SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC
S-3, 1998-07-15
COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION
Previous: PORTOLA PACKAGING INC, 10-Q, 1998-07-15
Next: CONECTISYS CORP, 10QSB, 1998-07-15



<PAGE>
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 15, 1998
                                                                REGISTRATION NO.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                      ----------------------------------
                                   FORM S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      ----------------------------------
                           SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                                 <C>                              <C>
         DELAWARE                             1285 DRUMMERS LANE,             51-0267091
(State or other jurisdiction of           WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA 19087       (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                  (610) 341-8700           Identification No.)
</TABLE>
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
            area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                          LAWRENCE A. GROSS, ESQUIRE
                      VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                           SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.
                 1285 DRUMMERS LANE, WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA 19087
                                (610) 341-8700
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)
                      ----------------------------------
                      ----------------------------------

  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the
public:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration
Statement.

  If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment, please check the following box.
[ ]

  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [x]

  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ] _______

  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  [ ]  __________

  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         TITLE OF                 AMOUNT         PROPOSED MAXIMUM    PROPOSED MAXIMUM      AMOUNT OF
 EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES          TO BE           OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE        REGISTRATION
     TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED           PER SHARE        OFFERING PRICE          FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                      <C>                 <C>                     <C>
 
Common Stock,
 par value $0.01 per share   688,467 shares(1)       $38.688(2)        $26,635,411(2)       $7,857.45
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement covers shares owned by certain selling
    stockholders which shares may be offered from time to time by the selling
    stockholders for a period ending on or before May 29, 1999.
(2) Based upon the average of the high and low sale price of the Common Stock as
    reported by the New York Stock Exchange on July 13, 1998, estimated solely
    for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule
    457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
       SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 15, 1998

 
                                  PROSPECTUS
                                  ----------

                           SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.

                        688,467 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

  The shares offered hereby (the "Shares") consist of 688,467 shares of common
stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of SunGard Data Systems
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SunGard"), which are owned by the selling
stockholders listed herein under "Selling Stockholders" (collectively, the
"Selling Stockholders").  The Shares may be offered from time to time by the
Selling Stockholders for a period ending on or before May 29, 1999.  SunGard
shall pay its own legal and accounting fees, all registration and filing fees
attributable to the registration of the Shares, all legal fees and filing fees
relating to state securities or "blue sky" filings, the filing fee payable to
the New York Stock Exchange and all printing fees incurred in connection
herewith. Each Selling Stockholder shall pay his, her or its own legal and
accounting fees and any other expenses incurred by the Selling Stockholder.  Any
commissions, discounts or other fees payable to broker-dealers in connection
with any sale of the Shares shall be borne by the Selling Stockholder selling
such Shares.  SunGard will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the
Shares by the Selling Stockholders.

  The Selling Stockholders have not advised SunGard of any specific plans for
the distribution of the Shares covered by this Prospectus, but it is anticipated
that the Shares will be sold from time to time primarily in transactions (which
may include block transactions) on the New York Stock Exchange at the market
price then prevailing, although sales may also be made in negotiated
transactions or otherwise.  The Selling Stockholders and the brokers and dealers
through whom sale of the Shares may be made may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and their commissions or discounts and other compensation may be regarded
as underwriters' compensation.  See "Plan of Distribution."

  SunGard's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "SDS."  On July __, 1998, the last reported closing price of the Common
Stock was $______ per share.


         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
     UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION
                    TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                                        
                         -----------------------------

                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JULY ___, 1998
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     SunGard has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act (the
"Registration Statement") with respect to the registration of SunGard Common
Stock owned by the Selling Stockholders.  This Prospectus constitutes a part of
the Registration Statement and, in accordance with the rules of the Commission,
omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement.  For
such information, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the
exhibits thereto.

     SunGard is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission.  The
Registration Statement, as well as such reports, proxy statements and other
information, can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices at Northwestern Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and at
Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.  Copies of such material
also can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.  In addition,
such materials and other information concerning SunGard can be inspected at the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.  The
Commission also maintains a World Wide Web site that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission.  The address of the site is
(http://www.sec.gov).

     THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT
PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH.  SUNGARD HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE
WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON, INCLUDING ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO WHOM A COPY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON, A
COPY OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION THAT HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE HEREIN (NOT INCLUDING EXHIBITS THERETO UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE
SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE INFORMATION INCORPORATED
HEREIN).  SUCH DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM SUNGARD
DATA SYSTEMS INC., 1285 DRUMMERS LANE, WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA 19087, ATTENTION:
INVESTOR RELATIONS; TELEPHONE: (610) 341-8700.


                    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed by SunGard (Commission File Number 1-12989)
with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
(1) SunGard's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, (2) SunGard's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1998, (3) SunGard's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
January 16, 1998 and (4) the description of SunGard Common Stock that is
incorporated by reference in SunGard's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
on May 14, 1997, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
updating such description.

