1

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

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

             -------------------------------------------------------
   
                             PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT
                                   NUMBER 1 TO
    
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                  ON FORM S-3
                                     Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-14278

                             MICROSOFT CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         WASHINGTON                                          91-1144442
(State or other jurisdiction                                (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

                                ONE MICROSOFT WAY
                         REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98052-6399
                                 (206) 882-8080
                   (Address, including zip code, and telephone
              number including area code, of registrant's principal
                                executive office)

                    ----------------------------------------
                               Robert A. Eshelman
                            Associate General Counsel
                                One Microsoft Way
                         Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
                                 (206) 882-8080
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                        Copies of all communications to:
                                 Richard B. Dodd
                            Christopher H. Cunningham
                              Preston Gates & Ellis
                              5000 Columbia Center
                                701 Fifth Avenue
                         Seattle, Washington 98104-7078

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

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

   2


         Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: At
such time or times after the effective date of this Registration Statement as
the Selling Shareholder shall determine.

         If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box:
                                             / /

         If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:

                                             /x/

         The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a),
may determine.

   
    


                                      -ii-

   3

   
    


                                     -iii-

   4



                                   PROSPECTUS

                              MICROSOFT CORPORATION
                              953,849 Common Shares
                         Par Value of $.00005 Per Share

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

         This Prospectus relates to up to 953,849 shares of common stock (the
"Shares") of Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Microsoft"),
which may be offered from time to time by the selling shareholders named herein
(the "Selling Shareholders"). Microsoft will not receive any of the proceeds
from the sale of the Shares. Microsoft will bear the costs relating to the
registration of the Shares estimated to be approximately $38,000.

         The Shares are registered as a result of a merger (the "Merger")
between Microsoft, Bumbershoot, Ltd., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Microsoft, and Vermeer Technologies, Inc. ("Vermeer"). Pursuant to
the Merger, Microsoft agreed to register the Shares received by each Selling
Shareholder in the Merger.

         Microsoft has been advised by each Selling Shareholder that he or she
expects to offer his or her Shares through brokers and dealers to be selected by
him or her from time to time. The Shares may be offered for sale through the
Nasdaq Stock Market, in the over-the-counter market, in one or more private
transactions, or a combination of such methods of sale, at prices and on terms
then prevailing, at prices related to such prices, or at negotiated prices.
Certain of the Selling Shareholders may distribute their shares, from time to
time, to their limited and/or general partners who may sell Shares pursuant to
this Prospectus. Each Selling Shareholder may pledge all or a portion of the
Shares owned by him or her as collateral in loan transactions. Upon default by
such a Selling Shareholder the pledgee in such loan transaction would have the
same rights of sale as the Selling Shareholder under this Prospectus. Each
Selling Shareholder may also transfer Shares owned by him by gift and upon any
such transfer the donee would have the same rights of sale as such Selling
Shareholder under this Prospectus. In addition, any securities covered by this
prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), may be sold under Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this Prospectus. Finally, each Selling Shareholder and any brokers
and dealers through whom sales of the Shares are made may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and the commissions or
discounts and other compensation paid to such persons may be regarded as
underwriters' compensation.

         The Shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The average of the
high and low prices of the Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on
February 7, 1996 was $96.30 per share.

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

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

   
                The date of this Prospectus is February 22, 1996.
    

         All of the securities to be registered hereby are to be offered for the
account of security holders.


   5
                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         Microsoft is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and files reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance therewith. Such reports, proxy
statements, and other information filed by Microsoft are available for
inspection and copying at the public reference facilities of the Commission at
Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and
at the Commission's Regional Offices located at Room 1028, Jacob K. Javits
Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278 and Room 3190,
Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth St., N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Microsoft's Shares are listed on the Nasdaq
Stock Market. In addition to the addresses listed above, reports, proxy
statements, and other information concerning Microsoft can be inspected at the
offices of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

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


                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Microsoft with the Commission are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:

         1.  Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
1995.

