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                                                                   Exhibit 10.16

                           SunGard Data Systems Inc.
                           1996 Equity Incentive Plan
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1.  Purpose

    The purpose of the SunGard Data Systems Inc. 1996 Equity Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") is to promote the long-term retention of key employees of SunGard
Data Systems Inc., ("SunGard") and its current and future subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Company") who are in a position to make significant
contributions to the success of the Company, to further reward these employees
for their contributions to the Company's success, to provide additional
incentive to these employees to continue to make similar contributions in the
future, and to further align the interests of these employees with those of
SunGard's stockholders.  These purposes will be achieved by granting to such
employees, in accordance with the provisions of this Plan, Options, Restricted
Stock or Unrestricted Stock Awards or Performance Awards, for shares of
SunGard's common stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), or Loans or
Supplemental Grants, or combinations thereof ("Awards").

2.  Aggregate Number of Shares

    2.1  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock for which Awards may be
granted under the Plan will be 1,750,000 shares, with an individual limit of
200,000 shares per Participant (as defined in Section 3.1 below) per year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there is any change in the capitalization of
SunGard, such as by stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, exchange
of securities, recapitalization or other event which the Compensation Committee
(the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of SunGard deems, in
its sole discretion, to be similar circumstances, the aggregate number and/or
kind of shares for which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be
appropriately adjusted in a manner determined by the Committee.  No fractional
shares of Common Stock will be delivered under the Plan.

    2.2  Treasury shares, reacquired shares and unissued shares of Common Stock
may be used for purposes of the Plan, at SunGard's sole discretion.

    2.3  Shares of Common Stock that were issuable pursuant to an Award that
has terminated but with respect to which such Award had not been exercised,
shares of Common Stock that are issued pursuant to an Award but that are
subsequently forfeited, and shares of Common Stock that were issuable pursuant
to an Award that was payable in Common Stock or cash but that was satisfied in
cash, shall be available for future Awards under the Plan.

3.  Eligible Employees and Participants

    3.1  All current and future key employees of the Company, including
officers and directors who are employed by the Company ("Employees"), shall be
eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.  Neither members of the Committee nor
any other directors who are not Employees shall be eligible to receive Awards.
No eligible Employee (a "Participant") shall have any right to receive an Award
except as expressly provided in the Plan.
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    3.2  The Participants who shall actually receive Awards under the Plan shall
be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. In making such
determinations, the Committee shall consider the positions and responsibilities
of eligible employees, their past performance and contributions to the Company's
growth and expansion, the value of their services to the Company, the difficulty
of finding qualified replacements, and such other factors as the Committee deems
pertinent in its sole discretion.

4.  Administration

    4.1  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Each member of the
Committee shall be a "disinterested person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act").  The
Committee may delegate all or any portion of its authority hereunder to a
subcommittee consisting of at least two Committee members.  In addition to its
other authority and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall
have the authority to determine, in its sole discretion, the Participants who
shall be eligible to receive Awards, the Participants who shall actually receive
Awards, the size of each Award, including the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Award, the type or types of each Award, the date on which each
Award shall be granted, the terms and conditions of each Award, whether to waive
compliance by a Participant with any obligations to be performed by the
Participant under an Award or waive any term or condition of an Award, whether
to amend or cancel an existing Award in whole or in part (except that the
Committee may not, without the consent of the holder of an Award or unless
specifically authorized by the terms of an Award, take any action under this
clause with respect to such Award if such action would adversely affect the
rights of such holder), and the form or forms of instruments that are required
or deemed appropriate under the Plan, including any written notices and
elections required of Participants.

    4.2  The Committee may adopt such rules for the administration of the Plan
as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion.  For all purposes of
the Plan, a majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum,
and the vote or written consent of a majority of the members of the Committee on
a particular matter shall constitute the act of the Committee on that matter.
The Committee shall have the exclusive right to construe the Plan and any Award,
to settle all controversies regarding the Plan or any Award, to correct defects
and omissions in the Plan and in any Award, and to take such further actions as
the Committee deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion, to carry out
the purpose and intent of the Plan.  Such actions shall be final, binding and
conclusive upon all parties concerned.

