AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 14, 1996
 
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                                INTERLEAF, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
         MASSACHUSETTS                               04-2729042
(State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)
 
              9 HILLSIDE AVENUE, PROSPECT PLACE, WALTHAM, MA 02154
                                 (617) 290-0710
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                        JOHN K. HYVNAR, GENERAL COUNSEL
                                INTERLEAF, INC.
                       9 HILLSIDE AVENUE, PROSPECT PLACE
                               WALTHAM, MA 02154
                                 (617) 290-0710
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                            ------------------------
 
          APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
   AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
                            ------------------------
 
    If  the securities being registered on this  Form are to be 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, check the following box. /X/
 
    If this Form  is filed  to register  additional securities  for an  offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and  list  the  Securities  Act registration  statement  number  of  the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
 
    If this Form  is a  post-effective amendment  file pursuant  to Rule  462(c)
under  the Securities Act, check  the following box and  list the Securities Act
registration statement number  of the earlier  effective registration  statement
for the same offering. / /
 
    If  delivery of the prospectus is expected  to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
                            ------------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 


                                                                                 PROPOSED
                                                                PROPOSED          MAXIMUM
                                                                 MAXIMUM         AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
          TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF               AMOUNT TO     OFFERING PRICE      OFFERING       REGISTRATION
       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED           BE REGISTERED    PER SHARE (1)      PRICE (1)           FEE
                                                                                   
Common Stock, $.01 par value..............  450,000 shares        $8.00         $3,600,000         $1,242

 
(1) Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
    pursuant  to Rule 457(c)  under the Securities  Act of 1933,  based upon the
    average of the  high and  low prices  of the  Common Stock  in the  National
    Market System as reported by the NASDAQ on May 7, 1996.
                            ------------------------
 
    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 THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                INTERLEAF, INC.
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
                   PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K
 


FORM S-3 ITEM NUMBER AND CAPTION                  CAPTION IN PROSPECTUS
- -----------------------------------------  ------------------------------------
                                     
 1.  Forepart of the Registration
      Statement and Outside Front Cover
      of Prospectus......................  Outside Front Cover Page
 
 2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover
      Pages of Prospectus................  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover
                                           Pages
 
 3.  Summary Information, Risk Factors
      and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
      Charges............................  Inside Front Cover Page; Certain
                                           Factors
 
 4.  Use of Proceeds.....................  Use of Proceeds
 
 5.  Determination of Offering Price.....  Not Applicable
 
 6.  Dilution............................  Not Applicable
 
 7.  Selling Security Holders............  Selling Shareholders
 
 8.  Plan of Distribution................  Plan of Distribution
 
 9.  Description of Securities to be
      Registered.........................  Not Applicable
 
10.  Interests of Named Experts and
      Counsel............................  Not Applicable
 
11.  Material Changes....................  Recent Developments
 
12.  Incorporation of Certain Information
      by Reference.......................  Incorporation of Certain Documents
                                           by Reference
 
13.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
      Indemnification for Securities Act
      Liabilities........................  Not Applicable


INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.

                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 14, 1996
 
                                INTERLEAF, INC.
 
                                 450,000 SHARES
 
                          COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
 
    All of  the shares  of Common  Stock,  $.01 par  value ("Common  Stock")  of
Interleaf,  Inc. (the "Company")  covered by this  Prospectus (the "Shares") are
being  offered   by  certain   shareholders  of   the  Company   (the   "Selling
Shareholders").  See "Selling Shareholders." The Company will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders.
 
    The Selling  Shareholders have  advised  the Company  that they  propose  to
offer,  from time  to time, all  or part  of the Shares  on the over-the-counter
market in  ordinary  brokerage transactions,  in  transactions directly  with  a
market  maker, in negotiated  transactions, or otherwise, at  such prices and on
such terms as may be obtainable and satisfactory to the Selling Shareholders. No
underwriting discounts or commissions will  be paid other than normal  brokerage
commissions and fees which will be paid by the Selling Shareholders. The Selling
Shareholders  and any  broker-dealers that participate  with one or  more of the
Selling Shareholders  in the  distribution of  the Shares  may be  deemed to  be
underwriters  and  any  commissions  received  or  profit  realized  by  them in
connection with  the resale  of the  Shares  may be  deemed to  be  underwriting
discounts  and commissions  under the  Securities Act  of 1933,  as amended. See
"Plan of Distribution."
 
