, Microsoft's  
Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or otherwise in order for          
Microsoft and Sub to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated    
hereby.                                                                         

3.2.10 Accounting Matters                                                     

To the knowledge of Microsoft, neither Microsoft nor any of its affiliates
has taken or agreed to take any action that, without giving effect to any       
action taken or agreed to be taken by Company or any of its affiliates,         

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would prevent Microsoft from accounting for the business combination to be      
effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests.                               

3.2.11 Brokers and Finders                                                    

 None of Microsoft or any of its respective directors, officers or employees
has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial   
advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions or similar payments in connection    
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.                           

3.2.12 Interim Operation of Sub                                               

  Sub is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, was formed solely for
the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby, has engaged in 
no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as           
contemplated hereby.                                                            

3.2.13 Reliance                                                               

 The foregoing representations and warranties are made by Microsoft with the
knowledge and expectation that Company is placing reliance thereon.             

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS OF COMPANY 

During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, Company     
agrees (except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or with Microsoft's  
prior written consent which will not be unreasonably withheld) that:            

4.1 Conduct of Business                                                         

4.1.1 Ordinary Course                                                         

Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, Company and its   
Subsidiaries shall carry on their respective businesses in the usual, regular   
and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted    
and, to the extent consistent with such businesses, use all reasonable efforts  
consistent with past practice and policies to preserve intact their present     
business organizations, keep available the services of their present officers,  
consultants, and employees and preserve their relationships with customers,     
suppliers, distributors and others having business dealings with them. Company  
shall promptly notify Microsoft of any event or occurrence or emergency not in  
the ordinary course of business, of Company or its Subsidiaries, and material   
and adverse to the Business Condition of Company. Except as set forth in the    
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall: 

(a) accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability or vesting of
options, restricted stock, stock bonus or other awards granted under the        
Company Incentive and Stock Option Plans (including any discretionary           
acceleration of the exercise periods by Company's Board of Directors permitted  
under such plans) or authorize cash payments in exchange for any options,       
restricted stock, stock bonus or other awards granted under any of such plans;  

(b) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past        
practices, grant any severance or termination pay to any officer or director or 
to any employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;                          

  (c) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices
and other than transfers between or among Company and any of its wholly owned   
Subsidiaries, transfer to any person or entity any rights to the Company        
Intellectual Property Rights;                                                   

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 (d) enter into or amend any agreements pursuant to which any other party is
granted exclusive marketing or manufacturing rights of any type or scope for a  
period of more than two years with respect to any hardware or software products 
of Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and                                      

(e) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past        
practices, commence a lawsuit other than: (i) for the routine collection of     
bills; (ii) for software piracy; (iii) in such cases where Company in good      
faith determines that failure to commence suit would result in a material       
impairment of a valuable aspect of Company's business, provided Company         
consults with Microsoft prior to filing such suit; or (iv) for a breach of this 
Agreement.                                                                      

(f) enter into one or more leases which extend for a period of five years 
beyond the date of this Agreement and which obligate Company to pay aggregate   
gross rent in excess of $1,000,000.                                             

(g) extend an offer of employment to a candidate for an officer position  
without prior consultation with Microsoft.                                      

4.1.2 Dividends: Changes in Stock                                             

Other than transfers between or among Company and any of its wholly owned 
Subsidiaries, Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries   
to: (i) declare or pay any dividends on or make other distributions (whether in 
cash, stock or property) in respect to any of its capital stock; (ii) split,    
combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the        
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution   
for shares of capital stock of Company; (iii) repurchase or otherwise acquire,  
directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock other than repurchase   
of vested stock from former employees; or (iv) propose any of the foregoing.    

4.1.3 Issuance of Securities                                                  

  Company shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver,
or sell, or authorize, propose or agree to, or commit to the issuance,          
delivery, or sale of any shares of its capital stock of any class, any Company  
Voting Debt or any securities convertible into its capital stock or Company     
Voting Debt, any options, warrants, calls, conversion rights, commitments,      
agreements, contracts, understandings, restrictions, arrangements or rights of  
any character obligating it or any of its Subsidiaries to issue any such        
shares, Voting Debt or other convertible securities other than the issuance of  
options for Company Common Stock to employees under the Company Incentive and   
Stock Option Plans in amounts and on terms consistent with prior practices and  
other than the issuance of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of options    
granted under the Company Incentive and Stock Option Plans. Any grant of stock  
options or restricted stock in excess of the amounts set forth in Section 4.1.3 
of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall require the prior written approval of  
Microsoft.                                                                      

4.1.4 Governing Documents                                                     

 Company shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
amend its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws.                   

4.1.5 Exclusivity; Acquisition Proposals                                      

(a) Unless and until this Agreement shall have been terminated by either  
party pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, Company shall not (and it shall use its   
commercially reasonable best efforts to ensure that none of its officers,       
directors, agents, representatives or affiliates) take or cause or permit any   
Subsidiary to take, directly or indirectly, any of the following actions with   
any party other than Microsoft and its designees: (i) solicit, knowingly        
encourage, initiate or participate in any negotiations, inquiries or            
discussions with respect to any offer or proposal to acquire all or any         
significant part of its business, assets or capital shares whether by           

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merger, consolidation, other business combination, purchase of assets, tender   
or exchange offer or otherwise (each of the foregoing, an "Acquisition          
Transaction"); (ii) disclose, in connection with an Acquisition Transaction,    
any information not customarily disclosed to any person other than Microsoft or 
its representatives concerning Company's business or properties or afford to    
any person other than Microsoft or its representatives or entity access to its  
properties, books or records, except in the ordinary course of business and as  
required by law or pursuant to a governmental request for information; (iii)    
enter into or execute any agreement relating to an Acquisition Transaction; or  
(iv) make or authorize any public statement, recommendation or solicitation in  
support of any Acquisition Transaction or any offer or proposal relating to an  
Acquisition Transaction other than with respect to the Merger provided,         
however, that the Board of Directors of Company may recommend that the          
shareholders of Company tender their shares in connection with a tender offer   
to the extent the Board of Directors of Company by a majority vote determines   
in its good faith judgment that such a recommendation is required to comply     
with the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of Company to shareholders  
under applicable Washington Law, after receiving the advice of outside legal    
counsel. In the event Company shall receive any offer or proposal, directly or  
indirectly, of the type referred to in clause (i) above, or any request for     
disclosure or access with respect to information of the type referred to in     
clause (ii) above, it shall immediately, and prior to taking any action in      
response thereto inform Microsoft as to the existence of such offer or proposal 
and generally describe the material facts concerning any such offer including   
the identity of the third party making such offer, proposal or request, and     
will thereafter cooperate with Microsoft by informing Microsoft of additional   
material facts as they arise and furnishing to Microsoft any additional         
information it furnished to any third party making such proposal or requesting  
information. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Board of     
Directors of Company from (i) furnishing information to, or answering questions 
of, a third party which the Board of Directors of Company reasonably believes   
has made a bona fide proposal with respect to an Acquisition Transaction that   
is a Superior Proposal (as defined below) not solicited in violation of this    
Agreement, provided that prior to providing information, such third party       
executes an agreement with confidentiality provisions substantially similar to  
those then in effect between Company and Microsoft and provided further that    
Microsoft is notified one business day prior to Company's providing of such     
information to a third party, or (ii) subject to compliance with the other      
terms of this Section 4.1.5, considering a proposal with respect to an          
Acquisition Transaction, which the Board of Directors of Company reasonably     
believes to be a bona fide proposal, that is a Superior Proposal not solicited  
in violation of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Superior     
Proposal" means any proposal made by a third party to acquire, directly or      
indirectly, for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities,             
substantially all of the equity securities of Company entitled to vote          
generally in the election of directors, on terms which the Board of Directors   
of Company reasonably believes (x) (after consultation with a financial advisor 
of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable from a financial      
point of view to its shareholders than the Merger and the transactions          
contemplated by this Agreement taking into account at the time of determination 
any changes to the financial terms of this Agreement proposed in writing by     
Microsoft and (y) to be more favorable to Company than the Merger and the       
transactions contemplated by this Agreement after taking into account all       
pertinent factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors of Company under    
the laws of the State of Washington; provided, however, that a Superior         
Proposal may be subject to a due diligence review of confidential information   
and to other customary conditions.                                              

(b) Nothing contained in this Section 4.1.5 shall prohibit Company from   
taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position required by Rule 14d-9 or  
14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to    
its shareholders required by applicable law, rule or regulation; provided,      
however, the Board of Directors of Company shall only recommend that its        
shareholders tender their shares in connection with a tender offer to the       
extent that the Board of Directors of Company by a majority vote determines in  
its good faith judgment that such a recommendation is required to comply with   
the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors of Company to shareholders under 
applicable Washington law, after receiving the advice of outside legal counsel. 

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4.1.6 No Acquisitions                                                         

Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, Company shall not,
and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, acquire or agree to acquire  
by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the 
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,             
partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof or  
otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets which are material,            
individually or in the aggregate, to the Business Condition of Company.         

4.1.7 No Dispositions                                                         

 Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, sell,
lease, license, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of     
their assets or cancel, release, or assign any indebtedness or claim, except in 
the ordinary course of business or in amounts which are not material,           
individually or in the aggregate, to the Business Condition of Company.         

4.1.8 Indebtedness                                                            

 Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money by way of direct loan, sale of debt         
securities, purchase money obligation, conditional sale, guarantee, or          
otherwise in amounts which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to   
the Business Condition of Company.                                              

4.1.9 Plans                                                                   

Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, Company shall not,
and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, adopt or amend in any        
material respect any Plan, or pay any pension or retirement allowance not       
required by any existing Plan. Except in the ordinary course of business        
consistent with past practices, Company shall not and shall not permit any      
Subsidiary of Company to, enter into any employment contracts, pay any special  
bonuses or special remuneration to officers, directors, or employees, or        
increase the salaries, wage rates or fringe benefits of its officers or         
employees.                                                                      

4.1.10 Claims                                                                 

  Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, settle
any claim, action or proceeding, except in the ordinary course of business or   
in amounts which are not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the     
Business Condition of Company.                                                  

4.1.11 Agreement                                                              

 Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of Company to, agree
to take any of the actions prohibited by this Section 4.1.                      

4.2 Breach of Representations and Warranties                                    

  Company will not knowingly take any action which would cause or constitute a
breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1 or 
which would cause any of such representations and warranties to be inaccurate   
in any material respect. In the event of, and promptly after becoming aware of, 
the occurrence of or the pending or threatened occurrence of any event which    
would cause or constitute such a breach or inaccuracy, Company will give        
written notice thereof to Microsoft and will use its commercially reasonable    
best efforts to prevent or promptly remedy such breach or inaccuracy.           

4.3 Pooling                                                                     

Company shall not knowingly take or cause to be taken any action, whether 
before or after the Effective Time, which would disqualify the Merger as a      
pooling of interests for accounting purposes.                                   