    4.3  No member of the Committee or the Board shall be liable for any act or
omission (whether or not negligent) taken or omitted in good faith, or for the
good faith exercise of any authority or discretion granted in the Plan to the
Committee or the Board, or for any act or omission of any other member of the
Committee or the Board.

    4.4  All costs incurred in connection with the administration and operation
of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.  Except for the express obligations of
the Company under the Plan and under Awards granted in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability with respect to any
Award, or to any Participant or any transferee of shares of Common Stock from
any Participant, including, but not limited to, any tax liabilities, capital
losses, or other costs or losses incurred by any Participant or any such
transferee.

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5.  Types of Awards

    5.1  Options.

         (a) An Option is an Award entitling the recipient on exercise thereof
to purchase Common Stock at a specified exercise price. Both "incentive stock
options," as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") (any Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock
option being hereinafter referred to as an "ISO"), and Options that are not
incentive stock options ("non-ISO"), may be granted under the Plan.

         (b) The exercise price of an Option will be determined by the
Committee subject to the following:

             (1) The exercise price of an ISO shall not be less than 100% (110%
in the case of an ISO granted to a ten percent shareholder) of the fair market
value (as defined in Section 11.9) of the Common Stock subject to the ISO,
determined as of the time the ISO is granted. A "ten-percent shareholder" is any
person who at the time of grant owns, directly or indirectly, or is deemed to
own by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code, stock
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of SunGard or of any of its subsidiaries.

             (2) The exercise price of a non-ISO shall not be less than 100% of
the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the non-ISO, determined as
of the time the non-ISO is granted, except that:

                 (A) the exercise price of a non-ISO may be equal to or greater
than 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the non-ISO, if
the discount is granted in lieu of a reasonable amount of cash compensation; or

                 (B) the exercise price of a non-ISO granted pursuant to a
Performance Award may be (i) 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock
subject to the non-ISO, determined either as of the time the Performance Award
is granted or as of the time the non-ISO is granted pursuant to the Performance
Award; or (ii) an amount less than such fair market value if the discount is
granted in lieu of a reasonable amount of cash compensation as consideration for
exceeding the goal(s) set forth in the Performance Award.

             (3) In no case may the exercise price paid for Common Stock which
is part of an original issue of authorized Common Stock be less than the par
value per share of the Common Stock.

         (c) The period during which an Option may be exercised will be
determined by the Committee, except that the period during which an ISO may be
exercised will not exceed ten years (five years, in the case of an ISO granted
to a ten-percent shareholder) from the day immediately preceding the date the
Option was granted.

         (d) An Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on
such terms and conditions, as the Committee may determine.  The Committee may at
any time accelerate the time at which all or any part of the Option may be
exercised.  Any exercise of an Option must be in writing, signed by the proper
person and delivered or mailed to the

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Company, accompanied by (1) any documents required by the Committee and (2)
payment in full in accordance with Section 5.1(e) below for the number of shares
for which the Option is exercised.

         (e) Stock purchased on exercise of an Option must be paid for as
follows: (1) in cash or by check (acceptable to SunGard in accordance with
guidelines established for this purpose), bank draft or money order payable to
the order of SunGard or (2) if so permitted by the instrument evidencing the
Option (or in the case of an Option which is not an ISO, by the Committee at or
after grant of the Option), (i) through the delivery of shares of Common Stock
which have been outstanding for at least six months (unless the Committee
expressly approves a shorter period) and which have a fair market value on the
last business day preceding the date of exercise equal to the exercise price, or
(ii) by delivery of a promissory note of the Option holder to SunGard, payable
on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, or (iii) by
delivery of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking by a broker to deliver
promptly to SunGard sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or (iv) by any
combination of the permissible forms of payment; provided, that if the Common
Stock delivered upon exercise of the Option is an original issue of authorized
Common Stock, at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value
of such Common Stock must be paid other than by the Option holder's promissory
note.

         (f) If the market price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option
exceeds the exercise price of the Option at the time of its exercise, the
Committee may cancel the Option and cause SunGard to pay in cash or in shares of
Common Stock (at a price per share equal to the fair market value per share) to
the person exercising the Option an amount equal to the difference between the
fair market value of the Common Stock which would have been purchased pursuant
to the exercise (determined on the date the Option is canceled) and the
aggregate exercise price which would have been paid.  The Committee may exercise
its discretion to take such action only if it has received a written request
from the person exercising the Option, but such a request will not be binding on
the Committee.