    Expenses of the registration, issuance and distribution of the Shares (other
than brokerage commissions and fees), estimated  at $8,242, will be paid by  the
Company.
 
    See  "Certain Factors"  for a discussion  of certain factors  that should be
considered by prospective purchasers of the Shares offered hereby.
 
    On May 7, 1996,  the last reported  sale price for the  Common Stock on  the
National  Market System, as reported by NASDAQ,  was $8.00 per share. The Common
Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market under the NASDAQ symbol "LEAF".
 
                            ------------------------
 
    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         , 1996

    NO  PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  AND, IF GIVEN  OR MADE,  SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY  THE COMPANY.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES  NOT CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER TO  SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY  SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SHARES OF  COMMON
STOCK  OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS, NOR DOES IT  CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN  OFFER TO BUY  ANY OF  THE SECURITIES OFFERED  HEREBY BY  ANY
PERSON  IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR SUCH PERSON TO MAKE SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION.  NEITHER DELIVERY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS NOR  ANY SALE  MADE
HEREUNDER  SHALL  UNDER  ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES  CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION  THAT  THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS  CORRECT AS OF ANY  DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE  DATE
HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                              PAGE
                                                              ----
                                                           
THE COMPANY.................................................    2
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.........................................    2
 
CERTAIN FACTORS.............................................    2
 
USE OF PROCEEDS.............................................    2
 
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS........................................    2
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION........................................    3
 
LEGAL MATTERS...............................................    3
 
EXPERTS.....................................................    3
 
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.............    4
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION......................................    4

 
                            ------------------------
 
    The  Company is subject to the  informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended, and in  accordance therewith, files  reports,
proxy  statements  and  other  information  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission. Such reports, proxy  statements and other  information filed by  the
Company  with the Commission may be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by  the Commission  at 450 Fifth  Street, NW,  Washington,
D.C.  20549 and at the following regional offices of the Commission: Suite 1300,
7 World Trade Center,  New York, NY 10048;  and Suite 1400, Northwestern  Atrium
Center,  500 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Copies of such material may
be obtained from  the Public  Reference Section of  the Commission,  Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
 
                                       1

                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Interleaf,  Inc., a Massachusetts corporation  (the "Company"), develops and
markets software that is  used in the creation,  management and distribution  of
documents.  The Company's software enables customers  to compose, edit, view and
print  documents,   while  also   facilitating  their   electronic   management,
preparation,  conversion and distribution.  The Company offers  its customers an
integrated document management solution to meet  both the needs of the  document
author  and information  user. The  Company's principal  offices are  located at
Prospect Place,  9  Hillside  Avenue,  Waltham,  Massachusetts  02154,  and  its
telephone number is (617) 290-0710.
 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
    On  April 29, 1996, the  Company reported a net  loss for its fourth quarter
ended March 31, 1996 of approximately $1.5 million, on revenues of approximately
$20.9 million,  compared with  a net  loss of  approximately $19.9  million,  on
revenues  of approximately $23.8 million for the same period a year ago. For all
of fiscal 1996, the Company reported  net income of approximately $0.3  million,
on  revenues  of  approximately  $88.6  million, compared  with  a  net  loss of
approximately $48.4 million, on revenues of approximately $87.9 million for  the
previous   year.  During  fiscal  1996,   the  Company  restructured  its  sales
operations, including  its sales  management  team, by  replacing  approximately
two-thirds  (2/3) of its sales force. The Company believes that its restructured
sales force  will  achieve improved  productivity  resulting in  revenue  growth
during fiscal 1997.
 
                                CERTAIN FACTORS
 
    During  fiscal 1997, the  Company expects to  identify and develop dedicated
software applications for discrete markets. Currently, the Company is developing
applications which will address specific business problems, such as sales  force
automation  and  integration,  and  quality (ISO  9000)  and  health  and safety
compliance (OSHA) in manufacturing environments. These applications are expected
to be released during fiscal 1997. Historically, the Company's software  product
offerings  have  focused  on  broad-based horizontal  markets  in  the  areas of
document publishing,  electronic distribution,  and document  management  ("Core
Products").  The new vertical applications will be built on these Core Products.
The revenue impact  on the Company  of these new  applications will depend  upon
market  acceptance,  the length  of the  sales cycle,  and effectiveness  of the
Company's restructured sales  force. The  Company's future  revenue growth  will
significantly depend upon the success of these new applications.
 