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4.4 Consents                                                                    

 Company will promptly apply for or otherwise seek, and use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to obtain, all Consents set forth in the Company        
Disclosure Schedule, and make all filings, required with respect to Company for 
the consummation of the Merger, except such Consents as Microsoft and Company   
agree Company shall not seek to obtain.                                         

4.5 Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts                                        

 Company will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to effectuate the
transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled the   
conditions to closing under this Agreement provided that Company shall in no    
event be required to agree to the imposition of, or comply with, any condition, 
obligation or restriction on Company or any of its Subsidiaries or on the       
Surviving Corporation of the type referred to in Section 7.1.6 hereof.          

4.6 Information for Prospectus/Proxy Statement                                  

  Company will as promptly as practicable provide to Microsoft and its counsel
for inclusion within the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the S-4 in a form       
reasonably satisfactory to Microsoft and its counsel, such information          
concerning Company, its operations, capitalization, technology, share ownership 
and other information as Microsoft or its counsel may reasonably request.       

4.7 Company Plans                                                               

Without the loss of any vested benefits but without accelerating any      
unvested rights (except as required by law), Company shall terminate or modify  
the Plans as may be directed by Microsoft immediately prior to the Effective    
Time or take such action as directed by Microsoft to merge such Plans with the  
Microsoft plans at the Effective Time; provided, however, that any such         
modification, termination or merger shall be contingent upon the occurrence of  
the Effective Time.                                                             

4.8 Employee Transition Committee                                               

(a) Company and Microsoft shall promptly establish a transition committee 
(the "Transition Committee"), which shall coordinate the joint efforts of       
Company and Microsoft to transition Company's employees in connection with the  
Merger. The Transition Committee shall consist of Company's Chief Executive     
Officer and Chief Technology Officer and Microsoft's Senior Vice President,     
Business Productivity Group and an additional designee of Microsoft. The        
Transition Committee shall meet regularly to determine policies and practices   
relating to transition of Company's employees in connection with the Merger.    

(b) As promptly as practicable, but in any event within 10 business days  
after the date hereof, the Transition Committee shall identify 20 key           
contributors of Company. Promptly thereafter, Company and Microsoft, through    
their representatives on the Transition Committee, shall use their respective   
commercially reasonable best efforts to enter into employment agreements with   
each such key contributor.                                                      

4.9 Shareholder Approval                                                        

 Company will call a special Shareholders Meeting as soon as practicable but
in no event later than 45 days after the Form S-4 is declared effective by the  
SEC to submit this Agreement, the Merger and related matters for the            
consideration and approval of Company's Shareholders ("Company Shareholders     
Meeting"). Such approval will be recommended by Company's Board of Directors,   
subject to the fiduciary obligations of its directors. Such meeting will be     
called, held and conducted, and any proxies will be solicited, in compliance    
with applicable law. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, all     
officers and directors of Company shall have executed Voting Agreements in the  
form of Exhibit 4.9 agreeing, among other things, to vote in favor of the       
Merger and against any competing proposals; provided, however, that any         
director of Company                                                             

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who is also a shareholder of Company shall not be prevented from exercising     
his/her fiduciary obligations as a director of Company.                         

4.10 Tax Returns                                                                

Company shall properly and timely file all Returns with respect to Company
and any Subsidiary required to be filed prior to the Closing Date and shall pay 
all taxes required to be paid prior to the Closing Date, except for those taxes 
being contested in good faith. All such Returns shall be prepared consistent    
with past practice. Company shall (i) notify Microsoft as promptly as           
practicable if it receives notice of any tax audit, the assessment of any tax,  
the assertion of any tax lien, or any request, notice or demand for taxes by    
any taxing authority, (ii) provide Microsoft a description of any such matter   
in reasonable detail (including a copy of any written materials received from   
the taxing authority), and (iii) take no action with respect to such matter     
without the consent of Microsoft. Company shall not (x) make or revoke any tax  
election which may affect Company, (y) execute any waiver of restrictions on    
assessment of any tax without the approval of Microsoft, or (z) enter into any  
agreement or settlement with respect to any tax without the approval of         
Microsoft which shall not be unreasonably withheld.                             

4.11 Representations of Shareholders                                            

Company will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause (i) all
officers and directors of Company, and (ii) beneficial owners of five percent   
(5%) or more of the outstanding Company Common Stock (collectively, the         
"Company's Principal Shareholders") to cooperate with counsel to Company and    
Microsoft to assist them in providing the tax opinions called for by Section    
7.1.5 hereof.                                                                   

4.12 Employee Benefits Matters                                                  

4.12.1 Service Credit                                                         

 To the extent that service is relevant for eligibility, vesting and (except
as would result in duplication of benefits) benefit accruals under any employee 
benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained by Microsoft or any Subsidiary  
of Microsoft, such plan, program or arrangement shall credit each employee of   
Company or any Subsidiary of Company (a "Company Employee") who participate     
therein for service on or prior to the Effective Time with Company or any       
Subsidiary of Company or any Affiliate or predecessor of any of them. Microsoft 
agrees to offer to Company Employees benefits commensurate with those benefits  
conferred to Microsoft employees similarly situated. In addition, Microsoft     
shall (i) waive limitations on benefits relating to any pre-existing conditions 
under any Microsoft or Subsidiary of Microsoft welfare benefit plan in which    
Company Employees may participate and (ii) recognize, for purposes of annual    
deductible and out-of-pocket limits under its medical and dental plans,         
deductible and out-of-pocket expenses paid by Company Employees and their       
respective dependents under Company's and any of its Subsidiary's medical,      
dental and other healthcare plans in the calendar year in which the Effective   
Time occurs.                                                                    

4.12.2 Section 16 Approval                                                    

On or after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time, each of      
Microsoft and Company shall take all necessary action such that, with respect   
to (i) any Company Employee who as of the date hereof is subject to Section 16  
of the Exchange Act and (ii) any member of the Company's Board of Directors     
(each, a "Company Section 16 Insider"), the acquisition by any such Company     
Section 16 Insider of Microsoft Common Stock or Microsoft stock options and the 
disposition by any such Company Section 16 Insider of Company Common Stock or   
Company Options pursuant to the transactions contemplated herein shall be       
exempt from the short-swing profit liability rules of Section 16(b) of the      
Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated thereunder.                     

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4.12.3 Retention Plans and Related Matters                                    

Prior to the Effective Time, Microsoft shall implement retention and      
severance bonus plans having the terms set forth in Schedule 4.12.3 pursuant to 
final documentation to be approved by the Transition Committee (the "Retention  
Plans") for the benefit of Company Employees after the Merger. Microsoft agrees 
not to terminate, amend or otherwise modify the Retention Plans and to make all 
payments provided for in the Retention Plans as such payments become due and    
payable, subject to the terms of the Retention Plans.                           

ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF MICROSOFT

During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, Microsoft   
agrees (except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or with Company's    
prior written consent which will not be unreasonably withheld) that:            

5.1 Representations and Warranties                                              

  Microsoft will not knowingly take any action which would cause or constitute
a breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2  
or which would cause any of such representations and warranties to be           
inaccurate in any material respect. In the event of, and promptly after         
becoming aware of, the occurrence of or the pending or threatened occurrence of 
any event which would cause or constitute such a breach or inaccuracy,          
Microsoft will give notice thereof to Company and will use its commercially     
reasonable best efforts to prevent or promptly remedy such breach or            
inaccuracy.                                                                     

5.2 Conduct of Business by Microsoft Pending the Merger                         

Microsoft shall promptly notify Company of any event or occurrence that is
material and adverse to the Business Condition of Microsoft; provided, however, 
that the disclosure of such event or occurrence in a Microsoft SEC Document     
shall satisfy such requirement so long as such Microsoft SEC Document is filed  
within a reasonable period of time after Microsoft becomes aware of such event  
or occurrence and in any event prior to the Effective Time. In the event        
Microsoft or any of its Subsidiaries shall agree to acquire by merging or       
consolidating with, by purchasing an equity interest in, or a portion of the    
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation,             
partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof and 
any such business or assets to be acquired includes products that could         
reasonably be considered to be competitive with the Company's business          
generally related to the development and sale of software for business          
diagramming and technical drawing (a "Competitive Business"), Microsoft shall   
either (i) delay any filings required to be made by Microsoft under the HSR Act 
with respect to such acquisition until the applicable waiting period with       
respect to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or have been earlier 
terminated or (ii) agree with the applicable Governmental Entity to hold        
separate such Competitive Business or take similar actions that would cause     
such Governmental Entity to permit promptly the expiration or termination of    
the waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the Merger.                

5.3 Consents                                                                    

Microsoft will promptly apply for or otherwise seek, and use its          
commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain, all consents and approvals, and 
make all filings, required for the consummation of the Merger.                  

5.4 Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts                                        

Microsoft will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to effectuate 
the transactions contemplated hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled   
the conditions to closing under this Agreement provided that Microsoft shall in 
no event be required to agree to the imposition of, or comply with, any         
condition, obligation or restriction on Microsoft or any of its Subsidiaries or 
on the Surviving Corporation of the type referred to in Section 7.1.6 hereof.   

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5.5 Agreements of Microsoft Affiliates                                          

 Prior to the Effective Time, Microsoft will use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to obtain the execution of agreements with respect to the sale of  
Microsoft Common Stock with each person who is an Affiliate of Microsoft for    
purposes of compliance with pooling restrictions.                               

5.6 Representations of Shareholders                                             

  Microsoft will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause each of
its principal shareholders who is the beneficial owner of five percent (5%) or  
more of the outstanding Microsoft Common Stock to cooperate with counsel to     
Microsoft and Company to assist them in providing the tax opinions called for   
by Section 7.1.5. Microsoft shall provide to Company and its counsel such       
customary representations as such persons shall reasonably request in           
connection with the opinions contemplated in Section 7.1.5. To the knowledge of 
Microsoft, there are no facts or circumstances relating to Microsoft, including 
any covenants or undertakings of Microsoft pursuant to this Agreement, that     
would prevent Shearman & Sterling from delivering the opinion referred to in    
Section 7.1.5 as of the date hereof.                                            

5.7 Tax Free Reorganization                                                     

 Microsoft has no present plan or intention following the Merger to take any
of the following actions:                                                       

  (a) Cause Company to issue additional shares of its capital stock that would
result in Microsoft losing control of Company within the meaning of Section     
368(c) of the Code.                                                             

(b) Merge Company with or into another corporation, or sell or otherwise  
dispose of the capital stock of Company (except for transfers of such stock to  
corporations controlled by Microsoft within the meaning of Code Section         
368(a)(2)(C));                                                                  

(c) Reacquire any shares of its capital stock issued in the Merger, other 
than possible purchases in the ordinary course of business of shares held by    
Company employees in connection with termination of employment of such          
employees and open market repurchases in connection with its normal share       
repurchase program.                                                             

(d) Cause Company to fail to hold at least 90% of the fair market value of
the Company's net assets and at least 70% of the fair market value of its gross 
assets, and at least 90% of the fair market value of Sub's net assets and at    
least 70% of its gross assets held immediately prior to the Merger, other than  
pursuant to a transfer of rights or assets by means of a sale, license or       
merger permitted under subsection (b), provided that Company receives           
reasonable arms-length consideration for any sale or license of its assets. For 
this purpose, amounts paid by Company or Sub to dissenters to shareholders who  
receive cash or other property, to pay reorganization expenses, and in          
connection with redemptions and distributions (except for regular, normal       
distributions) will be treated as assets of the Company or Sub, respectively,   
held immediately prior to the Merger.                                           

  (e) Fail to cause Company (or a transferee of Company's stock or business to
which the stock or assets of Company are transferred in a transaction described 
in Section 368(a)(2)(C) of the Code) either to continue Company's historic      
business or use a significant portion of its business assets in a business.     

