VIASOFT INC /DE/
S-8, 1998-12-22
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
Previous: NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY FUNDING CORP, 424B2, 1998-12-22
Next: VIASOFT INC /DE/, S-8, 1998-12-22



    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 1998
                                               Registration No. 333-____________

================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  Viasoft, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                                94-2892506
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                 3033 North 44th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85018
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)

                    Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

            Steven D. Whiteman, President and Chief Executive Officer
                                  Viasoft, Inc.
                             3033 North 44th Street
                             Phoenix, Arizona 85018
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (602) 952-0050
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone number, including area code of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

================================================================================
                                     PROPOSED       PROPOSED
   TITLE OF                          MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM
  SECURITIES          AMOUNT         OFFERING       AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
    TO BE             TO BE           PRICE         OFFERING     REGISTRATION
  REGISTERED       REGISTERED(1)    PER SHARE (2)    PRICE           FEE
  ----------       -------------    -------------    ------          ---
Common Stock,        850,000          $6.328       $5,378,800     $1,495.31
$.001 par value
================================================================================
(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  this
     Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares as may
     be required by reason of any stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split,
     reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or
     other similar change affecting the stock.

(2)  Estimated  pursuant  to Rules  457(c)  and  457(h)  promulgated  under  the
     Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  solely for the purpose of calculating
     the registration fee using the average of the high and low sales prices for
     shares of Common Stock of Viasoft,  Inc. on December 17, 1998,  as reported
     on the Nasdaq National Market.

                                                                    Page 1 of 31
                                                         Exhibit Index on Page 4
<PAGE>
                           INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

         Pursuant  to General  Instruction  E to Form S-8,  the  contents of the
Registration Statement filed by Viasoft, Inc. (the "Company") under Registration
Number 333-47571,  as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
9, 1998,  with respect to  securities  offered  pursuant to the  Company's  1997
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

                                        2
<PAGE>
                                   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-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Phoenix,  in the State of Arizona,  on December  18,
1998.

                                      VIASOFT, Inc.

                                      By:  /s/ Steven D. Whiteman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Steven D. Whiteman
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

         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.

          Signature                         Title                     Date
          ---------                         -----                     ----

/s/ Steven D. Whiteman             Chief Executive Officer     December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------     and Director
Steven D. Whiteman

/s/ Mark R. Schonau                Chief Financial             December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------     Officer
Mark R. Schonau

*/s/ John J. Barry III             Director                    December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------
John J. Barry III

*/s/ Alexander S. Kuli             Director                    December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------
Alexander S. Kuli

*/s/ J. David Parrish              Director                    December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------
J. David Parrish

*/s/ Arthur C. Patterson           Director                    December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------
Arthur C. Patterson

*By  /s/ Steven D. Whiteman
     -------------------------
        Steven D. Whiteman
        Attorney-in-Fact

                                        3
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

 EXHIBIT                                                             PAGE OR
 NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION                      METHOD OF FILING
 ------                        -----------                      ----------------

   4      Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended       Page 5
          through November 18, 1998

   5      Form of opinion rendered by Catherine R. Hardwick,         Page 22
          General Counsel and Secretary for the Registrant
          (including consent)

  23.1    Consent of Independent Public Accountants                  Page 23

  23.2    Consent of Counsel                                      See Exhibit 5

  24.1    Power of Attorney of John J. Barry III                     Page 24

  24.2    Power of Attorney of Arthur C. Patterson                   Page 26

  24.3    Power of Attorney of Alexander S. Kuli                     Page 28

  24.4    Power of Attorney of J. David Parrish                      Page 30

                                        4












                                  VIASOFT, INC.
                           1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                        (AMENDED AS OF NOVEMBER 18, 1998)






















                                    EXHIBIT 4
<PAGE>
                                  VIASOFT, INC.
                           1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                         (AS AMENDED NOVEMBER 18, 1998)

ARTICLE 1:  PURPOSE.

         1.1 General.  The purpose of the Viasoft,  Inc.  1997 Equity  Incentive
Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the interests of Viasoft,  Inc. (the "Company"),
by enabling the Company to motivate, attract, and retain the services of persons
upon whose judgment,  efforts,  and  contributions  the success of the Company's
business depends.  The plan is further intended to align the personal  interests
of such persons with the interests of stockholders of the Company through equity
participation  in the  Company's  growth  and  success.  Capitalized  terms  not
otherwise defined in the text are defined in Article 15.

ARTICLE 2:  EFFECTIVE DATE; TERM.

         2.1  Effective  Date.  The Plan shall become  effective at the date and
time of its approval by the stockholders of the Company (the "Effective  Date").
The Plan  shall be  submitted  to the  stockholders  of the  Company  for  their
approval at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Company.

         2.2 Term. This Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th)  anniversary of
the Effective Date, subject to Article 12.

ARTICLE 3:  SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

         3.1 Number of Shares.  The maximum  number of shares of Stock  reserved
and available for delivery  pursuant to Awards or which may be used to provide a
basis of  measurement  or valuation of an Award shall be equal to the sum of (a)
1,700,000 shares, plus (b) any shares of Stock available for future awards under
the Predecessor Plan as of the Effective Date, plus (c) the additional shares of
Stock  described  below in this  Article 3. No  additional  grants shall be made
under the  Predecessor  Plan after the Effective  Date. The  limitations of this
Article 3 shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11.1.

         3.2 Lapsed  Awards.  To the extent  that an Award under the Plan or the
Predecessor Plan is forfeited, terminates, expires or lapses for any reason, any
shares of Stock subject to the Award will again be available for the grant of an
Award under the Plan.  To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award are
not delivered to a Participant  or  beneficiary  because the Award is forfeited,
terminates,  expires  or lapses for any  reason,  or the shares of Stock are not
delivered  because the Award is settled in cash, such shares shall not be deemed
to have been delivered for purposes of determining  the maximum number of shares
of Stock available for delivery under the Plan.
<PAGE>
         3.3  Payments in Stock.  Any shares of Stock  tendered  (by delivery or
attestation)  to the Company in  connection  with  payment  for Stock  purchased
pursuant to the Plan or any  Predecessor  Plan or payment of  withholding  taxes
with respect to any Award shall be added back to the aggregate  number of shares
reserved and  available  for Awards under the Plan and only the number of shares
of Stock issued net of the number of shares  tendered shall be deemed  delivered
for purposes of determining  the maximum number of shares of Stock available for
delivery under the Plan.