    In  addition,  a high  percentage of  the  Company's revenues  are generally
realized in the last month  of a quarter and can  be difficult to predict  until
the  end of  a particular quarter.  Accordingly, given  the Company's relatively
fixed cost structure, a  shortfall or increase in  product license revenue  will
have a significant impact on the Company's operating results.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The  Company will  not receive  any proceeds  from the  sale by  the Selling
Shareholders of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
 
                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The Selling Shareholders are former  shareholders of The Learning  Alliance,
Inc.,  a Delaware corporation  ("The Learning Alliance").  The Learning Alliance
provides certain  sales  training  services and  develops  and  markets  related
software  to  its customers,  including  the Company.  The  Selling Shareholders
acquired the Shares in connection with the acquisition of The Learning  Alliance
by the Company on May 1, 1996.
 
                                       2

    The  following  table  sets  forth certain  information  as  to  the Selling
Shareholders and the maximum number of shares  of Common Stock that may be  sold
by each of the Selling Shareholders pursuant to this Prospectus.
 


                            MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
     NAME AND ADDRESS       SHARES TO BE SOLD
- --------------------------  ------------------
                         
David D. Allman
26 Roosevelt Way
Avondale, PA 19311               423,000(1)
 
Lisa S. Allman
26 Roosevelt Way
Avondale, PA 19311               423,000(1)
 
Lee C. Fields
26 Roosevelt Way
Avondale, PA 19311                27,000

 
- ------------------------
(1) Represents shares held jointly by David D. Allman and Lisa S. Allman
 
    Prior  to the acquisition of The Learning  Alliance by the Company, David D.
Allman served as President and Director  of, Lisa S. Allman served as  Treasurer
and  Secretary of,  and Lee  C. Fields  served as  an employee  of, The Learning
Alliance. The Selling Shareholders do not  beneficially own any other shares  of
the  Company's capital stock, and, upon  completion of the offering contemplated
herein, will beneficially  own no  shares of  the Company's  capital stock.  The
maximum number of shares that may be sold by the Selling Shareholders represents
approximately 3% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    The  Selling  Shareholders have  advised the  Company  that they  propose to
offer, from time  to time, all  or part  of the Shares  on the  over-the-counter
market  in  ordinary brokerage  transactions,  in transactions  directly  with a
market maker, in negotiated  transactions, or otherwise, at  such prices and  on
such terms as may be obtainable and satisfactory to the Selling Shareholders. No
underwriting  discounts or commissions will be  paid other than normal brokerage
commissions and fees which will be paid by the Selling Shareholders. The Selling
Shareholders may also, from time to time,  sell the Shares pursuant to Rule  144
promulgated  under  the  Securities Act  of  1933,  as amended,  subject  to the
limitations and conditions thereof, if such Rule is available for such sales. No
sales or distributions  other than as  described herein will  be effected  until
this Prospectus shall have been appropriately amended or supplemented.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    Certain  legal matters relating to the Common Stock offered hereby are being
passed upon for  the Company by  John K.  Hyvnar, Esq., General  Counsel to  the
Company.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Interleaf,  Inc.  appearing in
Interleaf's Annual Report (Form  10-K) for the year  ended March 31, 1995,  have
been  audited by Ernst & Young LLP,  independent auditors, as set forth in their
report thereon  included  therein and  incorporated  herein by  reference.  Such
consolidated  financial  statements  are  incorporated  herein  by  reference in
reliance upon such report given  upon the authority of  such firm as experts  in
accounting and auditing.
 
                                       3

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The  following documents, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
are incorporated herein by reference:
 
        1.  The Company's Annual Report on  Form 10-K for the fiscal year  ended
    March 31, 1995.
 
        2.  The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters
    ended June 30, 1995, September 30, 1995 and December 31, 1995.
 
        3.    The description  of the  Company's Common  Stock contained  in the
    Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8-A  (filed  June  11,  1986),
    including  any amendment  or report filed  for the purpose  of updating such
    description.
 