5.8 Nasdaq Listing                                                              

  Microsoft will use its commercially reasonable best efforts (i) to cause the
shares of Microsoft Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be quoted upon   
the Effective Time on the Nasdaq National Market or listed on such national     
securities exchange as Microsoft Common Stock is listed and (ii) to cause the   
shares of Microsoft Common Stock issued upon the exercise of assumed Company    
Options to be quoted upon issuance on the Nasdaq National Market or listed on   
such national securities exchange as shares of Microsoft Common Stock are       
listed.                                                                         

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5.9 Employee Transition Committee                                               

Microsoft shall assist Company in the organization, establishment and     
administration of the Transition Committee as described in Section 4.8.         

5.10 Retention Plans                                                            

Prior to the Effective Time, Microsoft agrees to implement the Retention  
Plans for the benefit of Company Employees after the Merger. Microsoft agrees   
not to terminate, amend or otherwise modify the Retention Plans and to make all 
payments provided for in the Retention Plans as such payments become due and    
payable, subject to the terms of the Retention Plans. Microsoft also agrees to  
take all other actions with respect to Company employees that are described in  
or contemplated by Schedule 4.12.3.                                             

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

In addition to the foregoing, Microsoft and Company each agree to take the
following actions after the execution of this Agreement.                        

6.1 Preparation of S-4                                                          

As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, Microsoft and Company   
shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement and any other documents 
required by the Exchange Act in connection with the Merger, and Microsoft shall 
prepare and file with the SEC the S-4, in which the Proxy Statement will be     
included as a part of the prospectus. Each of Microsoft and Company shall use   
its commercially reasonable best efforts to have the S-4 declared effective     
under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing. Prior to 
the effective date of the S-4, Microsoft shall also take any action required to 
be taken under any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky laws in   
connection with the issuance of the Microsoft Common Stock in the Merger.       
Company agrees that the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in    
all material respects with the provisions of all applicable laws, including the 
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC         
thereunder, except that no representation is made by Company with respect to    
information supplied by Microsoft specifically for inclusion therein. Microsoft 
agrees that the S-4 and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form   
in all material respects with the provisions of all applicable laws including   
the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and     
regulations of the SEC thereunder, except that no representation is made by     
Microsoft with respect to information supplied by Company specifically for      
inclusion therein.                                                              

6.2 Intentionally deleted                                                       

6.3 Intentionally deleted                                                       

6.4 Access to Information                                                       

Subject to appropriate restrictions on access to information which Company
determines in good faith to be proprietary or competitively sensitive, Company  
and Microsoft shall, subject to applicable law, each afford the other and their 
respective accountants, counsel and other representatives, reasonable access    
during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to   
(i) all of their and their respective Subsidiaries' properties, books,          
contracts, commitments and records, and (ii) all other information concerning   
the business, properties and personnel of Company and Microsoft and their       
respective Subsidiaries, as the other party may reasonably request which is     
necessary to complete the transaction and prepare for an orderly transition to  
operations after the Effective Time. Company and Microsoft agree to provide to  
the other and their respective accountants, counsel and representatives copies  
of internal financial statements promptly upon the request therefore. No        
information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this Section 
6.4 shall affect or                                                             

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be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained herein or the      
conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger. Company  
and Microsoft agree that the non-disclosure agreement, dated August 11, 1999    
(the "Confidentiality Agreement"), between Company and Microsoft shall continue 
in full force and effect and shall be applicable to all Confidential            
Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) received pursuant to  
this Agreement.                                                                 

6.5 Legal Conditions to the Merger                                              

Each of Microsoft, Sub and Company will take all reasonable actions       
necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed   
on any of them with respect to the Merger and will promptly cooperate with and  
furnish information to each other in connection with any such requirements      
imposed upon the other. Each of Microsoft, Sub and Company will take, and will  
cause its respective Subsidiaries to take, all reasonable actions to obtain     
(and to cooperate with the other parties in obtaining) any consent, approval,   
order or authorization of, or any exemption by, any Governmental Entity, or     
other third party, required to be obtained or made by Company or Microsoft or   
their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger or the taking of    
any action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement. The foregoing shall not   
require any party to agree to the imposition of, or to comply with, any         
condition, obligation or restriction on Microsoft or any of its Subsidiaries or 
on the Surviving Corporation of the type referred to in Section 7.1.6 hereof.   

6.6 Affiliates                                                                  

Contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the affiliate     
letters substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 6.6 (the "Affiliate       
Letters") with respect to the sale of Microsoft Common Stock, shall have been   
executed by all of the executive officers and directors of Company (the         
"Affiliates"). Microsoft shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the  
certificate evidencing any shares of Microsoft Common Stock to be received by   
Affiliates pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and to issue appropriate     
stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for shares of Microsoft Common 
Stock consistent with the terms of the Affiliate Letters.                       

6.7 HSR Act Filings                                                             

6.7.1 Filings and Cooperation                                                 

Each of Microsoft and Company shall take all reasonable steps (i) promptly
to make or cause to be made the filings required of such party or any of its    
Affiliates or Subsidiaries under the HSR Act with respect to the Merger and the 
other transactions provided for in this Agreement, (ii) to comply in a timely   
manner with any request under the HSR Act for additional information,           
documents, or other material received by such party or any of its Affiliates or 
Subsidiaries from the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice or  
other Governmental Entity in respect of such filings, the Merger, or such other 
transactions, and (iii) to cooperate with the other party in connection with    
any such filing and in connection with resolving any investigation or other     
inquiry of any such agency or other Governmental Entity under any Antitrust     
Laws (as defined in Section 6.7.2) with respect to any such filing, the Merger, 
or any such other transaction. Each party shall promptly inform the other party 
of any material communication with, and any proposed understanding,             
undertaking, or agreement with, any Governmental Entity regarding any such      
filings, the Merger, or any such other transactions. Neither party shall        
participate in any meeting with any Governmental Entity in respect of any such  
filings, investigation, or other inquiry without giving the other party notice  
of the meeting and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, the    
opportunity to attend and participate.                                          

6.7.2 Objections                                                              

Each of Microsoft and Company shall take all reasonable steps to resolve  
such objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental Entity with     
respect to the Merger or any other transactions provided for in this Agreement  
under the HSR Act, the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as amended,    
the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and any other federal, state or   
foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders,                                   

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or decrees that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having   
the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (collectively,    
"Antitrust Laws"). In connection therewith, if any administrative or judicial   
action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging 
the Merger as violative of any Antitrust Law, and, if by mutual agreement,      
Microsoft and Company decide that litigation is in their best interests, each   
of Microsoft and Company shall cooperate vigorously to contest and resist any   
such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned  
any decree, judgment, injunction, or other order, whether temporary,            
preliminary, or permanent (each an "Order"), that is in effect and that         
prohibits, prevents, or restricts consummation of the Merger. Each of Microsoft 
and Company shall take such reasonable action as may be required to cause the   
expiration of the notice periods under the HSR Act or other Antitrust Laws with 
respect to the Merger and such other transactions as promptly as possible after 
the execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in    
this Section 6.7.2 or in Section 6.7.1, (x) neither Microsoft nor any of its    
Subsidiaries shall be required to divest any of their respective businesses,    
product lines, or assets, or to take or agree to take any other action or agree 
to any limitation that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the drawing and  
diagramming software business of Microsoft combined with the Surviving          
Corporation after Closing, (y) neither Company nor its Subsidiaries shall be    
required to divest any of their respective businesses, product lines, or        
assets, or to take or agree to take any other action or agree to any limitation 
that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company  
and (z) neither Microsoft nor Company (nor any of their Subsidiaries) shall be  
required to continue to contest or resist any action or proceeding brought by a 
Governmental Entity if it concludes that such action is no longer in its best   
interest.                                                                       

6.8 Officers and Directors                                                      

Microsoft agrees that all rights to indemnification (including advancement
of expenses) existing on the date hereof in favor of the present or former      
officers, directors and employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries         
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") with respect to actions taken in      
their capacities as officers, directors and employees prior to the Effective    
Time as provided in Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, employment   
agreements and indemnification agreements shall survive the Merger and continue 
in full force and effect for a period of six years following the Effective Time 
and shall be guaranteed by Microsoft and that Company's former and present      
officers and directors shall be provided by Microsoft with the same level of    
indemnification as currently exists for Microsoft's officers and directors.     
This Section 6.8 shall survive the consummation of the Merger at the Effective  
Time, and is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by,    
the Indemnified Parties, their heirs and personal representatives and shall be  
binding on the Surviving Corporation and its respective successors and assigns. 

6.9 Expenses                                                                    

  Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall   
be paid by the party incurring such expense, except that if the Merger is not   
consummated expenses incurred in connection with printing and mailing of the    
documents distributed or to be distributed to shareholders of Company and the   
filing fee with respect to the S-4 shall be shared equally by Microsoft and     
Company.                                                                        

6.10 Stock Option Agreement                                                     

To induce Microsoft to execute this Agreement, Company has executed and   
delivered to Microsoft as of the date hereof a Stock Option Agreement (the      
"Stock Option Agreement") in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 6.10.          

6.11 Additional Agreements                                                      

In case at any time after the Effective Time any further action is        
reasonably necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement   
or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full title to all properties, assets, 

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rights, approvals, immunities and franchises of either of the Constituent       
Corporations, the proper officers and directors of each corporation which is a  
party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action.                   

6.12 Public Announcements                                                       

Microsoft and Company shall cooperate with each other in releasing        
information concerning this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. 
Where practicable each of the parties shall furnish to the other drafts of all  
releases prior to publication. Nothing contained herein shall prevent either    
party at any time from furnishing any information to any governmental agency or 
from issuing any release when it believes it is legally required to do so.      