         3.4 Limitations. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11.1, the
following additional limitations apply under the Plan:

                  (a)  The  maximum  number  of  shares  of  Stock  that  may be
         delivered  pursuant  to  Awards of  Incentive  Stock  Options  shall be
         1,700,000 shares.

                  (b) The maximum  number of shares of Stock that may be subject
         to Awards of Options or Restricted Stock granted to any one Participant
         in a  single  fiscal  year of the  Company  shall  be  250,000  shares;
         provided,  that the  maximum  number  of  shares  of Stock  that may be
         subject  to  Awards  of  Options  or  Restricted  Stock  granted  to  a
         Participant  during the fiscal year of the Company  during which his or
         her service first commences shall be 500,000 shares.

                  (c) The maximum payment that can be made for Awards granted to
         any one individual pursuant to Section 8 (Stock-Reference Awards) shall
         be $500,000 for any single or combined performance goal established for
         any annual performance.  If an Award granted under Section 8 is, at the
         time of grant,  denominated in shares, the value of the shares of Stock
         for determining this maximum individual payment amount will be the Fair
         Market  Value of the share of Stock on the first day of the  applicable
         performance period.

         3.5 Stock Distributed.  Any Stock distributed  pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock,  treasury Stock,
or Stock purchased on the open market.

ARTICLE 4:  ELIGIBILITY.

         4.1  General.  Awards may be granted  only to an  individual  who is an
officer,  director or other employee (including employees who also are directors
or officers), consultant, independent contractor, or adviser of the Company or a
Subsidiary,  and to other  individuals  the Company or a Subsidiary  proposes to
engage in one of the foregoing capacities, as determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE 5:  ADMINISTRATION.

         5.1  Committee.  The Plan shall be  administered  by a Committee of the
Board that is appointed by, and shall serve at the discretion of, the Board. The
Committee shall consist of two
<PAGE>
or more  individuals,  each of whom is a member of the Board and neither of whom
is an officer or employee of the Company.

         5.2  Authority of Committee.  The  Committee  has the exclusive  power,
authority, and discretion to:

                  (a) Designate Participants;

                  (b)  Determine  the type or types of Awards to be  granted  to
         each Participant;

                  (c)  Determine  the  number of Awards  to be  granted  and the
         number of shares of Stock subject to an Award;

                  (d) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not
         be identical for each Participant;

                  (e)  Determine  the terms and  conditions of any Award granted
         under the Plan, including but not limited to, the exercise price, grant
         price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award,
         any schedule for lapse of forfeiture  restrictions  or  restrictions on
         the  exercisability  of an Award and  accelerations or waivers thereof,
         any  performance  criteria,  and any  modification  or amendment of any
         Award previously granted,  based in each case on such considerations as
         the Committee in its sole discretion determines;

                  (f)  Determine  whether,   to  what  extent,  and  under  what
         circumstances  an Award may be settled in, or the exercise  price of an
         Award may be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property,  or
         an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

                  (g)  Decide  all  other  matters  that must be  determined  in
         connection with an Award;

                  (h) Establish,  adopt,  or revise any rules and regulations as
         it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

                  (i) Interpret the Plan, any Award,  and any Award Agreement in
         its discretion; and

                  (j) Make all other  decisions and  determinations  that may be
         required  under  the  Plan  or as  the  Committee  deems  necessary  or
         advisable to administer the Plan.

         5.3  Delegation  by  Committee.  Except  to the  extent  prohibited  by
applicable  law or the  applicable  rules of a stock  exchange  or  Nasdaq,  the
Committee may allocate all or any portion of its  responsibilities and powers to
any  one or  more  of its  members  and  may  delegate  
<PAGE>

all or any part of its  responsibilities  and  powers to any  person or  persons
selected  by it.  Any  such  allocation  or  delegation  may be  revoked  by the
Committee at any time.

         5.4   Decisions   Binding.   All   decisions,    interpretations,   and
determinations  by the Committee  with respect to the Plan,  any Award,  and any
Award Agreement are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

ARTICLE 6: STOCK OPTIONS.

         6.1  General.   The   Committee  is  authorized  to  grant  Options  to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:

                  (a)  Exercise  Price.  The  exercise  price per share of Stock
         under an Option shall be  determined  by the  Committee,  provided that
         such exercise price shall not be less than eight-five  percent (85%) of
         the  Fair  Market  Value  as of the  date  of  grant  in the  case of a
         Non-Qualified Option and one hundred percent (100%) of such Fair Market
         Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option.

                  (b)  Payment.  Payment for Stock  issued  upon  exercise of an
         Option shall be made in accordance with Article 9 of the Plan.

                  (c) Time and  Conditions  of  Exercise.  The  Committee  shall
         determine  the time or times at which an  Option  may be  exercised  in
         whole or in part; provided,  that no Option may be exercisable prior to
         six  months  following  the  date  of the  grant  of such  Option.  The
         Committee also shall  determine the expiration  date of each Option and
         the  performance  or other  conditions,  if any, that must be satisfied
         before all or part of an Option may be  exercised.  The  Committee  may
         provide in any Award Agreement with respect to an Option for expiration
         prior to its expiration date, or for accelerated exercisability, in the
         event of the Participant's death, disability,  retirement,  termination
         of service, or other events.

                  (d)  Evidence of Option.  All Options  shall be evidenced by a
         written Award Agreement  between the Company and the  Participant.  The
         Award  Agreement  shall include such  provisions as may be specified by
         the Committee.  The Award Agreement shall specify whether the Option is
         an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option.

         6.2 Incentive  Stock Options.  The terms of any Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan must comply with the following additional rules:

                  (a)  Exercise  Price.  The  exercise  price per share of Stock
         shall be set by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any
         Incentive Stock Option may not be less than the Fair Market Value as of
         the date of the grant.
<PAGE>
                  (b) Exercise.  In no event may any  Incentive  Stock Option be
         exercisable for more than ten years from the date of its grant.

                  (c) Individual  Dollar  Limitation.  The aggregate Fair Market
         Value  (determined  as of the time an Award is made) of all  shares  of
         Stock  with  respect  to  which   Incentive  Stock  Options  are  first
         exercisable  by a  Participant  in any  calendar  year  may not  exceed
         $100,000.00.  Any Options  granted that exceed this threshold  shall be
         automatically deemed Non-Qualified Options.

