TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS INC
S-4, 1998-06-08
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 1998
                              Registration No. 333-
                       
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-4
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                      7372
            (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)

                                   47-0772104
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                             224 South 108th Avenue
                              Omaha, Nebraska 68154
                                 (402) 334-5101
   (Address, including ZIP Code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                    registrant's principal executive offices)
                          William E. Fisher, President
                      Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
                             224 South 108th Avenue
                              Omaha, Nebraska 68154
                                 (402) 334-5101
 (Name, address, including ZIP Code, and telephone number, including area code, 
                              of agent for service)
            It is requested that copies of communications be sent to:
                                Neal A. Klegerman
                                Baker & McKenzie
                              One Prudential Plaza
                             Chicago, Illinois 60601
Approximate  date of  commencement  of proposed  sale of the  securities  to the
public:  From  time to  time  after  the  effective  date  of this  Registration
Statement.

If the securities  being registered on this Form are being offered in connection
with the  formation of a holding  company and there is  compliance  with General
Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) 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 this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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 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, check the following box. [X]

                         Calculation of Registration Fee
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- --------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
Title of each class                                 Proposed
of securities to be         Amount to be            maximum offering        Proposed maximum         Amount of
registered                  registered              price per unit (1)      aggregate offering       registration fee
                                                                            price (1)
- --------------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
=========================== ======================= ======================= ======================== =======================
<S>                        <C>                     <C>                     <C>                      <C>   
Class A Common Stock, par   2,500,000 shares        $38.50                  $96,250,000              $28,394
value $.005 per share
=========================== ======================= ======================= ======================== =======================
</TABLE>


     (1) Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee
pursuant  to Rule  457(c)  promulgated  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Class A Common
Stock on June 5, 1998, as reported on The Nasdaq National Market.
                               _______________
     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  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>

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 JUNE 8, 1998

PROSPECTUS

                      TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.

                    2,500,000 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK

                             _______________________

     This Prospectus  relates to 2,500,000  shares of Class A Common Stock,  par
value  $.005 per share (the  "Class A Common  Stock"),  of  Transaction  Systems
Architects,  Inc., a Delaware corporation ("TSA" or the "Company"), which may be
offered and issued or reserved  for issuance by the Company from time to time in
connection with  acquisitions by the Company,  directly or indirectly,  of other
businesses  or  properties,  or interests  therein.  Class A Common Stock may be
issued in exchange for shares of capital stock,  partnership interests, or other
assets  representing  an  interest,  direct or indirect,  in other  companies or
entities,  or in exchange  for assets used in or related to the business of such
other companies or entities. See "Securities Covered by This Prospectus."

     The Class A Common  Stock is subject to  quotation  on the Nasdaq  National
Market under the symbol "TSAI."

     SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 FOR CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS  RELEVANT
TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK.

                            _______________________

     THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED  HEREWITH.  THESE  DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM
DAVID P. STOKES, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY,  TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS,
INC., 224 SOUTH 108TH AVENUE,  OMAHA,  NEBRASKA  68154,  TELEPHONE  NUMBER (402)
334-5101.  IN ORDER TO ENSURE  TIMELY  DELIVERY  OF THE  DOCUMENTS,  ANY REQUEST
SHOULD  BE MADE  FIVE  BUSINESS  DAYS  PRIOR  TO THE  DATE ON  WHICH  THE  FINAL
INVESTMENT DECISION MUST BE MADE.

                            _______________________

          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
               OR ANY STATE SECURITIES 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 _____, 1998.


<PAGE>

     No  person  has  been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representations  other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, and, if given or made, such information
or  representations  must not be relied upon as having been authorized.  Neither
this Prospectus nor any Prospectus Supplement  constitutes an offer to sell or a
solicitation  of an offer to buy any  securities  other than the  securities  to
which it relates or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such
securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
Neither the delivery of this  Prospectus nor any  Prospectus  Supplement nor any
offer  or sale  made  hereunder  shall,  under  any  circumstances,  create  any
implication  that there has been no change in the affairs of the  Company  since
the date hereof.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.........................................................3
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE.............................4
RISK FACTORS..................................................................4
THE COMPANY...................................................................9
SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS........................................10
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK.................................................10
EXPERTS......................................................................14
LEGAL MATTERS................................................................15

<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational  requirements of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  filed by the  Company can be  inspected  and
copied at the public reference  facilities  maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the
Commission's  Regional Offices at 14th Floor,  Northwestern  Atrium Center,  500
West Madison Street,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661 and 13th Floor, Seven World Trade
Center,  New York,  New York 10048.  Copies of such  material can be obtained at
prescribed  rates from the Public  Reference  Section of the  Commission  at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a Web site
that contains  reports,  proxy and information  statements and other information
regarding registrants,  including the Company, that file electronically with the
Commission,  and the address of such site is  http://www.sec.gov.  In  addition,
reports,  proxy statements and other information can be inspected at the offices
of The Nasdaq Stock Market,  Reports Section,  1735 K Street, N.W.,  Washington,
D.C. 20006.