     5.2 Restricted and Unrestricted Stock.

         (a) A Restricted Stock Award entitles the recipient to acquire, for a
purchase price not less than the par value, shares of Common Stock subject to
the restrictions described in Section 5.2(d) below ("Restricted Stock").

         (b) A Participant who is granted a Restricted Stock Award shall have
no rights with respect to such Award unless the Participant accepts the Award by
written instrument delivered or mailed to SunGard accompanied by payment in full
of the specified purchase price, if any, of the shares covered by the Award.
Payment may be by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the
Committee.

         (c) A Participant who receives Restricted Stock shall have all the
rights of a stockholder with respect to such stock, including voting and
dividend rights, subject to the restrictions described in paragraph (d) below
and any other conditions imposed by the Committee at the time of grant.  Unless
the Committee otherwise determines, certificates evidencing shares of Restricted
Stock will remain in the possession of the Company until such shares are free of
all restrictions under the Plan.

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         (d) Except as otherwise specifically provided by the Plan or the
Award, Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, exchanged, pledged, gifted or
otherwise disposed of, or transferred, and if a Participant suffers a Status
Change (as defined in Section 6.1 below) for any reason, must be offered to
SunGard for purchase for the amount of cash paid for the such stock, or
forfeited to the Company if no cash was paid.  These restrictions will lapse and
the shares will become unrestricted ("Unrestricted Stock") at such time or
times, and on such terms and conditions, as the Committee may determine;
provided, however, that these restrictions will apply ratably for a minimum
period of three years, unless the Restricted Stock is subject to a Performance
Award, in which case these restrictions will apply for a minimum period of one
year.  The Committee may at any time accelerate the time at which the
restrictions on all or any part of the shares will lapse.

         (e) Any Participant making, or required by an Award to make, an
election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to Restricted Stock shall
deliver to SunGard, within 10 days of the filing of such election with the
Internal Revenue Service, a copy of such election.

         (f) The Committee may, at the time any Award described in this Section
5 is granted, provide that any or all the Common Stock delivered pursuant to the
Award will be Restricted Stock.

         (g) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, approve the sale to any
Participant of shares of Common Stock free of restrictions under the Plan for a
price which is not less than the par value of the Common Stock, provided that
the value of such Award, which equals the difference between the price and the
fair market value of such shares on the date of grant, is in lieu of a
reasonable amount of cash compensation.

     5.3 Performance Awards. A Performance Award entitles the recipient to
receive, without payment, an Award or Awards described in this Section 5
following the attainment of such performance goals, during such measurement
period or periods, and on such other terms and conditions, all as the Committee
may determine. Performance goals may be related to overall corporate
performance, operating group or business unit performance, personal performance
or such other category of performance as the Committee may determine. Financial
performance may be measured by revenue, operating income, net income, earnings
per share, number of days sales outstanding in accounts receivable,
productivity, return on equity, common stock price, price-earnings multiple, or
such other financial factors as the Committee may determine.

     5.4 Loans and Supplemental Grants.

         (a) The Company may make a loan to a Participant ("Loan"), either in
connection with the purchase of Common Stock under the Award or the payment of
any Federal, state and local income tax with respect to income recognized as a
result of the Award.  The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole
discretion, to determine whether to make a Loan, the amount, terms and
conditions of the Loan, including the interest rate (which may be zero), whether
the Loan is to be secured or unsecured or with or without recourse against the
borrower, the terms on which the Loan is to be repaid and the terms and
conditions, if any, under which the Loan may be forgiven.  In no event shall any
Loan have a term (including extensions) in excess of ten years.

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         (b) In connection with any Award, the Committee may grant a cash award
to the Participant ("Supplemental Grant") not to exceed an amount equal to (1)
the amount of any Federal, state and local income tax on ordinary income for
which the Participant may be liable with respect to the Award, determined by
assuming taxation at the highest marginal rate, plus (2) an additional amount on
a grossed-up basis intended to make the Participant whole on an after-tax basis
after discharging all the Participant's income tax liabilities arising from all
payments under this Section 5.  Any payments under this Section 5(b) shall be
made at the time the Participant incurs Federal income tax liability with
respect to the Award.

