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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.26

                               [Letterhead of SLP]

                                                     _____ __, 2003


Crystal Decisions, Inc.
895 Emerson Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Dear Sirs:

      This letter serves to confirm our retention by Crystal Decisions, Inc.
(together with its divisions and subsidiaries, the "Company") to provide
management, consulting and financial services to the Company as follows:

      1. The Company has retained us, and we hereby agree to accept such
retention, to provide to the Company, to the extent approved by the Company in
advance in accordance with this section, certain management, business strategy,
consulting and financial services of the type customarily performed by us. The
Company agrees to reimburse us and our affiliates, from time to time upon
request, for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
this retention, including travel expenses and expenses of our counsel. Prior to
the effective date of this agreement, the Company received the approval of its
Audit Committee to reimburse us and our affiliates up to $14,000 per quarter
(the "Pre-Approved Amount") for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with this retention, including travel expenses and expenses of our
counsel. We may seek these reimbursements up to the Pre-Approved Amount without
any further action by the Company's Audit Committee. Other services shall be
provided when and if requested in writing by the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and approved in advance by the Company's Audit Committee.
The Company will reimburse us for travel expenses in accordance with the
Company's policy.
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      2. Upon agreement of the Company and us, we may also invoice the Company
for additional fees in connection with acquisition or divestiture transactions
or in the event that we, or any of our affiliates, perform services for the
Company above and beyond those called for by this agreement.

      3. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold us, our affiliates and their
and our respective partners, executives, officers, directors, employees, agents
and controlling persons (each such person, including us, being an "Indemnified
Party") harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, losses, claims, damages and
liabilities arising from or in connection with legal actions brought by or on
behalf of the holders or future holders of the outstanding securities of the
Company or creditors or future creditors of the Company), joint, several or
otherwise, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under any
applicable federal or state law, or otherwise, related to or arising out of any
activity contemplated by this agreement or our retention pursuant to, and our or
our affiliates' performance of the services contemplated by, this agreement and
will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all expenses (including reasonable
counsel fees and disbursements) upon request as they are incurred in connection
with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of any pending or
threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not
such Indemnified Party is a party and whether or not such claim, action or
proceeding is initiated or brought by the Company; provided, however, that you
will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision (and amounts
previously paid that are determined not required to be paid by the Company
pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph shall be repaid promptly) to the extent
that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found by a court to have
resulted from our bad faith or gross negligence. You also agree that no
Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in
contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company related to or arising out of our
retention pursuant to, or our affiliates, performance of the services
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contemplated by, this agreement except to the extent that any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense is found by a court to have resulted from our bad
faith or gross negligence.

You also agree that, without our prior written consent, you will not settle,
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened
claim, action or proceeding to which an Indemnified Party is an actual or
potential party and in respect of which indemnification could be sought under
the indemnification provision in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless
such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.

Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of any suit, action,
proceeding or investigation with respect to which an Indemnified Party may be
entitled to indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Party will notify the
Company in writing of the assertion of such claim or the commencement of such
suit, action, proceeding or investigation, but the failure so to notify the
Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have
hereunder, except to the extent that such failure has materially prejudiced the
Company. If the Company so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such
notice, the Company may participate at its own expense in the defense of such
suit, action, proceeding or investigation. Each Indemnified Party may employ
separate counsel to represent it or defend it in any such suit, action,
proceeding or investigation in which it may become involved or is named as a
defendant and, in such event, the reasonable fees and expense of such counsel
shall be borne by the Company; provided, however, that the Company will not be
required in connection with any such suit, action, proceeding or investigation,
or separate but substantially similar actions arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, to pay the fees and disbursements of more than one
separate counsel (other than local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties in any
single action or proceeding. Whether or not the Company participates in the
defense of any claim, both the Company and we shall cooperate in the defense
thereof and shall furnish such records,
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information and testimony, and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings,
hearing, trial and appeals, as may be reasonably requested in connection
therewith.


If the indemnification provided for hereunder is determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party, or
insufficient to hold any Indemnified Party harmless, in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (other than any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities found in a final judgment by a court to have resulted from our
willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence), then the Company, on the one
hand, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, and we, on the other hand,
will contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received, or sought to be
received, by the Company on the one hand and us, solely in our capacity as an
advisor under this agreement, on the other hand in connection with the
transactions to which such indemnification, contribution or reimbursement is
sought, or (ii) if (but only if) the allocation provided by clause (i) above is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and us on the other, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall our
aggregate contribution hereunder exceed the amount of fees actually received by
us in respect of the transaction at issue pursuant to this agreement. The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to above will be deemed to include any legal or other fees
or expense, reasonably incurred in defending any action or claim. The Company
and we agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to
this paragraph were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method
which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in
this paragraph. The indemnity, contribution and expenses reimbursement
obligations the Company has under this Paragraph shall be in addition to any
liability the Company may have,
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and notwithstanding any other provision of this letter, shall survive the
termination of this agreement.

      4. Any advice or opinions provided by us may not be disclosed or referred
to publicly or to any third party (other than the Company's legal, tax,
financial or other advisors, who shall be directed by the Company not to
disclose or otherwise make public any such advice or opinions), except in
accordance with our prior written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld) or as required by law.

      5. We shall act as an independent contractor, with duties solely to the
Company. The provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of and shall be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
Nothing in this agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any
person other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns,
any rights or remedies under or by reason of this agreement. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the parties acknowledge that nothing in this
agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any present or future
owner of any securities of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any
present or future creditor of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, any
rights or remedies under or by reason of this agreement or any performance
hereunder.

      6. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of California.

      7. The terms of this agreement are effective as of the date first written
above. This agreement shall continue in effect until the earlier of (i) its
termination by the mutual consent of the parties hereto or (ii) Silver Lake
Technology Investors Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Investors Cayman, L.P. and Silver
Lake Partners Cayman, L.P., collectively, ceasing to own,
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either indirectly (through their ownership interest in New SAC) or directly, 10%
of the issued and outstanding common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.

      8. Each party hereto represents and warrants that the execution and
delivery of this agreement by such party has been duly authorized by all
necessary action of such party.

      9. If any term or provision of this agreement or the application thereof
shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be invalid and unenforceable, such
term or provision shall be ineffective, as to such jurisdiction, solely to the
extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or
unenforceable any remaining terms or provisions hereof or affecting the validity
or enforceability of such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. To the
extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto waive any provision of
law that renders any term or provision of this agreement invalid or
unenforceable in any respect.

      10. Each of the Company and us waives all right to trial by jury in any
action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or
otherwise) related to or arising out of our retention pursuant to, or our
performance of the services contemplated by this agreement.
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      If the foregoing sets forth the understanding between us, please so
indicate on the enclosed signed copy of this letter in the space provided
therefor and return it to us, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement among us.

                                       Very Truly Yours,

                                       Silver Lake Technology Management, L.L.C.


                                       By:  _______________________________




AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED

CRYSTAL DECISIONS, INC.



By:  ___________________________