                  (d) Ten  Percent  Owners.  An  Incentive  Stock  Option may be
         granted to a Ten Percent  Owner,  provided that at the time such option
         is granted the exercise price per share of Stock shall not be less than
         110% of the Fair  Market  Value  and such  option  by its  terms is not
         exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of its
         grant.

                  (e)  Expiration  of Incentive  Stock  Options.  No Award of an
         Incentive  Stock  Option  may be made  pursuant  to this Plan after the
         expiration of ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

                  (f) Right to Exercise.  During a  Participant's  lifetime,  an
         Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.

                  (g) Employees  Only.  Only common law employees of the Company
         or a Subsidiary are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options.

ARTICLE 7:  RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

         7.1 Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee is authorized to make Awards
of Restricted Stock to Participants either in the form of a grant of Stock or an
offer to sell Stock to a Participant, in such amounts and subject to such terms,
conditions and  restrictions as may be selected by the Committee.  All Awards of
Restricted  Stock shall be evidenced by an Award  Agreement.  An Award Agreement
may specify  whether,  and to what extent,  holders of  Restricted  Stock Awards
shall have voting, dividend and other rights of holders of Stock.

         7.2 Issuance  and  Restrictions.  Restricted  Stock shall be subject to
such restrictions on transferability and other  restrictions,  including without
limitation  "vesting" or forfeiture  restrictions,  as the Committee may impose.
These  restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times,  under
such  circumstances,  in  such  installments,  or  otherwise,  as the  Committee
determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.

         7.3 Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the
time of the grant of the Award or  thereafter,  upon  termination  of employment
during the applicable restriction period,  Restricted Stock that is at that time
subject to  restrictions  shall be  forfeited  and  reacquired  by the  Company;
provided,  however,  that the Committee may provide in any Award  Agreement that
restrictions  or  forfeiture  conditions  relating to  Restricted  Stock will be
<PAGE>

waived in whole or in part in specified circumstances,  and the Committee may in
other  cases waive in whole or in part  restrictions  or  forfeiture  conditions
relating to Restricted Stock.

         7.4 Payment and  Certificates  for  Restricted  Stock.  If a Restricted
Stock Award provides for the purchase of Stock by a  Participant,  payment shall
be made  pursuant to Article 9 of the Plan.  Restricted  Stock granted under the
Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee  shall  determine.  To the
extent that an Award is granted in the form of newly  issued  Restricted  Stock,
the  Award  recipient,  as a  condition  to the  grant of such  Award,  shall be
required  to  pay  the  Company  in  cash,  cash   equivalents  or  other  legal
consideration an amount equal to the par value of such Restricted  Stock. To the
extent  that an  Award  is  granted  in the form of  Restricted  Stock  from the
Company's  treasury,  no cash  consideration  shall  be  required  of the  Award
recipients.   If  certificates  representing  shares  of  Restricted  Stock  are
registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms,  conditions,  and restrictions applicable to such
Restricted  Stock,  and the Company  shall  retain  physical  possession  of the
certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

         7.5  Restrictions on Restricted  Stock Awards.  Each  Restricted  Stock
Award shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the
Committee  shall  determine.  These may include  continuous  service  and/or the
achievement of performance  goals. The performance goals that may be used by the
Committee  for such Awards may be based on one or more  business  criteria  that
apply  to  the  individual  participant,  a  business  unit  of the  Company,  a
Subsidiary or the Company as a whole,  and/or  performance as compared with that
of other  publicly-traded  companies.  Such  criteria may  include,  but are not
limited to, stock price,  market  share,  sales,  earnings,  earnings per share,
return on equity,  or costs.  The Committee  may designate a single  performance
goal criterion, or multiple performance goal criteria.

ARTICLE 8:  STOCK-REFERENCE AWARDS.

         8.1 Grant of  Stock-Reference  Awards.  The  Committee  is  authorized,
subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other
Awards  that are  payable  in,  valued in whole or in part by  reference  to, or
otherwise  based on or related to shares of Stock, as deemed by the Committee to
be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including without limitation shares
of Stock  awarded  purely as a "bonus"  and not subject to any  restrictions  or
conditions,  other rights  convertible or exchangeable into shares of Stock, and
awards  valued  by  reference  to book  value of shares of Stock or the value of
securities of or the  performance of specified  divisions or Subsidiaries of the
Company.

         8.2 Restrictions on Stock-Reference  Awards. Each Stock-Reference Award
shall be subject  to such  conditions,  restrictions  and  contingencies  as the
Committee  shall  determine.  These may include  continuous  service  and/or the
achievement of performance  goals. The performance goals that may be used by the
Committee  for such Awards may be based on one or more  business  criteria  that
apply  to  the  individual  participant,  a  business  unit  of the  Company,  a
Subsidiary or the Company as a whole,  and/or  performance as compared with that
<PAGE>

of other  publicly-traded  companies.  Such  criteria may  include,  but are not
limited to, stock price,  market  share,  sales,  earnings,  earnings per share,
return on equity,  or costs.  The Committee  may designate a single  performance
goal criterion, or multiple performance goal criteria.

ARTICLE 9:  PAYMENT FOR STOCK PURCHASES; WITHHOLDING TAXES;
            RELOAD OPTIONS.

         9.1 Payment.  Payment for Stock  purchased  pursuant to the Plan may be
made in cash (by check) or, where expressly  approved for the Participant by the
Committee in an Award  Agreement  (or  otherwise in writing  where  permitted by
law):

                  (a) by  cancellation  of  indebtedness  of the  Company to the
         Participant;

                  (b) by  surrender  of (or  attestation  to the  ownership  of)
         Stock,  valued at Fair Market  Value on the date new Stock is purchased
         under the Plan; provided,  however,  that such surrender or attestation
         shall not be  permitted  if such  action  would  cause the  Company  to
         recognize  compensation  expense (or additional  compensation  expense)
         with respect to the Award for financial reporting purposes;

                  (c) by tender of a full recourse  promissory  note having such
         terms  as may  be  approved  by the  Committee,  secured  by the  Stock
         purchased,   and  bearing  interest  at  a  rate  sufficient  to  avoid
         imputation of income under Sections 482 and 1274 of the Code; provided,
         however,  that  Participants who are not employees of the Company shall
         not be  entitled to purchase  Stock with a  promissory  note unless the
         note  is  adequately  secured  by  collateral  other  than  the  Stock;
         provided,  further,  that in the case of newly issued  shares of Stock,
         the portion of the Purchase  Price equal to the par value of the Stock,
         if any, must be paid in cash or other legal consideration;

