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ACI Worldwide

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FY1996 Annual Report · ACI Worldwide
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1996 Annual Report  

1996 TSA ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 
Year Ended September 30, 1996. 

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS 
Welcome to the 1996 TSA World Tour. Our software helps some of the world's 
largest banks give you access to your money - anytime, anywhere. 

CONSOLIDATION  
In the UNITED STATES, bank consolidation is creating a desire for efficiencies of 
scale and a need to manage increasingly complex payment networks. 

COMPETITION  
In countries like CANADA where the landscape is dominated by a few, very large 
banks, new technologies are being used as competitive weapons. 

FACING THE FUTURE  
High-volume, mission-critical online authorization processing is a requirement in the 
UNITED KINGDOM with 82 percent of adults holding cards. 

COMBATING FRAUD  
GERMAN consumers traditionally have preferred the use of cash but the use of 
cards for payment has doubled over the last five years. Fraud also is increasing.  

MEETING MARKET NEEDS  
In POLAND, banks are establishing networks that extend the electronic services 
they offer at a lower cost of ownership for the institution.  

NETWORK FOR A NATION  
In KUWAIT, banks use a shared banking services network to lower their costs and 
enhance the quality of the services they offer.  

EXPANDING PRODUCT SET  
The SINGAPORE government's program designed to make the country an 
"intelligent island" has created a push for a cashless society.  

INFRASTRUCTURE  
Four years ago there were fewer than 50 automated teller machines in INDIA. The

 
 
 
 
country's first shared ATM network will be in Mumbai.  

HIGH VOLUME DOWN UNDER  
AUSTRALIANS have enthusiastically embraced electronic payment methods 
doubling transaction volumes in the last two years.  

GOING FOR THE GOLD  
During the VISA Cash project at the Summer Games in Atlanta, the first reload of 
monetary value on a smart card in the UNITED STATES took place.  

RETURN TO PORT  
TSA participates in these trends benefiting from the growth in electronic payments 
and electronic commerce by being in the right place at the right time, AROUND 
THE WORLD.  

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION  
Analysis of financial condition and results of operations.  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
Index of individual financial statements.  

CORPORATE AND SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION  
Corporate and shareholder contacts and information.  

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS  
A listing of the Board of Directors and Executive Officers.  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (5)  

In $ Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts  

Year Ended September 30  

1996  

1995  

Revenues  
Operating Income  
Net Income  
Net Income Per Share (4)  
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization  

$159,784  
20,678  
12,570  
.47  
30,563  

$118,473  
9,067  
3,570  
.15  
20,882  

As of September 30  

Working Capital  
Total Assets  
Long-term Obligations  
Stockholders' Equity  
Backlog  

$41,017  
123,159  
1,687  
76,450  
104,978  

$38,327  
101,905  
357  
60,356  
82,112  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (1)(5)  
In $ Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts  

1996  

1995  

1994  

% Change 
1995 to 
1996  

Year Ended September 30  

Pro Forma Revenues  

$159,784  $118,473 

$96,267 

Pro Forma Operating Income  

24,021 

15,532 

10,667 

Pro Forma Net Income  

15,546 

10,206 

6,927 

Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (4)  

.58 

.41 

.28 

34.9 

54.7 

52.3 

41.5 

  
  
  
  
  
(1) Transaction Systems acquired Applied Communications, Inc. (ACI) and Applied Communications, Inc., Limited 
(ACIL) on December 31, 1993. The above supplemental information reflects the combination of TSA, ACI and ACIL 
results of operations data for the four years presented. In addition, the above results of operations data exclude one-time 
or acquisition-related expenses including amortization of purchased software, purchased contracts in progress, 
purchased research and development, goodwill amortization, interest expense and extraordinary loss. The total of these 
expenses were $8.3 million, $43.1 million, $10.8 million and $3.3 million in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 respectively. 
In addition to the exclusion of these one-time or acquisition-related expenses, the above pro forma results of operations 
were computed using an effective income tax rate of 38 percent. 

(2) Non-recurring revenues are composed of fees specified in software and service contracts that the Company expects 
to recognize in the next 12 months. 

(3) Recurring revenues include all monthly license fees, maintenance fees and facilities management fees from existing 
contracts that the Company expects to recognize in the next 12 months. 

(4) Adjusted for two for one stock split in the form of a 100% stock dividend occuring July 1, 1996. 

(5) Adjusted for the acquisition of Grapevine Systems, Inc., accounted for as a pooling of interests.  

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS 

 
Ask most people their impression of Nebraska and, once they've 
stifled a yawn,their reply will have something to do with corn, 
football and the Strategic Air Command. But there is more to 
Nebraska - and OMAHA in particular - than first comes to mind.  

People making their living on Wall Street will immediately 
recognize the name Warren Buffet, but how many know he lives in 
Omaha? In addition to Warren, and almost as successful, is 
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - world class by anyone's definition.  

Our zoo has one of the world's largest free-flight aviaries and 
North America's largest facility for big cats. It also has an indoor 
rain forest - the world's largest - that houses more than 125 species 
of animals living among thousands of exotic plants. (The 
photograph of me on page five of this report was taken in the rain forest. I 
will explain the "unique" style of dress in a moment.)  

Another area that few people think of when they consider Nebraska is high 
technology. To amuse visitors, we sometimes call Omaha "The Silicon 
Prairie." It is more than just a label, though. Omaha is home to companies 
like Inacom, CSG Systems, American Business Information, First Data 
and Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSAI).  

Transaction Systems contributes to "The Silicon Prairie" by building 
software that facilitates electronic commerce. Our products provide 
consumers and companies access to their money through the processing of 
transactions involving credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, home banking 
services, checks, wire transfers and automated clearing and settlement. 
Our software handled more than 12 billion automated teller machine and 
point-of-sale transactions last year.  

Many of our customers are the largest banks in the world. In fact, 106 of 
the top 500 banks worldwide (as measured by asset size) use a product 
built by Transaction Systems. As you can see from the chart on this page, 
we have plenty of opportunity among these large banks, many of which 
continue to use software they developed in the late 1970's or early 1980's.  

Also, our market niche is expanding with card-based transaction 
volumes increasing all over the world as growth in the use of cash and 
checks slows. The chart below documents one aspect of this trend in the 
United Kingdom. Because our software is priced in a volume-sensitive 
manner, we have benefited from this trend. In fiscal year 1996 we had 
revenues of $159.8 million, an increase of 35 percent over last year. Cash 
from record operating activities for the year totaled $17.7 million, up from 

 
  
$11.0 million. The company's cash balance at the end of September 1996 
was $31.5 million. Our stock split two-for-one on July 1, 1996.  

But like the town in which we are headquartered, there is more to 
Transaction Systems than is immediately obvious. Our existing customers 
contribute more than 75 percent of our revenues in an average year 
through the purchase of additional capacity to handle increasing 
transaction volumes, the payment of maintenance fees and the licensing of 
new products.  

Our preferred pricing model is a monthly license fee which creates 
recurring revenues that enhance our long-term profitability. As of 
September 30, our level of monthly license fees had reached an annual run 
rate of $28 million.  

This type of pricing model helped us achieve a pro forma operating 
income (excluding acquisition-related charges) of $24 million in fiscal 
year 1996, up from $15.5 million last year. Our operating margin in the 
fourth quarter of the fiscal year reached 16 percent.  

Our approach to revenue recognition - typically recognizing revenue 
only after the products are installed - helps us maintain a rolling 12-month 
backlog of business. Our backlog grew 28 percent in fiscal 1996 reaching 
$105 million as of September 30.  

This backlog consisted of $34 million in non-recurring revenues and $71 
million in recurring revenues. Backlog provides us with a visibility to our 
operations enjoyed by few software companies. This visibility allows us to 
reduce the volatility in our business.  

Perhaps one aspect of our company that separates us from other 
technology companies on the prairie is the scope of our international 
presence. Our solutions are used on more than 1,250 systems by more than 
550 customers in 65 countries on six continents. This year 56 percent of 
our revenues came from outside the United States. While our U.S. 
revenues grew at a healthy 23 percent, our revenues in the Europe, Middle 
East, Africa region and the Asia Pacific region were up 50 and 88 percent, 
respectively. 

Because ours is an international business, we thought you might be 
interested in a world tour with stops in a few of our key markets. On the 
tour we will introduce you to the company, some of our leading customers 
and certain trends that are influencing our business around the globe. I will 
be the host for this tour. This explains the clothes I am wearing in the 
picture. The investor relations officer who insisted I wear them is now 
serving a "special" assignment. 

 
CONSOLIDATION  

•  The United States banking arena includes more than 10,000 

financial institutions. Over the last several years, this industry has 
been characterized by consolidation. When banks merge, they 
often want to realize efficiencies of scale by combining their 
payment networks. Because of the complex nature of these 
networks and the high transaction volumes they must 
accommodate, this is difficult.  

Because TSA's products are built for high-performance 
environments and are current with 40 device types, 100 network 
interfaces and 40 communication protocols, we often help banks 
faced with mergers address needs surrounding their payment 
networks. During the fourth quarter of our 1996 fiscal year, 19 
bank mergers were completed or nearing completion in the United 
States. In 15 of those, TSA's software was being used by the 
acquiring institutions. In the other four cases, our product was 
installed at both banks involved. 

Consumers accessing their accounts over 
proprietary and public networks, using 
devices such as telephones and personal 
computers, can pay bills and perform a wide 
range of banking functions on systems using 
TSA's software. 

The merger of Chemical Bank with Chase Manhattan Bank created 
an automated teller machine (ATM) network that processes more 
than 20 million transactions per month. Prior to the merger, 
Chemical used TSA's products to manage its network. At Chase, 
five separate ATM networks were in place. Because our software 
can handle high-transaction volumes in a complex processing 

 
environment, TSA's products were chosen to run the ATM 
network at the "new" Chase.  

The consolidation of banks also has resulted in a competitive 
environment where thousands of banks must battle for customers 
in local markets with institutions many times their asset size. These 
banks often turn to third-party processors for new products and 
services to remain competitive while controlling costs.  

The NEW YORK Cash Exchange (NYCE) Corporation, the largest 
electronic funds transfer provider in the Northeast, processes 
payment services for 1,296 financial institutions. When NYCE 
decided to offer remote banking services to these financial 
institutions, they licensed TSA's products. Using our solutions, 
consumers can access the NYCE system via a telephone or 
personal computer to pay bills and perform banking functions with 
complete confidence.  

o   

!"

An August 1995 report by Forrester Research 
in Cambridge, Mass., predicts that online 
banking will grow from 1.1 million U.S. 
households to 9.7 million over the next five 
years.  

COMPETITION  

•  Because the systems we sell are of strategic importance to the 

customers we serve, we have found that a direct presence is key to 
our success in many parts of the world. In June 1996, we 
purchased TXN Solution Integrators in Toronto, Ontario, to give 
us better access to the banks in CANADA . 

In countries such as Canada where the landscape is dominated by a 
few, very large banks, the battle for the consumer comes down to 
the ability to offer services which differentiate the institutions. To 
achieve this level of differentiation, large banks will either build 
software to meet their specific needs or they will purchase products 
from companies like TSA.  

TSA's products allow a bank to differentiate 
itself with services that maximize the 
control, choice and convenience offered to 

 
the consumer with ease of access, timeliness 
of information and responsiveness.  

Forty-five percent of the top 500 banks in the world still use 
home-grown solutions. Many of these institutions are moving 
away from building their own software because of costs and the 
long lead times required to bring new products to market. 
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), one of the largest 
banks in North America, has been a TSA customer for more than 
10 years using our products in its automated teller machine and 
point-of-sale networks.  

When CIBC decided to aggressively expand its remote banking 
services, it chose TSA to provide the product. CIBC's goal was to 
differentiate itself with remote banking that maximized the control, 
choice and convenience offered to the consumer with ease of 
access, timeliness of information and responsiveness.  

For the bank, this meant establishing the infrastructure to support 
24-hour banking by telephone or personal computer and over 
proprietary, as well as, public networks. This required software 
that was integrated with its other retail banking services and could 
handle transactions that arrived at the bank in unpredictable 
volumes around the clock.  