     The Company has filed with the Commission a registration  statement on Form
S-4, including  amendments thereto, if any (the "Registration  Statement") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  with respect to
the  shares  of Class A  Common  Stock.  This  Prospectus  and any  accompanying
Prospectus  Supplement,  if any, do not contain all of the information set forth
in the Registration Statement,  certain parts of which are omitted in accordance
with the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission.  Statements  made in this
Prospectus  as to the  contents of any  contract,  agreement  or other  document
referred to are not  necessarily  complete;  with respect to each such contract,
agreement or other document filed as an exhibit or schedule to the  Registration
Statement,  reference is made to the exhibit or schedule,  as applicable,  for a
more complete description of the matter involved,  and each such statement shall
be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference.  For further  information
pertaining to the Company and the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby,
reference is made to the  Registration  Statement and the exhibits and schedules
thereto which may be examined or copied at the locations described above.


                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     The Company hereby  incorporates the following documents in this Prospectus
by reference:  (a) the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 1997; (b) the Company's  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for
the periods ended December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998; and (c) the  description
of the Company's  Class A Common Stock  included in the  Company's  Registration
Statement  on Form 8-A filed with the  Commission  on January 11, 1995 under the
Exchange  Act,  including  any  amendment  or reports  filed for the  purpose of
updating such description.

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date of this  Prospectus  and prior to the
termination  of the  offering of the shares of Class A Common  Stock  covered by
this  Prospectus  shall be  deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  into this
Prospectus and to be a part of this Prospectus from the respective  dates of the
filing of such documents.

     Any  statement  contained  in a document  incorporated  herein by reference
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this  Prospectus to
the  extent  that a  statement  contained  in this  Prospectus  or in any  other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein
by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or
superseded  shall  not be  deemed,  except  as so  modified  or  superseded,  to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.

     THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED  HEREWITH.  THESE  DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM
DAVID P. STOKES, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY,  TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS,
INC., 224 SOUTH 108TH AVENUE,  OMAHA,  NEBRASKA  68154,  TELEPHONE  NUMBER (402)
334-5101.  IN ORDER TO ENSURE  TIMELY  DELIVERY  OF THE  DOCUMENTS,  ANY REQUEST
SHOULD  BE MADE  FIVE  BUSINESS  DAYS  PRIOR  TO THE  DATE ON  WHICH  THE  FINAL
INVESTMENT DECISION MUST BE MADE.


                                  RISK FACTORS

     In addition to the other  information in this Prospectus and the Prospectus
Supplement,  if any,  and  information  incorporated  herein by  reference,  the
following risk factors should be considered  carefully in evaluating the Company
and its business  before  purchasing  the Class A Common  Stock  offered by this
Prospectus.  Unless the context requires otherwise,  as used in this Prospectus,
"TSA" or the "Company" means Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. and all of its
subsidiaries.

Reliance on BASE24; Lack of Product Diversification

     The Company has derived a substantial  majority of its total  revenues from
licensing  its BASE24  family of software  products and  providing  services and
maintenance related to those products.  The BASE24 products and related services
and  maintenance  are  expected  to  provide  the  substantial  majority  of the
Company's revenues in the foreseeable  future. The Company's results will depend
upon continued market  acceptance of its BASE24 products and related services as
well as the  Company's  ability to continue to adapt and modify them to meet the
changing  needs of its  customers.  Any  reduction in demand for, or increase in
competition  with  respect to,  BASE24  products  would have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

International Operations

     The  Company has  derived a majority  of its total  revenues  from sales to
customers  outside the United  States.  International  operations  generally are
subject to certain risks,  including  difficulties  in staffing and  management,
reliance on independent distributors,  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
rates, compliance with foreign regulatory  requirements,  variability of foreign
economic conditions and changing restrictions imposed by U.S. export laws. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to manage the risks related to
selling its products and services in international markets.

Dependence on Banking Industry

     The Company's business is concentrated in the banking industry,  making the
Company  susceptible to a downturn in that industry.  For example, a decrease in
bank  spending  for  software  and related  services  could  result in a smaller
overall  market for electronic  payment  software.  Furthermore,  U.S. banks are
continuing to consolidate, decreasing the overall potential number of buyers for
the Company's products and services.  These factors as well as others negatively
affecting  the  banking  industry  could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations.

Relationship with Tandem

     Historically,  the Company has derived a  substantial  portion of its total
revenues  from the  licensing  of  software  products  that  operate  on  Tandem
computers.  The BASE24 product line runs exclusively on Tandem computers.  These
products are expected to provide a substantial portion of the Company's revenues
in the  foreseeable  future.  The  Company's  future  results  depend  on market
acceptance  of  Tandem  computers  and the  financial  success  of  Tandem.  Any
reduction  in demand  for these  computers  or in  Tandem's  ability  to deliver
products on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations.

     Although the Company has several written  agreements  with Tandem,  none of
those  agreements  governs  the  primary  relationship  between  the Company and
Tandem, which is that the Company's major product line, BASE24, runs exclusively
on Tandem  computers.  While the  cooperation and past  affiliation  between the
Company and Tandem have facilitated the Company's  ability to develop and market
Tandem-compatible  products,  this cooperation is not mandated by contract,  and
the cessation of such cooperation would adversely affect the Company's business.
None of the  Company's  agreements  with  Tandem  would  protect  the Company if
Tandem's  cooperation  ceased or if Tandem were unable to deliver  products on a
timely basis.  The written  agreements cover such discrete matters as funding of
market development efforts.