                  (d) by waiver of  compensation  due or accrued to  Participant
         for services rendered;

                  (e) by tender of property acceptable to the Committee;

                  (f) with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option,
         and provided that a public market for the Company's stock then exists:

                           (1)  through  a  "same  day  sale"   commitment  from
                  Participant  and a  broker-dealer  that  is a  member  of  the
                  National  Association of Securities  Dealers (a "NASD Dealer")
                  whereby Participant  irrevocably elects to exercise the Option
                  and to sell a portion of the Stock so purchased to pay for the
                  exercise  price  and any  applicable  withholding  taxes,  and
                  whereby the NASD Dealer  irrevocably  commits  upon receipt of
                  such  Stock  to  forward  the  exercise  price  and  any  such
                  withholding taxes directly to the Company;
<PAGE>

                           (2) through a "margin"  commitment from  Participant
                  and a NASD Dealer whereby  Participant  irrevocably  elects to
                  exercise  the Option and to pledge the Stock so  purchased  to
                  the NASD  Dealer in a margin  account as  security  for a loan
                  from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the  exercise  price and
                  any applicable  withholding taxes, and whereby the NASD Dealer
                  irrevocably  commits upon receipt of such Stock to forward the
                  exercise price and any such withholding  taxes directly to the
                  Company; or

                           (3) through any other "cashless  exercise"  procedure
                  approved by the Committee; or

                  (g) by any combination of the foregoing.

         9.2 Loan  Guarantees.  The Committee may help the  Participant  pay for
Shares  purchased  under the Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a
third-party loan to the Participant.

         9.3 Tax  Withholding.  The  Company  or any  Subsidiary  shall have the
authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit
to the Company,  an amount sufficient to satisfy federal,  state and local taxes
(including the  Participant's  FICA  obligation)  required by law to be withheld
with respect to any taxable  event  arising as a result of this Plan.  Whenever,
under the Plan,  payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash, such
payment shall be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local
withholding  tax  requirements.  With respect to  withholding  required upon any
taxable event relating to the issuance of Stock under the Plan, Participants may
elect,  subject to the Committee's approval and any rules or policies adopted by
the Committee  from time to time,  to satisfy the  withholding  requirement,  in
whole or in part,  by having the Company or any  Subsidiary  withhold  shares of
Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding  equal to the amount
to be withheld for tax  purposes.  The  Committee  may, at the time any Award is
granted,  require that any and all applicable tax  withholding  requirements  be
satisfied by the withholding of shares of Stock as set forth above.

         9.4 Reload Options.  Award Agreements may contain a provision  pursuant
to which a  Participant  who pays all or a portion of the  exercise  price of an
Option or the tax  required to be withheld  pursuant to an exercise of an Option
by surrendering  shares of Stock pursuant to Sections 9.1 or 9.3,  respectively,
shall be automatically  granted an Option for the purchase of Stock equal to the
number of shares surrendered (a "Reload Option"). The grant of the Reload Option
shall be effective on the date the Participant surrenders the shares of Stock in
respect of which the Reload  Option is granted (the "Reload  Date").  The Reload
Option shall have an exercise  price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock
on the Reload  Date,  and shall have a term which is no longer,  and which shall
lapse no  later,  than the  original  term of the  underlying  option.  If stock
otherwise  available  under an Incentive  Stock  Option is withheld  pursuant to
Section 9.3, any Reload Option granted in connection with the withholding  shall
be treated as a new Incentive  Stock  Option,  subject to the rules set forth in
Section 6.2.
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 10:  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.

         10.1 Stand-Alone,  Tandem, and Substitute Awards.  Awards granted under
the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee,  be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with,  or in  substitution  for, any other Award  granted
under the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may
be granted  either at the same time as or at a different  time from the grant of
such other Awards.

         10.2  Exchange  Provisions.  The  Committee  may at any  time  offer to
exchange or buy out any previously  granted Award for a payment in cash,  Stock,
or another Award, based on the terms and conditions the Committee determines and
communicates to the Participant at the time the offer is made.

         10.3 Term of Award.  The term of each Award  shall be for the period as
determined  by the  Committee,  provided  that in no event shall the term of any
Incentive Stock Option or a Stock  Appreciation Right granted in tandem with the
Incentive Stock Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.

         10.4 Form of Payment for  Awards.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable law or Award  Agreement,  payments or transfers to be made by the
Company or a Subsidiary on the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such
forms as the  Committee  determines  at or after  the time of  grant,  including
without  limitation,  cash,  Stock,  other  Awards,  or other  property,  or any
combination,  and may be made in a single payment or transfer,  in installments,
or on a deferred basis, in each case determined in accordance with rules adopted
by, and at the discretion of, the Committee.

         10.5 Limits on Transfer.  No right or interest of a Participant  in any
Award may be pledged,  encumbered,  or  hypothecated to or in favor of any party
other  than the  Company  or a  Subsidiary,  or shall be  subject  to any  lien,
obligation,  or liability of such  Participant to any other party other than the
Company or a Subsidiary.  Except as otherwise  provided below, no Award shall be
assignable  or  transferable  by a Participant  other than by will,  beneficiary
designation or the laws of descent and distribution or, except in the case of an
Incentive  Stock Option,  pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations  order as
defined  in  Section  414(p)(1)(A)  of the  Code  or  Title  I of  the  Employee
Retirement  Income  Security  Act, or the rules  thereunder.  The  Committee may
determine  and specify in any Award  Agreement  for an Award other than an Award
that  includes an Incentive  Stock  Option,  at the time of granting an Award or
thereafter, that a Participant may assign or otherwise transfer all or a portion
of the rights  represented  by the Award to specified  individuals or classes of
individuals,   or  to  a  trust   benefiting  such  individuals  or  classes  of
individuals, or to a partnership or other entity in which all partners or equity
owners are such  individuals,  subject  to such  restrictions,  limitations,  or
conditions as the Committee deems to be appropriate.