6.13 State Takeover Laws                                                        

Company, and the Board of Directors of Company, shall grant such approvals
and take all necessary steps to exempt the transactions contemplated by this    
Agreement from, or if necessary challenge the validity or applicability of      
Chapter 19 of the WBCA to the Merger.                                           

6.14 Publication of Operating Results                                           

  As soon as practicable after the end of a calendar month that is at least 30
days after the Effective Time, Microsoft shall publish, in the form of an       
earnings report, an effective registration statement filed with the SEC, a      
report to the SEC on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K, or any other public filing or      
announcement that includes sales and net income, results of operations covering 
at least 30 days of combined operations of Microsoft and the Company after the  
Effective Time, as contemplated in SEC Accounting Series Release No. 135.       

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger                  

The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be     
subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following          
conditions:                                                                     

7.1.1 Shareholder Approval                                                    

This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been   
approved and adopted by the required vote of holders of Company Common Stock.   

7.1.2 Consents                                                                

  Other than the filing of the Merger Documents with the Secretary of State of
the State of Washington, all Consents legally required for the consummation of  
the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been  
filed, occurred, or been obtained, other than such Consents, the failure of     
which to obtain would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the consummation of 
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or on the Business     
Condition of Microsoft or Company.                                              

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7.1.3 S-4                                                                     

The S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and shall not
be the subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop order and the    
Proxy Statement shall not be at the Effective Time subject to any proceedings   
commenced or threatened by the SEC.                                             

7.1.4 No Restraints                                                           

No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree or injunction shall 
have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any United States court  
or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction which enjoins or prohibits the 
consummation of the Merger and shall be in effect.                              

7.1.5 Tax-Free Reorganization                                                 

Each of Company and Microsoft shall have received a written opinion from  
their respective counsel to the effect that the Merger will constitute a        
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and that          
Microsoft, Sub and Company will each be a party to that reorganization. In      
preparing Company and Microsoft tax opinions, counsel may rely on reasonable    
representations related thereto.                                                

7.1.6 No Burdensome Condition                                                 

There shall not be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or  
order enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger by any      
Governmental Entity which, in connection with the grant of any Required         
Statutory Approval, imposes any restriction, condition or obligation upon       
Microsoft, Company or the Surviving Corporation which would (i) have a Material 
Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company or (ii) materially          
adversely impact the economic or business benefits of the transactions          
contemplated by this Agreement.                                                 

7.2 Conditions of Obligations of Microsoft and Sub                              

  The obligations of Microsoft and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by Microsoft and Sub:    

7.2.1 Representations and Warranties of Company                               

The representations and warranties of Company set forth in this Agreement 
shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the        
Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except: (i) as       
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement (but excluding from this exception any 
breach made unknowingly pursuant to Section 4.2), or (ii) in respects that do   
not have a Material Adverse Effect on Company or Microsoft's Business           
Condition. Microsoft shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of      
Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of        
Company to such effect on the Closing Date.                                     

7.2.2 Performance of Obligations of Company                                   

Company shall have performed all agreements and covenants required to be  
performed by it under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date, except for      
breaches that do not have a Material Adverse Effect on Company's Business       
Condition. Microsoft shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of      
Company by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of        
Company to such effect.                                                         

7.2.3 Affiliates                                                              

Microsoft shall have received from each person or entity who may be deemed
pursuant to Section 6.6 hereof to be an Affiliate of Company a duly executed    
Affiliates Letter substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 6.6.     

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7.2.4 Pooling of Interests; Comfort Letters                                   

Except if Microsoft has taken or caused to be taken any action that would 
disqualify the Merger as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes or if   
Microsoft has failed to obtain any required Affiliate Letters from affiliates   
of Microsoft, (i) Company shall not have breached its representation in Section 
3.1.19 or its covenant in Section 4.3 with the result that the Merger will not  
qualify for pooling of interest accounting treatment and (ii) Microsoft shall   
have received a letter from Ernst & Young LLP addressed to Company to the       
effect that the Merger will qualify for pooling of interest accounting          
treatment (without regard to any action or conduct by Microsoft).               

7.2.5 Opinion of Company's Counsel                                            

 Microsoft shall have received an opinion dated the Closing Date of Shearman
& Sterling or Perkins Coie llp, counsel to Company, as to matters substantially 
set forth in Exhibit 7.2.5 hereto. In rendering such opinion, Shearman &        
Sterling may rely on opinions of local counsel reasonably satisfactory to       
Microsoft, including Perkins Coie llp.                                          

7.3 Conditions of Obligation of Company                                         

The obligation of Company to effect the Merger is subject to the          
satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by Company:              

7.3.1 Representations and Warranties of Microsoft and Sub                     

The representations and warranties of Microsoft and Sub set forth in this 
Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of  
the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except: (i) as   
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement (but excluding from this exception any 
breach made unknowingly pursuant to Section 5.1), or (ii) in respects that do   
not have a Material Adverse Effect on Microsoft's Business Condition. Company   
shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Microsoft by an           
authorized executive officer of Microsoft to such effect on the Closing Date.   

7.3.2 Performance of Obligations of Microsoft and Sub                         

  Microsoft and Sub shall have performed all agreements and covenants required
to be performed by them under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date except   
for breaches that do not have a Material Adverse Effect on Microsoft's Business 
Condition and Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of     
Microsoft by an authorized executive officer of Microsoft to such effect.       

7.3.3 Opinion of Microsoft Counsel                                            

Company shall have received an opinion dated the Closing Date of Preston  
Gates & Ellis LLP, counsel to Microsoft, as to matters that are customary for   
transactions of this type.                                                      

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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

8.1 Termination                                                                 

This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, 
whether before or after approval of matters presented in connection with the    
Merger by the shareholders of Company:                                          

(a) by mutual consent of Microsoft and Company;                           

(b) by either Microsoft or Company (provided that the terminating party is
not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or        
agreement contained in this Agreement) if there has been a breach of any        
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement which has a Material Adverse    
Effect on the Business Condition of Company or Microsoft, as the case may be,   
and such breach has not been cured, or commercially reasonable best efforts are 
not being employed to cure such breach, within 20 days after notice thereof is  
given to the party committing such breach;                                      

(c) by either Microsoft or Company if the Merger shall not have been      
consummated before March 31, 2000, provided, however if the parties have agreed 
to pursue litigation pursuant to Section 6.7.2, such date shall be extended to  
September 30, 2000;                                                             

(d) by either Microsoft or Company if any approval of the shareholders of 
Company shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the     
required vote upon a vote taken at any Company Shareholders Meeting or any      
adjournment thereof;                                                            

(e) by either Microsoft or Company if any permanent injunction or other   
order of a court or other competent authority preventing the Merger shall have  
become final and not subject to appeal;                                         

(f) by Microsoft if the Board of Directors of Company shall have withdrawn
or modified in a manner adverse to Microsoft its approval or recommendation of  
the Merger, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; or          

(g) by Microsoft if Company or any of the other persons or entities       
described in Section 4.1.5 shall take any of the actions that would be          
proscribed by Section 4.1.5 other than actions in exercise of Company's         
fiduciary duties and satisfying all conditions of Section 4.1.5 and such        
actions have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business Condition of Company.    

Where action is taken to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
8.1, it shall be sufficient for such action to be authorized by the Board of    
Directors of the party taking such action without any requirement to submit     
such action to the shareholders of such party.                                  

8.2 Effect of Termination                                                       

  In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Company or Microsoft
as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have 
no effect, and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of         
Microsoft, Sub or Company or their respective officers or directors, except     
that (i) all of Sections 6.9, 8.2, 8.3, and Article IX and the Confidentiality  
Agreement shall survive any such termination and abandonment, and (ii) no party 
shall be released or relieved from any liability arising from the willful       
breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or    
agreements as set forth in this Agreement except as provided in Section 8.3(b). 

8.3 Break-up Fee                                                                

  (a) Company agrees to pay Microsoft, (provided that Microsoft is not then in
material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement          
contained in this Agreement) promptly upon the termination of                   

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this Agreement by wire transfer, the sum of $30 million in immediately          
available funds in the event that following the date of the execution of this   
Agreement, and at or prior to the termination of this Agreement, any of the     
following events shall have occurred:                                           

(i) Microsoft shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(g) hereof;                                                              

 (ii) Microsoft shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(f) hereof at such time Company shall have agreed to an Acquisition      
Transaction which would result in a change in the beneficial owners of more 
than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the capital stock of        
Company with any person, other than Microsoft or any of its affiliates; or  

  (iii) Microsoft shall have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(b) hereof, following a willful material breach of this Agreement by     
Company.                                                                    

  (b) The right to the payment of the fees set forth in this Section 8.3 shall
be the exclusive remedy at law or in equity to which Microsoft may be entitled  
upon termination of this Agreement under the conditions set forth in Section    
8.3(a).                                                                         

8.4 Amendment                                                                   

This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken by   
their respective Board of Directors, at any time before or after approval of    
matters presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of Company  
or Microsoft, but after any such shareholder approval, no amendment shall be    
made which by law requires the further approval of shareholders without         
obtaining such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an 
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.           

8.5 Extension, Waiver                                                           

At any time prior to the Effective Time, any party hereto, by action taken
by its Board of Directors may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the    
time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other   
parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and          
warranties made to such party contained herein or in any document delivered     
pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements,          
covenants or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any     
agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall   
be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such 
party.                                                                          

ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS 

9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements                   

All representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement or in any
instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be           
conditions to the Merger and shall not survive the Merger, except for the       
agreements contained in Article II and in Sections 1.4, 4.3, 4.12, 6.4, 6.7,    
6.8, 6.9, and 6.12 and the agreements delivered pursuant to this Agreement.     