Management of Growth

     The Company is  experiencing a period of growth which is placing demands on
its managerial and operations  resources.  The Company's inability to manage its
growth  effectively  or to  maintain  its current  level of growth  could have a
material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.

Attraction and Retention of Key Personnel

     The Company's  success  depends on certain of its executive  officers,  the
loss  of one or more  of  whom  could  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company's financial  condition and results of operations.  None of the Company's
U.S.-based executive officers is a party to an employment agreement. The Company
believes  that its future  success  also  depends on its  ability to attract and
retain highly-skilled technical,  managerial and marketing personnel, including,
in particular, additional personnel in the areas of research and development and
technical  support.  Competition  for  personnel  is  intense.  There  can be no
assurance  that the Company will be successful  in attracting  and retaining the
personnel it requires.

Competition

     The market for  electronic  payment  software is highly  competitive.  Many
applications  software vendors offer products that are directly competitive with
BASE24  and  other  products  of  the  Company.  The  Company  also  experiences
competition  from  software  developed  internally  by potential  customers  and
experiences  competition for its consulting services from professional  services
organizations.  In addition,  processing  companies  provide services similar to
those made possible by the Company's products. Many of the Company's current and
potential competitors have significantly greater financial, marketing, technical
and  other  competitive  resources  than  the  Company.  Current  and  potential
competitors,  including providers of transaction-based software,  processing, or
professional services, may establish cooperative  relationships with one another
or with third  parties to compete more  effectively  against the Company.  It is
also  possible that new  competitors  may emerge and acquire  market  share.  In
either case, the Company's  financial  condition and results of operations could
be adversely affected.

New Products and Technological Change

     The market for  software  in general is  characterized  by rapid  change in
computer hardware and software technology and is highly competitive with respect
to the need for timely  product  innovation and new product  introductions.  The
Company believes that its future success depends upon its ability to enhance its
current  applications  and develop new products  that  address the  increasingly
complex needs of customers.  In  particular,  the Company  believes that it must
continue to respond  quickly to users' needs for  additional  functionality  and
multi-platform  support.  The  introduction  and  marketing  of new or  enhanced
products  requires the Company to manage the transition from current products in
order to minimize  disruption in customer purchasing  patterns.  There can be no
assurance  that  the  Company  will  continue  to be  successful  in the  timely
development  and marketing of product  enhancements or new products that respond
to  technological  advances,  that its new products will adequately  address the
changing  needs  of the  domestic  and  international  markets  or  that it will
successfully manage the transition from current products.

     The Company is continually  developing new products,  product  versions and
individual  features  within  a  large,  complex  software  system.  Development
projects  can be lengthy and are subject to changing  requirements,  programming
difficulties  and  unforeseen   factors  which  can  result  in  delays  in  the
introduction of new products and features.  Delays could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

     In addition, new products, versions or features, when first released by the
Company, may contain undetected errors that, despite testing by the Company, are
discovered  only after a product has been  installed and used by  customers.  To
date,   undetected  errors  have  not  caused   significant  delays  in  product
introduction  and  installation or required  substantial  design  modifications.
However,  there can be no assurance that the Company will avoid problems of this
type in the future.

     A substantial majority of the Company's license fee revenue is generated by
licenses for software  products  designed to run on  fault-tolerant or mainframe
computers.  Industry  sources  indicate  that sales of mainframe  computers  are
declining on a unit basis,  and the Company expects this trend to continue.  The
Company has  developed,  and  continues to develop,  certain  products for other
platforms,  but to date revenues from these products have not been  significant.
There can be no assurance  that the Company will be  successful in selling these
software products or other products under development.  The Company's failure in
this regard could have a material adverse effect on its financial  condition and
results of operations.

Dependence On Proprietary Technology

     The Company  relies on a combination  of trade secret and  copyright  laws,
nondisclosure  and other  contractual  and  technical  measures  to protect  its
proprietary  rights  in its  products.  There  can be no  assurance  that  these
provisions will be adequate to protect its proprietary rights. In addition,  the
laws of certain foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to
the same extent as the laws of the United States.  Although the Company believes
that its  intellectual  property  rights do not  infringe  upon the  proprietary
rights of third  parties,  there can be no assurance that third parties will not
assert infringement claims against the Company.

Variability of Quarterly Operating Results

     The  Company's  quarterly  revenues  and  operating  results may  fluctuate
depending on the timing of executed contracts, license upgrades and the delivery
of contracted  business  during the quarter.  In addition,  quarterly  operating
results may fluctuate  due to the extent of  commissions  associated  with third
party product sales,  timing of the Company's  hiring of additional  staff,  new
product development and other expenses. No assurance can be given that operating
results will not vary due to these factors.  Fluctuations in quarterly operating
results may result in volatility in the Company's stock price.

