<PAGE>


Exhibit 10.1


THIRD AMENDMENT, dated as of May 8, 1998 (this "Amendment"), to the CREDIT 
AGREEMENT, dated as of October 2, 1997, as amended by the Global Amendment 
and Assignment and Acceptance, dated as of October 20, 1997 (as further 
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit 
Agreement"), among AXIOHM TRANSACTION SOLUTIONS, INC. (f/k/a DH Technology, 
Inc.), a California corporation (the "Borrower"), the several banks and other 
financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to the Credit 
Agreement (the "Lenders"), LEHMAN BROTHERS INC., as arranger, LEHMAN 
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as syndication agent (in such capacities, the 
"Syndication Agent"), and UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as administrative 
agent (the "Administrative Agent").

                                W I T N E S S E T H :


WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Syndication Agent, the Administrative Agent and 
the Lenders are parties to the Credit Agreement; and 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend the Credit Agreement to effectuate certain 
changes requested by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, all as set 
forth in this Amendment;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as 
follows:

     SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.

     1.1  Defined Terms.  Unless otherwise defined herein and except as set
     forth in this Amendment, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used 
     herein as therein defined. 


     SECTION 2.  AMENDMENT OF CREDIT AGREEMENT.

     2.1  Amendment.1  Amendment.  Section 6.8(d) of the Credit Agreement is
     hereby amended by adding the following after the first reference therein to
     "property":

     "except for a leasehold interest in real property in multi-tenant 
     facilities where the use of the total facility is exclusively for 
     offices and where the Borrower's leasehold interest is 25% or less of 
     the total leasehold,"

     SECTION 3.  MISCELLANEOUS.

     3.1  Effectiveness.  This Amendment shall become effective on the date 
     (the "Effective Date") when the Administrative Agent shall have received 
     counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed and delivered by the 
     Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders. 


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     3.2  Representations and Warranties.  After giving effect to the 
     amendment contained herein, on the Effective Date, the Borrower hereby 
     (i) confirms, reaffirms and restates the representations and warranties 
     set forth in Section 4 of the Credit Agreement; provided that each 
     reference in such Section 4 to "this Agreement" shall be deemed to be a 
     reference both to this Amendment and to the Credit Agreement as amended 
     by this Amendment and (ii) confirms that no Default or Event of Default 
     shall have occurred and be continuing.

     3.3  Continuing Effect; No Other Amendments.  Except as expressly 
     amended or waived hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Credit 
     Agreement and the other Loan Documents are and shall remain in full 
     force and effect.  The amendments contained herein shall not constitute 
     an amendment or waiver of any other provision of the Credit Agreement or 
     the other Loan Documents or for any purpose except as expressly set 
     forth herein.  The Third Amendment and all prior and future amendments, 
     consents and waivers in respect of the Credit Agreement each shall be a 
     Loan Document.

     3.4  Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of 
     counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which counterparts when so 
     executed shall be an original, but all the counterparts shall together 
     constitute one and the same instrument.

     3.5  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED 
     AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
     
     3.6  Expenses.  The Borrower agrees to pay or reimburse the 
     Administrative Agent for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses 
     incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution 
     of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the fees and 
     disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed
and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.


                                   AXIOHM TRANSACTION SOLUTIONS, INC.
               
                                   By: /s/ Janet W. Shanks            
                                      --------------------------------
                                   Title: Chief Accounting Officer
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as
                                    Administrative Agent and as a Lender
                                   
                                   By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]                 
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Vice President/SCE
                                   
                                   

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                                   LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as
                                   Syndication Agent and as a Lender
                                                                 
                                   By: /s/ Michele Swanson             
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Authorized Signatory
                                   

                                   SOUTHERN PACIFIC BANK
     
                                   By: /s/ Cheryl A. Wasilewski             
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title:  Vice President
                                   
                                   BHF-BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
                                   
                                   By: /s/ Dan Dobrjanskyi             
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Assistant Vice President
               
                                   By: /s/ Anthony Heyman              
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Assistant Vice President
                                   
                                   BSB BANK & TRUST COMPANY
                                   
                                   By: /s/ J.B. Wariott                    
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Administrative Vice President
                                   
                                   IMPERIAL BANK, A CALIFORNIA BANKING
                                   CORPORATION
                                                                 
                                   By: /s/ Ray Vadalma                
                                      ---------------------------------
                                   Title: Senior Vice President        
                                   
                                   MELLON BANK, N.A.
                                                                 
                                   By: /s/ E.M. Foda                  
                                      ---------------------------------



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