     All documents filed by SunGard pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing thereof.  Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein,
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Prospectus, except
as so modified or superseded.

                                  THE COMPANY

     SunGard is a computer services and application software company.  SunGard
is a large specialized provider of proprietary investment support systems, is
the pioneer and a leading provider of comprehensive computer disaster recovery
services, and also provides proprietary healthcare information systems and other
computer services.  SunGard is a Delaware corporation that was organized in
1982.  SunGard's principal executive offices are located at 1285 Drummers Lane,
Wayne, Pennsylvania, 19087, and its telephone number is (610) 341-8700.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     SunGard will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares by the
Selling Stockholders.


                           INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS

     Statements about SunGard's expectations and all other statements made in
this registration statement or incorporated by reference hereby, other than
historical facts are forward-looking statements.  Since these statements involve
risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, SunGard's actual
results could differ materially from expected results.  SunGard derives most of
its forward-looking statements from its operating budgets and forecasts, which
are based upon many detailed assumptions. While SunGard believes that its
assumptions are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in
predicting certain important factors, especially the timing and magnitude of
software sales, the timing and scope of technological advances and year 2000
compliance, the integration and performance of acquired businesses, the
prospects for future acquisitions, and the overall condition of the financial
services industry.  These factors, as and when applicable, are discussed in
SunGard's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
most recent Form 10-K, a copy of which may be obtained from SunGard without
charge.  See "Available Information."

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                             SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     The following table sets forth certain information as of the date of this
Prospectus regarding the ownership of shares of SunGard Common Stock of each
Selling Stockholder and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the Shares
offered hereby.  All of the Shares being offered by the Selling Stockholders
were acquired by them as a result of private placement transactions.  The Shares
are being registered to permit public secondary trading in the Shares and the
Selling Stockholders may offer the Shares for resale from time to time.  See
"Plan of Distribution."


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                        
                                         # of Shares     # of Shares      # of Shares     % of Shares 
                                         Owned Before    Being Offered    Owned After     Owned After 
     Name of Selling Stockholder         the Offering       For Sale      the Offering    the Offering 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
 
James V. Harkness(1).................    3,720             3,086              634              * 
                                            
Dorothy A. King......................      612               551               61              *
 
Michael J. King(2)...................    3,286               654             2,632             * 
                                                                                                
Douglas LeFevre(3)...................    3,708             3,306               402             * 
                                                
Gail M. Lord.........................       97                87                10             * 
                                                   
Caroline E. May QSST(4)..............    3,184             2,866               318             *
                                                
Daniel M. May(5).....................   61,934            47,241            14,693             * 
                                               
Dennis M. May(6).....................   56,413            42,211            14,202             *
 
Margaret A. May QSST (7).............    3,184             2,866               318             * 
                                                
Robert Michaels......................   26,500            26,500                 0             * 
                                               
Francis X. Peters(8).................  363,989           363,989                 0             * 
                                                                                                
Eric B. Peters(9)....................  195,110           195,110                 0             * 
</TABLE>

- -----------------------------
*    Less than one (1) percent of the outstanding Common Stock of SunGard.

(1)  Amounts shown as owned by Mr. Harkness before and after the offering
     include 292 shares of Common Stock, which Mr. Harkness purchased through
     the SunGard employee stock purchase plan

(2)  Amounts shown as owned by Mr. King before and after the offering include
     2,413 shares of Common Stock, which Mr. King obtained through the exercise
     of outstanding options to purchase SunGard Common Stock.

(3)  Amounts shown as owned by Mr. LeFevre before and after the offering include
     35 shares of Common Stock, which Mr. LeFevre purchased through the SunGard
     employee stock purchase plan

(4)  Ms. Caroline May's Shares are held on her behalf in a Qualified Sub-Chapter
     S Trust, with Mr. Daniel May as trustee.

(5)  Mr. Daniel May is Vice President  May Consulting Incorporated, a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of SunGard.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
(6)  Mr. Dennis  May is Vice President  May Consulting Incorporated, a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of SunGard. Amounts shown as owned by Mr. May before and
     after the offering include 146 shares of Common Stock, which Mr. May
     purchased through the SunGard employee stock purchase plan.

(7)  Ms. Margaret May's Shares are held on her behalf in a Qualified Sub-Chapter
     S Trust, with Mr. Daniel May as trustee.