Customer Cancellation of Contracts

     The  Company  derives a  substantial  portion  of its total  revenues  from
maintenance  fees and monthly  software license fees pursuant to contracts which
the customer has the right to cancel.  A substantial  number of cancellations of
these maintenance or monthly license fee contracts would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

     The stock market has from time to time experienced extreme price and volume
fluctuations,  particularly in the high technology sector, which have often been
unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Any announcement
with  respect to any  variance  in revenue or  earnings  from  levels  generally
expected by  securities  analysts for a given period could have an immediate and
significant  effect  on the  trading  price  of the  Class A  Common  Stock.  In
addition,  factors such as  announcements  of  technological  innovations or new
products by the Company,  its  competitors  or other third  parties,  as well as
changing market conditions in the computer software or hardware industries,  may
have a significant impact on the market price of the Class A Common Stock.

Antitakeover Measures

     The Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation  contains  provisions that may
discourage  acquisition bids for the Company.  The effect of such provisions may
be to limit the price that  investors  might be willing to pay in the future for
shares of the Class A Common Stock.

Year 2000

     Management  has initiated a  Company-wide  program to prepare the Company's
computer systems and applications as well as the Company's product offerings for
the year 2000.  The  Company  expects to incur  internal  staff costs as well as
consulting  and other  expenses  related  to  system  enhancements  and  product
modifications for the year 2000. The majority of the Company's product offerings
are currently year 2000 compliant.  The total cost to be incurred by the Company
for all year 2000 related  projects is not expected to have a material impact on
the future  results of  operations.  However  there could be a material  adverse
effect on the results of  operations  of the Company if the system  enhancements
and product modifications for the year 2000 prove not to be effective.


                                   THE COMPANY

     The  Company  develops,  markets  and  supports  a broad  line of  software
products and services primarily focused on facilitating  electronic payments and
electronic  commerce.  The  Company's  software  products  are  used to  process
transactions involving credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, checks, automated
teller machines (ATM),  point-of-sale  (POS)  terminals,  manned teller devices,
remote banking, wire transfers and automated clearing house (ACH) functions. The
Company's  products and services assist  customers in operating  large,  complex
networks  performing  such functions as transaction  authorization,  transaction
routing, debit and credit card management, transaction settlement and reporting.

     The Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring Applied Communications,
Inc. and Applied  Communications  Inc. Limited,  which were acquired on December
31, 1993. On January 3, 1994,  the Company  acquired U.S.  Software,  Inc. Since
that time, the Company has completed several  acquisitions  complementary to its
business.  The  principal  executive  offices of the  Company are located at 224
South 108th Avenue,  Omaha,  Nebraska 68154,  and its telephone  number is (402)
334-5101.


                      SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS

     This Prospectus  relates to 2,500,000  shares of Class A Common Stock which
may be offered and issued or reserved  for  issuance by the Company from time to
time in connection with the acquisition by the Company,  directly or indirectly,
of other businesses or properties, or interests therein. It is expected that the
terms of acquisitions  involving the issuance of Class A Common Stock covered by
this  Prospectus  will be determined by direct  negotiations  with the owners or
controlling persons of the businesses or properties,  or interest therein, to be
acquired by the Company,  or, in the case of entities that are more widely held,
through  exchange  offers to stockholders  or documents  soliciting  stockholder
approval  of  mergers,  consolidations,  plans  of share  exchange,  or sales of
assets.  It is also expected that the shares of Class A Common Stock issued will
be valued at prices  reasonably  related to quoted  market  prices either at the
time the  terms of an  acquisition  are  agreed  upon or at or about the time of
delivery of such shares.


                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     The Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  provides
that authorized  capital stock of the Company  consists of 50,000,000  shares of
Class A Common Stock,  par value $0.005 per share,  5,000,000  shares of Class B
Common Stock,  par value $0.005 per share,  and  5,450,000  shares of redeemable
convertible  preferred  stock,  par value of $0.01 per share.  Unless  otherwise
indicated,  references in this  Prospectus  to "Common  Stock" refer to both the
Company's Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

Common Stock

     The  Class A Common  Stock and Class B Common  Stock  have the same  rights
except that  holders of Class B Common  Stock are not entitled to vote except as
provided by law.  Holders of Class A Common  Stock are  entitled to one vote per
share on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders.  Subject to preferences
that may be applicable to any preferred stock  outstanding at the time,  holders
of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such  dividends,  if any, as may
be declared  from time to time by the Board of  Directors  out of funds  legally
available therefor. In the event of a liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of
the Company,  holders of all Common  Stock are entitled to share  ratably in all
assets remaining after payment of the Company's  liabilities and the liquidation
preference,  if any, of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of Common Stock
have no  preemptive  rights and no rights to convert  their Class A Common Stock
into any other securities,  and there are no redemption  provisions with respect
to shares of Common  Stock.  All of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock are
fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders
of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely  affected by, the rights of
the  holders of shares of any series of  preferred  stock  which the Company may
designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