         2.  Microsoft's Proxy Statement dated September 25, 1995.

         3.  Microsoft's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1995.

   
         4.  Microsoft's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
December 31, 1995.

         5.  The description of the Common Stock of Microsoft which is contained
in the registration statement of Microsoft filed on Form S-4, dated February 17,
1995.
    

         All documents filed by Microsoft pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14,
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Shares offered hereby shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof.

         Microsoft hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person to
whom this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of any
such person, a copy of any and all of the foregoing documents incorporated
herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents which are not
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates). Written or telephone requests should be directed to Investors
Relations Department, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond,
Washington 98052-6399, telephone number (206) 882-8080.

         No dealer, salesman, or any other person has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus,
and, if given or made, such information and representation must not be relied
upon as having been authorized by Microsoft. This Prospectus does not constitute
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities
offered hereby in any state to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such
offer in such state. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sales made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of Microsoft since the date hereof.

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



                                        2


   6





         This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement which
Microsoft has filed with the Commission under the 1933 Act, with respect to the
Shares. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the
Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related Exhibits thereto for further information with respect to
Microsoft and the securities offered hereby. Such additional information can be
obtained from the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. Any statements
contained herein concerning the provisions of any documents are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the
Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

                                   THE COMPANY

         Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation, has its principal
executive offices at One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399,
telephone number (206) 882-8080. Microsoft was founded as a partnership in 1975
and was incorporated in 1981. Microsoft, develops, manufactures, licenses,
sells, and supports a wide range of software products, including operating
system platforms for personal computers (PCs), workstations, and servers;
business and consumer applications for productivity, reference, education, and
entertainment; and development tools. Microsoft also offers an online service,
sells personal computer books and input devices, and is engaged in the research
and potential development of advanced technology software products. Microsoft's
products are available for 16-bit and 32-bit microcomputers, including AST
Research, Acer, Apple, Digital Equipment Corporation, Dell, Compaq, Gateway
2000, Hewlett-Packard, International Business Machines (IBM), NEC, Olivetti,
Packard Bell, and Toshiba. Microsoft develops most of its software products
internally using proprietary development tools and methodology. Microsoft
markets and distributes its products domestically and internationally through
the original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") channel and through the finished
goods channels primarily by means of independent distributors and resellers.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

         904,374 of the Shares described in this Prospectus are owned by the
individuals listed below. Some or all of the Additional Shares, defined below,
may be distributed, on a pro rata basis, to the Selling Shareholders thereby
increasing their ownership accordingly. All of the shares offered hereby were
acquired in connection with the Microsoft acquisition of Vermeer. Certain of the
Selling Shareholders, indicated below with an asterisk (*), are employees of
Microsoft, but otherwise, the Selling Shareholders have no material relationship
with Microsoft.
   