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9.2 Notices                                                                     

  All notices, requests, demands or other communications which are required or
may be given pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and    
shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) on the date of delivery if         
personally delivered by hand, (ii) upon the third day after such notice is      
deposited in the United States mail, if mailed by registered or certified mail, 
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (iii) on the date of delivery if     
sent by a nationally recognized overnight express courier, or (iv) upon written 
confirmation of receipt by the recipient of such notice if by facsimile:        

(a) If to Microsoft or Sub:                                               

Microsoft Corporation                                                 
One Microsoft Way                                                     
Redmond, WA 98052-6399                                                
     Attention: Chief Financial Officer; General Counsel, Finance and Operations
Telephone No.: (425) 882-8080                                         
Facsimile No.: (425) 869-1327                                         

with copies to:                                                       

Preston Gates & Ellis LLP                                             
5000 Columbia Center                                                  
701 Fifth Avenue                                                      
Seattle, Washington 98104                                             
Attention: Richard B. Dodd                                            
Facsimile No.: (206) 623-7022                                         

(b) if to Company, to:                                                    

Visio Corporation                                                     
2211 Elliott Avenue                                                   
Seattle, WA 98121                                                     
Attention: Chief Financial Officer                                    
Telephone No.: (206) 956-6000                                         
Facsimile No.: (206) 956-6001                                         

with a copy to:                                                       

Shearman & Sterling                                                   
1550 El Camino Real                                                   
Menlo Park, CA 94025-4100                                             
Attention: Christopher D. Dillon                                      
Facsimile No.: (650) 330-2299                                         

Perkins Coie LLP                                                      
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4800                                         
Seattle, Washington 98101-3099                                        
Attention: Linda A. Schoemaker                                        
Facsimile No.: (206) 583-8500                                         

9.3 Interpretation                                                              

When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections or Exhibits, such  
reference shall be to a Section or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise   
indicated. The words "include," "includes," and "including" when used therein   
shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without limitation."  
The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for          
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any                             

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way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The "knowledge of," "the   
best of knowledge of," or other derivations of "know" with respect to Microsoft 
or Company will mean the actual knowledge of the executive officers and         
directors of Microsoft or Company, in each case assuming the exercise of        
reasonable inquiry. This Agreement has been negotiated by the respective        
parties hereto and their attorneys and the language hereof will not be          
construed for or against either party. A reference to a Section or an Exhibit   
will mean a section in, or exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise          
explicitly set forth.                                                           

9.4 Counterparts                                                                

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which  
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when  
one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered  
to each of the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not     
sign the same counterpart.                                                      

9.5 Miscellaneous                                                               

  This Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, and the documents referred to
herein (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to    
the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and                
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the    
subject matter hereof; (b) is not intended to confer upon any other person any  
rights or remedies hereunder (except as otherwise expressly provided herein and 
except that Section 6.8 is for the benefit of Company's directors and officers  
and Sections 2.3.1, 2.3.2 and 4.12 are for the benefit of holders of Company    
Stock Options and the other employees of Company and said Sections are intended 
to confer rights on such persons); and (c) shall not be assigned by operation   
of law or otherwise except as otherwise specifically provided.                  

9.6 No Joint Venture                                                            

 Nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed or construed as creating
a joint venture or partnership between any of the parties hereto. No party is   
by virtue of this Agreement authorized as an agent, employee or legal           
representative of any other party. No party will have the power to control the  
activities and operations of any other and their status is, and at all times,   
will continue to be, that of independent contractors with respect to each       
other. No party will have any power or authority to bind or commit any other.   
No party will hold itself out as having any authority or relationship in        
contravention of this Section.                                                  

9.7 Governing Law                                                               

This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including validity,     
interpretation and effect, by the laws of the State of Washington. Company and  
Microsoft consent to jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts in  
King County, Washington.                                                        

9.8 Specific Performance                                                        

The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event 
that any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the  
terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of  
the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity.          

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  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Microsoft, Sub and Company have caused this Agreement to
be signed by their respective officers thereunder duly authorized, all as of    
the date first written above.                                                   

                         MICROSOFT CORPORATION

                                        /s/ William H. Gates III
                                         By: _________________________________
                                Its: Chief Executive Officer

                  MOVIESUB, INC.

                                        /s/ Robert A. Eshelman
                                         By: _________________________________
                  Its: President

                     VISIO CORPORATION

                                        /s/ Jeremy Jaech
                                         By: _________________________________
                                      Its: President and Chief Executive
             Officer

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                                                                         ANNEX B

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated September 14, 1999, between Microsoft       
Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Grantee"), and Visio Corporation, a     
Washington corporation ("Issuer").                                              

WITNESSETH: 

WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of    
Reorganization dated as of the date hereof (the "Reorganization Agreement"),    
which agreement has been executed by the parties hereto immediately prior to    
this Agreement; and                                                             

WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Reorganization     
Agreement and in consideration therefor, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the 
Option (as hereinafter defined):                                                

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein and in the Reorganization Agreement, the        
parties hereto agree as follows:                                                

1. Grant of Option                                                              

(a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable option  
(the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to 6,012,500 fully  
paid and nonassessable shares (such shares, together with any other securities  
or other property resulting from any adjustment pursuant to Sections 5 or 6 of  
this Agreement, being referred to herein as the "Option Shares") of Issuer      
common stock, $0.01 per value per share ("Common Stock") at a price of $42.78   
per share (the "Option Price"); provided, however, that in no event shall the   
number of Option Shares for which this Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of    
Issuer's issued and outstanding common shares. The number of Option Shares that 
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price are        
subject to adjustment as herein set forth.                                      

(b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are issued or 
otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other than       
pursuant to this Agreement), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to    
the Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance, it equals 19.9% of  
the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding without giving 
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing          
contained in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed   
to authorize Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the Reorganization    
Agreement.                                                                      

2. Exercise of Option                                                           

(a) Grantee may exercise the Option, in whole or part, if, but only if, a 
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the      
occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as hereinafter defined), provided  
that Grantee shall have sent the written notice of such exercise (as provided   
in subsection (d) of this Section 2) on or prior to the last day of the one (1) 
year period following such Triggering Event (the "Option Expiration Date"). The 
right to exercise the Option shall terminate upon the first to occur of the     
Option Expiration Date and the Exercise Termination Event. Each of the          
following shall be an Exercise Termination Event: (i) the Effective Time of the 
Merger; and (ii) termination of the Reorganization Agreement in accordance with 
the provisions thereof if such termination occurs prior to the occurrence of a  
Triggering Event in circumstances under which the fee specified in Section      
8.3(b) of the Reorganization Agreement cannot become payable.                   

(b) The term "Triggering Event" shall mean the occurrence of any event or 
circumstance that results in the fee specified in Section 8.3(b) of the         
Reorganization Agreement becoming payable to Grantee.                           

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  (c) Issuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the occurrence of any
Triggering Event, it being understood that the giving of such notice by Issuer  
shall not be a condition to the right of Grantee to exercise the Option.        

(d) In the event Grantee is entitled to and wishes to exercise the Option,
it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein        
referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the total number of shares it  
will purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier   
than three business days nor later than 40 business days from the Notice Date   
for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date"); provided that if prior   
notification to or approval of any regulatory agency is required in connection  
with such purchase, Grantee shall promptly file the required notice or          
application for approval and shall expeditiously process the same and the       
period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run     
instead from the date on which any required notification periods have expired   
or been terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite       
waiting period or periods shall have passed. Any exercise of the Option shall   
be deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.                         

 (e) At the closing referred to in subsection (d) of this Section 2, Grantee
shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of Common Stock 
purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately available funds 
by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer, provided that failure  
or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude        
Grantee from exercising the Option.                                             

(f) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately      
available funds as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2, Issuer shall   
deliver to Grantee a certificate or certificates representing the number of     
shares of Common Stock purchased by Grantee and, if the Option should be        
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of Grantee thereof   
to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder, and Grantee shall  
deliver to Issuer a copy of this Agreement and a letter agreeing that Grantee   
will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of      
applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement.                             

(g) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing hereunder may be 
endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as follows:    

"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is subject
to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered holder hereof  
and Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under the Securities Act of   
1933, as amended. A copy of such agreement is on file at the principal      
office of Issuer and will be provided to the holder hereof without charge   
upon receipt by Issuer of a written request therefor."                      

It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale         
restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in the  
above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without  
such reference if Grantee shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter     
from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), or an opinion 
of counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Issuer, to the     
effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the  
reference to the provisions to this Agreement in the above legend shall be      
removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the  
shares have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of this  
Agreement and under circumstances that do not require the retention of such     
reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the         
conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In         
addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by   
law.                                                                            

(h) Upon the giving by Grantee to Issuer of the written notice of exercise
of the Option provided for under subsection (d) of this Section 2 and the       
tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds, Grantee 
shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock        
issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of   
Issuer shall then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of    
Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to Grantee. Issuer shall pay  
all                                                                             

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expenses, and any and all United States federal, state and local taxes and      
other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and 
delivery of stock certificates under this Section 2 in the name of Grantee or   
its assignee, transferee or designee.                                           

3. Certain Agreements of Issuer                                                 

  Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from preemptive
rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock   
so that the Option may be exercised without additional authorization of Common  
Stock after giving effect to all other options, warrants, convertible           
securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii) that it will not, by 
charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution 
or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or seek to avoid the    
observance or performance of any of the covenants, stipulations or conditions   
to be observed or performed hereunder by Issuer; and (iii) promptly to take all 
action as may from time to time be required (including complying with all       
premerger notification, reporting and waiting period requirements specified in  
15 U.S.C. (S) 18a and regulations promulgated thereunder) in order to permit    
Grantee to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares  
of Common Stock pursuant hereto.                                                

4. Replacement Agreements and Options                                           

This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable, without  
expense, at the option of Grantee, upon presentation and surrender of this      
Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing for 
Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase, on 
the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set forth herein, in   
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.  
The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any Stock Option      
Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted 
hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably         
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this        
Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably        
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this       
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of     
like tenor and date.                                                            

5. Anti-Dilution                                                                

The number of Option Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Option   
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 5. 

  (a) In the event of any change in Common Stock by reason of stock dividends,
split-ups, mergers, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, 
exchanges of shares or the like, the type and number of shares of Common Stock  
purchasable upon exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted.               

 (b) Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise
hereof is adjusted as provided in this Section 5, the Option Price shall be     
adjusted by multiplying the Option Price by a fraction, the numerator of which  
shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable prior to the 
adjustment and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of shares  
of Common Stock purchasable after the adjustment.                               

  (c) In the event Issuer shall at any time after the date hereof and prior to
the Exercise Termination Event issue or distribute any securities or assets in  
respect of, or in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant  
to a dividend paid solely in Common Stock) whether by dividend, in a            
reclassification or recapitalization, or otherwise, Issuer shall make such      
adjustments, if any, in the Option Price and/or the number of shares of Common  
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option as are necessary to fully preserve   
the interests of the Grantee in the Option.                                     