FACING THE FUTURE  

•  TSA is not new to the area of electronic payments and 

electronic commerce. Our roots extend back to a shared automated 
teller machine network established in the 1970's through a 
partnership between our subsidiary Applied Communications, Inc., 
and a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska. Over more than two decades we 
have built a level of expertise in our industry that is at the core of 
our customer relationships today. 

NatWest Bank is one of the four largest banks in the UNITED 
KINGDOM. It has over 2,000 branches and assets in excess of 
$240 billion. It operates in 33 countries around the world and has 
approximately 80,000 employees. Its retail banking operation is the 
second largest in the United Kingdom.  

TSA's software is used on point-of-sale 
networks that may process more than a 
million transactions in a single day.  

TSA's software has been running at NatWest 
since 1988. Long-term relationships are important 
to our company since 75 percent of our revenues 
come from the existing customer base in an average year. This is the 
result of customers buying additional products and services, 
licensing additional transaction capacity and paying maintenance 
fees. 

NatWest has designated TSA as its strategic supplier for the bank's 
next generation of high-volume, mission-critical, online 
authorization processing. As part of that relationship, TSA provides 
software and services that help NatWest maintain its commitment 
to a high standard of customer service delivered on robust and 
proven electronic payment networks. 

When banks select solutions from TSA, they receive products 
that are current with industry standards and able to meet their 
specific needs. As part of our commitment to these customers, 
TSA must have products that meet a range of challenges. Whether 
the challenges involve a new device type, Year 2000 compliance 
or transition to a single European currency, TSA helps its 
customers adjust and respond.  

This capability is a competitive advantage for our company. 
According to information gathered by our Corporate Information 
Center, over the last three years TSA has won more than 60 
percent of all its competitive situations.  

!"

According to the Association for Payment 
Clearing Services (APACS), 82 percent of the 
adult population in the United Kingdom now 
holds one or more cards, with 57 percent of 
adults holding debit cards.  

COMBATING FRAUD  

•  German consumers traditionally have preferred the use of cash 
in their day-to-day transactions. This is reflected in statistics from 
the early 1990's supplied by the Bank for International Settlement 
that indicated the number of point-of-sale (POS) terminals per one 
million inhabitants was 344 in GERMANY compared with 3,054 
in Sweden and 3,780 in the United Kingdom. On the other hand, 
Germany has more automated teller machines (ATMs) per 
inhabitant.  

 
TSA helps banks address the increase in 
card use and combat the growth of 
fraud with products that support online 
systems and reusable, stored-value smart 
cards.  

Habits are changing in this country though. According to 
Electronic Payments International, the use of cards for payments in 
Germany has doubled over the last five years. With this increase in 
card use has come an increase of fraud.  

The majority of retail banking accounts in Germany are held in the 
savings and cooperative banks. The ATM and POS networks used 
by these banks are supported by regional processors using software 
they built themselves or highly customized products bought from 
vendors but maintained by in-house personnel. Online systems and 
reusable, stored-value smart cards can help these banks address the 
increase in card use while combating the growth of fraud. 

The Betriebswirtschaftliche Institut der Deutschen 
Kreditgenossenschaften (BIK) GmbH, a third-party service 
provider for the cooperative banks, selected TSA's software to 
drive its online transaction processing for ATM and POS 
transactions. BIK processes 450,000 online transactions per day, 
30 percent of all the transactions in the German card market. 

BIK also uses TSA's products to manage the transactions 
generated by Germany's first national smart-card program, called 
GeldKarte. TSA's software enables consumers to load value onto 
their smart cards from special bank terminals and collects 
transactions from retail outlets at the end of each day for settlement 
and unspent funds management.  

MEETING MARKETING NEEDS  

•  Since forming TSA with the leveraged buyout of Applied 

Communications, Inc., in December 1993, and acquisition of 
USSI, Inc., in January 1994, we have maintained a commitment to 
offer software solutions on multiple hardware platforms. 

Most of Applied Communications' products run on Tandem 
computers. USSI develops and supports solutions for IBM 
mainframes, many popular UNIX servers and Stratus hardware. In 
fiscal 1996, we announced (and have since completed) the 
acquisition of Open Systems Solutions, Inc. Open Systems' 

software manages payments on Microsoft's Windows NT operating 
system.  

Being able to offer software products that 
run on multiple hardware platforms 
provides TSA with early entry into emerging 
markets where payment systems are 
developing and hardware preferences vary.  

The Tandem computer remains the platform of choice for the 
largest banks in the world because of its ability to support 
complex, high-volume, scalable networks. However, being able to 
offer multiple platform solutions provides TSA with early entry 
into emerging markets where payment systems are developing and 
hardware preferences vary. For example, in central and eastern 
Europe, it is not unusual to encounter banks that want their 
electronic payment solution to run on low-cost UNIX servers.  

In POLAND, only one person out of 10 has a bank account and 
fewer than one in 100 have any type of payment card. The 
challenge for Polish banks is to extend services to more of the 
population.  

To do so, these institutions are establishing automated retail 
banking networks. These networks require technology to manage 
the processing of transactions at the branch, as well as through 
automated teller machine (ATM) networks. 

In 1996, Powszechny Bank Gospodarczy S.A., the leading regional 
bank in central Poland, purchased TSA's UNIX-based software 
products to drive its ATM network. By implementing an online 
system, the bank can offer its customers additional products and 
services.  

The goal of platform independence allows TSA to continue to offer 
institutions solutions that lower the cost of ownership and reduce 
risk in markets that constantly evolve.  

NETWORK FOR A NATION  

•  TSA's core products contain more than 20 million lines of code. 
This fact alone poses a significant barrier faced by anyone thinking 
of entering our niche. 

These millions of lines of code allow our software to perform three 
primary functions within high-performance electronic payment 

networks. First, our products manage devices. Within a single 
country there may be many types of automated teller machines 
(ATMs) or point-of-sale (POS) terminals with which we must 
communicate. Second, we route transactions switching them across 
regional, national and international networks to the institutions 
capable of authorizing them. Third, we often are the software used 
in the authorization process itself.  

TSA's products may be used by a customer to perform any or all 
of these functions. When used for switching, our software may 
route most of the electronic transactions in a country.  

In KUWAIT, The Shared Electronic Banking Services Company 
(KNET) uses TSA's software to route all the ATM and POS traffic 
for its eight-member banks. KNET was founded as a means for 
enhancing the quality of banking services available to the people of 
Kuwait and to avoid the cost associated with establishing multiple, 
proprietary networks. 

Because the institutions founding KNET recognized a trend toward 
the electronic delivery of banking services, they needed software 
capable of handling steadily increasing transaction volumes. Also, 
as consumer demands for convenience made it necessary to offer 
access to debit and credit accounts from around the world, 
connectivity was key.  

The two decades of research and development represented in 
TSA's products allow us to meet these requirements. As the trend 
toward the use of electronic payments grows around the world, the 
need for software that can manage, route and authorize 
increasingly complex transactions will become critical to networks 
everywhere. Younger consumers, who are not intimidated by 
technology, entering the workforce may accelerate the need for 
these capabilities. 

o  Two decades of research and development allow us 
to meet the needs of customers who must manage, 
route and authorize transactions without fail, 24 
hours a day, seven days a week.  

EXPANDING PRODUCT SET  

•  TSA's reputation is built on software that can be found in 

automated teller machine (ATM) and point-of-sale (POS) networks 
around the world. As the use of electronic payments grows, we 

 
 
look for ways to expand our product set to meet the needs of 
institutions and their customers.  

Sometimes we achieve this through acquisition. In September 
1996, we acquired Grapevine Systems, Inc. Grapevine Systems 
develops and supports software used to monitor online transaction 
processing in the securities, health care and manufacturing 
industries, as well as online services. Our goal is to use our 
international distribution network to expand the reach of 
Grapevine's products.  

We also grow our solution set through research and development. 
On average we have invested approximately 10 percent of our 
revenue in this area during the last few years. This allows us to 
enhance products and provide new solutions that address trends in 
the marketplace. An example of this type of initiative is our 
clearing and settlement product. We have been successful in 
selling this product in markets such as SINGAPORE where the 
electronic networks require software that can handle high volumes 
of clearing and settlement performed in an online environment.  

Located at the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula, Singapore 
is a city-state, about the same size as the city of Chicago (633 
square kilometers) with a population of 2.9 million, making it one 
of the most densely populated countries in the world. The 
Singapore government's program designed to make the country an 
"intelligent island" by the turn of the century has created a push for 
a cashless society.  

Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) uses TSA's software 
to manage the shared ATM and POS transactions for its seven 
shareholder banks in Singapore. In order to support the country's 
drive towards automated electronic payments, NETS also licensed 
TSA's clearing and settlement solution. Our software provides 
NETS with a high-performance system to manage the flow of 
funds between the banks that participate in their network.  

o   

!"

TSA enhances its products and provides new 
solutions to address the trends of a dynamic 
marketplace. By extending the product set, 
TSA grows its business with existing 
customers.  

INFRASTRUCTURE  

 
•  Though TSA is headquartered in the United 
States, 56 percent of our revenues came from 
international markets in fiscal year 1996. In fiscal year 1995, that 
figure was 51 percent. Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) 
accounted for 30 percent of the revenues in fiscal 1996 while Asia 
Pacific accounted for 13 percent of the total. Canada, Mexico, 
Central America and South America provided the remaining 13 
percent.  

The growth of our international business 
helped us achieve a 35 percent increase in 
revenues in fiscal year 1996. We are 
investing in an infrastructure to support the 
needs of customers worldwide.  

While the growth in all three of TSA's primary channels - 
Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific - exceeded our expectations, it 
was the growth of our international business that helped us achieve 
a 35 percent increase in revenues. However, establishing a viable 
international business requires investment. We cannot meet all of 
the needs of customers around the world with operations based 
solely in Nebraska.  

For this reason we have reinvested approximately 10 percent of 
our annual revenues for each of the last several years in building an 
infrastructure that includes offices in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, 
Norway, Germany, South Africa, Bahrain, Japan, Australia, 
Singapore and the United Kingdom. This commitment provides us 
with the ability to deliver products that help countries half a world 
away from Omaha ride the wave of electronic payments spreading 
around the globe. 

Four years ago there were fewer than 50 automated teller 
machines (ATMs) in INDIA. Today, there are still only 200 ATMs 
in this country of 950 million people. Indian Banks' Association, 
composed of 27 state-owned institutions, in partnership with the 
India Switch Company is establishing the nation's first shared 
ATM network.  

The network will be based in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and will 
use TSA's software. It will allow consumers to access their account 
at any of the member banks through any ATM and provide for 
switching to international networks in the future. Our Singapore 
office supports this project and gives our company a significant 

 
advantage over competitors who may try to enter this 

expanding market.  

HIGH VOLUME DOWN UNDER  

•  Australians are enthusiastic adopters of new technologies. They 

have embraced electronic payment methods with open arms, 
doubling transaction volumes in the last two years according to 
figures collected by the Reserve Bank. The use of debit cards to 
pay for goods such as groceries and petroleum has been the 
primary driver in this trend. 

The number of terminals installed in supermarkets, service 
stations and other retail outlets around AUSTRALIA has 
increased from 11,500 in 1989 to almost 97,000 in March 1996. 
Terminals also are being installed in pharmacies, butcher shops 
and taxis. 

TSA's customer base is not exclusively 
banks. Retailers - particularly petroleum 
companies - use TSA's products to manage 
their payment networks.  

As is the case with other large banks in the world, the Australia 
and New Zealand Banking Group and Westpac Banking 
Corporation use TSA's software to manage the growing volumes in 
their automated teller machine (ATM) and point-of-sale (POS) 
networks. However, our customer base in Australia, and 
throughout the world, is not exclusively composed of financial 
institutions.  

In addition to banks, retailers - particularly petroleum companies - 
use TSA's products to manage their payment networks. BP 
Australia and the Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd. have licensed our 
solutions. U.S. retailers such as Texaco, J. C. Penney and Safeway 
rely on TSA's products. In Europe, J. Sainsbury and Esso 
Petroleum are customers. 

The increase in the use of cards in Australia is expected to 
continue creating a need for merchants to reduce risk, increase the 
capacity of their networks and provide a broader range of services.  