         10.6 Stock  Certificates.  All Stock  certificates  delivered under the
Plan are  subject  to any  stop-transfer  orders and other  restrictions  as the
Committee  deems  necessary  or  advisable  
<PAGE>

to comply with federal or state securities laws,  rules, and regulations and the
rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which
the Stock is listed,  quoted, or traded.  The Committee may place legends on any
Stock certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.

ARTICLE 11:  CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE; CHANGE OF CONTROL.

         11.1  General;  Adjustments.  In  the  event  of a  subdivision  of the
outstanding  Stock, a declaration of a dividend  payable in Stock, a declaration
of a  dividend  payable  in a form  other  than  Stock in an  amount  that has a
material effect on the price of the Stock, a combination or consolidation of the
outstanding  Stock (by  classification  or  otherwise)  into a lesser  number of
shares of Stock, a  recapitalization,  a spin-off or a similar  occurrence,  the
Committee  shall  make such  adjustments  as it, in its sole  discretion,  deems
appropriate  in one or more of (a) the number of shares of Stock  available  for
future Awards under Article 3, (b) the  limitations  set forth in Article 3, (c)
the number and kind of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding  Award or (d)
the exercise price under each outstanding Option or other Award in the nature of
rights  that  may be  exercised.  Except  as  provided  in this  Article  11,  a
Participant  shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock
of any class or securities  convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision
or  consolidation  of shares of stock of any  class,  the  payment  of any stock
dividend  or any other  increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of
any class.

         11.2   Dissolution  or  Liquidation.   To  the  extent  not  previously
exercised,  Awards  shall  terminate  immediately  prior to the  dissolution  or
liquidation of the Company.

         11.3  Reorganizations.  In the event  that the  Company is a party to a
merger,  consolidation  or other  reorganization,  outstanding  Awards  shall be
subject  to the  agreement  of  merger,  consolidation  or  reorganization.  The
Committee  shall cause such  agreement  to provide (a) for the  continuation  of
outstanding  Awards by the Company (if the Company is a surviving  corporation),
(b)  for  their  assumption  by  the  surviving  corporation  or its  parent  or
subsidiary,  (c) for the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent
or subsidiary of its own awards for such Awards,  (d) for  accelerated  vesting,
accelerated  expiration  and/or lapse of restrictions,  or (e) for settlement in
cash or cash equivalents.

         11.4 Effect of Change of  Control.  The  Committee  may  determine  and
specify in any Award Agreement,  at the time of granting an Award or thereafter,
that any or all  outstanding  Options  and other  Awards in the nature of rights
that may be exercised shall become fully exercisable and any or all restrictions
on other  Awards  shall lapse,  upon the  effectiveness  of a Change of Control,
subject to the following limitations:

                  (a) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the acceleration
         of  exercisability  shall not occur without the  Participant's  written
         consent.
<PAGE>

                  (b) If the  Company  and the  other  party to the  transaction
         constituting  a Change of Control agree that such  transaction is to be
         treated as a "pooling of interests" for financial  reporting  purposes,
         and if such transaction in fact is so treated, then the acceleration of
         exercisability  shall  not  occur  to the  extent  that  the  surviving
         entity's  independent public  accountants  determine in good faith that
         such  acceleration  would  preclude  the use of "pooling of  interests"
         accounting.

ARTICLE 12:  AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION.

         12.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination. With the approval of the
Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend, or
modify the Plan.  An amendment or  modification  of the Plan shall be subject to
the  approval  of the  Company's  stockholders  only to the extent  required  by
applicable laws, regulations and rules.

         12.2  Awards  Previously   Granted.  No  termination,   amendment,   or
modification  of the Plan shall  adversely  affect in any material way any Award
previously   granted  under  the  Plan,  without  the  written  consent  of  the
Participant.

ARTICLE 13:  GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

         13.1 Prohibitions on Awards.  The following actions are not permissible
with respect to more than 10% of the total shares authorized under the Plan:

                  (a)  Amending an  outstanding  Option to decrease the exercise
         price;

                  (b) Issuing a  Non-Qualified  Option with an exercise price of
         less than 100% of Fair Market Value;

                  (c)  Granting  Stock  Awards  that  are  not  subject  to  any
         restrictions or performance  conditions  unless the award is in lieu of
         cash compensation and is valued at Fair Market Value; and

                  (d) Granting  Restricted  Stock Awards that are not subject to
         either (i) a vesting  condition or  repurchase  option on behalf of the
         Company  that is  measured  over not less  than  three  years,  or (ii)
         performance  criteria  that must be  satisfied  prior to vesting and an
         additional  vesting  condition  or  repurchase  option on behalf of the
         Company that is measured over not less than one year.
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 14:  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

         14.1 No Rights to Awards.  No  Participant  or employee  shall have any
claim to be granted  any Award  under the Plan,  and neither the Company nor the
Committee is obligated to treat Participants and employees uniformly.

         14.2 No Stockholders  Rights. No Award gives the Participant any of the
rights of a stockholder  of the Company  unless and until shares of Stock are in
fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.

         14.3 No Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement
shall  interfere  with  or  limit  in  any  way  the  "at  will"  nature  of any
Participant's   employment  or  other  relationship  with  the  Company  or  any
Subsidiary,  nor  confer  upon any  Participant  any  right to  continue  in the
employment or any other  relationship of the Company or any Subsidiary,  and the
Company and each  Subsidiary  reserve the right to terminate  any  Participant's
employment or other relationship at any time.

         14.4  Unfunded  Status  of  Awards.  The  Plan  is  intended  to  be an
"unfunded"  plan for  incentive and deferred  compensation.  With respect to any
payments not yet made to a Participant  pursuant to an Award,  nothing contained
in the Plan or any Award  Agreement  shall give the  Participant any rights that
are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

         14.5 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan shall be
taken into account in determining  any benefits  under any pension,  retirement,
savings,  profit sharing, group insurance,  welfare or other benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary.

         14.6 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by
the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         14.7 Titles and  Headings.  The titles and headings of the Articles and
Sections in the Plan are for  convenience of reference only, and in the event of
any conflict,  the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings,  shall
control.

         14.8 Fractional  Shares.  No fractional shares of stock shall be issued
and the Committee  shall  determine,  in its  discretion,  whether cash shall be
given in lieu of fractional  shares or whether such  fractional  shares shall be
eliminated by rounding up.