6.   Events Affecting Outstanding Awards

     6.1  Termination of Service by Death or Disability.  If a Participant
ceases to be an Employee (such termination of employment being hereinafter
referred to as a "Status Change") by reason of death or permanent disability (as
determined by the Committee), the following rules shall apply, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee:

          (a) All Options held by the Participant at the time of such Status
Change, to the extent then exercisable, will continue to be exercisable by the
Participant's heirs, executor, administrator or other legal representative, for
a period of one year after the Participant's Status Change.  After the
expiration of such one-year period, all such Options shall terminate.  In no
event, however, shall an Option remain exercisable beyond the latest date on
which it could have been exercised without regard to this Section 6.  All
Options held by a Participant at the time of such Status Change that are not
then exercisable shall terminate upon such Status Change.

          (b) All Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time of such
Status Change shall immediately become free of all restrictions and conditions.

          (c) Any payment or benefit under a Performance Award or Supplemental
Grant to which the Participant was not irrevocably entitled at the time of such
Status Change shall be forfeited and the Award canceled as of the time of such
Status Change.

     6.2  Termination of Service Other Than by Death or Disability.  If a
Participant suffers a Status Change other than by reason of death or permanent
disability (as determined by the Committee), the following rules shall apply,
unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award:

          (a) All Options held by the Participant at the time of such Status
Change, to the extent then exercisable, will continue to be exercisable by the
Participant for a period of three months after the Participant's Status Change.
After the expiration of such three-month period, all such Options shall
terminate.  In no event, however, shall an Option remain exercisable beyond the
latest date on which it could have been exercised without regard to this Section
6.  All Options held by a Participant at the time of such Status Change that are
not then exercisable shall terminate upon such Status Change.

          (b) All Restricted Stock held by the Participant at the time of such
Status Change shall immediately become free of all restrictions and conditions,
unless such Status Change results from a voluntary resignation or termination
for Cause (as defined in Section 6.2(d)), in which event all Restricted Stock
held by the Participant at the time of the Status Change shall be transferred to
the Company (and, in the event the certificates representing

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such Restricted Stock are held by the Company, such Restricted Stock shall be so
transferred without any further action by the Participant) in accordance with
Section 5.2 above.

          (c) Any payment or benefit under a Performance Award or Supplemental
Grant to which the Participant was not irrevocably entitled at the time of such
Status Change shall be forfeited and the Award canceled as of the date of such
Status Change.

          (d) A termination by the Company of a Participant's employment with or
service to the Company shall be for "Cause" only if:  (1) at least 75% of the
members of the Board determined that the Participant (i) was guilty of gross
negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties for the
Company, or (ii) breached or violated, in a material respect, any agreement
between the Participant and the Company or any of the Company's policy
statements regarding conflicts-of-interest, insider trading or confidentiality,
or (iii) committed a material act of dishonesty or breach of trust; (2) such
determination was made at a duly convened meeting of the Board with respect to
which the Participant received at least 10 days prior written notice, had a
reasonable opportunity to make a statement and answer the allegations against
him or her; and (3) either (i) the Participant was given a reasonable
opportunity to take remedial action but failed or refused to do so, or (ii) at
least 75% of the members of the Board also determined, at such meeting, that an
opportunity to take remedial action would not have been meaningful under the
circumstances.

          (e) For all purposes of this Section 6.2 and Section 6.3, (1) if a
Participant is an Employee of a subsidiary of SunGard and such subsidiary ceases
to be a subsidiary of SunGard, then the Participant's employment with the
Company will be deemed to have been terminated by the Company without Cause,
unless the Participant is transferred to SunGard or another subsidiary of
SunGard; (2) the employment with the Company of a Participant will not be deemed
to have been terminated if the Participant is transferred from SunGard to a
subsidiary of SunGard, or vice versa, or from one subsidiary of SunGard to
another; and (3) if a Participant terminates his or her employment with the
Company following a reduction in his or her rate of compensation, then the
Participant's employment with the Company will be deemed to have been terminated
by the Company without Cause.