By the way, ATMs on this island continent are not obsolete. In this 
decade alone, the number of ATMs has increased steadily as banks 

 
respond to consumer demands for convenience. Many of 
these machines now have the ability to deliver a full range of 

services normally provided at the branch.  

GOING FOR THE GOLD  

•  The last entry in our travelogue involves First Union 

Corporation, the sixth largest banking company in the United 
States. First Union has been a TSA customer for 11 years using our 
software in the electronic payment networks that serve their 
expanding client base. The first reload of monetary value on a 
smart card in the United States took place on this bank's network 
using our products.  

These same products were used by First Union for a smart-card 
pilot conducted during the 1996 Summer Games in ATLANTA, 
Georgia. The project, which allowed consumers to use VISA Cash 
stored-value cards, exceeded the expectations set by the sponsors 
in the first seven days of the Games. In addition to venues around 
various events, the cards were accepted around metropolitan 
Atlanta, including fast-food outlets, convenience stores, gas 
stations and movie theaters. 

TSA monitors the quality of its software by 
conducting regular satisfaction surveys, as 
well as involving customers in user groups 
and joint-development initiatives. 
Worldwide our customer retention rate 
exceeds 95 percent.  

The First Union smart-card project received high visibility and 
our software performed flawlessly. The technology is interesting 
and many people believe that it will have a dramatic impact on the 
future. Widespread use may take some time, though. Consumer 
acceptence and the cost of changing the infrastructure to support 
this type of payment tool will impact the pace of this change.  

The reason I mentioned First Union has less to do with smart cards 
and more to do with an award they presented to us in March. The 
award was given to our subsidiary, Applied Communications, as 
the outstanding computer software supplier to the bank. According 
to the news release, the honor was designed to recognize vendors 
who helped the institution improve its offering of products and 
services while lowering costs.  

Meeting the business needs of customers year 
in and year out does not occur by accident. TSA 
closely monitors the quality of its software by 
conducting regular satisfaction surveys, as well as 
involving customers in user groups and joint-
development projects. The time, resources and 
money spent in these areas pay dividends. 

Worldwide, our customer retention rate exceeds 95 percent.  

RETURN TO PORT 

As we return to the prairie, it is my hope that the TSA 1996 
World Tour has been useful to you. While we were not able to 
stop in every key market or visit each of our important customers, 
the places we did visit should provide a view to the scope and 
breadth of our business.  

The fact that we are an international technology company 
headquartered in OMAHA, Nebraska, may always seem something of a 
paradox. However, our approach to business in the coming year will be 
what you expect from us - pragmatic and straightforward.  

We intend to expand our business by focusing on the basics that have 
served us well to date. We will build long-term shareholder value by 
continuing to diversify the solutions we offer for the financial services 

and electronic payment sectors.  

This means more products on more platforms delivering core and emerging 
technologies to financial institutions and other corporations moving money for consumers 
and companies around the world. This means ongoing re-investment in our worldwide 
infrastructure. This means maximizing our opportunities and minimizing our risks so that 
we continue to realize our goal of quarter-on-quarter improvement in our key financial 
metrics.  

Quality is vital and for us it is defined as the means by which we achieve our goals of 
innovative customer solutions and service excellence in a profitable fashion. Recruiting 
and retaining the highest caliber of employees is critical to our success. This will require 
us to find individuals who have strong technical skills and to keep them by providing an 
environment where the corporate culture is based on a conviction that work should 
regularly incorporate a bit of fun.  

We appreciate your interest in Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. I hope you 
understand now why we believe our company is in the right place at the right time - 
around the world. Please contact us if you have questions or need more information.  

 
William E. Fisher 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.  

Management Discussion  

•  Overview 

The Company was formed on November 2, 1993 for the purpose of 
acquiring all of the outstanding capital stock of Applied 
Communications Inc. ("ACI") and Applied Communications Inc. 
Limited ("ACIL") from Tandem. ACI and ACIL were acquired on 
December 31, 1993. On January 3, 1994, the Company acquired all 
of the outstanding common stock of USSI. The acquisitions of 
ACI, ACIL and USSI, Inc. are hereafter referred to as the 
"Acquisitions". As a result of the Acquisitions, the Company 
incurred certain one-time or acquisition related expenses in fiscal 
1996, 1995 and 1994. These acquisition related charges included, 
among others, charges for purchased research and development, 
purchased contracts in progress, purchased software and goodwill 
amortization. These expenses are hereafter referred to as the 
"Acquisition Charges".  

On June 3, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the net 
assets of TXN. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase.  

On September 13, 1996, the Company and Grapevine entered into 
a share exchange agreement which resulted in Grapevine becoming 
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The share exchange 
was accounted for as a pooling of interests. The Company's 
financial statements have been restated to include the results of 
Grapevine for all periods presented.  

For purposes of the following discussion and analysis, the results 
of operations of the Predecessors for the three months ended 
December 31, 1993 have been combined with the results of 
operations of the Company for the nine months ended September 
30, 1994 by adding the corresponding items without adjustment. 
This computation was done to permit useful comparison between 
the aggregated twelve months ended September 30, 1996, 1995 
and 1994. The combined results of operations for the twelve 
months ended September 30, 1994 includes nine months of 
operations of USSI.  

The Company provides electronic payments software and related 
services. During fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, 56%, 51% and 49%, 

   
respectively, of total revenues resulted from international 
operations. The Company derived approximately 75%, 74% and 
73%, respectively, of its revenues for those same periods from 
licensing its BASE24 family of software products and providing 
related services and maintenance. Although the Company believes 
that the majority of its revenues will continue to come from its 
existing BASE24 and TRANS24 products over the next several 
years, the Company has developed and is currently developing 
other software products and related services. These products are in 
the areas of network connectivity, middleware, remote banking and 
ACH.  

The following table summarizes revenues by geographic region:  

Twelve Months Ended September 30 

(in thousands)  

Americas  

EMEA  

Asia/Pacific  

1996  

1995  

1994 
(combined) 

$91,061 

$75,624 

$60,196 

47,267 

31,264 

26,363 

21,456 

11,585 

9,708 

Total revenues  

$159,784 

$118,473 

$96,267 

See Note 13 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements 
for additional information relating to geographic regions. 

Product Pricing. The Company typically charges a one-time, 
paid-up-front fee ("PUF") for perpetual usage or an ongoing 
monthly licensing fee ("MLF") for month-to-month usage of its 
software products. Under a PUF arrangement, substantially all 
revenue related to the transaction is recognized when the software 
is installed (because the customer does not have the ability to 
cancel the contract), while under a MLF arrangement, the revenue 
is recognized on a monthly basis (because the customer typically 
has the ability to cancel its contract at any time). Consequently, 
under an MLF contract, revenue recognition and cash flow are 
deferred. A key component of the Company's strategy is to 
continue to seek to increase MLF revenue. MLF revenue amounted 
to $20.9 million, $13.1 million and $6.6 million, in fiscal 1996, 
1995 and 1994, respectively. PUF revenue, including software 

  
  
  
  
modification fees, amounted to $58.0 million, $44.9 million and 
$38.1 million, in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. 

Hardware Revenues. The Company has a written agreement with 
Tandem whereby Tandem pays commissions to the Company 
when the Company can demonstrate that a customer's purchase of 
its software resulted in that customer's purchase of hardware from 
Tandem. The commissions are determined as a percentage of 
Tandem's related hardware revenue. Generally, if a customer's 
transaction volume increases and the increase necessitates the 
purchase of additional hardware or an upgrade of its hardware 
platform, Tandem pays the Company additional commissions on 
the related hardware sale to the customer. The level of hardware 
commissions earned by the Company varies from year to year due 
to timing of customer purchases, introduction of new lines of 
hardware, and changing prices of hardware. Hardware prices 
continue to decline and could result in lower hardware commission 
revenues to the Company in future years. Commissions from 
Tandem amounted to $4.4 million, $4.6 million and $3.7 million in 
fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. 

Public Offerings. The Company completed an initial public 
offering (IPO) in March 1995. The Company sold 4,825,000 shares 
of Class A Common Stock resulting in net proceeds to the 
Company, after deducting the underwriting discount and offering 
expenses, of approximately $32.3 million. The Company used 
$25.8 million of the IPO proceeds to repay all outstanding bank 
indebtedness (the "Indebtedness"). Upon repayment of the 
Indebtedness, the Company incurred an extraordinary loss of $2.7 
million for the writeoff of debt issuance costs of $1.1 million and 
original issue discount of $1.6 million. In August 1995, the 
Company completed the issuance of an additional 2,000,000 shares 
of Class A Common Stock through a public offering, resulting in 
net proceeds, after deducting the underwriting discount and 
offering expenses, of approximately $22.4 million. 

•  Management Discussion - Page 2  

o  Results of Operations 

The following table sets forth certain financial data and the 
percentage of total revenues of the Company and its 
Predecessors for the periods indicated:  

Twelve Months 
Ended 
September 30,  

  
  
  
1996  

1995  

1994  

(dollars in 
thousands)  

Amount   % of 

Revenue  Amount   % of 

Revenue 

Amount   % of 

Revenue  

Revenues:  
Software license fees   $78,937  49.4%   $58,028  49.0%   $44,948   46.7%  
Maintenance fees  
Services  
Hardware, net  

29,167   24.6  
26,724   22.6  
4,554   3.8  

35,614   22.3  
40,845   25.6  
4,388   2.7  

24,018  
22,470  
4,831  

25.0  
23.3  
5.0  

Total revenues  

159,784  100.0  

118,473  100.0  

96,267  

100.0  

--  

--  

3,143   2.0  

19,120   12.0  

41,050   25.7  

Expenses:  
Cost of software 
license fees:  
Software costs  
Amortization of 
purchased 
software  
Purchased contracts 
in 
progress  
Cost of maintenance 
and services  
Research and 
development:  
Research and 
development costs  
Charge for purchased 
research 
and development  
Selling and 
marketing  
General and 
administrative:  
General and 
administrative costs   26,151   16.4  
Amortization of 
goodwill and 
purchased 
intangibles  

34,414   21.5  

14,572   9.1  

656  

0.4  

--  

--  

13,139   11.1  

10,246  

10.6  

3,165   2.6  

3,376  

3.5  

2,956   2.5  

12,398  

12.9  

28,538   24.1  

24,533  

25.5  

12,539   10.6  

10,291  

10.7  

--  

--  

22,712  

23.6  

30,074   25.4  

23,036  

23.9  

18,651   15.7  

17,604  

18.3  

344  

0.3  

1,650  

1.7  

Total expenses  

139,106  87.1  

109,406  92.3  

125,846   130.7  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Operating income 
(loss)  

Other income 
(expense):  
Interest income  
Interest expense  
Other income  

20,678   12.9  

9,067   7.7  

(29,579)   (30.7)  

1,914   1.2  
(235)  
(626)  

(0.1)  
(0.4)  

1,077   0.9  
(1,751)   (1.5)  
13  

0.0  

507  
(3,092)  
172  

0.5  
(3.2)  
0.2  

Total other  

1,053   0.7  

(661)  

(0.6)  

(2,413)  

(2.5)  

Income (loss) before 
income taxes  
Provision for income 
taxes  

Net income (loss) 
before 
extraordinary loss  
Extraordinary loss 
related to 
early retirement of 
debt  

21,731   13.6  

8,406   7.1  

(31,992)   (33.2)  

(9,161)   (5.7)  

(2,086)   (1.8)  

(2,966)  

(3.1)  

12,570   7.9  

6,320   5.3  

(34,958)   (36.3)  

--  

--  

(2,750)   (2.3)  

--  

--  

Net income (loss)  

$12,570  7.9%  

$3,570   3.0%  

$(34,958)  (36.3)  

Revenues. Total revenues for fiscal 1996 increased 34.9% 
or $41.3 million over fiscal 1995. Of this increase, $20.9 
million of the growth resulted from a 36.0% increase in 
software license fee revenue, $14.1 million from a 52.8% 
increase in services revenue and $6.4 million from a 22.1% 
increase in maintenance fee revenue. 