         14.9 Securities Law  Compliance.  With respect to any person who is, on
the relevant  date,  obligated to file reports  under Section 16 of the Exchange
Act,  transactions  under this Plan are  intended to comply with all  applicable
conditions of Section 16 or its successors under the Exchange Act. To the extent
any provision of the Plan or any Award  Agreement or any action by the Committee
fails to so comply,  it shall be void to the extent required by law and voidable
as deemed advisable by the Committee.
<PAGE>

         14.10 Government and Other  Regulations.  The obligation of the Company
to make  payment  of  awards  in Stock or  otherwise  shall  be  subject  to all
applicable laws,  rules,  and  regulations,  and to such approvals by government
agencies  as may be  required.  The  Company  shall be under  no  obligation  to
register  under the  Securities  Act any of the  shares of Stock  paid under the
Plan.  The Company may  restrict the issuance or transfer of such shares in such
manner  as  it  deems  advisable  to  ensure  the   satisfaction  of  all  legal
requirements  relating to their  registration,  qualification  or listing or any
exemption therefrom.

         14.11  Governing  Law.  The  Plan  and all  Award  Agreements  shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

         14.12 Foreign Jurisdictions.  The following additional provisions shall
apply to Awards and  administration of the Plan in jurisdictions  other than the
United States:

                  (a) The  Committee  shall  have full  power and  authority  to
         establish  a set of  rules  ("sub-plan  rules")  applicable  to  Awards
         granted  in the  United  Kingdom,  France  or in any  other  particular
         jurisdiction  for the purpose of permitting  Awards granted pursuant to
         such sub-plan rules in that jurisdiction to qualify for favorable local
         tax treatment.  Such sub-plan rules, which may be more restrictive than
         the  provisions  of the Plan  which  would  otherwise  apply,  shall be
         applicable  only with respect to Awards granted to  Participants in the
         jurisdiction  covered by any such sub-plan rules.  Without limiting the
         generality  of the  foregoing,  such  sub-plan  rules may specify  more
         restrictive  eligibility  requirements than otherwise  specified in the
         Plan,  may  prescribe  a specific  vesting  schedule,  may  prescribe a
         shorter  Award term than  otherwise  permitted  under the Plan,  or may
         specify a higher  minimum  Award price than  otherwise set forth in the
         Plan. Stock issued pursuant to such Awards shall nonetheless be counted
         against the  maximum  number of shares  specified  in the Plan and such
         Awards and shares shall otherwise be governed by the provisions of this
         Plan and the  instrument  evidencing  such  Award,  except  as  amended
         pursuant to the relevant sub-plan rules.

                  (b) The Committee  may adopt rules or  procedures  relating to
         the  operation  and  administration  of the Plan in  non-United  States
         jurisdictions  to accommodate  the specific  requirements of local laws
         and procedures.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the
         Committee  is  specifically  authorized  to adopt rules and  procedures
         regarding  conversion of local  currency,  withholding  procedures  and
         handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements.

         14.13  Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor
the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall
be  construed as creating any  limitations  upon the right and  authority of the
Board  to  adopt  such  other   incentive   compensation   arrangements   (which
arrangements  may be  applicable  either  generally  to a class  or  classes  of
individuals or  specifically  to a particular  individual or individuals) as the
Board in its discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the
granting of stock options or other rights otherwise than under the Plan.
<PAGE>

ARTICLE 15:  DEFINITIONS.

         15.1  Definitions.  The  following  words and  phrases  shall  have the
following meanings for purposes of this Plan:

                  (a)  "Award"  means any Option,  Restricted  Stock  Award,  or
         Stock-Reference  Award,  or any other  right or  interest  relating  to
         Stock, cash or property, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

                  (b) "Award Agreement" means any written  agreement,  contract,
         or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

                  (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (d)  "Change  of  Control"  means  and  includes  each  of the
         following:

                           (1)  Any  transaction  or  series  of   transactions,
                  whereby  any  person  (as that term is used in  Section 13 and
                  14(d)(2) of the Exchange  Act),  is or becomes the  beneficial
                  owner (as that term is used in Section  13(d) of the  Exchange
                  Act)  directly or  indirectly,  of  securities  of the Company
                  representing  20% or more of the combined  voting power of the
                  Company's  then  outstanding  securities;  provided,  that for
                  purposes of this  paragraph,  the term "person"  shall exclude
                  (i) a trustee or other fiduciary  holding  securities under an
                  employee  benefit plan of the Company or of a  Subsidiary  and
                  (ii)  a  corporation  owned  directly  or  indirectly  by  the
                  stockholders  of  the  Company  in   substantially   the  same
                  proportions  as their  ownership  of the  common  stock of the
                  Company.

                           (2) Any merger, consolidation,  or liquidation of the
                  Company  in  which  the  Company  is  not  the  continuing  or
                  surviving  corporation  or  pursuant  to which  Stock would be
                  converted into cash, securities, or other property, other than
                  (i) a merger or consolidation  with a wholly owned Subsidiary,
                  (ii)  a   reincorporation   of  the  Company  in  a  different
                  jurisdiction,  or (iii) other transaction in which there is no
                  substantial  change in the stockholders of the Company,  where
                  in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) all then outstanding  Awards
                  are assumed by the  successor  corporation,  which  assumption
                  shall be binding on all Participants;

                           (3) Any merger or  consolidation  of the Company with
                  or into another entity or any other corporate  reorganization,
                  if  more  than  50%  of  the  combined  voting  power  of  the
                  continuing  or  surviving  entity's   securities   outstanding
                  immediately   after  such  merger,   consolidation   or  other
                  reorganization  is owned by persons who were not  stockholders
                  of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation
                  or other reorganization.
<PAGE>

                           (4) The sale,  transfer,  or other disposition of all
                  or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

                           (5) A change in the  composition  of the Board,  as a
                  result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent  directors are
                  directors who either (i) had been  directors of the Company on
                  the date 24  months  prior to the date of the  event  that may
                  constitute a Change of Control (the  "original  directors") or
                  (ii) were elected,  or nominated  for  election,  to the Board
                  with  the  affirmative  votes of at  least a  majority  of the
                  aggregate of the original  directors  who were still in office
                  at the time of the election or  nomination  and the  directors
                  whose election or nomination was previously so approved.

                  A transaction  shall not constitute a Change of Control if its
         sole purpose is to change the state of  incorporation of the Company or
         to create a holding  company  that will be owned in  substantially  the
         same  proportions  by the  persons  who held the  Company's  securities
         immediately before such transaction.