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6. Registration Rights                                                          

Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event prior to an Exercise Termination
Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee delivered within 30 days of such 
Triggering Event (whether on its own behalf or on behalf of any subsequent      
holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of the shares of Common Stock    
issued pursuant hereto), as promptly as practicable prepare, file and keep      
current, at Issuer's expense, a shelf registration under the 1933 Act covering  
any shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use its        
commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to    
become effective and remain current and effective in order to permit the sale   
or other disposition of any Option Shares in accordance with any plan of        
distribution reasonably requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its best efforts  
to cause such registration statement first to become effective and then to      
remain effective for such period not in excess of 180 days from the day such    
registration statement first becomes effective or such shorter time as may be   
necessary to effect such sales or other dispositions. The obligations of Issuer 
hereunder to file a registration statement and to maintain its effectiveness    
may be suspended for one or more periods of time not exceeding sixty (60) days  
in the aggregate if the Issuer board of directors shall have determined in good 
faith that the filing of such registration or the maintenance of its            
effectiveness would require disclosure of nonpublic information that would      
materially and adversely affect Issuer or if Issuer is required under the 1933  
Act to include audited financial statements for any period in such registration 
statement and such financial statements are not yet available for inclusion in  
such registration statement. Grantee shall provide all information reasonably   
requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to be filed     
hereunder. If requested by any such Grantee in connection with such             
registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting agreement         
relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of obligating       
itself in respect of customary representations, warranties, indemnities and     
other agreements customarily included in such underwriting agreements for the   
Issuer. The expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any such     
registration statement pursuant to this Section 6 (including any fees related   
to blue sky qualifications and filing fees in respect of the SEC or the         
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) (collectively, the            
"Registration Expenses") will be for the account of Issuer except for           
underwriting discounts or commissions or brokers' fees in respect of shares of  
Common Stock to be sold by the Grantee and the fees and disbursements of the    
Grantee's counsel; provided, however, that Issuer will not be required to pay   
for any Registration Expenses with respect to such registration if the          
registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Grantee;   
provided further, however, that if at the time of such withdrawal Grantee has   
learned of a material adverse change in the results of operations, condition,   
business or prospects of Issuer from that known to Grantee at the time of its   
request and has withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness following      
disclosure by Issuer of such material adverse change, then the Grantee will not 
be required to pay any of such expenses.                                        

7. Substitute Options                                                           

(a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall
enter into an agreement other than the Reorganization Agreement (i) to          
consolidate with or merge into any person, other than Grantee or one of its     
Subsidiaries, and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such  
consolidation or merger, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee or one   
of its Subsidiaries, to merge into Issuer and Issuer shall be the continuing or 
surviving corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then            
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock 
or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property or the    
then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall after such merger represent less  
than 50% of the outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company, 
or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets   
to any person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each 
such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision 
so that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and     
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged 
for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of Grantee, of either 
(x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y) any person that   
controls the Acquiring Corporation.                                             

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(b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:                      

(1) An "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or   
surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if      
other than Issuer), (ii) Issuer in a merger in which Issuer is the      
continuing or surviving person, and (iii) the transferee of all or      
substantially all of Issuer's assets.                                   

(2) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock to be   
issued by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the      
Substitute Option.                                                      

 (3) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a share
of the Substitute Common Stock for the twenty trading days immediately  
preceding the fifth business day prior to the consolidation, merger or  
sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing price of the  
shares of Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding such             
consolidation, merger or sale; provided that if Issuer is the issuer of 
the Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect 
to a share of common stock issued by the person merging into Issuer or  
by any company which controls or is controlled by such person, as       
Grantee may elect.                                                      

  (c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the option, provided,
that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons, be the    
same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no event  
less advantageous to Grantee. The issuer of the Substitute Option shall also    
enter into an agreement with the then holder or holders of the Substitute       
Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement, which shall be         
applicable to the Substitute Option.                                            

 (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Option Price multiplied by the       
number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is then exercisable,      
divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the Substitute Option per   
share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option Price        
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares  
of Common Stock for which the Option is then exercisable and the denominator of 
which shall be the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the    
Substitute Option is exercisable.                                               

(e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall the   
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of           
Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option. 
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than      
19.9% of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise    
but for this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute   
Option Issuer') shall make a cash payment to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) 
the value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in   
this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving       
effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value shall be  
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by       
Grantee.                                                                        

 (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection (a)
of this Section 7 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person that controls 
the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of Issuer       
hereunder.                                                                      

8. Rights of Substitute Option Holders and Substitute Share Owners              

(a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute
Option Holder"), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option    
Issuer") shall repurchase the Substitute Option from the Substitute Option      
Holder at a price (the "Substitute Option Repurchase Price") equal to (x) the   
amount by which (i) the Highest Closing Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds  
(ii) the exercise price of the Substitute Option, multiplied by the number of   
shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option may then be   
exercised plus (y) Grantee's Out-of-Pocket Expenses (to the extent not          
previously reimbursed), and at the request of the owner (the "Substitute Share  
Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Shares"), the     
Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the Substitute Shares at a price (the 

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"Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to (x) the Highest Closing Price     
multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so designated plus (y) Grantee's  
Out-of-Pocket Expenses (to the extent not previously reimbursed). The term      
"Highest Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing price for shares of      
Substitute Common Stock within the six-month period immediately preceding the   
date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the required repurchase of    
the Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives notice of the         
required repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.                    

 (b) The Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the case
may be, may exercise its right to require the Substitute Option Issuer to       
repurchase the Substitute Option and any Substitute Shares pursuant to this     
Section 8 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute Option Issuer, at  
its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option (or, in the      
absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement) or certificates for     
Substitute Shares, as applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices    
stating that the Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the 
case may be, elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the   
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the           
provisions of this Section 8. As promptly as practicable, and in any event      
within five business days after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or   
certificates representing Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or   
notices relating thereto, the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause   
to be delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option           
Repurchase Price and/or to the Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share      
Repurchase Price therefor or the portion thereof which the Substitute Option    
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so       
delivering.                                                                     

(c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited under   
applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the 
Substitute Shares in full, the Substitute Option Issuer shall immediately so    
notify the Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and       
thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to the          
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the 
portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or Substitute Share       
Repurchase Price, respectively, which it is no longer prohibited from           
delivering, within five business days after the date on which the Substitute    
Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided, however, that if the        
Substitute Option Issuer at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase   
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 8 is prohibited under applicable law 
or regulation from delivering to the Substitute Option Holder and/or the        
Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute Option Repurchase Price  
and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and the       
Substitute Option Issuer shall use its best efforts to obtain all required      
regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as promptly as  
practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option      
Holder or Substitute Share Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the     
Substitute Option or the Substitute Shares either in whole or to the extent of  
the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer    
shall promptly (i) deliver to the Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share  
Owner, as appropriate, that portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price   
or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is   
not prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to 
the Substitute Option Holder, a new Substitute Option evidencing the right of   
the Substitute Option Holder to purchase that number of shares of the           
Substitute Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of the     
Substitute Common Stock for which the surrendered Substitute Option was         
exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction,  
the numerator of which is the Substitute Option Repurchase Price less Out-of-   
Pocket Expenses and the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Substitute 
Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute Option Repurchase  
Price less Out-of-Pocket Expenses, or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a      
certificate for the Substitute Option Shares it is then so prohibited from      
repurchasing, assuming that the portion of the Substitute Option Repurchase     
Price theretofore delivered is first applied to the payment of Out-of-Pocket    
Expenses and any remainder is applied to the repurchase of Substitute Option    
Shares.                                                                         

9. Extension of Time                                                            

  The period for exercise of certain rights under Section 2 shall be extended:
(i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise 
of such rights, and for the expiration of all statutory waiting                 

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periods; and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid liability under Section      
16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") by    
reason of such exercise.                                                        

10. Representations and Warranties of Issuer                                    

Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:              

(a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver  
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The      
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the            
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the   
Board of Directors of Issuer and no other corporate proceedings on the part of  
Issuer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the           
transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed 
and delivered by Issuer. This Agreement is the valid and legally binding        
obligation of Issuer, enforceable against Issuer in accordance with its terms,  
except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar 
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that   
the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, is      
subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may 
be brought.                                                                     

  (b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and reserve
and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date hereof through the    
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms will have reserved   
for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that number of shares of Common   
Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock at any time and     
from time to time issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance        
pursuant hereto, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,           
nonassessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens,       
encumbrances and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.   

 (c) Issuer has taken all action (including if required redeeming all of the
Rights or amending or terminating the Company's Rights Agreement) so that the   
entering into of this Option Agreement, the acquisition of shares of Common     
Stock hereunder and the other transactions contemplated hereby do not and will  
not result in the grant of any rights to any person under the Company Rights    
Agreement or enable or require the Rights to be exercised, distributed or       
triggered.                                                                      

11. Representations and Warranties of Grantee                                   

Grantee hereby represents and warrants to the Issuer that (i) Grantee, by 
reason of its knowledge and experience in financial and business matters,       
believes itself capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in  
the Common Stock, and (ii) any shares of Common Stock or other securities       
acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option shall be acquired for Grantee's 
own account and will not taken with a view to the public distribution thereof   
and will not be transferred or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction    
registered or exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.                      

12. Limitation of Grantee Profit                                                

  (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, in no event shall Grantee's
Total Profit (as defined below) exceed $50 million (the "Maximum Profit") and,  
if it otherwise would exceed amount, Grantee, at its sole discretion, shall     
either (i) reduce the number of shares subject to the Option, (ii) deliver to   
Issuer for cancellation shares of Common Stock (or other securities into which  
such Option Shares are converted or exchanged), (iii) pay cash to Issuer, or    
(iv) any combination of the foregoing, so that Grantee's actually realized      
Total Profit shall not exceed the Maximum Profit after taking into account the  
foregoing actions.                                                              

(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "Total Profit" shall mean: (i) the    
aggregate amount of (A) any excess of (1) the net cash amounts received by      
Grantee pursuant to a sale of Option Shares (or securities into which such      
shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated third party within 12    
months after the exercise of                                                    

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the Option, over (2) Grantee's aggregate purchase price for such Option Shares  
(or other securities), plus (B) any amounts received by Grantee on the transfer 
of the Option plus (C) any amounts received by Grantee pursuant to Section      
8.3(b) of the Merger Agreement, minus (ii) the sum of amounts of any cash       
previously paid to Issuer pursuant to this Section 12 plus the value of the     
Option Shares (or other securities) previously delivered to Issuer for          
cancellation pursuant to this Section 12.                                       

 (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, nothing in this
Agreement shall affect the ability of Grantee to receive, nor relieve Issuer's  
obligation to pay, any payment provided for in Section 8.3 of the Merger        
Agreement; provided that if and to the extent the Total Profit received by      
Grantee would exceed the Maximum Profit following receipt of such payment,      
Grantee shall be obligated to comply with the terms of Section 12(a) within 15  
days of the latest of (i) the date of receipt of such payment, (ii) the date of 
receipt of the net cash by Grantee pursuant to the sale of Option Shares (or    
securities into which such Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any     
unaffiliated party within 12 months after the exercise of this Option with      
respect to such Option Shares, and (iii) the date of receipt of net cash from   
disposition of this Option.                                                     

13. Assignment                                                                  

Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations 
under this Option Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other        
person, without the express written consent of the other party.                 

14. Best Efforts                                                                

Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable efforts to make all    
filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and governmental     
authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by   
this Agreement; provided that neither Issuer nor Grantee nor any subsidiary or  
affiliate thereof will be required to agree to any divestiture by itself or of  
any of its affiliates of shares of capital stock or of any business, assets or  
property, or the imposition of any material limitation on the ability of any of 
them to conduct their businesses or to own or exercise control of such assets,  
properties and stock.                                                           

15. Damages an Inadequate Remedy                                                

The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate remedy 
for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the obligations  
of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto through       
injunctive or other equitable relief.                                           

16. Effect of Unenforceability of Terms                                         

 If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement
is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of competent         
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,  
provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement shall     
remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired or   
invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines that  
Grantee is not permitted to acquire the full number of shares of Common Stock   
provided in Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 5 hereof) it   
is the express intention of Issuer to allow Grantee to acquire or to require    
Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be permissible,        
without any amendment or modification hereof.                                   