     The Board of  Directors  has the  authority,  without any  further  vote or
action by the  stockholders,  to provide  for the  issuance  of up to  5,450,000
shares of  redeemable  convertible  preferred  stock from time to time in one or
more series with such designations,  rights,  preferences and limitations as the
Board of Directors may determine, including the consideration received therefor,
the  number  of  shares  comprising  each  series,  dividend  rates,  redemption
provisions,  liquidation preferences, sinking fund provisions, conversion rights
and voting rights, all without approval by the holders of Common Stock. Although
it is not  possible to state the effect that any  issuance  of  preferred  stock
might have on the rights of holders of Common  Stock,  the issuance of preferred
stock may have one or more of the  following  effects (i) restrict  Common Stock
dividends  if  preferred  stock  dividends  have not been paid,  (ii) dilute the
voting power and equity  interest of holders of Common  Stock,  or (iii) prevent
current holders of Common Stock from  participating in the Company's assets upon
liquidation  until any liquidation  preferences  granted to holders of preferred
stock are  satisfied.  In addition,  the issuance of preferred  stock may, under
certain  circumstances,  have the effect of  discouraging a change in control of
the Company by, for  example,  granting  voting  rights to holders of  preferred
stock that  require  approval by the  separate  vote of the holders of preferred
stock for any amendment to the  Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation  or any  reorganization,  consolidation,  merger (or other similar
transaction  involving the Company). As a result, the issuance of such preferred
stock may discourage  bids for the Company's  Common Stock at a premium over the
market  price  therefor and could have a material  adverse  effect on the market
value  of  the  Common  Stock.  No  shares  of  preferred  stock  are  currently
outstanding.

Registration Rights

     Certain  rights  with  respect to  registration  of their  stock  under the
Securities  Act  exist  for  holders  of shares  of  Common  Stock  issued  upon
conversion  of  the  Company's  Senior  Convertible   Preferred  Stock  ("Senior
Conversion  Shares"),  holders of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of
certain stock purchase  warrants  ("Warrant  Exercise  Shares"),  and holders of
shares  of  Common  Stock  issued  upon  conversion  of  the  Company's   Junior
Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  shares  of Class A Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of stock options  issuable to employees of the Company  pursuant to the
Company's Incentive Stock Option Plan and certain other shares of Class A Common
Stock (collectively  "Junior Restricted  Stock").  The Senior Conversion Shares,
Warrant Exercise Shares, and Junior Restricted Stock are hereafter  collectively
referred to as the "Restricted Stock." The registration rights arise pursuant to
an  agreement  entered  into at the time of the  sale of  underlying  shares  of
Preferred  Stock and warrants.  Holders of not less than 30% of the  outstanding
Senior  Conversion Shares may demand that the Company register for sale all or a
portion of their shares. With certain  exceptions,  the Company is not generally
required  to effect  more  than two such  registrations.  In the event  that the
holders  making the demand  request  registration  of less than all their Senior
Conversion  Shares, the Company is required to effect a registration only if the
demand  covers  at least 20% of the total  number  of Senior  Conversion  Shares
originally  issued  (or  a  lesser  percentage  if  the  reasonably  anticipated
aggregate  public  offering price would exceed  $5,000,000).  Subject to certain
limitations,  at such time as the Company is eligible to register  its shares on
Form S-3,  holders of the Warrant  Exercise Shares may demand,  on one occasion,
that the Company register  Warrant  Exercise Shares on that form,  provided that
the reasonably  anticipated  aggregate  offering price would exceed  $4,000,000.
Furthermore,  if the Company proposes to register any of its securities,  either
for its own account or that of selling security holders, the Company is required
to notify holders of Restricted  Stock, and subject to certain  limitations,  to
include in such  registration  all the shares  requested  to be included by such
holders.  The Company is generally  obligated to bear the  expenses,  other than
underwriting  discounts and sale commissions,  of all of these registrations and
to indemnify the sellers  against  certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities
under the Securities Act.

Limitation of Liability

     The Company's Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation limits the
liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware
law provides that directors of a corporation  will not be personally  liable for
monetary  damages for breach of their fiduciary  duties as directors,  including
gross  negligence,  except  liability for (i) breach of the  directors'  duty of
loyalty,  (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve  intentional
misconduct or a knowing  violation of the law,  (iii) the unlawful  payment of a
dividend or unlawful stock purchase or redemption and (iv) any transaction  from
which the director derives an improper personal  benefit.  Delaware law does not
permit a corporation to eliminate a director's  duty of care, and this provision
of the Company's revised Restated  Certificate of Incorporation has no effect on
the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunction or rescission,  based
upon a directo''s breach of the duty of care.

     The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation  authorizes
the   Company  to  purchase   and   maintain   insurance   for  the  purpose  of
indemnification.