No. of Shares Name of Owned Prior Received from Shares Selling Shareholders (1) Offering Microsoft Owned (2) - ---------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------- Atlas Venture Fund II, L.P. 0 164,360 164,360 Banghart, David and Catherine JTWROS 100 227 327 Blanchard, Denice 0 276 276 Blumer, Thomas P.* 0 4,134 4,134 Brown & Bain, P.A 0 3,714 3,714 Clark, Cheryl 0 92 92 Cuoco, Edmund* 0 1,723 1,723 Davoli, Robert and Eileen McDonagh, 0 15,498 15,498 JTWROS Gettys, James 0 1,292 1,292 Harrison, Shelley 0 3,445 3,445 Kaysen, Carl 0 227 227 Kerr, Andrew 450 6,890 7,340 LeBlanc, Camille 0 4,134 4,130 Masciarelli, James P 0 3,307 3,307 Matrix IV Entrepreneurs Fund, L.P. 0 16,436 16,436
3 7 Matrix Partners IV, L.P. 0 312,285 312,285 Menlo Entrepreneurs Fund VI, L.P. 0 517 517 Menlo Ventures VI, L.P. 0 34,452 34,452 Miller, Jonathan and Diane Fassino 550 227 777 Nanji, Feisal B 168 8,269 8,437 Pilkington, Cynthia 0 4,134 4,134 Sigma Associates III, L.P. 0 27,397 27,397 Sigma Investors III, L.P. 0 4,180 4,180 Sigma Partners III, L.P. 0 281,646 281,646 The Career Group, Ltd. 0 5,512 5,512 Total 904,374(3) 905,642
(1) None of the Selling Shareholders held any office with Microsoft during the last three years. (2) All amounts are less than 1% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Microsoft. (3) In addition, the Selling Shareholders may receive "Additional Shares" to the extent Vermeer employees who hold restricted shares or unvested options decide not to relocate to Redmond, Washington or are otherwise terminated during a transition period which will end no later than May 12, 1996. The maximum number of such Additional Shares is 49,475. An equivalent number of shares have been included in this Registration Statement but are not included in this table. An amended prospectus will be filed to reflect any change in the number of shares offered by the individual Selling Shareholders. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the Shares offered hereby will be passed upon for Microsoft by Preston Gates & Ellis, 5000 Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104. Attorneys who are partners or employed by Preston Gates & Ellis who have provided advice with respect to the Merger in the aggregate own less than 50,000 Shares. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of Microsoft as of June 30, 1995, and 1994 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1995, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES Article XII of Microsoft's Restated Articles of Incorporation authorizes Microsoft to indemnify any present or former director, officer, employee, or agent of Microsoft, or a person serving in a similar post in another organization at the request of Microsoft, against expenses, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Washington Business Corporation Act, public policy or other applicable law. Chapter 23B.08.510 and .570 of the Washington Business Corporation Act authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees, or agents in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including provisions permitting advances for expenses incurred) arising under the 1933 Act. 4 8 Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. OTHER INFORMATION Microsoft's revenues and net income for the 30-day period ended February 11, 1996 were $725 Million and $180 Million. The Merger, described above, which closed January 12, 1996, was been accounted for as a pooling of interests. The revenue and net income amounts set forth above include 30 days of combined operations with Vermeer. This information is reported for purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's Accounting Series Release 135. This information includes operations from part of the third quarter of Microsoft's fiscal year, which quarter will end March 31, 1996, and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for Microsoft's third quarter ending March 31, 1996 or the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996. 5 9 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 16. List of Exhibits. Exhibit No. Description 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP 24 Power of Attorney 10 II-2 11 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Redmond, State of Washington on the 21st day of February 1996. MICROSOFT CORPORATION /s/ William H. Gates III ------------------------------------ William H. Gates III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William H. Gates III, his attorney-in-fact, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Dated: January 31, 1996 /s/ Michael W. Brown Vice President, Finance; Chief Financial Officer - ------------------------ (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Michael W. Brown /s/ William H. Gates III Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ Director (Principal Executive Officer) William H. Gates III /s/ Paul G. Allen Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ Paul G. Allen /s/ Richard A. Hackborn Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ Richard A. Hackborn /s/ David F. Marquardt Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ David F. Marquardt /s/ Robert D. O'Brien Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ Robert D. O'Brien
II-3 12 /s/ William G. Reed, Jr. Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ William G. Reed, Jr. /s/ Jon A. Shirley Director January 31, 1996 - ------------------------ Jon A. Shirley Director January __, 1996 - ------------------------ Jill E. Barad II-4 13 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description Page or Footnote - ----------- ----------- ---------------- 23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Independent Accountants 24 Power of Attorney II-3
II-5
   1
                                                              EXHIBIT 23.1

                        INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-857 of Microsoft Corporation on Form
S-3 of our reports dated July 17, 1995 (August 21, 1995 for Contingencies Note)
appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Microsoft Corporation for the
year ended June 30, 1995, and to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement.


                                    Deloitte & Touche LLP

Seattle, Washington
February 21, 1996