17. Notices                                                                     

All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder 
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by cable,     
telegram, telecopy or telex, or by registered or certified mail (postage        
prepaid, return receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties   
set forth in the Reorganization Agreement.                                      

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18. Governing Law                                                               

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the  
laws of the State of Washington, regardless of the laws that might otherwise    
govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.                

19. Counterparts                                                                

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which 
shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and    
the same agreement.                                                             

20. Expenses                                                                    

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties hereto 
shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in    
connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and     
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and  
counsel.                                                                        

21. Entire Agreement                                                            

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Reorganization    
Agreement, this Agreement and the Reorganization Agreement constitute the       
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof  
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, with    
respect to the subject matter hereof. The terms and conditions of this          
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto  
and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this          
Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other    
than the parties hereto, and their respective successors (except as assigns),   
any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this     
Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.                                 

22. Capitalized Terms                                                           

Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Reorganization Agreement.                  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be   
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the 
date first above written.                                                       

                         MICROSOFT CORPORATION

                          /s/ Robert A. Eshelman
                                         -------------------------------------
                          By: Robert A. Eshelman
                            Its: Assistant Secretary

                     VISIO CORPORATION

                    /s/ Jeremy Jaech
                                         -------------------------------------
                    By: Jeremy Jaech
                          Its: President and CEO

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                                                                         ANNEX C

                                                              September 14, 1999

Board of Directors                                                              
Visio Corporation                                                               
2211 Elliott Avenue                                                             
Seattle, WA 98121                                                               

Members of the Board:                                                           

We understand that Visio Corporation ("Visio" or the "Company"), Microsoft
Corporation ("Microsoft"), and MovieSub, Inc. ("Merger Sub"), a wholly owned    
subsidiary of Microsoft, propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of         
Reorganization, substantially in the form of the draft dated September 11, 1999 
(the "Merger Agreement") which provides, among other things, for the merger     
(the "Merger") of Merger Sub with and into Visio. Pursuant to the Merger, Visio 
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft and each outstanding share   
of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Visio Common Stock"), other   
than shares held in treasury or held by Microsoft or any subsidiary of          
Microsoft or as to which dissenters' rights have been perfected, will be        
converted into the right to receive 0.45 shares (the "Exchange Ratio") of       
common stock, par value $0.0000125 per share, of Microsoft (the "Microsoft      
Common Stock"). The terms and conditions of the Merger are more fully set forth 
in the Merger Agreement.                                                        

 You have asked for our opinion as to whether the Exchange Ratio pursuant to
the Merger Agreement is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of   
shares of Visio Common Stock.                                                   

For purposes of the opinion set forth herein, we have:                    

(i) reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other
business and financial information of Visio and Microsoft, respectively;    

 (ii) reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial
and operating data concerning Visio prepared by the management of Visio;    

 (iii) discussed the past and current operations and financial condition
and the prospects of Visio, including information relating to certain       
strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Merger,  
with senior executives of Visio;                                            

(iv) discussed the past and current operations and financial condition
and the prospects of Microsoft, including information relating to certain   
strategic, financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Merger,  
with senior executives of Microsoft;                                        

(v) reviewed the pro forma impact of the Merger on the earnings per   
share of Microsoft;                                                         

(vi) reviewed the reported prices and trading activity for the Visio  
Common Stock and Microsoft Common Stock;                                    

 (vii) compared the financial performance of Visio and Microsoft and the
prices and trading activity of the Visio Common Stock and Microsoft Common  
Stock with that of certain other publicly-traded companies comparable with  
Visio and Microsoft and their securities;                                   

(viii) reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available,
of certain comparable acquisition transactions;                             

(ix) reviewed and discussed with the senior managements of Visio and  
Microsoft their strategic rationales for the Merger;                        

(x) participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives
of Visio and Microsoft and their financial and legal advisors;              

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  (xi) reviewed the draft Merger Agreement and certain related agreements;
and                                                                         

(xii) performed such other analyses as we have deemed appropriate.    

We have assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the    
accuracy and completeness of the information reviewed by us for the purposes of 
this opinion. With respect to the internal financial statements and other       
financial and operating data, and discussions relating to the strategic,        
financial and operational benefits anticipated from the Merger provided by      
Visio, we have assumed that they have, in each case, been reasonably prepared   
on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the 
prospects of Visio and Microsoft. We have relied upon the assessment by the     
managements of Visio and Microsoft of their ability to retain key employees of  
Visio. We have also relied upon, without independent verification, the          
assessment by the managements of Visio and Microsoft of: (i) the strategic and  
other benefits expected to result from the Merger; (ii) the timing and risks    
associated with the integration of Visio and Microsoft; and (iii) the validity  
of, and risks associated with, Visio's and Microsoft's existing and future      
technologies, services or business models. We have not made any independent     
valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities or technology of Visio and  
Microsoft, nor have we been furnished with any such appraisals. In addition, we 
have assumed that the Merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms   
set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, that the      
Merger will be accounted for as a "pooling-of-interests" business combination   
in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the Merger 
will be treated as a tax-free reorganization and/or exchange pursuant to the    
Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Our opinion is necessarily based on financial,   
economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made 
available to us as of, the date hereof.                                         

In arriving at our opinion, we were not authorized to solicit, and did not
solicit, interest from any party with respect to the acquisition of, business   
combination with or any other extraordinary transaction involving Visio.        

 We have acted as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of the Company
in connection with this transaction and will receive a fee for our services. In 
the past, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley") and its          
affiliates have provided financial advisory services for Microsoft and have     
received fees for the rendering of these services. In the ordinary course of    
our business we may actively trade the securities of Visio and Microsoft for    
our own account and for the accounts of our customers and, accordingly, may at  
any time hold a long or short position in such securities.                      

It is understood that this letter is for the information of the Board of  
Directors of Visio, except that this opinion may be included in its entirety in 
any filing made by Visio with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect 
of the transaction. In addition, this opinion does not in any manner address    
the prices at which the Microsoft Common Stock will trade following the         
consummation of the Merger, and Morgan Stanley expresses no opinion or          
recommendation as to how the shareholders of Visio should vote at the           
shareholders' meeting to be held in connection with the Merger.                 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion on the date
hereof that the Exchange Ratio pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair from a  
financial point of view to the shareholders of Visio.                           

                     Very truly yours,

                                     MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

                                       /s/ Charles R. Cory
                                         By: _________________________________
                                           Charles R. Cory
                                           Managing Director

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                                                                         ANNEX D

DISSENTERS' RIGHTS

Chapter 23B.13 of the Washington Business Corporation Act 

23B.13.010 Definitions                                                          

As used in this chapter:                                                  

 (1) "Corporation" means the issuer of the shares held by a dissenter before
the corporate action, or the surviving or acquiring corporation by merger or    
share exchange of that issuer.                                                  

(2) "Dissenter" means a shareholder who is entitled to dissent from       
corporate action under RCW 23B.13.020 and who exercises that right when and in  
the manner required by RCW 23B.13.200 through 23B.13.280.                       

(3) "Fair value," with respect to a dissenter's shares, means the value of
the shares immediately before the effective date of the corporate action to     
which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in      
anticipation of the corporate action unless exclusion would be inequitable.     

(4) "Interest" means interest from the effective date of the corporate    
action until the date of payment, at the average rate currently paid by the     
corporation on its principal bank loans or, if none, at a rate that is fair and 
equitable under all the circumstances.                                          

(5) "Record shareholder" means the person in whose name shares are        
registered in the records of a corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to 
the extent of the rights granted by a nominee certificate on file with a        
corporation.                                                                    

(6) "Beneficial shareholder" means the person who is a beneficial owner of
shares held in a voting trust or by a nominee as the record shareholder.        

(7) "Shareholder" means the record shareholder or the beneficial          
shareholder.                                                                    

23B.13.020 Right to Dissent                                                     

(1) A shareholder is entitled to dissent from, and obtain payment of the  
fair value of the shareholder's shares in the event of, any of the following    
corporate actions:                                                              

  (a) Consummation of a plan of merger to which the corporation is a party
(i) if shareholder approval is required for the merger by RCW 23B.11.030,   
23B.11.080, or the articles of incorporation and the shareholder is         
entitled to vote on the merger, or (ii) if the corporation is a subsidiary  
that is merged with its parent under RCW 23B.11.040;                        

  (b) Consummation of a plan of share exchange to which the corporation is
a party as the corporation whose shares will be acquired, if the            
shareholder is entitled to vote on the plan;                                

 (c) Consummation of a sale or exchange of all, or substantially all, of
the property of the corporation other than in the usual and regular course  
of business, if the shareholder is entitled to vote on the sale or          
exchange, including a sale in dissolution, but not including a sale         
pursuant to court order or a sale for cash pursuant to a plan by which all  
or substantially all of the net proceeds of the sale will be distributed to 
the shareholders within one year after the date of sale;                    

(d) An amendment of the articles of incorporation that materially     
reduces the number of shares owned by the shareholder to a fraction of a    
share if the fractional share so created is to be acquired for cash under   
RCW 23B.06.040; or                                                          

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(e) Any corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder vote to the  
extent the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or a resolution of the board  
of directors provides that voting or nonvoting shareholders are entitled to 
dissent and obtain payment for their shares.                                

(2) A shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment for the          
shareholder's shares under this chapter may not challenge the corporate action  
creating the shareholder's entitlement unless the action fails to comply with   
the procedural requirements imposed by this title, RCW 25.10.900 through        
25.10.955, the articles of incorporation, or the bylaws, or is fraudulent with  
respect to the shareholder or the corporation.                                  

(3) The right of a dissenting shareholder to obtain payment of the fair   
value of the shareholder's shares shall terminate upon the occurrence of any    
one of the following events:                                                    

(a) The proposed corporate action is abandoned or rescinded;          

(b) A court having jurisdiction permanently enjoins or sets aside the 
corporate action; or                                                        

(c) The shareholder's demand for payment is withdrawn with the written
consent of the corporation.                                                 

23B.13.030 Dissent by Nominees and Beneficial Owners                            

 (1) A record shareholder may assert dissenters' rights as to fewer than all
the shares registered in the shareholder's name only if the shareholder         
dissents with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any one person and    
notifies the corporation in writing of the name and address of each person on   
whose behalf the shareholder asserts dissenters' rights. The rights of a        
partial dissenter under this subsection are determined as if the shares as to   
which the dissenter dissents and the dissenter's other shares were registered   
in the names of different shareholders.                                         

(2) A beneficial shareholder may assert dissenters' rights as to shares   
held on the beneficial shareholder's behalf only if:                            

(a) The beneficial shareholder submits to the corporation the record  
shareholder's written consent to the dissent not later than the time the    
beneficial shareholder asserts dissenters' rights; and                      

(b) The beneficial shareholder does so with respect to all shares of  
which such shareholder is the beneficial shareholder or over which such     
shareholder has power to direct the vote.                                   