     6.3  Change in Control

          (a) In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in Section
6.3(b)), the following rules will apply, unless otherwise expressly provided by
the Committee at the time of the grant of an Award or unless otherwise
determined by the Board in accordance with Section 6.3(c):

              (1) Each outstanding Option shall automatically become exercisable
in full six months after the occurrence of such Change in Control or, if sooner,
upon a termination by the Company of the Participant's employment with or
service to the Company for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in
Section 6.2(d)). This provision shall not prevent an Option from becoming
exercisable sooner as to Common Stock or cash that would otherwise have become
available under such Option or Right during such period.

              (2) Each outstanding share of Restricted Stock shall automatically
become free of all restrictions and conditions six months after the occurrence
of such Change in Control or, if sooner, upon a termination by the Company of
the Participant's employment with or service to the Company for any reason other
than for Cause (as defined in Section

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6.2(d)).  This provision shall not prevent the earlier lapse of any restrictions
or conditions on Restricted Stock that would otherwise have lapsed during such
period.

              (3) Conditions on Performance Awards and Supplemental Grants
which relate only to the passage of time and continued employment shall
automatically terminate six months after the occurrence of such Change in
Control or, if sooner, upon a termination by the Company of the Participant's
employment with or service to the Company for any reason other than for Cause
(as defined in Section 6.2(d)). This provision shall not prevent the earlier
lapse of any conditions relating to the passage of time and continued employment
that would otherwise have lapsed during such period. Performance or other
conditions (other than conditions relating only to the passage of time and
continued employment) shall continue to apply unless otherwise provided in the
instrument evidencing the Awards or in any other agreement between the
Participant and the Company or unless otherwise agreed to by the Committee.

          (b) A "Change in Control" means:  (i) the occurrence of an event that
would, if known to SunGard's management, be required to be reported by SunGard
under Item 1(a) of Form 8-K pursuant to the 1934 Act; or (ii) the acquisition or
receipt, in any manner, by any person (as defined for purposes of the 1934 Act)
or any group of persons acting in concert, of direct or indirect beneficial
ownership (as defined for purposes of the 1934 Act) of 20% or more of the
combined voting securities ordinarily having the right to vote for the election
of directors of SunGard; or (iii) a change in the constituency of the Board with
the result that individuals (the "Incumbent Directors") who are members of the
Board on the Effective Date (as specified in Section 9) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual who is
elected to the Board after the Effective Date and whose nomination for election
was unanimously approved by the Incumbent Directors shall be considered an
Incumbent Director beginning on the date of his or her election to the Board; or
(iv) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or a significant portion of
the Company's business or assets, or the execution by the Company of a binding
agreement providing for such a transaction.

          (c) The provisions of Section 6.3(a) shall not apply to the extent
expressly determined by at least 75% of the Incumbent Directors at a duly
convened meeting of the Board held before the occurrence of a Change in Control.

7.   Grant and Acceptance of Awards

     7.1   The Committee's approval of a grant of an Award under the Plan,
including the names of Participants and the size of the Award, including the
number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award, shall be reflected in
minutes of meetings held by the Committee or the Board or in written consents
signed by members of the Committee or the Board.  Once approved by the
Committee, each Award shall be evidenced by such written instrument, containing
such terms as are required by the Plan and such other terms, consistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be approved from time to time by the Committee.

     7.2   Each instrument may be in the form of agreements to be executed by
both the Participant and the Company, or certificates, letters or similar
instruments, which need not be executed by the Participant but acceptance of
which shall evidence agreement to the terms thereof.  The receipt of an Award
shall not impose any obligation on the Participant to accept the Award.

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     7.3  Except as specifically provided by the Plan or the instrument
evidencing an Award, a Participant shall not become a stockholder of SunGard
until (i) the Participant makes any required payments in respect of the Common
Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Award, (ii) the Participant furnishes
SunGard with any required agreements, certificates, letters or other
instruments, and (iii) the Participant actually receives the shares of Common
Stock.  Subject to any terms and conditions imposed by the Plan or the
instrument evidencing an Award, upon the occurrence of all of the conditions set
forth in the immediately preceding sentence, a Participant shall have all rights
of a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock, including, but not
limited to, the right to vote such shares and to receive dividends and other
distributions paid with respect to such shares.  The Committee may, upon such
conditions as it deems appropriate, provide that a Participant will receive a
benefit in lieu of cash dividends that would have been payable on any and all
Common Stock subject to the Participant's Award, had such Common Stock been
outstanding.  Without limitation, the Committee may provide for payment to the
Participant of amounts representing such dividends, either currently or in the
future, or for the investment of such amounts on behalf of the Participant.