    All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections  13(a),
13(c),  14  or  15(d) of  the  Securities Exchange  Act  of 1934,  prior  to the
termination of the offering shall be  deemed to be incorporated by reference  in
this Prospectus.
 
    The  Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a Prospectus
is delivered, on the written  or oral request of such  person, a copy of any  or
all  of the documents  incorporated by reference herein,  other than exhibits to
such documents. Such request  should be directed  to: Interleaf, Inc.,  Prospect
Place,  9 Hillside  Avenue, Waltham, MA  02154, attn: John  K. Hyvnar, telephone
(617) 290-0710 extension 1016.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The  Company  has  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission,
Washington,  D.C.  20549,  a  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-3  under  the
Securities Act of  1933, as amended,  with respect to  the Common Stock  offered
hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration  Statement  and the  exhibits  and schedules  thereto.  For further
information pertaining  to the  Company  and the  Common Stock  offered  hereby,
reference  is made  to the  Registration Statement,  including the  exhibits and
schedules filed therewith or incorporated by reference as a part thereof.
 
    Statements in this  Prospectus concerning  the contents of  any contract  or
other  document referred to are not necessarily complete. Where such contract or
other document is filed as an  exhibit to the Registration Statement, each  such
statement  is qualified in  all respects by  the provisions of  such exhibit, to
which reference is hereby made for a full statement of the provisions thereof.
 
    A copy of the  Registration Statement may be  inspected at the  Commission's
offices  or  may  be  obtained  from  the  Commission  upon  payment  of certain
prescribed fees.
 
                                       4

               PART II -- INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    The estimated expenses in connection with this offering, all of which are to
be paid by the Company, are as follows:
 

                                            
SEC registration fee.........................  $   1,242
Legal fees and expenses......................      2,000
Accounting fees and expenses.................      5,000
                                               ---------
    Total....................................  $   8,242
                                               ---------
                                               ---------

 
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    (a)  Section  67  of  the  Massachusetts  Business  Corporation  Law permits
indemnification of  present and  former  directors and  officers to  the  extent
specified  in or authorized by  (i) the articles of  organization, (ii) a by-law
adopted by the stockholders, (iii) a vote  adopted by the holders of a  majority
of the shares of stock entitled to vote, or (iv) in the case of officers who are
not  directors, by the Board of  Directors, except that no indemnification shall
be provided for any person with respect to any matter as to which he shall  have
been  adjudicated  in any  proceeding not  to have  acted in  good faith  in the
reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the  corporation.
Section  67  also  provides  that  the  absence  of  any  express  provision for
indemnification  shall  not   limit  any  right   of  indemnification   existing
independently of such Section.
 
    (b)  Article V of the Company's by-laws  provides that the Company shall, to
the extent legally  permissible, indemnify  each former or  present director  or
officer  against all  liabilities and expenses  imposed upon or  incurred by any
such person in connection with, or arising out of, the defense or disposition of
any action, suit  or other proceeding,  civil or  criminal, in which  he may  be
threatened  or involved,  by reason  of his having  been a  director or officer;
provided that the Company shall provide  no indemnification with respect to  any
matter  as to which any such person shall be finally adjudicated in such action,
suit or proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that
his action was  in the  best interests  of the Company.  If any  such action  is
disposed  of, on the merits or  otherwise, without the disposition being adverse
to the director or officer and without an adjudication that such person did  not
act  in good  faith in  the reasonable belief  that his  action was  in the best
interests of the Company, the director or officer is entitled to indemnification
as a matter of right.  In all other cases, indemnification  shall be made as  of
right  unless after investigation  (a) by the  Board of Directors  by a majority
vote of  a quorum  of disinterested  directors,  or (b)  by written  opinion  of
independent  legal counsel (who may  be regular counsel of  the Company), or (c)
the holders of a  majority of outstanding stock  entitled to vote (exclusive  of
stock  owned by any interested directors or officers), it shall be determined by
clear and convincing evidence that such person did not act in good faith and  in
a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
Company.  Indemnification may  include advancement  of expenses  of defending an
action upon receipt of  an undertaking by the  person indemnified to repay  such
advances  if it  is ultimately  determined that such  person is  not entitled to
indemnification under  Article V.  Article V  also provides  that the  right  of
indemnification  provided therein  is not exclusive  of and does  not affect any
other rights  to  which  any director  or  officer  may be  entitled  under  any
agreement,  statute, vote of stockholders or otherwise. The Company's obligation
to indemnify under Article V shall be  offset to the extent of any other  source
of indemnification or any otherwise applicable insurance coverage.
 