Total revenues for fiscal 1995 increased 23.1% or $22.2 
million over fiscal 1994. Of this increase, $13.1 million of 
the growth resulted from a 29.1% increase in software 
license fee revenue, $4.3 million from a 18.9% increase in 
services revenue and $5.1 million from a 21.4% increase in 
maintenance fee revenue. 

The growth in software license fee revenue in both fiscal 
1996 and 1995 is the result of increased demand for the 
Company's BASE24 products and a continued growth of 
the installed base of customers paying MLF revenue. 
Contributing to the strong demand for the Company's 
products is the continued world-wide growth of EFT 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
transaction volume and the growing complexity of EFT 
payment systems. MLF revenue was $20.9 million, $13.1 
million and $6.6 in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, 
respectively. 

The growth in service revenue in both fiscal 1996 and 1995 
is the result of increased demand for technical and project 
management services which is a direct result of the 
increased installed base of the Company's BASE24 
products. 

The increase in maintenance fee revenue in both fiscal 
1996 and 1995 is a result of the continued growth of the 
installed base of the Company¹s software products. 

Expenses. Total operating expenses for fiscal 1996 
increased 27.1% or $29.7 million over fiscal 1995. Total 
operating expenses for fiscal 1995 decreased 13.1% or 
$16.4 million over fiscal 1994. The primary reason for the 
overall increase in operating expenses during fiscal 1996 is 
the increase in staff required to support the increased 
demand for the Company's products and services. Total 
staff (including both employees and independent 
contractors) was 1,272, 1,040 and 837 at September 30, 
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The decrease in total 
operating expenses in fiscal 1995 as compared to fiscal 
1994 is primarily due to a decrease in the Acquisition 
charges which were offset, in part, by higher labor costs 
associated with increases in staff. 

The Company's operating margin (excluding the 
Acquisition charges of $3.3 million, $6.5 million and $40.1 
million for fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively) was 
15.0%, 13.1% and 11.0% in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, 
respectively. These improvements are primarily due to 
increased demand for the Company's products and the 
impact of the growth in the Company's recurring revenues 
(MLF's, maintenance and facilities management fees). 

The Company's gross margin (total revenues minus cost of 
software and cost of maintenance and services) was 60.4%, 
62.2% and 60.4% in fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994, 
respectively. The decline in gross margin during fiscal 
1996 is primarily due to the accelerated growth in services 
business which typically has a lower gross margin than 
software license fees which was offset, in part, by the 
impact of additional MLF revenue. The increase in gross 

margin during fiscal 1995 is due primarily to the impact of 
additional MLF revenue.  

Research and development (R&D) costs as a percentage of 
total revenues were 9.1%, 10.6% and 34.3% in fiscal 1996, 
1995 and 1994, respectively. R&D costs in fiscal 1994 
include a one-time charge for purchased research and 
development associated with the Acquisitions. R&D costs, 
excluding the charge for purchased R&D, for fiscal 1994 
were 10.7% of revenue. The majority of R&D costs have 
been charged to expense as incurred with the capitalization 
of software costs amounting to approximately $1.2 million 
per year. The Company expects R&D costs to remain 
relatively constant as a percentage of revenues. 

Selling and marketing costs as a percentage of total 
revenues were 21.5%, 25.4% and 23.9% in fiscal 1996, 
1995 and 1994, respectively. The decrease in 1996 is due 
primarily to higher levels of services revenue and backlog 
which typically has a lower level of sales commission 
expense associated with it. The increase in 1995 is due 
primarily to an investment in sales personnel to pursue 
business opportunities in the EFT market place. 

General and administrative costs as a percentage of total 
revenues were 16.8%, 16.0% and 20.0% in fiscal 1996, 
1995 and 1994. The 1996 increase is due primarily to the 
hiring of additional staff to support the Company's growth. 
The 1995 decrease is due to the Company's emphasis on 
cost controls and the decrease in Acquisition costs. 

EBITDA. The Company's earnings before interest, income 
taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $30.6 
million, $20.9 million and $16.5 million for fiscal 1996, 
1995 and 1994, respectively. These increases are 
attributable to the continued growth in both recurring and 
non-recurring revenues more than offsetting the growth in 
operating expenses. EBITDA is not intended to represent 
cash flows for the periods. 

Other Income and Expense. Other income and expense 
consists primarily of interest income derived from short-
term investments and interest expense on indebtedness. The 
growth in interest income is due to the investment of a 
portion of the public offering proceeds received in March 
and August of 1995. The decrease in interest expense is due 
to the repayment of the Indebtedness out of the proceeds of 
the Company's March 1995 public offering. 

Extraordinary Loss. Upon repayment of the Indebtedness, 
the Company incurred an extraordinary loss of $2.7 million 
for the write-off of debt issuance costs of $1.1 million and 
original issue discount of $1.6 million. 

Income Taxes. The Company had an effective tax rate of 
42.2% for fiscal 1996 as compared to 36.9% for fiscal 
1995. The increase in the effective tax rate is principally 
the result of deferred tax assets which were recognized in 
fiscal 1995 which reduced the effective tax rate for that 
year with no corresponding recognition of deferred tax 
assets in fiscal 1996. During fiscal 1994, the Company had 
a pre-tax loss but still had a tax provision. This was the 
result of the Company expensing withholding taxes paid on 
remittances to the United States for software license fees. 
These foreign withholding taxes were expensed in fiscal 
1994 because, at that time, realization of these taxes as a 
credit was not assured. 

As of September 30, 1996, the Company has deferred tax 
assets of approximately $12.4 million and deferred tax 
liabilities of $0.7 million. Each year, the Company 
evaluates its historical operating results as well as its 
projections for the next 24 months to determine the 
realizability of the deferred tax assets. This analysis 
indicated that $4.4 million of the deferred tax assets were 
more likely than not to be realized. Accordingly, the 
Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $8.0 
million as of September 30, 1996.  

•  Management Discussion - Page 3  

o  Backlog 

As of September 30, 1996 and 1995, the Company had 
non-recurring revenue backlog of $20.4 million and $17.1 
million in software license fees and $13.6 million and 
$12.0 million in services, respectively. The Company 
includes in its non-recurring revenue backlog all fees 
specified in contracts which have been executed by the 
Company to the extent that the Company contemplates 
recognition of the related revenue within one year. There 
can be no assurance that the contracts included in non-
recurring revenue backlog will actually generate the 
specified revenues or that the actual revenues will be 
generated within the one year period. 

As of September 30, 1996 and 1995, the Company had 
recurring revenue backlog of $71.0 million and $53.1 
million, respectively. The Company defines recurring 
revenue backlog to be all monthly license fees, 
maintenance fees and facilities management fees specified 
in contracts which have been executed by the Company and 
its customers to the extent that the Company contemplates 
recognition of the related revenue within one year. There 
can be no assurance, however, that contracts included in 
recurring revenue backlog will actually generate the 
specified revenues.  

Selected Quarterly Information 

The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial 
data for each of the quarters within fiscal years 1996, 1995 
and 1994. This information has been derived from the 
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the 
financial statements of its Predecessors, and in 
management's opinion, reflects all adjustments (consisting 
only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair 
presentation of the information for the quarters presented. 
The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily 
indicative of results for any future period.  

Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,  Dec. 
31,  
1995  

1996  

1996  

Sep 30,   Jun 30,   Mar 31,  Dec 31,   Sep 30,   Jun 30 ,   Mar 31,   Dec 31  

1995  

1995  

1995  

1994  

1994  

1994  

1994  

1993  
(Predeces

$22,733  $19,969  $19,018  $17,217  $18,084  $14,386  $13,108  $12,439  $13,766  $12,912  $10,311   $7,956  

9,725   9,068   8,412   8,409   7,559   7,545   7,260   6,803  

11,991   11,067   9,169   8,618   7,286   7,012   6,250   6,187  
1,063   1,239   1,271   1,200   1,033   1,050  

6,360  

6,178  

6,070  

5,392  

6,421  
814  

5,787  
979  

5,301  
1,909  

4,353  
1,129  

(in thousands)   1996  
Revenues:  
Software 
license fees  
Maintenance 
fees  
Services  
Hardware, net   1,109   977  

Total 
revenues  

45,558   41,081   37,662   35,483   34,200   30,143   27,651   26,479   27,361   25,856   23,591  

18,830  

Expenses:  
Cost of 
software 
license fees:  
Software costs  5,171   5,173   4,871   3,905   4,059   2,829   2,892   3,359  
Amortization 
of purchased 
software  

792  

787  

790  

785  

791  

788  

783  

792  

2, 464   2,642  

2,376  

2,713  

785  

779  

778  

1,034  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Purchased 
contracts in 
progress  
Cost of 
maintenance 
and services  
Research and 
development:     
Research and 
development 
costs  
Charge for 
purchased 
research and 
development  
Selling and 
marketing  
General and 
administrative:    
General and 
administrative 
costs  
Amortization 
of goodwill 
and purchased 
intangibles  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

631  

2,325  

3,550  

3,222  

5,626  

--  

12,052   10,790   9,437   8,771   8,080   7,493   6,696   6,269  

6,993  

6,391  

5,845  

5,164  

2,892  

2,882  

2,689  

1,704  

6,779  

6,063  

5,637  

4,359  

4,596  

4,552  

4,359  

3,946  

3,796   3,450   3,788   3,537   3,550   3,630   2,767   2,592  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

22,712  

--  

9,832   8,314   7,864   8,404   9,074   7,559   7,002   6,439  

7,284   7,094   6,079   5,695   4,786   4,502   4,685   4,678  

204  

157  

145  

150  

50  

50  

103  

141  

140  

555  

139  

816  

Total 
expenses  

39,126   35,761   32,969   31,250   30,390   26,855   25,566   26,595   28,199   27,086   50,161  

19,736  

Operating 
income (loss)   6,432   5,320   4,693   4,233   3,810   3,288   2,085  

(116)  

(838)  

(1,230)   (26,570)   (906)  

Other income 
(expense):  
Interest 
income  
Other  
Interest 
expense  

334  

444  

568  

568  

458  

283  

185  

151  

177  

134  

(446)  

(99)  

(51)  

(30)  

(86)  

58  

149  

(108)  

(331)  

349  

105  

154  

91  

--  

(53)  

(54)  

(84)  

(44)  

(49)  

(41)  

(703)  

(958)  

(963)  

(1,036)   (1,056)  

(34)  

Total other  

(165)   291  

433  

494  

323  

300  

(369)  

(915)  

(1,117)   (553)  

(797)  

57  

Income (loss) 
before income 
taxes  
Benefit 

6,267   5,611   5,126   4,727   4,133   3,588   1,716  

(1,031)   (1,955)   (1,783)   (27,367)   (849)  

(2,876)   (2,392)   (2,095)   (1,798)   (1,394)   (730)   547  

(509)  

(982)  

(664)  

(533)  

(802)  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(provision) for 
income taxes  
Net income 
(loss) before 
extraordinary 
loss  
Extraordinary 
loss related to 
early 
retirement of 
debt  

Net income 
(loss)  

• 

3,391   3,219   3,031   2,929   2,739   2,858   2,263  

(1,540)   (2,937)   (2,447)   (27,900)   (1,651)  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

--  

(2,750)   --  

--  

--  

--  

--  

$3,391   $3,219   $3,031   $2,929   $2,739   $2,858   $(487)   $(1,540)  $(2,937)  $(2,447)  $(27,900)  $(1,651)  

o   

!" Liquidity and Capital Resources  

As of September 30, 1996, the Company had working capital of 
$41.0 million, cash and cash equivalents of $31.5 million and a 
$10 million bank line of credit of which there are no borrowings 
outstanding. The bank line of credit expires in June 1997.  

For the year ended September 30, 1996, the Company's cash flow 
from operations amounted to $17.8 million and cash used in 
investing activities amounted to $22.8 million.  

In the normal course of business, the Company evaluates potential 
acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or 
technologies. On October 2, 1995, the Company acquired the 
capital stock of a German software company for $3.4 million. The 
acquisition was accounted for under the purchase accounting 
method and was financed with existing cash and future payments 
to the sellers. 

On January 24, 1996, the Company entered into a transaction with 
Insession, Inc. (Insession) whereby the term of the Company's ICE 
distribution rights was extended to September 2001. In addition, 
the Company has loaned Insession $4.0 million under promissory 
notes and acquired a 7.5% minority interest in Insession for $1.5 
million. 