     7.4  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall not
be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to
remove any restriction from shares of Common Stock previously delivered under
the Plan (a) until all conditions to the Award have been satisfied or removed,
(b) until, in the opinion of SunGard's General Counsel, all applicable Federal
and state laws and regulations have been complied with, (c) if the outstanding
Common Stock is at the time listed on any stock exchange or included for
quotation on an inter-dealer system, until the shares to be delivered have been
listed or included or authorized to be listed or included on such exchange or
system upon official notice of notice of issuance, (d) if it might cause SunGard
to issue or sell more shares of Common Stock than SunGard is then legally
entitled to issue or sell, and (e) until all other legal matters in connection
with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been approved by SunGard's
General Counsel.  If the sale of Common Stock has not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may require, as a condition to
exercise of an Award, such representations or agreements as SunGard's General
Counsel may consider appropriate to avoid violation of such Act and may require
that the certificates evidencing such Common Stock bear an appropriate legend
restricting transfer.  If an Award is exercised by the Participant's legal
representative, the Company shall be under no obligation to deliver Common Stock
pursuant to such exercise until the Company is satisfied as to the authority of
such representative.

8.   Tax Withholding

     The Company shall withhold from any cash payment made pursuant to an Award
an amount sufficient to satisfy all Federal, state and local withholding tax
requirements (the "withholding requirements").  In the case of an Award pursuant
to which Common Stock may be delivered, the Committee shall have the right to
require that the Participant or other appropriate person remit to the Company an
amount sufficient to satisfy the withholding requirements, or make other
arrangements satisfactory to the Committee with regard to such requirements,
prior to the delivery of any Common Stock.  If and to the extent that such
withholding is required, the Committee may permit a Participant to elect at such
time and in such manner as the Committee may determine to have the Company hold
back from the shares of Common Stock to be delivered, or to deliver to the
Company, Common Stock having a value calculated to satisfy the withholding
requirement.  If at the time an ISO is exercised,

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the Committee determines that the Company could be liable for withholding
requirements with respect to a disposition of the Common Stock received upon
exercise, the Committee may require as a condition of exercise that the person
exercising the ISO agree (a) to inform the Company promptly of any disposition
(within the meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code) of Common Stock received upon
exercise, and (b) to give such security as the Committee deems adequate to meet
the potential liability of the Company for the withholding requirements and to
augment such security from time to time in any amount reasonably deemed
necessary by the Committee to preserve the adequacy of such security.

9.   Stockholder Approval, Effective Date and Term of Plan

     The Plan was adopted by the Board on February 12, 1996, subject to the
approval of SunGard's stockholders.  The Plan shall be submitted to SunGard's
stockholders for approval at SunGard's 1996 annual meeting of stockholders.  If
such approval is not obtained at such meeting (or at any subsequent meeting at
which such approval is sought), then, at the discretion of the Board, this Plan
may be re-submitted to SunGard's stockholders for approval at any subsequent
annual meeting of stockholders or at any special meeting of stockholders
(including a special meeting that may be called solely for that purpose).  The
Plan shall not become effective unless and until it is approved by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
SunGard's Common Stock represented and entitled to vote at a duly convened
meeting of SunGard's stockholders.  If this Plan is so approved by SunGard's
stockholders, then the date of such approval shall be the effective date of this
Plan ("Effective Date").  No Award shall be granted more than ten years after
the Effective Date.

10.  Effect, Amendment, Suspension and Termination

     Neither adoption of the Plan nor the grant of Awards to a Participant will
affect the Company's right to grant to such Participant awards that are not
subject to the Plan, to issue to such Participant Common Stock as a bonus or
otherwise, or to adopt other plans or arrangements under which Common Stock may
be issued to Employees or other persons or entities.  The Board reserves the
right, at any time and from time to time, to amend the Plan in any way, or to
suspend or terminate the Plan, effective as of the date specified by the Board
when it takes such action, which date may be before or after the date the Board
takes such action; provided that any such action shall not affect any Awards
granted before the actual date on which such action is taken by the Board; and
further provided that the approval of SunGard's stockholders shall be required
whenever necessary for the Plan to continue to satisfy the conditions of Rule
16b-3 under the 1934 Act, Section 422 of the Code with respect to the award of
ISO (unless the Board determines that ISO shall no longer be granted under
the Plan), any bylaw, rule or regulation of the primary market system or stock
exchange on which SunGard's Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading,
or any other applicable law, rule or regulation.