(8)  Mr. Francis Peters is President  Plaid Brothers Software, Inc., a wholly-
     owned subsidiary of SunGard

(9)  Mr. Eric Peters is Vice President, Sales and Marketing  Plaid Brothers
     Software, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunGard.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Shares offered hereby by the Selling Stockholders may be sold from time
to time by the Selling Stockholders, or by pledgees, donees, transferees or
other successors in interest. Such sales may be made in one or more transactions
on the New York Stock Exchange (which may involve block transactions), in
special offerings, in negotiated transactions, or otherwise, at prices and at
terms then prevailing, at prices rated to such prevailing market prices, or at
negotiated prices. In effecting sales, Selling Stockholders may engage one or
more brokers or dealers to act as principal or agent in making such sales. Such
brokers or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling
Stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale. Such
brokers or dealers and any other participating brokers or dealers may be deemed
to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection
with such sales. In addition, any securities covered by this Prospectus that
qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 might be sold under Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this Prospectus.

     Upon SunGard being notified by a Selling Stockholder that any material
arrangement has been entered into with a broker or dealer for the sale of Shares
through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary
distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplemented Prospectus will
be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act,
disclosing (a) the name of each such broker-dealer, (b) the number of Shares
involved, (c) the price at which such Shares were sold, (d) the commissions paid
or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable,
(e) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the
information set out or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, as
supplemented, and (f) other facts material to the transaction.

     The Registration Statement shall remain effective until the earlier of (i)
the date on which all of the Shares included in the Registration Statement have
been distributed to the public or (ii) May 29, 1999.

     SunGard shall pay its own legal and accounting fees, all registration and
filing fees attributable to the registration of the Shares, all legal fees and
filing fees relating to state securities or "blue sky" filings, the filing fee
payable to the New York Stock Exchange and all printing fees incurred in
connection herewith.  Each Selling Stockholder shall pay his, her or its own
legal and accounting fees and any other expenses incurred by the Selling
Stockholder.  Any commissions, discounts or other fees payable to broker-dealers
in connection with any sale of the Shares shall be borne by the Selling
Stockholder selling such Shares.

     SunGard has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders in certain
circumstances, against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under
the Securities Act.  Each Selling Stockholder has agreed to indemnify SunGard
and its directors, and its officers who sign the Registration Statement against
certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

                                 LEGAL OPINION

     Lawrence A. Gross, Esquire, who prepared the opinion attached as Exhibit
5.1 as to the legality of the Shares registered hereby, is Vice President and
General Counsel of SunGard, and, as of the date hereof, beneficially owns
119,612 shares of SunGard's Common Stock.

                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated balance sheets of SunGard and subsidiaries as of December
31, 1997 and 1996 and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1997 have been incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of
that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
 
 
 
=============================================      =============================================
 
 
     No dealer, salesman or other person has                       688,467 Shares 
been authorized to give any information or              
to make any representations other than
those contained in this Prospectus and, if
given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as                   SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.
having been authorized by SunGard or the
Selling Stockholders.  This Prospectus
does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy to any
person in any jurisdiction in which such
offer or solicitation would be unlawful or
to any person to whom it is unlawful.
Neither the delivery of this Prospectus                            Common Stock
nor any offer or sale made hereunder
shall, under any circumstances, create any
implication that there has been no change
in the affairs of SunGard or that                
information contained herein is correct as       
of any time subsequent to the date hereof.       
                                                   
                                                                 _______________
                _______________                                           
                                                                    PROSPECTUS   
                                                                 _______________ 
 
                TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                                         Page
- ---------------------------------------------
 
Available Information...................   2 
Incorporation of Documents
by Reference............................   2
The Company.............................   3
Use of Proceeds.........................   3
Investment Considerations...............   3
Selling Stockholders....................   4                      July __, 1998 
Plan of Distribution....................   6
Legal Opinion...........................   6
Experts.................................   7
 
 
 
=============================================      =============================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS


ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

     The following table shows the estimated expenses of the issuance and
distribution of the securities offered hereby.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
<S>                                                              <C>
SEC registration fee paid by the Company.......................  $ 8,000
Legal fees and expenses........................................    5,000
Accounting fees and expenses...................................    4,000
Miscellaneous..................................................    1,000
          Total................................................  $18,000
</TABLE>
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     The Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in substance, that Delaware
corporations shall have the power, under specified circumstances, to indemnify
their directors, officers, employees and agents in connection with actions,
suits or proceedings brought against them by third parties and in connection
with actions or suits by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the
fact that they were or are such directors, officers, employees and agents,
against expenses (including attorney's fees) and, in the case of actions, suits
or proceedings brought by third parties, against judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in any such action, suit or
proceeding.

     SunGard's Bylaws provide for indemnification to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

     As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, SunGard has adopted
an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to
eliminate the personal liability of its directors to SunGard and its
stockholders, in certain circumstances, for monetary damages arising from a
breach of the director's duty of care.  Additionally, SunGard has entered into
indemnification agreements (in the form approved by SunGard's stockholders at
its 1987 Annual Meeting) with each of its directors and officers.  These
agreements provide indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and,
in certain respects, provide greater protection than that specifically provided
by the Delaware General Corporation Law.  The agreements do not provide
indemnification for, among other things, conduct that is adjudged to be fraud,
deliberate dishonesty or willful misconduct.