23B.13.200 Notice of Dissenters' Rights                                         

(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under RCW    
23B.13.020 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders' meeting, the meeting       
notice must state that shareholders are or may be entitled to assert            
dissenters' rights under this chapter and be accompanied by a copy of this      
chapter.                                                                        

 (2) If corporate action creating dissenters' rights under RCW 23B.13.020 is
taken without a vote of shareholders, the corporation, within ten days after    
[the] effective date of such corporate action, shall notify in writing all      
shareholders entitled to assert dissenters' rights that the action was taken    
and send them the dissenters' notice described in RCW 23B.13.220.               

23B.13.210 Notice of Intent to Demand Payment                                   

(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under RCW    
23B.13.020 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders' meeting, a shareholder     
who wishes to assert dissenters' rights must (a) deliver to the corporation     
before the vote is taken written notice of the shareholder's intent to demand   
payment for the shareholder's shares if the proposed action is effected, and    
(b) not vote such shares in favor of the proposed action.                       

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  (2) A shareholder who does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) of
this section is not entitled to payment for the shareholder's shares under this 
chapter.                                                                        

23B.13.220 Dissenters' Notice                                                   

(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under RCW    
23B.13.020 is authorized at a shareholders' meeting, the corporation shall      
deliver a written dissenters' notice to all shareholders who satisfied the      
requirements of RCW 23B.13.210.                                                 

 (2) The dissenters' notice must be sent within ten days after the effective
date of the corporate action, and must:                                         

(a) State where the payment demand must be sent and where and when    
certificates for certificated shares must be deposited;                     

(b) Inform holders of uncertificated shares to what extent transfer of
the shares will be restricted after the payment demand is received;         

(c) Supply a form for demanding payment that includes the date of the 
first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the     
proposed corporate action and requires that the person asserting            
dissenters' rights certify whether or not the person acquired beneficial    
ownership of the shares before that date;                                   

  (d) Set a date by which the corporation must receive the payment demand,
which date may not be fewer than thirty nor more than sixty days after the  
date the notice in subsection (1) of this section is delivered; and         

(e) Be accompanied by a copy of this chapter.                         

23B.13.230 Duty to Demand Payment                                               

  (1) A shareholder sent a dissenters' notice described in RCW 23B.13.220 must
demand payment, certify whether the shareholder acquired beneficial ownership   
of the shares before the date required to be set forth in the dissenters'       
notice pursuant to RCW 23B.13.220(2)(c), and deposit the shareholder's          
certificates in accordance with the terms of the notice.                        

  (2) The shareholder who demands payment and deposits the shareholder's share
certificates under subsection (1) of this section retains all other rights of a 
shareholder until the proposed corporate action is effected.                    

(3) A shareholder who does not demand payment or deposit the shareholder's
share certificates where required, each by the date set in the dissenters'      
notice, is not entitled to payment for the shareholder's shares under this      
chapter.                                                                        

23B.13.240 Share Restrictions                                                   

 (1) The corporation may restrict the transfer of uncertificated shares from
the date the demand for their payment is received until the proposed corporate  
action is effected or the restriction is released under RCW 23B.13.260.         

  (2) The person for whom dissenters' rights are asserted as to uncertificated
shares retains all other rights of a shareholder until the effective date of    
the proposed corporate action.                                                  

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23B.13.250 Payment                                                              

  (1) Except as provided in RCW 23B.13.270, within thirty days of the later of
the effective date of the proposed corporate action, or the date the payment    
demand is received, the corporation shall pay each dissenter who complied with  
RCW 23B.13.230 the amount the corporation estimates to be the fair value of the 
shareholder's shares, plus accrued interest.                                    

(2) The payment must be accompanied by:                                   

(a) The corporation's balance sheet as of the end of a fiscal year    
ending not more than sixteen months before the date of payment, an income   
statement for that year, a statement of changes in shareholders' equity for 
that year, and the latest available interim financial statements, if any;   

(b) An explanation of how the corporation estimated the fair value of 
the shares;                                                                 

(c) An explanation of how the interest was calculated;                

(d) A statement of the dissenter's right to demand payment under RCW  
23B.13.280; and                                                             

(e) A copy of this chapter.                                           

23B.13.260 Failure to Take Action                                               

  (1) If the corporation does not effect the proposed action within sixty days
after the date set for demanding payment and depositing share certificates, the 
corporation shall return the deposited certificates and release any transfer    
restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares.                                  

(2) If after returning deposited certificates and releasing transfer      
restrictions, the corporation wishes to undertake the proposed action, it must  
send a new dissenters' notice under RCW 23B.13.220 and repeat the payment       
demand procedure.                                                               

23B.13.270 After-Acquired Shares                                                

(1) A corporation may elect to withhold payment required by RCW 23B.13.250
from a dissenter unless the dissenter was the beneficial owner of the shares    
before the date set forth in the dissenters' notice as the date of the first    
announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed      
corporate action.                                                               

(2) To the extent the corporation elects to withhold payment under        
subsection (1) of this section, after taking the proposed corporate action, it  
shall estimate the fair value of the shares, plus accrued interest, and shall   
pay this amount to each dissenter who agrees to accept it in full satisfaction  
of the dissenter's demand. The corporation shall send with its offer an         
explanation of how it estimated the fair value of the shares, an explanation of 
how the interest was calculated, and a statement of the dissenter's right to    
demand payment under RCW 23B.13.280.                                            

23B.13.280 Procedure if Shareholder Dissatisfied With Payment or Offer          

  (1) A dissenter may notify the corporation in writing of the dissenter's own
estimate of the fair value of the dissenter's shares and amount of interest     
due, and demand payment of the dissenter's estimate, less any payment under RCW 
23B.13.250, or reject the corporation's offer under RCW 23B.13.270 and demand   
payment of the dissenter's estimate of the fair value of the dissenter's shares 
and interest due, if:                                                           

 (a) The dissenter believes that the amount paid under RCW 23B.13.250 or
offered under RCW 23B.13.270 is less than the fair value of the dissenter's 
shares or that the interest due is incorrectly calculated;                  

(b) The corporation fails to make payment under RCW 23B.13.250 within 
sixty days after the date set for demanding payment; or                     

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(c) The corporation does not effect the proposed action and does not  
return the deposited certificates or release the transfer restrictions      
imposed on uncertificated shares within sixty days after the date set for   
demanding payment.                                                          

  (2) A dissenter waives the right to demand payment under this section unless
the dissenter notifies the corporation of the dissenter's demand in writing     
under subsection (1) of this section within thirty days after the corporation   
made or offered payment for the dissenter's shares.                             

23B.13.300 Court Action                                                         

(1) If a demand for payment under RCW 23B.13.280 remains unsettled, the   
corporation shall commence a proceeding within sixty days after receiving the   
payment demand and petition the court to determine the fair value of the shares 
and accrued interest. If the corporation does not commence the proceeding       
within the sixty-day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose demand remains   
unsettled the amount demanded.                                                  

(2) The corporation shall commence the proceeding in the superior court of
the county where a corporation's principal office, or, if none in this state,   
its registered office, is located. If the corporation is a foreign corporation  
without a registered office in this state, it shall commence the proceeding in  
the county in this state where the registered office of the domestic            
corporation merged with or whose shares were acquired by the foreign            
corporation was located.                                                        

(3) The corporation shall make all dissenters, whether or not residents of
this state, whose demands remain unsettled, parties to the proceeding as in an  
action against their shares and all parties must be served with a copy of the   
petition. Nonresidents may be served by registered or certified mail or by      
publication as provided by law.                                                 

(4) The corporation may join as a party to the proceeding any shareholder 
who claims to be a dissenter but who has not, in the opinion of the             
corporation, complied with the provisions of this chapter. If the court         
determines that such shareholder has not complied with the provisions of this   
chapter, the shareholder shall be dismissed as a party.                         

  (5) The jurisdiction of the court in which the proceeding is commenced under
subsection (2) of this section is plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint  
one or more persons as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on 
the question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described in the     
order appointing them, or in any amendment to it. The dissenters are entitled   
to the same discovery rights as parties in other civil proceedings.             

(6) Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding is entitled to judgment 
(a) for the amount, if any, by which the court finds the fair value of the      
dissenter's shares, plus interest, exceeds the amount paid by the corporation,  
or (b) for the fair value, plus accrued interest, of the dissenter's after-     
acquired shares for which the corporation elected to withhold payment under RCW 
23B.13.270.                                                                     

23B.13.310 Court Costs and Counsel Fees                                         

  (1) The court in a proceeding commenced under RCW 23B.13.300 shall determine
all costs of the proceeding, including the reasonable compensation and expenses 
of appraisers appointed by the court. The court shall assess the costs against  
the corporation, except that the court may assess the costs against all or some 
of the dissenters, in amounts the court finds equitable, to the extent the      
court finds the dissenters acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith 
in demanding payment under RCW 23B.13.280.                                      

(2) The court may also assess the fees and expenses of counsel and experts
for the respective parties, in amounts the court finds equitable:               

  (a) Against the corporation and in favor of any or all dissenters if the
court finds the corporation did not substantially comply with the           
requirements of RCW 23B.13.200 through 23B.13.280; or                       

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  (b) Against either the corporation or a dissenter, in favor of any other
party, if the court finds that the party against whom the fees and expenses 
are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with      
respect to the rights provided by chapter 23B.13 RCW.                       

(3) If the court finds that the services of counsel for any dissenter were
of substantial benefit to other dissenters similarly situated, and that the     
fees for those services should not be assessed against the corporation, the     
court may award to these counsel reasonable fees to be paid out of the amounts  
awarded the dissenters who were benefited.                                      

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Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

				Referenced-On Page
This ‘424A’ Filing		Date		First		Last			Other Filings
		9/14/04		41					4
		9/30/00		11		96			10-Q
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		12/31/99		18					10-Q
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		11/10/99		54					DEF 14A
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Filed on:		11/2/99							S-4
		10/29/99		13		64
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		9/28/99		54					10-K,  DEF 14A
		9/15/99		25		54
		9/14/99		2		110			3
		9/12/99		24
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		9/10/99		25		70
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		8/31/99		47		79
		8/23/99		24
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		8/11/99		24		91
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		6/30/99		7		56			10-K
		6/9/99		23
		5/17/99		54
		4/23/99		23
		3/31/99		54					10-Q,  S-3
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		12/31/98		18		74			10-Q
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		10/3/98		72		73
		9/30/98		8		56			10-Q
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		6/30/98		14		81			10-K
		12/31/97		18					10-Q,  10-Q/A
		12/13/96		54					S-3/A
		11/30/95		71
		11/10/95		18
		9/15/95		54
		7/1/95		80
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