    (c)  The Company has entered into an  Agreement to Defend and Indemnify with
each of its officers  and directors. Pursuant to  these agreements, the  Company
has  agreed, to the extent legally permissible, to indemnify such person against
all losses (including, without limitation,  judgments, fines and penalties)  and
expenses  (including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement and counsel
fees and  disbursements) incurred  by such  person in  connection with  or as  a
result  of any claim,  action, suit or  other proceeding, civil  or criminal, or
appeal related thereto, in which he may be involved by reason of his having been
a  director  or  officer  or  by  reason  of  any  action  taken  or  not  taken
 
                                       5

in  his capacity as director or  officer; provided that no indemnification shall
be provided with respect to  any matter as to which  such person shall not  have
acted  in good faith  in the reasonable belief  that his action  was in the best
interests of  the Company.  If any  such claim,  action, suit  or proceeding  is
disposed  of, on the merits or  otherwise, without the disposition being adverse
to such  person, without  a plea  of guilty  or NOLO  CONTENDRE and  without  an
adjudication that such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief
that  his  action was  in the  best interests  of the  Company, the  director or
officer is entitled to indemnification as a matter of right. In all other cases,
indemnification shall be made  upon a determination  that such person's  conduct
was  in good faith and in the reasonable  belief that his action was in the best
interests of the  Company by  (a) a quorum  of disinterested  directors, or  (b)
independent  legal counsel (who may  be regular counsel of  the Company), or (c)
the holders of a  majority of outstanding stock  entitled to vote (exclusive  of
stock owned by any interested directors or officer). Expenses may be advanced by
the Company prior to any final disposition of any such action upon receipt of an
undertaking by the person indemnified to repay such advances if it is ultimately
determined  that  such  person  is not  entitled  to  indemnification  under the
Agreement. Such Agreements  provide that the  right of indemnification  provided
therein  is  in addition  to any  rights to  which any  person concerned  may be
entitled by other  agreements or  as a  matter of law,  and shall  inure to  the
benefit  of the heirs,  executors and administrators  of the indemnified person.
The rights of indemnification provided in such Agreements are in addition to any
rights under any  insurance policy in  effect, provided that  to the extent  any
claim is covered by any such insurance policy, the Company will provide coverage
after  the  full coverage  of  the insurance  policy  is exhausted  or otherwise
unavailable.
 
    (d) Article 6D of the Company's  Articles of Organization provides that,  to
the  fullest extent permitted by Chapter 156B of the Massachusetts General Laws,
a director of the Company shall not  be personally liable to the Company or  its
stockholders  for monetary damages  for breach of fiduciary  duty as a director,
notwithstanding  any  provision   of  law  imposing   such  liability.   Section
13(b)(1  1/2)  of  Chapter 156B  of  the  Massachusetts General  Laws  permits a
corporation to include in its  articles of organization a provision  eliminating
or  limiting the  personal liability  of a  director to  the corporation  or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary as a director,  except
for  (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation and its
stockholders, (ii)  acts  or  omissions  not in  good  faith  or  which  involve
intentional  misconduct  or  a  knowing  violation  of  the  law,  (ii) improper
issuances of stock or  unauthorized distributions to  stockholders, or (iv)  any
transaction in which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS
 
    The  Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits is incorporated herein
by reference.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    1.  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
        (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being  made,
    a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
           (i)  to include  any prospectus required  by Section  10(a)(3) of the
       Securities Act of 1933;
 
           (ii) to reflect in the prospectus  any facts or events arising  after
       the  effective date  of the  registration statement  (or the  most recent
       post-effective  amendment  thereof)   which,  individually   or  in   the
       aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
       the  registration statement. Notwithstanding  the foregoing, any increase
       or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
       securities would not exceed that which was registered) and any  deviation
       for  the low or high  and of the estimated  maximum offering range may be
       reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
       Rule 424(b) if in the aggregate, the change in volume and price represent
       no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum offering price set  forth
       in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table set forth in the effective
       registration statement;
 
                                       6

          (iii)  to include any material information with respect to the plan of
       distribution not previously  disclosed in the  registration statement  or
       any material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
        Provided,  however, that  paragraphs (i)  and (ii)  do not  apply if the
    information required to be included  in a post-effective amendment by  those
    paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant
    to  Section 13 or Section 15(d) of  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
    are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
 
        (b) That  for  the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
    Securities  Act of 1933, each such  post-effective amendment shall be deemed
    to be  a  new registration  statement  relating to  the  securities  offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
    be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
        (c)  To remove from registration by  means of a post-effective amendment
    any  of  the  securities  being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at   the
    termination of the offering.
 