                  (e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
         from time to time.

                  (f) "Committee"  means the committee of the Board described in
         Article 5.

                  (g) "Exchange Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
         as amended.

                  (h) "Fair  Market  Value"  means with  respect to Stock or any
         other  property,  the fair market value of such Stock or other property
         determined  by such methods or procedures  as may be  established  from
         time to time  by the  Committee.  Unless  otherwise  determined  by the
         Committee,  the Fair Market  Value of Stock as of any date shall be the
         closing  price  for  the  Stock  as  reported  on the  Nasdaq  National
         Market(or  on any  national  securities  exchange on which the Stock is
         then  listed) for that date or, if no closing  price is so reported for
         that date,  the closing  price on the next  preceding  date for which a
         closing price was reported.

                  (i) "Incentive  Stock Option" means an Option that is intended
         to meet the  requirements  of Section 422 of the Code or any  successor
         provision thereto.

                  (j)  "Non-Qualified  Stock Option" means an Option that is not
         intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

                  (k)  "Option"  means a right  granted to a  Participant  under
         Article 6 of the Plan to  purchase  Stock at a specified  price  during
         specified  time  periods.  An Option may be either an  Incentive  Stock
         Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
<PAGE>

                  (l) "Participant" means a person who, as an officer, director,
         employee, consultant, independent contractor, or adviser of the Company
         or any Subsidiary, has been granted an Award under the Plan.

                  (m) "Predecessor Plan" means the 1994 Equity Incentive Plan of
         the Company.

                  (n) "Plan" means the Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan,
         as amended from time to time.

                  (o)  "Restricted   Stock  Award"  means  Stock  granted  to  a
         Participant or offered for sale to a Participant under Article 7.

                  (p)  "Securities  Act" means the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
         amended.

                  (q)  "Stock"  means the common  stock of the  Company and such
         other  securities  of the  Company  that may be  substituted  for Stock
         pursuant to Article 11.

                  (r)  "Stock-Reference  Award"  means  a  right,  granted  to a
         Participant under Article 8.

                  (s) "Subsidiary"  means any corporation of which a majority of
         the  outstanding  voting  stock or voting power is  beneficially  owned
         directly or indirectly by the Company.

                  (t) "Ten Percent Owner" means any individual  who, at the date
         of grant of an Incentive Stock Option,  owns stock possessing more than
         ten percent of the total combined  voting power of all classes of Stock
         of the  Company or a  Subsidiary.  For  purposes  of  determining  such
         percentage, the following rules shall apply:

                           (1)  the   individual   with  respect  to  whom  such
                  percentage is being  determined  shall be considered as owning
                  the  Stock  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by or  for  his
                  brothers  and sisters  (whether  by the whole or half  blood),
                  spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants; and

                           (2) Stock owned, directly or indirectly,  by or for a
                  corporation,   partnership,   estate,   or  trust,   shall  be
                  considered  as  being  owned  proportionately  by or  for  its
                  stockholders, partners, or beneficiaries.


                              [Viasoft letterhead]

                                December 17, 1998

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

         Re:  Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have acted as counsel to Viasoft,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the
"Company"),  in  connection  with its  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 (the
"Registration  Statement")  filed under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
relating to the  registration  of 850,000 shares of its Common Stock,  par value
$.001 per share (the  "Shares"),  issuable  pursuant to the Viasoft,  Inc.  1997
Equity Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan"). In connection with this representation,
I have examined such  documents,  corporate  records and other  instruments as I
have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

         Based upon the  foregoing,  I am of the opinion  that the Shares,  when
issued and sold in accordance  with the terms of the 1997 Plan,  will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         I hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        By:   /s/ Catherine R. Hardwick
                                              -----------------------------
                                              Catherine R. Hardwick
                                              General Counsel and Secretary

                                    EXHIBIT 5


                               ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference  in this  registration  statement  of our report  dated July 31, 1998,
included in Viasoft,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1998,  and to
all references to our firm included in this registration statement.


                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Phoenix, Arizona,
  December 22, 1998.

                                  EXHIBIT 23.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  constitutes and
appoints Steven D. Whiteman, Mark R. Schonau and Catherine R. Hardwick, and each
of them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent  with full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and
all  documents  which  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable Viasoft,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Corporation"),
(1)  to  sign  a  Form  S-8  Registration   Statement  in  connection  with  the
registration  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act"),  of
850,000  additional  shares of Common Stock (the  "Shares")  issuable  under the
Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  together with any and all
future   amendments  (and   post-effective   amendments)  to  such  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith,  and to comply with the Act and any rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect thereof;  (2)
to effect the exemption from or, if necessary, the registration or qualification
of all or part of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws and to effect,  if necessary,  the  registration  of the  Corporation  as a
dealer or  broker  in any such  state or states  wherein  such  registration  or
qualification  is required or  advisable  for the purpose of offering or selling
therein the Shares, and to execute and file such irrevocable written consents to
service of process  on the part of the  undersigned  to be used in such state or
states as may be  requisite  under the  securities  or Blue Sky laws  therein in
connection  with said  exemption  from or, if  necessary,  the  registration  or
qualification  of the  Shares or in  connection  with said  registration  of the
Corporation  as a dealer or broker,  and to appoint  the  appropriate  entity or
state  official  agent of the  undersigned  for the  purpose  of  receiving  and
accepting  process;  and (3) to effect  the  listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market System or any national securities exchanges; and the undersigned
does  hereby  ratify and confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed  these presents in
the capacity indicated on this 1st day of December, 1998.