On June 3, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the net 
assets of TXN Solution Integrators (TXN) for $3.6 million in cash 
and the assumption of certain liabilities of TXN. The acquisition 
was accounted for under the purchase accounting method and was 
financed with existing cash.  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
In August 1995, the Company entered into a transaction with a 
start-up transaction processing business whereby it agreed to 
extend to the start-up venture a $2.5 million credit facility and 
obtained the right to acquire the start-up venture. During fiscal 
1996, the Company increased the credit facility to $3.6 million. 
During fiscal 1996 and 1995, the start-up venture borrowed $3.1 
million and $500,000, respectively, under the credit facility.  

On September 13, 1996, the Company acquired Grapevine in 
exchange for 380,441 shares of the Company¹s Class A Common 
Stock.  

On October 8, 1996, the Company acquired OSSI in exchange for 
210,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock. 
Management believes that the Company's working capital, cash 
flow generated from operations and borrowing capacity are 
sufficient to meet the Company's working capital requirements for 
the foreseeable future.  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTANTS 

•  To the Board of Directors of 

Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.: 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and 
Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and 1995, and the related 
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and 
cash flows for the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 and 
for the period from inception (November 2, 1993) through 
September 30, 1994. These financial statements are the 
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is 
to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our 
audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted 
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and 
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit 
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the 
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also 
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant 
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall 
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits 
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Transaction 
Systems Architects, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 
and 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flows 
for the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 and for the 
period from inception (November 2, 1993) through September 30, 
1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. 

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP 

Omaha, Nebraska, 
October 31, 1996  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(in thousands except share data)  
September 30, 1996 1995  

Assets  
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents  
Receivables, net  
Deferred income taxes  
Other  

Total current assets  
Property and equipment, net  
Software, net  
Intangible assets, net  
Installment receivables  
Investment and notes receivable  
Other  

1996  

1995  

$31,546  
49,135  
4,348  
1,010  

$35,511  
40,284  
2,732  
992  

86,039  
13,001  
5,424  
7,236  
1,593  
8,105  
1,761  

79,519  
9,717  
6,741  
2,027  
1,505  
500  
1,896  

Total assets  

$123,159   $101,905  

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  
Current liabilities:  
Current portion of long-term debt  
Current portion of capital lease obligations  
Accounts payable  
Accrued employee compensation  

$1,147  
342  
8,322  
5,210  

$480  
456  
5,070  
4,564  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Accrued liabilities  
Income taxes  
Deferred revenue  

Total current liabilities  
Long-term debt  
Capital lease obligations  

Total liabilities  

7,631  
4,383  
17,987  

45,022  
1,431  
256  

7,526  
3,562  
19,534  

41,192  
---  
357  

46,709  

41,549  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)  
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 
5,450,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding 
at September 30, 1996 and 1995  
Redeemable Convertible Class B Common Stock and Warrants, 
$.005 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued 
and outstanding at September 30, 1996 and 1995  
Stockholders' equity (1995 shares are before the effect of the 
two-for-one stock split in June 1996):  
Class A Common Stock, $.005 par value; 50,000,000 shares 
authorized; 23,740,766 and 11,493,760 shares issued at 
September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively  

119  

58  

Class B Common Stock, $.005 par value; 5,000,000 shares 
authorized; 2,171,252 and 1,485,626 shares issued and 
outstanding at September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively  
Additional paid-in capital  
Accumulated translation adjustments  
Accumulated deficit  
Treasury stock, at cost, 845 shares at September 30, 1996 and 
1995  

11  
96,062  
(236)  
(19,494)  

7  
92,721  
(354)  
(32,064)  

(12)  

(12)  

Total stockholders' equity  

76,450  

60,356  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  

$123,159   $101,905  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial 
statements.  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF 
OPERATIONS  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Year Ended 
September 30,  

Year Ended 
September 30,  

For the Period 
from Inception 
(November 2, 
1993) Through 
September 30,  

1996  

1995  

1994  

$78,937  
35,614  
40,845  
4,388  

$58,028  
29,167  
26,724  
4,554  

$36,992  
18,626  
18,117  
3,702  

Revenues:  
Software license fees  
Maintenance fees  
Services  
Hardware, net  

Total revenues  

159,784  

118,473  

77,437  

Expenses:  
Cost of software license fees:  
Software costs  
Amortization of purchased software  
Purchased contracts in progress  
Cost of maintenance and services  
Research and development:  
Research and development costs  
Charge for purchased research and 
development  
Selling and marketing  
General and administrative:  
General and administrative costs  
Amortization of goodwill and purchased 
intangibles  

19,120  
3,143  
---  
41.050  

13,139  
3,165  
2,956  
28,538  

7,533  
2,342  
12,398  
19,369  

14,572  

12,539  

8,587  

---  

---  

22,712  

34,414  

30,074  

18,677  

26,151  

18,651  

13,658  

656  

344  

834  

Total expenses  

139,106  

109,406  

106,110  

Operating income (loss)  

20,678  

9,067  

(28,673)  

Other income (expense):  
Interest income  
Interest expense  
Other  

1,914  
(235)  
(626)  

1,077  
(1,751)  
13  

416  
(3,058)  
172  

Total other  

1,053  

(661)  

(2,470)  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Income (loss) before income taxes  
Provision for income taxes  

21,731  
(9,161)  

8,406  
(2,086)  

(31,143)  
(2,164)  

Net income (loss) before extraordinary 
loss  
Extraordinary loss related to early 
retirement of debt  

12,570  

6,320  

(33,307)  

---  

(2,750)  

---  

Net income (loss)  

$12,570  

$3,570  

$(33,307)  

Net income (loss) per common and 
equivalent share:  
Before extraordinary loss  
Extraordinary loss  

$0.47  
---  

$0.27  
(0.12)  

$(1.62)  
---  

Net income (loss)  

$0.47  

$0.15  

$(1.62)  

Weighted average shares outstanding  

27,016  

23,251  

20,588  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial 
statements.  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  

Class A 
Common 
Stock  

Class B 
Common 
Stock  

Additional 
Paid-in 
Capital  

Accumulated 
Translation 
Adjustments  

Accumulated 
Deficit  

Treasury 
Stock  

Total  

Balance, at inception (November 
2, 1993), as previously reported   $---  
Adjustment for Grapevine 
Systems, Inc. pooling of interests   2  

2  

Balance, at inception, (November 
2, 1993), as restated  
Issuance of 1,250,000 shares of 
Class A Common Stock for cash   6  
PIK dividends for Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock  
Accretion of Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock  
Accretion of Redeemable 
Convertible Class B Common 

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

---  

80  

576  

---  

658  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

80  

576  

3,119  

---  

---  

---  

---  

658  

3,125  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

(1,175)  

---  

(1,175)  

(243)  

---  

(243)  

(459)  

---  

(459)  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock and Warrants  
Net loss  
Translation adjustments  

Balance, September 30, 1994  
PIK dividends for Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock  
Accretion of Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock  
Accretion of Redeemable 
Convertible Class B Common 
Stock and Warrants  
Sale of Class A Common Stock 
pursuant to initial public 
offering, net of issuance costs  
Conversion of Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock to 
Common Stock pursuant to 
initial public offering  
Termination of redemption rights 
of Convertible Class B Common 
Stock pursuant to initial public 
offering  
Exercise of Class A Common 
Stock Warrants  
Sale of Class A Common Stock 
pursuant to public offering, net 
of issuance costs  
Purchase of 845 shares of Class 
A Common Stock  
Exercise of stock options  
Net income  
Translation adjustments  

---  
---  

8  

---  

---  

---  
---  

---  

---  

---  

---  
---  

---  
(102)  

(33,307)   ---  
---  
---  

(33,307)  
(102)  

3,199  

(102)  

(34,608)   ---  

(31,503)  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

(649)  

---  

(649)  

(133)  

---  

(133)  

(244)  

---  

(244)  

---  

---  

---  

12  

---  

32,240  

---  

---  

---  

32,252  

23  

9  

27,483  

---  

---  

---  

27,515  

8  

---  

5,468  

---  

---  

---  

5,476  

---  

---  

1,754  

---  

7  

(2)  

22,419  

---  

---  

158  
---  
---  

---  

---  
---  
(252)  

---  

---  
---  
---  

---  

---  
---  
---  

7  
8  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

1,754  

22,424  

(12)  

(12)  

---  
3,570  
---  

---  
---  
---  

158  
3,570  
(252)  

---  

58  
56  

Balance, September 30, 1995  
Two-for-one stock split  
Sale of Class A Common Stock 
pursuant to Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan  
Conversion of Class B Common 
Stock to Class A Common Stock   4  
1  
Exercise of stock options  
Tax benefit of stock options 
exercised  
Net income  
Translation adjustments  

---  

---  
---  

92,721  
(64)  

(354)  
---  

(32,064)   (12)  
---  

---  

60,356  
---  

---  

355  

---  

(4)  

---  

---  

---  

---  
---  

1,077  

1,973  

---  
---  

---  

---  

---  

---  
118  

---  

---  

---  

---  

12,570  
---  

---  

---  

---  

---  

---  
---  

355  

---  

1,078  

1,973  

12,570  
118  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Balance, September 30, 1996  

$119  

$11  

$96,062   $(236)  

$(19,494)  $(12)  

$76,450  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial 
statements.  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH 
FLOWS 
(in thousands)  

Year Ended 
September 
30,  

Year Ended 
September 
30,  

For the Period 
from 
Inception 
(November 2, 
1993) 
Through 
September 30, 

1996  

1995  

1994  

$12,570  

$3,570  

$(33,307)  

4,415  
5,929  
---  
---  
(6,729)  
---  
(938)  
(88)  
(877)  
2,710  
425  
(399)  
2,801  
(1,970)  

3,895  
5,295  
---  
2,750  
(7,136)  
2,955  
(1,926)  
(458)  
(1,850)  
(308)  
618  
(513)  
(113)  
4,424  

3,711  
4,207  
22,712  
---  
(6,969)  
12,398  
(718)  
435  
96  
2,591  
2,369  
414  
190  
4,703  

Cash flows from operating activities:  
Net income (loss)  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided 
by operating activities:  
Depreciation  
Amortization  
Purchased research and development  
Extraordinary loss  
Increase in receivables, net  
Decrease in contracts in progress  
Increase in other current assets  
(Increase) decrease in installment receivables  
(Increase) decrease in other assets  
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable  
Increase in accrued employee compensation  
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities  
Increase (decrease) in income tax liabilities  
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue  

Net cash provided by operating activities  

17,849  

11,203  

12,832  

Cash flows from investing activities:  
Purchases of property and equipment  
Additions to software  
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired  

(6,572)  
(2,691)  
(5,403)  

(4,700)  
(1,562)  
(206)  

(3,721)  
(1,591)  
(56,594)  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Additions to investment and notes receivable  

(8,106)  

(500)  

---  

Net cash used in investing activities  

(22,772)  

(6,968)  

(61,906)  

Cash flows from financing activities:  
Proceeds from issuance of Redeemable Convertible Preferred 
Stock  
Proceeds from issuance of Redeemable Convertible Class B 
Common Stock and Warrants  
Proceeds from issuance of Class A Common Stock  
Payment of Preferred Stock Dividends  
Purchase of Treasury Stock  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options  
Proceeds from long-term debt  
Payments of long-term debt  
Payments on capital lease obligations  

---  

---  

355  
---  
(2)  
1,111  
---  
(100)  
(225)  

143  

24,142  

1,754  

1,863  

54,839  
(1,825)  
(12)  
---  
3,045  
(29,750)  
(468)  

3,125  
---  
(10)  
---  
36,824  
(13,063)  
(338)  

Net cash provided by financing activities  

1,139  

27,726  

52,543  

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash  

(181)  

(11)  

92  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  

(3,965)  
35,511  

31,950  
3,561  

3,561  
---  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  

$31,546  

$35,511  

$3,561  

Supplemental cash flow information:  
Income taxes paid  
Interest paid  

$7,476  
$218  

$2,140  
$1,520  

$1,729  
$2,639  

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:  

In October 1995, the Company acquired the capital stock of M.R. GmbH, 
for $1,500 cash and $1,900 of debt. In connection with the acquisition, 
liabilities of $1,200 were assumed.  