    2.    The undersigned  registrant hereby  undertakes  that, for  purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities  Act of 1933, each filing of  the
registrant's  annual report  pursuant to Section  13(a) of Section  15(d) of the
Securities Exchange  Act  of 1934  that  is  incorporated by  reference  in  the
registration  statement  shall  be deemed  to  be a  new  registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such  securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
    3.   Insofar as indemnification for  liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933 may be  permitted to  directors, officers  and controlling  persons of  the
registrant  pursuant to the Articles of  Organization, By-laws or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in  the opinion of the Securities and  Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and  is, therefor, 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
                                       7

                                   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 Waltham,  Commonwealth of Massachusetts,  on May 7,
1996.
 
                                INTERLEAF, INC.
 
                                By:                /s/ ED KOEPFLER
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                                    Ed Koepfler,
                                        PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    We, the  undersigned  officers  and directors  of  Interleaf,  Inc.,  hereby
severally  constitute and appoint  Ed Koepfler, G.  Gordon M. Large  and John K.
Hyvnar, and each of them acting singly, our true and lawful attorneys with  full
power  to them, and each of them singly, to  sign for us and in our names in the
capacities indicated  below,  the  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-3  filed
herewith  and any  and all pre-effective  and post-effective  amendments to said
Registration Statement, and  generally to do  all such things  in our names  and
behalf  in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Interleaf, Inc. to
comply with the provisions of  the Securities Act of  1933, as amended, and  all
requirements  of the  Securities and  Exchange Commission,  hereby ratifying and
confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of
them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.
 
    WITNESS our hands and common seal on the date set forth below.
 
    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 date indicated.
 


               SIGNATURE                           TITLE                DATE
- ----------------------------------------  ------------------------  ------------
                                                              
                                          President, Chief
            /s/ ED KOEPFLER                Executive Officer and
 -------------------------------------     Director (principal      May 7, 1996
              Ed Koepfler                  executive officer)
 
                                          Executive Vice
                                           President, Chief
         /s/ G. GORDON M. LARGE            Financial Officer and
 -------------------------------------     Director (principal      May 7, 1996
           G. Gordon M. Large              financial and
                                           accounting officer)
 
        /s/ FREDERICK B. BAMBER
 -------------------------------------    Director                  May 7, 1996
          Frederick B. Bamber
 
          /s/ DAVID A. BOUCHER            Chairman of the Board of
 -------------------------------------     Directors                May 7, 1996
            David A. Boucher
 
         /s/ CLINTON P. HARRIS
 -------------------------------------    Director                  May 7, 1996
           Clinton P. Harris
 
       /s/ GEORGE D. POTTER, JR.
 -------------------------------------    Director                  May 7, 1996
         George D. Potter, Jr.

 
                                       8

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 


   EXHIBIT                                                                                               METHOD OF
    NUMBER                                     DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                                     FILING
- --------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
                                                                                                
         4(a)   Specimen certificate for shares of Common Stock.....................................            [i]
 
         4(b)   Rights Agreement, dated July 15, 1988, between the Company and The First National
                 Bank of Boston.....................................................................           [ii]
 
         5      Opinion of John K. Hyvnar, Esq......................................................       Included
 
        23(a)   Consent of John K. Hyvnar, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5).............................       Included
 
        23(b)   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors..................................       Included
 
        24      Power of Attorney...................................................................       Included

 
- ------------------------
 [i]Incorporated  herein by reference is the applicable Exhibit to the Company's
    Registration Statement on Form S-1, File Number 33-5743.
 
[ii]Incorporated herein  by  reference  is  Exhibit  to  Company's  Registration
    Statement on Form 8-A, filed July 27, 1988.