     SunGard has obtained directors' and officers' liability insurance that
covers certain liabilities, including liabilities to SunGard and its
stockholders, in the amount of $20 million.
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

NUMBER                             DOCUMENT
- ------                             --------

  5.1  Opinion of Counsel as to the validity of the issuance of the shares of
       SunGard Common Stock to be registered.
 23.1  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.
 23.2  Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 24.1  Power of attorney of certain signatories (included on the Signature
       Page).


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

  (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

       (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
       post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)    To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
                 Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
                 the effective date of the registration statement (or most
                 recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
                 in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                 information set forth in the registration statement.

          (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
                 distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                 statement or any material change to such information in the
                 registration statement.

       Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this
       section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form
       S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-
       effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
       filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to
       section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
       that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

       (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
       Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
       deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
       offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
       be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
       any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
       termination of the offering.

  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of SunGard
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, SunGard has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is therefore unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by SunGard of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of SunGard in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, SunGard will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-3
<PAGE>
 
                       SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ON THE DATE INDICATED.

                                 SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC.

Date:  July 13, 1998             By:      /S/JAMES L. MANN
                                    --------------------------------
                                             JAMES L. MANN
                                        CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
                                        PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND
ON THE DATES INDICATED.  EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS BELOW HEREBY
AUTHORIZES JAMES L. MANN AND MICHAEL J. RUANE AND EACH OF THEM, AS ATTORNEY-IN-
FACT, TO SIGN ON HIS BEHALF INDIVIDUALLY AND IN EACH CAPACITY STATED BELOW, AND
TO FILE, ANY AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS, TO THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              SIGNATURE                              CAPACITY                     DATE
              ---------                              --------                     ----
<S>                                        <C>                                <C>
            s/ James L. Mann               Chief Executive Officer,           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------  President, and Chairman  
              JAMES L. MANN                of the Board of Directors 
                                           (principal executive officer)
                                           
 
              s/ Michael J. Ruane          Chief Financial Officer and        July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------  Vice President-Finance      
              MICHAEL J. RUANE             (principal financial officer)
                                           
 
              s/ Andrew P. Bronstein       Vice President and Controller      July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------  (principal accounting officer)
              ANDREW P. BRONSTEIN          
 
              s/ Gregory S. Bentley        Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              GREGORY S. BENTLEY
 
              s/ Michael C. Brooks         Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              MICHAEL C. BROOKS
 
              s/ Albert A. Eisenstat       Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              ALBERT A. EISENSTAT
 
              s/ Bernard Goldstein         Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              BERNARD GOLDSTEIN
 
              s/ Michael Roth              Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              MICHAEL ROTH
 
              s/ Malcolm I. Ruddock        Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              MALCOLM I. RUDDOCK
 
              s/ Lawrence J. Schoenberg    Director                           July 13, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              LAWRENCE J. SCHOENBERG
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                 Exhibit  Index

Number                           Document
- ------                           --------

5.1     Opinion of Counsel as to the validity of the issuance of the shares of
        SunGard Common Stock to be registered.
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.
23.3    Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of attorney of certain signatories (included on the Signature
        Page).

<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT 5.1


                       [LETTERHEAD OF LAWRENCE A. GROSS]

July 14, 1998



SunGard Data Systems Inc.
1285 Drummers Lane
Wayne, PA 19087

Gentlemen:

I am Vice President and General Counsel of SunGard Data Systems Inc.
("Company"). Our corporate legal department, under my supervision, has
represented the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 ("Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the registration
of 688,467 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"),
which have been included in the Registration Statement for the respective
accounts of the persons identified in the Registration Statement as Selling
Stockholders. This opinion is furnished pursuant to the requirement of item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the following documents:  (i) the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as amended and restated
since the inception of the Company, (ii) resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors on September 12, 1997, November 14, 1997, December 1, 1997 and May 4,
1998 and (iii) the Registration Statement.  We have assumed and relied, as to
questions of fact and mixed questions of law and fact, on the truth,
completeness, authenticity and due authorization of all documents and records
examined and the genuineness of all signatures.  This opinion is limited to the
laws of the State of Delaware.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, in our opinion, the shares of Common
Stock are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

/s/ Lawrence A. Gross

Lawrence A. Gross

<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                  [LETTERHEAD OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP]


                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


  We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement of
SunGard Data Systems Inc. on Form S-3 of our report, dated February 12, 1998, on
our audits of the consolidated financial statements of SunGard Data Systems Inc.
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997, which report of SunGard Data
Systems Inc. is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.  We also consent to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Registration
Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP


2400 Eleven Penn Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 10, 1998


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