In June 1996, the Company acquired substantially all assets of TXN 
Solution Integrators for $3,600 in cash and assumed $1,320 in liabilities.  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial 
statements.  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS 

1. General 

Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. (the Company or TSA) was formed 
on November 2, 1993, for the purpose of acquiring all of the outstanding 
capital stock of Applied Communications, Inc. (ACI) and Applied 
Communications Inc Limited (ACIL) (see Note 3). The Company did not 
have substantive operations prior to the acquisition of ACI and ACIL.  

The Company develops, markets and supports a broad line of software 
products and services primarily focused on facilitating electronic 
payments and electronic commerce. In addition to its own products, the 
Company distributes software developed by third parties. The products are 
used principally in the financial services industry, both in domestic and 
international markets.  

The Company derives a substantial portion of its revenue from licensing 
its BASE24 family of software products and providing services and 
maintenance related to those products. BASE24 products operate on 
Tandem computers. The Company's future results depend, in part, on 
market acceptance of Tandem computers and the financial success of 
Tandem Computers Incorporated.  

The Company completed an initial public offering in March 1995. The 
Company sold 4,825,000 shares of Class A Common Stock resulting in 
net proceeds to the Company, after deducting the underwriting discount 
and offering expenses, of approximately $32,300,000. In connection with 
the initial public offering, all outstanding warrants for the purchase of 
Preferred and Common Stock were exercised and all of the Company's 
preferred stocks and Class B Common Stock converted to Class A 
Common Stock, except for 3,680,000 shares of nonvoting Class B 
Common Stock. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into Class A 
Common Stock but is no longer redeemable. (See notes 7, 9 and 10). 
During 1996, 800,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were converted to 
Class A Common Stock.  

In August 1995, the Company completed the issuance of an additional 
2,000,000 Class A Common shares through a public offering, resulting in 
net proceeds, after deducting the underwriting discount and offering 
expenses, of approximately $22,400,000. 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

Consolidated Financial Statements  

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the 
Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany 
accounts and transactions have been eliminated. 

Revenue Recognition 

Software license fees are comprised of one-time perpetual license fees, 
recurring monthly license fees and software modification fees. Perpetual 
license fees are recognized upon installation only if no significant vendor 
obligations remain. Software modification fees are recognized upon 
installation.Monthly license fees and maintenance fees are recognized 
ratably over the contract term. Services revenue is recognized as the 
related services are performed. Hardware revenue is comprised of 
commissions received on hardware sales associated with sales of the 
Company's software and net revenue received from hardware sales sold 
under original equipment manufacturer agreements. Hardware revenue is 
recognized when the related hardware is shipped to the customer. 

Software  

The Company capitalizes certain software development costs when the 
resulting products reach technological feasibility and begins amortization 
of such costs upon the general availability of the products for licensing.  

Purchased software is stated at cost.  

Amortization of all software development costs begins when the products 
are available for general release to customers and is computed separately 
for each product as the greater of (a) the ratio of current gross revenue for 
a product to the total of current and anticipated gross revenue for the 
product or (b) the straight-line method over the remaining estimated 
economic life of the product. Currently, estimated economic lives of three 
years are used in the calculation of amortization of these capitalized costs. 

Property and Equipment  

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization 
are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful 
lives ranging from three to seven years. Assets under capital leases are 
amortized over the shorter of the asset life or the lease term. 

Intangible Assets 

Intangible assets consists of goodwill arising from acquisitions (see Note 
3) and are being amortized using the straight-line method over 10 years. 
As of September 30, 1996 and 1995, accumulated amortization of 
intangible assets was $1,013,000 and $353,000, respectively. 

Translation of Foreign Currencies  

The Company's non-U.S. subsidiaries use as their functional currency the 
local currency of the countries in which they operate. Their assets and 
liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at 
the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the 
average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation gains 
and losses are included as a component of equity. Transaction gains and 
losses related to intercompany accounts are not material and are included 
in the determination of net income (loss). 

Cash and Cash Equivalents  

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents.  

Financial Instruments with Market Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk  

The concentration of credit risk in the Company's receivables with respect 
to the financial services industry is mitigated by the Company's credit 
evaluation policy, reasonably short collection terms and geographical 
dispersion of sales transactions. The Company generally does not require 
collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common and Equivalent Share  

Net income (loss) per common and equivalent share is based on the 
weighted average number of common equivalent shares outstanding 
during each period. Common equivalent shares include Redeemable 
Convertible Preferred Stock and Redeemable Convertible Class B 
Common Stock and Warrants. Pursuant to Securities and Exchange 
Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 83, all shares and options 
issued since inception (November 2, 1993) have been treated as if they 
were outstanding for all periods prior to December 31, 1994, including 
periods in which the effect is antidilutive. For periods subsequent to 
December 31, 1994, net income (loss) per common and common 
equivalent share is determined by dividing net income (loss) by the 
weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive 
common equivalent shares outstanding during each period using the 
treasury stock method. 

Long-Lived Assets  

In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) No. 121, "Accounting 
for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be 
Disposed Of," which is effective for the Company's 1997 fiscal year. 
Pursuant to this Statement, companies are required to investigate potential 
impairments of long-lived assets, certain identifiable intangibles, and 
associated goodwill, when there is evidence that events or changes in 
circumstances have made recovery of an asset's carrying value unlikely. 

An impairment loss would be recognized when the sum of the expected 
future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. The 
adoption of FAS 121 is not expected to have a significant impact on the 
Company's financial position or results of operations. 

Stock-Based Compensation  

In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FAS 
No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," which is effective 
for the Company's 1997 fiscal year. FAS No. 123 allows companies to 
either account for stock-based compensation under the new provisions of 
FAS No. 123 or under the provisions of APB 25, but requires pro forma 
disclosure in the footnotes to the financial statements as if the 
measurement provisions of FAS 123 had been adopted. The Company 
intends to continue accounting for its employee stock-based compensation 
in accordance with the provisions of APB 25. As such, the adoption of 
FAS No. 123 will not impact the financial position or the results of 
operations of the Company. 

Stock Split  

On June 7, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a two-for-
one stock split effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend distributed 
on July 1, 1996 to shareholders of record on June 17, 1996. All references 
in the consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial 
statements to number of shares, except authorized shares and treasury 
shares, and per share amounts have been restated to reflect this stock split. 
The par value of each class of Common Stock of $.005 did not change. 

Reclassifications  

Certain September 30, 1995 amounts have been reclassified to conform to 
the September 30, 1996 presentation. 

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements 

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity 
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to 
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets 
and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date 
of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of 
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could 
differ from those estimates.  

3. Acquisitions 

On December 31, 1993, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock 
of ACI and ACIL for $55 million cash. In addition, on January 3, 1994, 
the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of USSI, Inc. for $3.6 

million cash, of which $475,000 was paid in January 1995, and issuance 
of 350,000 shares of Junior Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A valued 
at $3.5 million. The acquisitions were funded through the issuance of 
common and preferred stock (see Notes 9 and 10) and a credit facility (see 
Note 7). The acquisitions were recorded using the purchase method of 
accounting and, accordingly, the cost in excess of the fair value of the net 
tangible assets was allocated as follows (in thousands): 

Purchased research and development  
Contracts in progress  
Purchased software  
Goodwill  

$22,712  
15,303  
5,908  
2,007  
$45,930  

Purchased research and development represents research and development 
of software technologies which had not reached technological feasibility 
as of the acquisition date. Purchased research and development was 
charged to operations as of the acquisition date. 

Contracts in progress represents the value assigned to open contracts of 
the acquired companies at the acquisition date. Contracts in progress are 
charged to cost of software license fees as the related contracts are 
recognized as revenue. The value of contracts in progress has been 
reduced for estimated costs of delivery of software, completion of 
contracted services and third-party commissions. The gross margin earned 
in connection with completion and delivery of these contracts was 
approximately $400,000.  

On October 2, 1995, the Company acquired the capital stock of M.R. 
GmbH, a German software company, for $3.4 million. The acquisition 
was accounted for under the purchase method and was financed with 
existing cash and future payments to the sellers. Results of operations 
prior to the acquisition were not significant.  

On June 3, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of 
TXN Solution Integrators (TXN), a Canadian partnership, for $3.6 million 
in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities of TXN. The acquisition 
was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, 
accordingly, the cost in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets 
acquired was allocated to software ($350,000) and goodwill ($2,000,000).  

The following represents pro forma results of operations as if the TXN 
acquisition had occurred October 1, 1994 (in thousands except per share 
amounts): 

Year Ended September 30,  
Revenues  
Net income before extraordinary loss  

1995  

1996  
$165,648  $127,336  
12,901   6,952  

  
Net income  
Net income per share  

12,901   4,202  
.48  

.18  

The pro forma financial information is shown for illustrative purposes 
only and is not necessarily indicative of the future results of operations of 
the Company or results of operations of the Company that would have 
actually occurred had the transaction been in effect for the periods 
presented.  

On September 13, 1996, the Company and Grapevine Systems, Inc. 
(Grapevine) completed a stock exchange transaction which resulted in 
Grapevine becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The 
stock exchange was accounted for as a pooling of interests. Accordingly 
the Company's financial statements have been restated to include the 
results of Grapevine for all periods presented.  

Combined and separate results of the Company and Grapevine during the 
periods preceding the merger were as follows (in thousands):  

Company  Grapevine  Adjustments  Combined  

Year ended September 
30, 1996:  
Net revenues  
Net income  
Year ended September 
30, 1995:  
Net revenues  
Net income (loss)  
Year ended September 
30, 1994:  
Net revenues  
Net income (loss)  

$154,931  5,482  
12,506  

64  

(629)  
---  

159,784  
12,570  

114,888   3,637  
(230)  
3,800  

(52)  
---  

118,473  
3,570  

3,532  

74,063  
(33,538)   231  

(158)  
---  

77,437  
(33,307)  

The combined financial results presented above include adjustments made 
to eliminate intercompany transactions from the combined results.  

In October 1996, the Company completed the acquisition of Open 
Systems Solutions, Inc. (OSSI). Stockholders of OSSI received 210,000 
shares of TSA Class A Common Stock in exchange for 100% of OSSI's 
Common Stock. The stock exchange was accounted for as a pooling of 
interests. OSSI's results of operations prior to the acquisition were not 
material. 

4. Receivables 

Receivables consist of the following (in thousands): 

September 30,  

1996  

1995  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
Billed  
Accrued  

Less allowance for doubtful accounts  

Less amount not collectible within one 
year  
Current receivables, net  

$32,534  $30,835  
19,284   11,866  
51,818   42,701  
(1,090)   (912)  
50,728   41,789  

(1,593)   (1,505)  

$49,135  $40,284  

Typically, the Company receives a substantial down payment upon 
execution of a contract, with the remaining balance due upon specified 
dates or events as set forth in the contract. 

5. Property and Equipment 

Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):  

1995  

September 30,  
Computer equipment  
Office furniture and fixtures  
Leasehold improvements  
Vehicles  

1996  
$16,846  $10,726  
3,242  
3,765  
1,588  
1,841  
1,331  
1,427  
23,879   16,887  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   (10,878)  (7,170)  
$13,001  $9,717  
Property and equipment, net  

6. Software 

Software consists of the following (in thousands): 

September 30,  
Internally developed software  
Purchased software  

Less accumulated amortization  
Software, net  

7. Debt 

1995  

1996  
$4,759   $3,176  
12,318   10,796  
17,077   13,972  
(11,653)  (7,231)  
$5,424   $6,741  

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands): 

September 30,  
Payments due to the sellers of M.R. GmbH 
(See Note 3), due December 1996 ($747), 
December 1997 ($745) and December 1998 
($367)  
Other  

1996   1995  

$1,859  $---  

719  

480  

  
  
  
  
Less current portion  
Long-term debt  

2,578   480  
1,147   480  
$1,431  $---  

The acquisitions of ACI, ACIL and USSI (described in Note 3) were 
partially funded with $36,000,000 in debt placed through a $38,500,000 
Credit Agreement with two financial institutions. The Credit Agreement 
was comprised of term loans in the amount of $12,500,000 (Tranche A 
Loan) and $16,000,000 (Tranche B Loan) and a Revolving Credit Facility 
in the amount of $10,000,000. In connection with the Credit Agreement, 
the lenders received warrants to purchase shares of the Company's Class B 
Common Stock (see Note 10). The Credit Agreement was collateralized 
by substantially all of the Company's assets.  