                                        /s/ John J. Barry III
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Signature)

                                        John J. Barry III
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Print Name)

                                        Witness:  /s/ Constance F. Hart
                                                  ------------------------------

                                  EXHIBIT 24.1

<PAGE>

STATE OF ARIZONA               )
                               )  ss.
County of Maricopa             )

         On this 1st day of December,  1998,  before me, the undersigned  Notary
Public,  personally  appeared  John J. Barry  III,  known to me to be the person
whose name is  subscribed  to the within  instrument  and  acknowledged  that he
executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        /s/ Joni K. Summers
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

My commission expires:

March 30, 2000



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  constitutes and
appoints Steven D. Whiteman, Mark R. Schonau and Catherine R. Hardwick, and each
of them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent  with full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and
all  documents  which  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable Viasoft,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Corporation"),
(1)  to  sign  a  Form  S-8  Registration   Statement  in  connection  with  the
registration  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act"),  of
850,000  additional  shares of Common Stock (the  "Shares")  issuable  under the
Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  together with any and all
future   amendments  (and   post-effective   amendments)  to  such  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith,  and to comply with the Act and any rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect thereof;  (2)
to effect the exemption from or, if necessary, the registration or qualification
of all or part of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws and to effect,  if necessary,  the  registration  of the  Corporation  as a
dealer or  broker  in any such  state or states  wherein  such  registration  or
qualification  is required or  advisable  for the purpose of offering or selling
therein the Shares, and to execute and file such irrevocable written consents to
service of process  on the part of the  undersigned  to be used in such state or
states as may be  requisite  under the  securities  or Blue Sky laws  therein in
connection  with said  exemption  from or, if  necessary,  the  registration  or
qualification  of the  Shares or in  connection  with said  registration  of the
Corporation  as a dealer or broker,  and to appoint  the  appropriate  entity or
state  official  agent of the  undersigned  for the  purpose  of  receiving  and
accepting  process;  and (3) to effect  the  listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market System or any national securities exchanges; and the undersigned
does  hereby  ratify and confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed  these presents in
the capacity indicated on this 9th day of December, 1998.

                                        /s/ Arthur C. Patterson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Signature)

                                        Arthur C. Patterson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Print Name)

                                        Witness:  /s/ Deb Jacobson
                                                  ------------------------------

                                  EXHIBIT 24.2

<PAGE>

STATE OF CALIFORNIA        )
                           )  ss.
County of Santa Clara      )

         On this 9th day of December,  1998,  before me, the undersigned  Notary
Public,  personally  appeared Arthur C. Patterson,  known to me to be the person
whose name is  subscribed  to the within  instrument  and  acknowledged  that he
executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        /s/ Judith Maurer
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

My commission expires:

August 2, 1999



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  constitutes and
appoints Steven D. Whiteman, Mark R. Schonau and Catherine R. Hardwick, and each
of them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent  with full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and
all  documents  which  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable Viasoft,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Corporation"),
(1)  to  sign  a  Form  S-8  Registration   Statement  in  connection  with  the
registration  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act"),  of
850,000  additional  shares of Common Stock (the  "Shares")  issuable  under the
Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  together with any and all
future   amendments  (and   post-effective   amendments)  to  such  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith,  and to comply with the Act and any rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect thereof;  (2)
to effect the exemption from or, if necessary, the registration or qualification
of all or part of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws and to effect,  if necessary,  the  registration  of the  Corporation  as a
dealer or  broker  in any such  state or states  wherein  such  registration  or
qualification  is required or  advisable  for the purpose of offering or selling
therein the Shares, and to execute and file such irrevocable written consents to
service of process  on the part of the  undersigned  to be used in such state or
states as may be  requisite  under the  securities  or Blue Sky laws  therein in
connection  with said  exemption  from or, if  necessary,  the  registration  or
qualification  of the  Shares or in  connection  with said  registration  of the
Corporation  as a dealer or broker,  and to appoint  the  appropriate  entity or
state  official  agent of the  undersigned  for the  purpose  of  receiving  and
accepting  process;  and (3) to effect  the  listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market System or any national securities exchanges; and the undersigned
does  hereby  ratify and confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed  these presents in
the capacity indicated on this 1st day of December, 1998.

                                        /s/ Alexander S. Kuli
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Signature)

                                        Alexander S. Kuli
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Print Name)

                                        Witness:  /s/ Constance F. Hart
                                                  ------------------------------

                                  EXHIBIT 24.3

<PAGE>

STATE OF ARIZONA       )
                       )  ss.
County of Maricopa     )

         On this 1st day of December,  1998,  before me, the undersigned  Notary
Public,  personally  appeared  Alexander  S. Kuli,  known to me to be the person
whose name is  subscribed  to the within  instrument  and  acknowledged  that he
executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        /s/ Joni K. Summers
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

My commission expires:

March 30, 2000



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  constitutes and
appoints Steven D. Whiteman, Mark R. Schonau and Catherine R. Hardwick, and each
of them,  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent  with full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and
all  documents  which  said  attorney-in-fact  and agent may deem  necessary  or
advisable to enable Viasoft,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Corporation"),
(1)  to  sign  a  Form  S-8  Registration   Statement  in  connection  with  the
registration  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act"),  of
850,000  additional  shares of Common Stock (the  "Shares")  issuable  under the
Viasoft, Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended,  together with any and all
future   amendments  (and   post-effective   amendments)  to  such  Registration
Statement,  and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith,  and to comply with the Act and any rules, regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in respect thereof;  (2)
to effect the exemption from or, if necessary, the registration or qualification
of all or part of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws and to effect,  if necessary,  the  registration  of the  Corporation  as a
dealer or  broker  in any such  state or states  wherein  such  registration  or
qualification  is required or  advisable  for the purpose of offering or selling
therein the Shares, and to execute and file such irrevocable written consents to
service of process  on the part of the  undersigned  to be used in such state or
states as may be  requisite  under the  securities  or Blue Sky laws  therein in
connection  with said  exemption  from or, if  necessary,  the  registration  or
qualification  of the  Shares or in  connection  with said  registration  of the
Corporation  as a dealer or broker,  and to appoint  the  appropriate  entity or
state  official  agent of the  undersigned  for the  purpose  of  receiving  and
accepting  process;  and (3) to effect  the  listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market System or any national securities exchanges; and the undersigned
does  hereby  ratify and confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has subscribed  these presents in
the capacity indicated on this 1st day of December, 1998.

                                        /s/ J. David Parrish
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Signature)

                                        J. David Parrish
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Director (Print Name)

                                        Witness:  /s/ Constance F. Hart
                                                  ------------------------------

                                  EXHIBIT 24.4

<PAGE>

STATE OF ARIZONA       )
                       )  ss.
County of Maricopa     )

         On this 1st day of December,  1998,  before me, the undersigned  Notary
Public, personally appeared J. David Parrish, known to me to be the person whose
name is subscribed to the within  instrument and  acknowledged  that he executed
the same for the purposes therein contained.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                        /s/ Joni K. Summers
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public

My commission expires:

March 30, 2000


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission