<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ___________)*
System Software Associates, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NAME OF ISSUER)
Common Stock, par value $0.0033 per share
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)
87183-91-0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP NUMBER)
December 9, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(DATE OF EVENT WHICH REQUIRES FILING OF THIS STATEMENT)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing of this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
Page 1 of 9 Pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 2 of 9 Pages
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Hambrecht & Quist Group
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / /
(b) /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF
SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY -0-
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH
REPORTING 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
PERSON WITH 3,393,452
------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,393,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,393,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES* / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.7%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 3 of 9 Pages
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Hambrecht & Quist California
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / /
(b) /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF
SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY -0-
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH
REPORTING 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
PERSON WITH 3,393,452
------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,393,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,393,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES* / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.7%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 4 of 9 Pages
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Hambrecht & Quist LLC
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / /
(b) /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF
SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY -0-
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH
REPORTING 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
PERSON WITH 1,989,452
------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,989,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,989,452
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES* / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
4.1%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
OO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 5 of 9 Pages
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
H&Q SSA Investors, L.P.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / /
(b) /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF
SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY -0-
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH
REPORTING 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
PERSON WITH 1,404,000
------------------------------------------------------
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,404,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,404,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES* / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
2.9%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 6 of 9 Pages
ITEM 1.
(a) NAME OF ISSUER:
System Software Associates, Inc. (the "Issuer")
(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
500 W. Madison, 32nd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60661
ITEM 2.
(a) NAMES OF PERSONS FILING:
Reference is made to Item 1 of each of the cover pages of this Schedule,
which Items are incorporated by reference herein.
(b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL OFFICE:
The address of each reporting person is One Bush Street, San Francisco,
CA 94104
(c) CITIZENSHIP:
Reference is made to Item 4 of each of the cover pages of this Schedule,
which Items are incorporated by reference herein.
(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock, par value $0.0033 per share
(e) CUSIP NUMBER:
87183-91-0
ITEM 3. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-29(b) or
(c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15
U.S.C. 78o).
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15
U.S.C. 78c).
(d) [ ] Investment company as defined in section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
240.13d-1)b)(1)(ii)(G).
(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 87183-91-0
Page 7 of 9 Pages
(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under sectin 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3).
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(c), check this box [X].
ITEM 4.
(a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:
Reference is made to Items 5-9 and 11 of the cover pages to this
Schedule, which Items are incorporated by reference herein. According to
information contained in the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1997, there were 46,586,848 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding as of January 22, 1998. As of both December 9,
1997 and January 22, 1998, H&Q SSA Investors, L.P. ("H&Q SSA Investors") held
a total of 10,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Issuer which were
immediately convertible into an aggregate of 1,404,000 shares of the Issuer's
Common Stock. As of both December 9, 1997 and January 22, 1998, Hambrecht &
Quist LLC ("H&Q LLC") held warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,989,452
shares of the Issuer's Common Stock.
The administrative general partner of H&Q SSA Investors is Hambrecht &
Quist Management Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hambrecht & Quist
California ("H&Q California"). In addition, the investment general partner
of H&Q SSA Investors is a California limited liability company of which each
of the members is an employee of H&Q LLC.
H&Q LLC is wholly owned (in part indirectly) by H&Q California and H&Q
California is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hambrecht & Quist Group ("H&Q
Group").
Because voting and investment decisions concerning the above securities
may be made by or in conjunction with H&Q SSA Investors, H&Q LLC, H&Q
California and H&Q Group, each of the reporting persons may be deemed a
member of a group that shares voting and dispositive power over all of the
above securities, in which case each reporting person would be deemed to have
beneficial ownership of an aggregate of 3,393,452 shares of Common Stock,
which represents beneficial ownership of 6.7% of the outstanding Common Stock
(calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934). Although reporting persons are reporting such securities as if
they were members of a group, the filing of this Schedule shall not be
construed as an admission by any reporting person that it is a beneficial
owner of any securities other than those directly held by such reporting
person.
Under the definition of "beneficial ownership" in Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, it is also possible that the individual
general partners, directors, executive officers, members and/or managers of
the foregoing entities might be deemed "beneficial owners" of some or all of
the securities to which this Schedule relates in that they might be deemed to
share the power to direct the voting or disposition of such securities.
Neither the filing of this Schedule nor any of its contents shall be deemed
to constitute an admission that any of such individuals is, for any purpose,
the beneficial owner of any of the securities to which this Schedule relates,
and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed.
This Schedule does not include shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, if
any, held by H&Q LLC in its trading account in its capacity as a market maker
in the Issuer's Common Stock.
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:
Inapplicable
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:
Inapplicable
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 8 of 9 Pages
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED
THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:
Inapplicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:
Inapplicable
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF THE GROUP:
Inapplicable
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION:
By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held
for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control
of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or
effect.
<PAGE>
CUSIP No 87183-91-0
Page 9 of 9 Pages
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
Dated: February 12, 1998
H&Q SSA INVESTORS, L.P.
By: H&Q SSA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
---------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Member
HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
--------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
--------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
--------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
- ----------- ----------- --------
A Joint Filing Undertaking 11
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
JOINT FILING UNDERTAKING
The undersigned, being duly authorized thereunto, hereby execute this
agreement as an exhibit to the Schedule 13G to evidence the agreement of the
below-named parties, in accordance with rules promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to file this Schedule, as it may be amended,
jointly on behalf of each of such parties.
Dated: February 12, 1998
H&Q SSA INVESTORS, L.P.
By: H&Q SSA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
----------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Member
HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
---------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
HAMBRECHT & QUIST CALIFORNIA
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
---------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
HAMBRECHT & QUIST GROUP
By: /s/ Patrick J. Allen
---------------------------------------------
Patrick J. Allen
Chief Financial Officer