In March 1995, the Company used a portion of the initial public offering 
proceeds to repay all outstanding indebtedness under the Credit 
Agreement. Upon repayment of the indebtedness, the Company incurred 
an extraordinary loss of $2,750,000 for the writeoff of unamortized 
balances of debt issue costs of $1,100,000 and original issue discount of 
$1,650,000. The Credit Agreement was cancelled in June 1995 and 
replaced with a $10 million Revolving Line of Credit, collateralized by 
accounts receivable, which expires in June 1997.  

Maximum borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility during the year 
ended September 30, 1995 and the period from inception (November 2, 
1993) through September 30, 1994 were $1,250,000 and $7,500,000, 
respectively. The average outstanding borrowings and the average interest 
rate during the year ended September 30, 1995 and the period from 
inception (November 2, 1993) through September 30, 1994 were $316,000 
and 10.1% and $4,375,000 and 8.5%, respectively.  

Interest expense for the year ended September 30, 1995 and the period 
from inception (November 2, 1993) through September 30, 1994, includes 
amortization of original issue discount of $213,000 and $398,000, 
respectively.  

The Revolving Line of Credit requires the maintenance of a minimum 
working capital level of $6 million. As of September 30, 1996 and 1995, 
the Company was in compliance with this covenant. There were no 
borrowings under the Revolving Line of Credit during the years ended 
September 30, 1996 and 1995. 

8. Commitments and Contingencies 

Operating Leases  

The Company leases office space and equipment under operating leases 
which run through February 2011. Aggregate minimum lease payments 

  
under these agreements for the years ending September 30 are as follows 
(in thousands): 

1997  

1998  

1999  

2000  

2001  

Thereafter  

Total  

$5,052 

2,927 

2,192 

1,164 

1,088 

7,961 

$20,384 

Total rent expense for the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 and 
for the period from inception (November 2, 1993) through September 30, 
1994 was $6,313,000, $4,566,000 and $3,038,000, respectively. 

Capital Leases  

The Company leases certain computer equipment, vehicles and office 
furniture under long-term capital leases. Capitalized costs and 
accumulated depreciation (included in property and equipment, net) 
consist of the following (in thousands): 

September 30,  
Vehicles  
Computer equipment  
Office furniture and fixtures  

Less accumulated depreciation  

280  
152  

1996   1995  
$1,441  $1,217  
485  
165  
2,091   1,649  
(1,334)  (766)  
$757   $883  

A summary of future minimum lease payments under long-term capital 
leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments 
for the years ending September 30 are as follows (in thousands): 

1997  
1998  
1999  
2000  
Total minimum lease payments  
Amount representing interest  

$401  
202  
110  
35  
748  
(150)  

  
  
Present value of future minimum lease payments  
Amount due within one year  
Amount due after one year  

598  
(342)  
$256  

9. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock 

The following table represents Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock 
activity (in thousands): 

Senior 
Series A  

Senior 
Series B 

Junior 
Series A  

Junior 
Series B 

Total  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

11,759   6,718   3,500  
---  
155  
748  

---  
88  
427  

---  
---  
---  

2,375  
2,646  
---  
---  

24,352  
2,646  
243  
1,175  

12,662   7,233   3,500  

5,021  

28,416  

---  
84  
413  

---  
48  
236  

---  
---  
---  

(1,161)   (664)  

---  

143  
---  
---  

---  

143  
132  
649  

(1,825)  

(11,998)  (6,853)   (3,500)   (5,164)   (27,515)  

Balance, at inception 
(November 2, 1993)  
Shares issued  
Shares subscribed  
Accretion  
PIK Dividends  

Balance, September 
30, 1994  
Shares issued  
Accretion  
PIK dividends  
Cash payment of PIK 
dividends  
Conversion to 
common stock 
pursuant to initial 
public offering  

Balance, September 
30, 1995 and 1996  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

$---  

All Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock converted to 9,079,856 and 
3,200,000 shares of Class A and Class B Common Stock, respectively, 
upon completion of the Company's initial public offering.  

In December 1993, the Company sold for cash 1,400,000 shares of Senior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A, and 800,000 shares of Senior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, (cumulatively, the Senior Preferred 
Stock). Total proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the sale of the Senior 
Preferred Stock was $18,477,000 ($8.40 per share).  

In December 1993, the Company sold for cash 237,500 shares of Junior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B for $2,375,000 ($10 per share). In 
January 1994, the Company issued 350,000 shares of Junior Convertible 
Preferred Stock, Series A valued at $3,500,000 ($10 per share) in 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
connection with the acquisition of USSI as discussed in Note 3. The Junior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A and Series B are herein referred to 
as the Junior Preferred Stock.  

During 1994, the Board of Directors approved the Employees Stock 
Purchase Plan for substantially all TSA employees. Under this plan, 
employees subscribed to 268,163 shares of the Company's Junior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B, at a price of $10 per share. In 
October 1994, employees subscribed to an additional 14,301 shares at a 
price of $10 per share. All subscribed shares were fully paid for and issued 
in December 1994.  

Prior to the Company's initial public offering, the holders of the Senior 
Preferred Stock were entitled to quarterly cumulative dividends at an 
annual rate of $.70 per share. All such dividends were payable solely in 
kind by the issuance of a dividend of additional shares of Senior 
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A or Series B (the PIK Dividends) at 
the rate of 7/100 of a share for each $.70 of accruing dividends. If the 
Senior Preferred Stock converted prior to January 1, 1997, accruing 
dividends would have been paid in cash or PIK Dividends. As of 
September 30, 1994, 74,794 shares of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, 
Series A and 42,739 shares of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, Series 
B had been accrued as PIK Dividends, respectively.  

The holders of the shares of the Senior and Junior Preferred Stock were 
entitled, at their option, to convert at any time at a rate of one share of 
Senior and Junior Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A or Series B into 
two shares of Class A or Class B Common Stock, respectively.  

The holders of Senior and Junior Preferred Stock also had the right at their 
option to redeem shares at any time on or after December 31, 2003, at an 
amount equal to $10 per share plus an amount equal to all accrued and 
unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared, plus any 
other dividends unpaid. The excess of the redemption value over the 
carrying value was being accreted by periodic charges to accumulated 
deficit over the life of the issue. Holders of the Senior and Junior Preferred 
Stock, Series A and Class A Common Stock have the right to one vote per 
share on any matters subject to stockholder vote. 

10. Redeemable Convertible Class B Common Stock and Warrants 

The following table represents Redeemable Convertible Class B Common 
Stock and Warrants activity (in thousands):  

Warrants 

Class B 
Common Stock 

Total  

Balance, at inception 
(November 2, 1993)  

$---  

$---  

$---  

  
Warrants issued  
Warrants exercised  
Accretion  

Balance, September 30, 1994  
Accretion  
Warrants exercised  
Termination of redemption 
rights and conversion to Class 
A and Class B Common Stock 
pursuant to initial public 
offering  

4,773  
(1,860)  
229  

3,142  
122  
(3,264)  

---  
1,860  
230  

2,090  
122  
3,264  

4,773  
---  
459  

5,232  
244  
---  

---  

(5,476)  

(5,476)  

Balance, September 30, 1995 
and 1996  

$---  

$---  

$---  

All redemption rights terminated upon completion of the Company's initial 
public offering. In December 1993, warrants to purchase 1,320,000 shares 
of Class B Common Stock were issued as part of the Senior Convertible 
Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (see Note 9). The 
warrants were exercisable at a price of $.003 per share. The warrants were 
recorded at their fair value, net of issuance costs, on date of issuance of 
$1,800,000 ($1.36 per share). As of September 30, 1995, all warrants had 
been exercised and converted to Class A or Class B Common Stock.  

In December 1993, warrants to purchase 1,528,780 shares of Class B 
Common Stock were issued as part of the credit agreement (see Note 7). 
The warrants were exercisable at any time at a price of $.003 per share. 
The warrants were recorded at their fair value on date of issuance of 
$2,262,000 ($1.48 per share). As of September 30, 1995, all warrants had 
been exercised and converted to Class A Common Stock.  

In December 1993, warrants to purchase 700,000 shares of Class B 
Common Stock were issued in connection with the sale of Senior 
Preferred Stock. The warrants were exercisable at a price of $2.50 per 
share. The warrants were recorded at their fair value on date of issuance of 
$711,000 ($1.02 per share). As of September 30, 1995, all warrants had 
been exercised and converted to Class A Common Stock.  

Prior to the Company's initial public offering, the Class B Common Stock 
and any shares issuable as such under the respective warrant agreements 
described above were redeemable at fair value by the holders upon the 
earlier of; 1) repayment of 50% of the Tranche B debt, 2) change in 
control of the Company or 3) December 31, 1998. The difference between 
the current fair value over the carrying value of the Class B Common 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Stock and Warrants was being accreted by periodic charges to 
accumulated deficit over the life of the respective issues.  

11. Stock Option Plans 

The Company has a 1994 Stock Option Plan (1994 Plan) whereby 
1,910,976 shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock have been 
reserved for issuance to eligible employees of the Company and its 
subsidiaries. Shares issuable upon exer-cise of these options will be Class 
A Common Stock. Options granted are considered incentive stock options. 
The stock options are granted at a price set by the Board of Directors 
provided that the minimum price shall be $2.50 per share for 955,488 
shares and $5 per share for 955,488 shares. The term of the outstanding 
options is ten years. The stock options vest ratably over a period of four 
years.  

During 1996, the Company adopted the 1996 Stock Option Plan (1996 
Plan) whereby 1,008,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock 
have been reserved for issuance to eligible employees of the Company and 
its subsidiaries and non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The 
stock options are granted at a price not less than fair market value at the 
time of the grant. The term of the outstanding options is ten years. The 
options vest annually over a period of four years. 

Share activity under the option plans is set forth below: 

1996 
Plan  

Outstanding, at inception 
(November 2, 1993)  
Granted  
Cancelled  

---  

---  
---  

Outstanding, September 
30, 1994  
Granted  
Cancelled  
Exercised  

---  

---  
---  
---  

1994 
Plan  

---  

Total  

---  

941,300  
(21,600)  

941,300  
(21,600)  

Price 
Per Share  

---  

$2.50  
$2.50  

919,700  

919,700  

1,003,378   1,003,378  
(59,404)  
(59,404)  
(44,254)  
(44,254)  

$2.50 - 12.50  
$2.50 - 5.00  
$2.50 - 5.00  

Outstanding, September 
30, 1995  
Granted  
Cancelled  
Exercised  

---  

1,819,420   1,819,420  

236,000   39,000  
---  
---  

(35,308)  
(327,673)  

275,000  
(35,308)  
(327,673)  

$12.00 - 31.00  
$2.50 - 20.25  
$2.50 - 20.25  

Outstanding, September  236,000   1,495,439   1,731,439  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
30, 1996  

At September 30, 1996 and 1995, 687,903 shares and 593,036 shares, 
respectively, were exercisable under the plans. 

12. Employee Benefit Plans 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan  

During 1996, the Company adopted the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase 
Plan whereby 900,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock 
have been reserved for sale to eligible employees of the Company and its 
subsidiaries. Employees may designate up to the lesser of $5,000 or 10% 
of their annual compensation for the purchase of stock under this plan. 
The price for shares purchased under the plan is 85% of market value on 
the last day of the purchase period. Purchases are made at the end of each 
fiscal quarter. As of September 30, 1996, 16,745 shares have been issued 
under this plan.  

ACI 401(k) Retirement Plan  

The 401(k) Retirement Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all 
domestic employees of ACI. Participants may contribute up to 15% of 
their annual wages. ACI matches 100% of participant contributions up to a 
maximum of 2.5% of compensation. ACI's contributions charged to 
expense during the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 and the 
period from the date of acquisition of ACI through September 30, 1994 
were $507,000, $466,000 and $299,000, respectively.  