Delaware Law

     Under Section 203 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("Section 203"),
certain  "business  combinations"  between a Delaware  corporation  whose  stock
generally is publicly  traded or held of record by more than 2,000  stockholders
and an "interested stockholder" are prohibited for a three-year period following
the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder,  unless (i) the
corporation has elected in its original  certificate of incorporation  not to be
governed by Section 203 (the  Company did not make such an  election),  (ii) the
business  combination  was approved by the board of directors of the corporation
before  the  other  party  to the  business  combination  became  an  interested
stockholder,  (iii)  upon  consummation  of  the  transaction  that  made  it an
interested  stockholder,  the interested  stockholder  owned at least 85% of the
voting  stock  of  the  corporation  outstanding  at  the  commencement  of  the
transaction  (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers or
held in employee benefit plans in which the employees do not have a confidential
right to tender or vote stock held by the plan) or (iv) the business combination
was  approved  by the board of  directors  of the  corporation  and  ratified by
two-thirds of the voting stock which the interested stockholder did not own. The
three-year  prohibition  also does not apply to  certain  business  combinations
proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or notification
of certain extraordinary transactions involving the corporation and a person who
had not been an interested  stockholder  during the previous  three years or who
became an  interested  stockholder  with the  approval  of the  majority  of the
corporation's directors. The term "business combination" is defined generally to
include  mergers  or  consolidations  between  a  Delaware  corporation  and  an
"interested   stockholder,"   transactions  with  an  "interested   stockholder"
involving  the  assets  or  stock  of  the  corporation  or  its  majority-owned
subsidiaries  and  transactions  which  increase  an  interested   stockholder's
percentage  ownership of stock.  The term  "interested  stockholder"  is defined
generally as a stockholder  who,  together with affiliates and associates,  owns
(or, within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of a Delaware  corporation's
voting stock.  Section 203 could  prohibit or delay a merger,  takeover or other
change in control of the  Company and  therefore  could  discourage  attempts to
acquire the Company.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

     The  transfer  agent and  registrar  of the Class A Common Stock is Norwest
Bank Minnesota, N.A.


                                     EXPERTS

     The financial  statements and schedules  incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1997, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants,  as indicated in their reports with respect thereto,  and have been
so incorporated in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving
said reports.

     Future  financial  statements  and schedules of the Company and the reports
thereon  of  the  Company's   independent   public   accountants  also  will  be
incorporated  by reference in this  Prospectus in reliance upon the authority of
those  accountants  as experts  in giving  those  reports  to the  extent  those
accountants have audited those financial  statements and consented to the use of
their reports thereon.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The  validity  of the  Class  A  Common  Stock  offered  pursuant  to  this
Prospectus  will be passed upon for the  Company by Baker &  McKenzie,  Chicago,
Illinois.

<PAGE>

                                    PART II.

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits
indemnification by a corporation of certain officers,  directors,  employees and
agents.  Consistent  therewith,  Article  Tenth  of the  Company's  Amended  and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation  provides that the Company, to the fullest
extent  authorized by the General  Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,  as
the same  exists  or may  hereafter  be  amended  (but,  in the case of any such
amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide
broader  indemnification  rights than such law  permitted the Company to provide
prior to such amendment), to indemnify a director or officer of the Company or a
person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as director, officer,
employee or agent of another  corporation  or of a  partnership,  joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit
plan,  who was or is made  (or  threatened  to be  made)  a  party  to a  civil,
criminal,  administrative or investigative proceeding (an "indemnified person").
Article Tenth also provides that expenses incurred by an indemnified person will
be paid in advance by the  Company;  provided,  however,  that,  if the  General
Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware  requires,  an advancement of expenses
incurred by an indemnified  person incurred in his or her capacity as a director
or officer shall be made only if the Company  receives an  undertaking  by or on
behalf of the  indemnified  person to repay all  amounts so advanced if it shall
ultimately  be  determined  by final  judicial  decision  from which there is no
further  right to appeal  that such  indemnified  person is not  entitled  to be
indemnified for such expenses.

     Under a registration  rights  agreement  between the Company and certain of
its stockholders,  the Company agreed to indemnify each stockholder  selling his
or her shares  thereunder  in  connection  with any losses,  claims,  damages or
liabilities  arising out of certain acts or  omissions of the Company.  Under an
agreement  with the  purchasers of the Company's  Senior  Convertible  Preferred
Stock and warrants,  the Company  indemnified the purchasers with respect to any
misrepresentation  or breach of any  representation or warranty or noncompliance
with any  conditions or other  agreements  given or made in connection  with the
agreement or the transactions contemplated therein.

<PAGE>

Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

      A.       Exhibits

Exhibit
Number                               Description
- -------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
2.01(1)   Senior  Convertible  Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement
          among ACI  Holdings,  Inc.  and the  Several  Named  Purchasers  Named
          therein, dated as of December 31, 1993

2.02(1)   Stock  Purchase  Agreement  between  and  among  Tandem  Computers
          Incorporated, Tandem Computers Limited, Applied Communications,  Inc.,
          Applied  Communications  Inc.  Limited and ACI  Holding,  Inc.,  dated
          November 8, 1993, and amendments thereto

2.03(1)   Stock Purchase  Agreement  between and among U S Software  Holding,
          Inc., Michael J. Scheier, Trustee, Michael J. Scheier and ACI Holding,
          Inc., dated December 13, 1993, and amendments thereto

2.04(1)   Stock and Warrant Holders Agreement, dated as of December 30, 1993

2.05(1)   Credit  Agreement  among ACI  Transub,  Inc.,  ACI  Holding,  Inc.,
          certain  lenders and Continental  Bank N.A., as Agent,  dated December
          31, 1993,  including Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement and Amendment
          No. 2 to Credit Agreement and Consent

2.06(1)   Letter  Agreement among ACI Holding,  Inc.,  Alex.  Brown and Sons,
          Incorporated and Kirkpatrick Pettis Smith Polian,  Inc., and amendment
          thereto