11.  Other Provisions

     11.1 Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall confer upon any
Employee or other Participant the right to continue in the employ of, or to
continue to provide service to, the Company or any affiliated corporation, or
interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any affiliated corporation
to terminate the employment or service of any Employee or other Participant for
any reason.

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<PAGE>
 
     11.2 Corporate action constituting an offer by SunGard of Common Stock to
any Participant under the terms of an Award shall be deemed completed as of the
date of grant of the Award, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or
letter evidencing the Award is actually received or accepted by the Participant.

     11.3 None of a Participant's rights under any Award or under the Plan may
be assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or under the laws of
descent and distribution.  The foregoing shall not, however, restrict a
Participant's rights with respect to Unrestricted Stock or the outright transfer
of cash, nor shall it restrict the ability of a Participant's heirs, estate,
beneficiaries, or personal or legal representatives to enforce the terms of the
Plan with respect to Awards granted to the Participant.

     11.4 The Plan, and all Awards granted hereunder, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The
headings of the Sections of the Plan are for convenience of reference only and
shall not affect the interpretation of the Plan.  All pronouns and similar
references in the Plan shall be construed to be of such number and gender as the
context requires or permits.  If any provision of the Plan is determined to be
unenforceable for any reason, then that provision shall be deemed to have been
deleted or modified to the extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the
remaining provisions of the Plan shall be affected.

     11.5 All notices with respect to the Plan shall be in writing and shall be
hand delivered or sent by certified mail or reputable overnight delivery
service, expenses prepaid.  Notices to the Company or the Committee shall be
delivered or sent to SunGard's headquarters to the attention of its General
Counsel.  Notices to any Participant or holder of shares of Common Stock issued
pursuant to an Award shall be sufficient if delivered or sent to such person's
address as it appears in the regular records of the Company or SunGard's
transfer agent.

     11.6 If there is any change in the capitalization of SunGard, such as by
stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, exchange of securities,
recapitalization or other event which the Committee deems, in its sole
discretion, to be similar circumstances, the Committee may make such adjustments
to the number and/or kind of shares of stock or securities subject to Awards
then outstanding or subsequently granted, any exercise prices relating to such
Awards and any other provision of such Awards affected by such change, as the
Committee may determine in its sole discretion.  The Committee may also make
such adjustments to take into account material changes in law or in accounting
practices or principles, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions, dispositions or
similar corporate transactions, or any other event, as the Committee may
determine in its sole discretion.

     11.7 The Committee may agree at any time, upon request of a Participant, to
defer the date on which any payment under an Award shall be made.

     11.8 In any case that a Participant purchases Common Stock under an Award
for a price equal to the par value of the Common Stock, the Committee may
determine, in its sole discretion, that such price has been satisfied by past
services rendered by the Participant.

     11.9 For the purposes of the Plan and any Award granted hereunder, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, the term "fair market value" of Common
Stock on or as of a specified date shall mean either (i) in the case of an
Option not granted under a Performance Award, the last sale price (as defined
below in this Section) for one share of Common Stock

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<PAGE>
 
on the last trading day on or before the specified date, or, if the foregoing
does not apply, the market value determined by the Committee; or (ii) in the
case of an Option granted under a Performance Award, the average of the last
sale prices during the first ten trading days beginning on or after the
specified date, or the average of the last sale prices during such other period
of time beginning on or after the specified date as is determined by the
Committee, or, if the foregoing does not apply, the market value determined by
the Committee.  "Last sale price" means the last sale price reported on The
Nasdaq Stock Market or on such other primary market system or stock exchange on
which SunGard's Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading.

THE UNDERSIGNED CERTIFIES THAT THIS PLAN WAS DULY APPROVED BY THE COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC., AND WAS DULY
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC., AT MEETINGS DULY
HELD ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1996.


                                  /s/ Lawrence A. Gross
                                ----------------------------
                                LAWRENCE A. GROSS, SECRETARY
                                OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.




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