ACI Profit Sharing Plan and Trust  

The ACI Profit Sharing Plan and Trust is a non-contributory profit sharing 
plan covering all employees of ACI provided they are at least 21 years of 
age and have completed one year of service. The plan provides for ACI to 
contribute a discretionary amount as determined annually by the 
Company's President and Chief Financial Officer. ACI's contributions 
charged to expense during the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 
and the period from the date of acquisition of ACI through September 30, 
1994 were $399,000, $382,000 and $241,000, respectively. 

ACIL Pension Plan 

ACIL has a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of its 
employees. The benefits are based on years of service and the employees' 
compensation during employment. Contributions to the plan are 
determined by an independent actuary on the basis of periodic valuations 
using the projected unit cost method. Participants contribute 5% of their 
pensionable salaries and ACIL contributes at the rate of 10% of 

pensionable salaries. Net periodic pension expense includes the following 
components (in thousands): 

For the 
period  
from 
inception  
(November 
2, 1993  
through 
September 
30,  
1994)  

Year 
Ended 
September 
30, 1996  

Year 
Ended 
September 
30, 1995  

Service cost  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation  
Return on plan assets:  
Actual  
Gain (loss) deferred  
Amortization of unrecognized gain  
Total periodic pension expense  

$1,018  
738  

(1,187)  
382  
(13)  
$938  

$786  
542  

(851)  
233  
(32)  
$678  

$617  
384  

254  
(689)  
---  
$566  

The following table summarizes the funded status of the plan and the 
related amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheet 
(in thousands): 

September 30,  
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:  
Vested  
Non-vested  

1996  

1995  

$8,932   $7,680  
524  

444  

Accumulated benefit obligation  
Impact of future salary increases  

9,456  
654  

8,124  
564  

Projected benefit obligation  
Plan assets at fair value, primarily investments 
in marketable equity securities of United 
Kingdom companies  

10,110   8,688  

10,762   8,485  

Plan assets greater (less) than projected benefit 
obligation  
Unrecognized gain  

652  

(203)  

(2,113)   (1,156)  

Accrued pension cost  

$(1,461)  $(1,359)  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
The accrued pension cost at September 30, 1996 and 1995, includes an 
unfunded accrued pension cost of approximately $1,200,000 recorded in 
connection with the acquisition of ACIL.  

The most significant actuarial assumptions used in 1996 and 1995 in 
determining the pension expense and funded status of the plan are as 
follows:  

• 

8.0% 
Discount rate for valuing liabilities 
Expected long-term rate of return on assets 
9.0% 
Rate of increase in future compensation levels  6.0% 

USSI Profit Sharing Plan and Trust  

The USSI Profit Sharing Plan and Trust has both a profit sharing 
component and a 401(k) component. USSI contributions are discretionary. 
USSI's contributions charged to expense during the years ended 
September 30, 1996 and 1995 were $90,000 and $82,000, respectively. No 
contributions were made to this plan for the period from the date of 
acquisition of USSI through September 30, 1994. 

Grapevine 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan 

The Grapevine 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan is a defined contribution plan 
covering all employees of Grapevine. Grapevine contributions are 
discretionary. Employees may contribute up to 10% of their 
compensation. No contributions were made by Grapevine to this plan 
during the years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994. 

13. Segment Information 

The Company operates primarily in one industry segment, which includes 
the development, marketing and support of on-line computer software 
products and services for automated electronic payment systems.  

The Company operates in three geographic regions: 1) North and South 
America, 2) Europe, Middle East and Africa and 3) Asia Pacific. The 
following table sets forth information about the Company's operations in 
these different geographic regions (in thousands):  

Year 
Ended 
September 
30,  
1996  

Year 
Ended 
September 
30,  
1995  

For the 
period 
from 
inception 
(November 
2, 1993) 
through

 
  
Revenues:  
Americas  
Europe, Middle East and Africa  
Asia/Pacific  

Operating Income:  
Americas  
Europe, Middle East and Africa  
Asia/Pacific  

September 
30, 1994  

$91,061  
47,267  
21,456  
$159,784  

$75,624  
31,264  
11,585  
$118,473  

$47,727  
21,707  
8,003  
$77,437  

$27,981  
8,302  
6,740  
43,023  

$21,009  
4,910  
1,235  
27,154  

$4,037  
1,374  
457  
5,868  

Research and Development and Corporate General and 
Administrative Expenses  

(22,345)  

(18,087)  

(34,541)  

Operating Income (Loss)  

$20,678  

$9,067  

$(28,673)  

Identifiable Assets:  
Americas  
Europe, Middle East and Africa  
Asia/Pacific  

14. Income Taxes  

$77,496  
33,706  
11,957  

$69,692  
25,936  
6,277  

$40,406  
17,514  
2,515  

$123,159  

$101,905  

$60,435  

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FAS 109, 
"Accounting for Income Taxes". FAS 109 is an asset and liability 
approach which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and 
liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events which have 
been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. In 
estimating future tax consequences, FAS 109 generally considers all 
expected future events other than enactments or changes in the tax law or 
rates. Although the Company incurred losses for the period from inception 
(November 2, 1993) through September 30, 1994, there was a provision 
for income taxes consisting of taxes related to foreign jurisdictions. The 
provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):  

For the Year Ended September 30,  

For the period from Inception (November 2, 1993) through September 
30, 1994  

1996     

1995     

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Current  Deferred  Total   Current  Deferred  Total   Current  Deferred  Total  
$165  
---  
1,999  
$2,164  

Federal  $6,074   $(2,066)   $4,008  $1,086   $(1,327)  $(241)  $---  
1,862   753  
State  
---  
1,933  
3,291   1,793  
Foreign  3,291  
Total   $11,298   $(2,137)   $9,161  $3,632   $(1,546)  $2,086  $1,999   $165  

753  
1,574   1,999  

$165  
---  
---  

---  
(219)  

(71)  
---  

The difference between the income tax provision computed at the statutory 
federal income tax rate and the financial statement provision for income 
taxes is summarized as follows:  

For the Year 
Ended 
September 30, 
1996  

For the Year 
Ended 
September 30, 
1995  

For the period from 
Inception (November 2, 
1993) through 
September 30, 1994  

$7,389  

239  

Tax expense (benefit) at 
federal rate of 34%  
Losses with no current 
tax benefit  
Effective state income tax  1,140  
Foreign taxes  
Recognition of deferred 
income tax assets 
previously reserved 
against  
Amortization of 
intangibles  
Other  

(185)  

578  

---  

---  

$1,923  

$(10,589)  

872  

497  
---  

(1,844)  

731  

(93)  

12,238  

(1,516)  
1,999  

---  

---  

32  

$9,161  

$2,086  

$2,164  

The deferred tax assets and liabilities result from differences in the timing 
of the recognition of certain income and expense items for tax and 
financial accounting purposes. The sources of these differences are as 
follows (in thousands):  

September 30, 1996  September 30, 1995 

Deferred assets:  
Depreciation  
Amortization  
Foreign taxes  
Acquired net operating loss carryforward of 
USSI  
Net operating loss carryforward  

$ 431  
5,850  
3,754  

1,200  

594  

$ 484  
5,943  
2,433  

1,200  

1,430  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
Other  

539  

12,368  

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance  

(8,021)  

Deferred liabilities:  
Acquired software  
Other  

(171)  
(493)  

(664)  
$3,683  

574  

12,064  

(9,332)  

(629)  
(557)  

(1,186)  
$1,546  

For income tax purposes, the Company had foreign tax credit 
carryforwards of approximately $2,105,000 at September 30, 1996, which 
expire in 1999. At September 30, 1996, management evaluated its 1996 
and 1995 operating results as well as its projections for 1997 and 1998 and 
concluded that it was more likely than not that certain of the deferred tax 
assets would be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recognized a 
deferred tax asset of $4.4 million as of September 30, 1996.  

15. Quarterly Financial Data (in thousands, except per share data, and 
unaudited)  

Three Months Ended :   December 31  March 31  June 30  September 30 

1996  
Total revenues  
Operating income  
Net income  
Net income per share   .11  

$35,483  
4,233  
2,929  

$37,662   $41,081  $45,558  
4,693  
3,031  
.11  

5,320   6,432  
3,219   3,391  
.12  

.13  

(1,540)  

1995  
Total revenues  
26,479  
Operating income (loss)  (116)  
Net income (loss) 
before extraordinary 
loss  
Net income (loss) per 
share before 
extraordinary loss  
Net income (loss)  
Net income (loss) per 
share  

(.07)  

(.07)  

(1,540)  

27,651   30,143   34,200  
3,288   3,810  
2,085  

2,263  

2,858   2,739  

.10  

.12  

.11  

(487)  

2,858   2,739  

(.02)  

.12  

.11  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Corporate and Shareholder Information  

Transfer Agent  

Communications regarding 
change of address, transfer of 
stock ownership or lost stock 
certificates should be directed to:  

Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. 
161 North Concord Exchange 
Post Office Box 738 
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55705  

Annual Meeting  

The Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders will be held at 
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 
25, 1997 at the Company's 
Corporate Meeting center, 230 
South 108th Avenue, in Omaha, 
Nebraska.  

Independent Public 
Accountants  

Arthur Andersen LLP 1700 
Farnam Street  
Omaha, Nebraska 68102  

Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 
330 South 108th Avenue 
Omaha, Nebraska 68154  

Investor Information  

A copy of the Company's Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 
1996, as filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, will be sent to stockholders free 
of charge upon written request to:  

William J. Hoelting 
Director of Investor Relations 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 
330 South 108th Avenue 
Omaha, Nebraska 68154  

In Europe Contact:  

Michael E. Carter 
Director of Investor Relations -- Europe 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 
59 Clarendon Road 
Watford, Herts WD1 1LA 
United Kingdom  

Home Page: www.tsainc.com  

Stock Information  

Transaction Systems Architects' common stock 
is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under 
symbol TSAI. The high and low sale prices 
(adjusted for two-for-one stock split occurring 
July 1, 1996) for the Company's common stock 
during the fiscal quarters since its initial public 
offering on February 23, 1995 are as follows:  

High   Low  

1996  
First Quarter   16 7/8  12 1/2  
Second Quarter  20 5/8  16 3/8  
Third Quarter   34  
19 7/8  
Fourth Quarter  45 3/4  24 3/4  

1995  

 
 
 
 
 
Second Quarter   11 3/4  8 7/8  
13 3/8  9 3/8  
Third Quarter  
11 3/4  
Fourth Quarter   14  

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS  

Board of Directors  

Executive Officers  

William E. Fisher 
Chairman, President and Chief 
Executive Officer -- 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., 
and 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
-- 
Applied Communications, Inc.  

David C. Russell 
Senior Vice President -- 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., 
and 
President and Chief Operating Officer 
-- 
Applied Communications, Inc.  

Frederick L. Bryant 
General Partner 
ABS Partners, L.P.  

Promod Haque 
Vice President and General Partner 
Norwest Venture Capital, Inc.  

Charles E.Noell, III 
Managing Partner 
JMI Equity Fund, L.P.  

Jim D. Kever 
President and Co-Chief Executive 
Officer 
ENVOY Corporation  

Larry G. Fendley 
Executive Vice President 
CSG Systems, Inc.  

William E. Fisher 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive 
Officer -- 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., and 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -- 
Applied Communications, Inc.  

David C. Russell 
Senior Vice President -- 
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., and 
President and Chief Operating Officer -- 
Applied Communications, Inc.  

David P. Stokes 
General Counsel and Secretary  

Gregory J. Duman 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  

Jon L. Howe 
Chief Technical Officer  

Edward H. Mangold 
Senior Vice President - Americas Region  

Thomas H. Boje 
Vice President - Europe, Middle East and 
Africa Region  

Fred L. Grabher 
Vice President - Asia/Pacific Region  

Mark H. Vipond 
Vice President - Transaction Systems 
Architects, Inc., and 
President - USSI, Inc.  

Stephen J. Royer 
Vice President - Transaction Systems 
Architects, Inc., and

 
 
 
President - Grapevine Systems, Inc.  

Richard N. Launder 
Senior Vice President - Corporate 
Development