2.07(1)   ACI Management Group Investor Subscription  Agreement,  dated as of
          December 30, 1993

2.08(2)   Asset  Purchase  Agreement  Between  1176484  Ontario  Inc. and TXN
          Solution Integrators Dated June 3, 1996

2.09(3)   Stock  Exchange  Agreement  by and  among  the  Company,  Grapevine
          Systems, Inc. and certain principal shareholders of Grapevine Systems,
          Inc., dated as of June 15, 1996

2.10(4)   Stock  Exchange  Agreement  dated  April 17,  1997 by and among the
          Company and Regency Voice Systems, Inc. and related entities

4.01(1)   Form of Common Stock Certificate

5.01      Opinion of Baker & McKenzie

23.01     Consent of Independent Public Accountants

23.02     Consent of Baker &  McKenzie  (included  in  opinion  filed as Exhibit
          5.01)

24.01     Power of Attorney (contained in Signature Page)
_____________

(1)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-88292 on Form S-1.

(2)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  June 3, 1996 filed on
          June 17, 1996, as amended by the  Registrant's  Current Report on Form
          8-K(A) filed on July 15, 1996.

(3)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement No.333-09811 on Form S-4.

(4)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 1997.


Item 22. Undertakings

         (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)  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 the volume
                         of securities offered (if the total value of securities
                         offered would not exceed that which was registered) and
                         any deviation from the low or high end 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 changes in volume and
                         price  represent  no  more  than  a 20%  change  in the
                         maximum  aggregate  offering  price  set  forth  in the
                         "Calculation   of   Registration   Fee'  table  in  the
                         effective Registration Statement; and

                    (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  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(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 with or furnished
                         to the Commission 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.

               (2)  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.

               (3)  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.

          (b)  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) or Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934
               (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
               annual  report  pursuant  to  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.

          (c)  The undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes as follows:  that
               prior  to any  public  reoffering  of the  securities  registered
               hereunder  through  use of a  prospectus  which is a part of this
               registration  statement,  by any person or party who is deemed to
               be an underwriter  within the meaning of Rule 145(c),  the issuer
               undertakes  that such  reoffering  prospectus  will  contain  the
               information  called for by the applicable  registration form with
               respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters,
               in addition to the  information  called for by the other Items of
               the applicable form.

          (d)  The  registrant  undertakes  that every  prospectus:  (i) that is
               filed pursuant to paragraph (c)  immediately  preceding,  or (ii)
               that purports to meet the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the
               Act and is used in  connection  with an  offering  of  securities
               subject to Rule 415,  will be filed as a part of an  amendment to
               the  registration  statement  and  will  not be used  until  such
               amendment is effective, and that, for purposes 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.

          (e)  The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  to  respond  to
               requests for  information  that is incorporated by reference into
               the prospectus  pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this Form
               S-4,  within one business day of receipt of such request,  and to
               send the  incorporated  documents  by first  class  mail or other
               equally  prompt  means.  This includes  information  contained in
               documents   filed   subsequent  to  the  effective  date  of  the
               Registration  Statement  through  the date of  responding  to the
               request.

          (f)  The undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes to supply by means
               of  a  post-effective  amendment  all  information  concerning  a
               transaction,  and the company being  acquired  involved  therein,
               that was not the  subject  of and  included  in the  Registration
               Statement when it became effective.

          (g)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
               Securities  Act  may be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
               controlling  persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing
               provisions, 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, 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 Act and will be governed by the final
               adjudication of such issue.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has
     duly caused this  Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
     undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of Omaha,  State of
     Nebraska, on June 8, 1998.

                      TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.


                                           By:    /s/ William E. Fisher        
                                               -------------------------------
                                                     William E. Fisher
                                                     President


                                POWER Of ATTORNEY

          We, the  undersigned  officers and  directors of  Transaction  Systems
     Architects,  Inc., hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint
     William E. Fisher,  Gregory J. Duman, David P. Stokes and Dwight G. Hanson,
     and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and agents of each of us to
     execute in the name, place and stead of each of us (individually and in any
     capacity  stated  below)  any  and  all  amendments  to  this  Registration
     Statement on Form S-4,  including any  post-effective  amendments,  and any
     additional  Registration  Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
     Securities  Act of 1933,  and all  instruments  necessary  or  advisable in
     connection  therewith and to file the same,  with all exhibits  thereto and
     other documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission,  each of said attorneys and agents to have power to act with or
     without the other and to have full power and authority to do and perform in
     the name and on behalf  of each of the  undersigned  every  act  whatsoever
     necessary  or  advisable  to be done in the  premises  as fully  and to all
     intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person,
     and we hereby ratify and confirm other  signatures as they may be signed by
     our  said  attorneys  and  agents  and  each of  them  to any and all  such
     amendment and amendments.

          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.

      Name                      Title                                   Date
    --------                  ---------                               -------- 
/s/ William E. Fisher      Director and President                   June 8, 1998
- ---------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)
  William E. Fisher      


/s/ Gregory J. Duman       Chief Financial Officer                  June 8, 1998
- ---------------------      (Principal Financial Officer)
  Gregory J. Duman       


/s/ Dwight G. Hanson       Vice President (Principal                June 8, 1998
- ---------------------      Accounting Officer)
  Dwight G. Hanson       


/s/ David C. Russell       Director                                 June 8, 1998
- ---------------------      
  David C. Russell


/s/ Jim D. Kever           Director                                 June 8, 1998
- ---------------------         
  Jim D. Kever


/s/ Promod Haque           Director                                 June 8, 1998
- ---------------------         
  Promod Haque


/s/ Charles E. Noell, III  Director                                 June 8, 1998
- ---------------------  
  Charles E. Noell, III


/s/ Larry G. Fendley       Director                                 June 8, 1998
- ---------------------    
  Larry G. Fendley

<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number                               Description
- -------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
2.01(1)   Senior  Convertible  Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement
          among ACI  Holdings,  Inc.  and the  Several  Named  Purchasers  Named
          therein, dated as of December 31, 1993

2.02(1)   Stock  Purchase  Agreement  between  and  among  Tandem  Computers
          Incorporated, Tandem Computers Limited, Applied Communications,  Inc.,
          Applied  Communications  Inc.  Limited and ACI  Holding,  Inc.,  dated
          November 8, 1993, and amendments thereto

2.03(1)   Stock Purchase  Agreement  between and among U S Software  Holding,
          Inc., Michael J. Scheier, Trustee, Michael J. Scheier and ACI Holding,
          Inc., dated December 13, 1993, and amendments thereto

2.04(1)   Stock and Warrant Holders Agreement, dated as of December 30, 1993

2.05(1)   Credit  Agreement  among ACI  Transub,  Inc.,  ACI  Holding,  Inc.,
          certain  lenders and Continental  Bank N.A., as Agent,  dated December
          31, 1993,  including Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement and Amendment
          No. 2 to Credit Agreement and Consent

2.06(1)   Letter  Agreement among ACI Holding,  Inc.,  Alex.  Brown and Sons,
          Incorporated and Kirkpatrick Pettis Smith Polian,  Inc., and amendment
          thereto

2.07(1)   ACI Management Group Investor Subscription  Agreement,  dated as of
          December 30, 1993

2.08(2)   Asset  Purchase  Agreement  Between  1176484  Ontario  Inc. and TXN
          Solution Integrators Dated June 3, 1996

2.09(3)   Stock  Exchange  Agreement  by and  among  the  Company,  Grapevine
          Systems, Inc. and certain principal shareholders of Grapevine Systems,
          Inc., dated as of June 15, 1996

2.10(4)   Stock  Exchange  Agreement  dated  April 17,  1997 by and among the
          Company and Regency Voice Systems, Inc. and related entities

4.01(1)   Form of Common Stock Certificate

5.01      Opinion of Baker & McKenzie

23.01     Consent of Independent Public Accountants

23.02     Consent of Baker &  McKenzie  (included  in  opinion  filed as Exhibit
          5.01)

24.01     Power of Attorney (contained in Signature Page)
_____________

(1)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-88292 on Form S-1.

(2)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  June 3, 1996 filed on
          June 17, 1996, as amended by the  Registrant's  Current Report on Form
          8-K(A) filed on July 15, 1996.

(3)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement No.333-09811 on Form S-4.

(4)       Incorporated  by  reference  to the  exhibit of the same number to the
          Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 1997.



                                BAKER & McKENZIE
                                Attorneys at Law

                              One Prudential Plaza
                            130 East Randolph Drive
                            Chicago, Illinois 60601

                                 June 8, 1998

Board of Directors
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
224 South 108th Avenue
Omaha, Nebraska  68154

     Re:   Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (the "Company")

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as your counsel in  connection  with the  registration,  on a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 (the  "Registration  Statement")  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 2,500,000 shares of the Company's Class A
Common  Stock,  $.005 par value per  share  (the  "Stock"),  to be issued by the
Company  from  time to time in  connection  with  acquisitions  by the  Company,
directly or indirectly, of other businesses or properties, or interests therein.
We have  reviewed  the  Registration  Statement,  the charter and by-laws of the
Company,  corporate  proceedings  of the  Board  of  Directors  relating  to the
issuance of the shares of Stock, and such other documents, corporate records and
questions of law as we have deemed  necessary  to the  rendering of the opinions
expressed below.

     Based upon the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the 2,500,000  shares
of Stock to be issued by the Company as described in the Registration  Statement
are duly authorized and , when issued and paid for in the manner contemplated in
the  Registration  Statement  and upon approval by the Board of Directors of the
acquistion  in which  shares of Stock  will be issued,  will be legally  issued,
fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company.

     We hereby  consent to the  reference  to our firm under the caption  "Legal
Matters" in the  prospectus  included in the  Registration  Statement and to the
filing of this opinion as an exhibit thereto.

                                                       Very truly yours,

                                                       BAKER & McKENZIE





                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this Form S-4  Registration  Statement of our reports dated October
30, 1997, included in Transaction  Systems  Architects,  Inc.'s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, and to all references to
our firm included in this Registration Statement.

                                                           ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Omaha, Nebraska,
 June 5, 1998



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