The Sage Group

Infobox Company
company_name = The Sage Group plc
company_
company_type = Public (lse|SGE)
foundation = Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK (1981)
location = Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK
key_people = Tony Hobson, Chairman
Paul Walker, CEO
industry = Computer software
products = Accounting,
CRM,
Varying according to country, MRP
revenue = £1,158 million (2007)
operating_income = £283 million (2007)
net_income = £154 million (2007)
num_employees = 13,000
homepage = [http://www.sage.com/ www.sage.com]

The Sage Group plc (abbreviated Sage, lse|SGE) is engaged in the development, distribution and support of business management software and related products and services for medium-sized and smaller businesses.cite web|url=http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=SGE.L&WTmodLOC=C5-Profile-1|title=Sage Group PLC: Full Description |accessdate=2008-01-12 |publisher=Reuters ]

Founded and headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, the company for many years grew organically, but more recently has grown through acquisitions. It now operates worldwide. The company's US headquarters are in Irvine, California, the Canadian headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and the French and Continental European headquarters are in Paris, France.

It has from time to time been the only UK software company listed in the FTSE 100 Index of leading UK public companies. (The index is redrawn from time to time as companies' fortunes wax and wane.)

The company is focusing on vertical market software and has recently purchased several industry-focused groups.

History

Development of the business

The Company was founded by David Goldman and Graham Wylie in 1981 in Newcastle upon Tyne to develop estimating and accounting software for small businesses. [http://www.sagepresscentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=333&NewsAreaID=19 Sage History] ] In 1984 the Company launched "Sage software", a product for the Amstrad PCW word processor, which uses the CP/M operating system. Sage software sales escalated in that year from 30 copies a month to over 300. The Company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1989.

In 1994 Paul Walker was appointed Chief Executive. In 1998 Sage’s Professional Accountants Division was established. In 1999 Sage entered FTSE 100 and launched a dedicated Irish division, based in Dublin as well as its e-business strategy. In that same year the UK acquisition of Tetra saw Sage enter the mid-range business software market. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990302/ai_n14208999 Sage buys Tetra] ]

In 2000 Sage shares were named ‘best performing share of the 90s’ in the UK business press. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010510/ai_n14395069 Sage looks risky in an uncertain business climate] ] In 2001 Sage acquired Interact Commerce Inc [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00EFD7173FF93AA15750C0A9679C8B63 Sage buys Interact Commerce] ] and entered the CRM/contact management market and in 2002 Sage won 'Business of The Year' in National Business Awards. [ [http://www.redhotcurry.com/archive/money/2003/national_biz_awards2002.htm Business of the year 2002] ] Also that year Sage sponsorsed the new Music Centre in Gateshead for £6m - now known as The Sage Gateshead - the largest ever UK arts/business sponsorship. [http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=10576&title=Software+sages+of+Newcastle&categoryid=4&channelid=3 Software sages of Newcastle] ] By 2003 Sage was the only remaining technology stock in the FTSE 100 Index.

Major acquisitions

The following are the major acquisitions the Company has undertaken:
* 1991 - Dac Easy (U.S.)
* 1992 - Remote (Telemagic) (U.S.), Ciel (France), Dataform (UK)
* 1994 - Extra Software SPA (Spain), Multisoft (UK), Timeslips (U.S.), Saari (France)
* 1995 - Sybel (France)
* 1997 - Prosoft (U.S.), KHK (Germany)
* 1998 - Peachtree Software (U.S.), P.A.S.E. (UK), PACS (UK), State of the Art (U.S.)
* 1999 - Infologia (Portugal), Tetra (UK), Taxsoft (UK), Peachtree (U.S.)
* 2000 - Computer Resources (Ireland), Adaptus Software (UK), Apex (Ireland & UK), SESAM (Switzerland), CSM (UK), Hartley (UK), Best Software (U.S.)
* 2001 - Interact (U.S.), TAS Software (UK)
* 2002 - Coala (France)
* 2003 - Softline (South Africa/Australia), Grupo SP (Spain), Timberline (U.S.), ATW (UK), Promis (UK)
* 2004 - ACCPAC International (U.S.)
* 2004 - IntelligentApps - Business Intelligence software soon to become Sage BI Enterprise
* 2005 - Logic Control (Spain)
* 2006 - Verus Financial Management, Inc (US Based payment processing company), Intuit Master Builder (U.S.), Contractor Anywhere (U.S.)
* 2006 - Emdeon Practice Services, Inc (leading vendor of software and services for doctors' practices in the US, most of which are small or medium-sized businesses)
* 2007 - Snowdrop Systems Ltd (UK) www.snowdrop.co.uk (Develop, Distribute, and Support HR and Payroll).
* 2007 - [http://www.kcsplc.com/ KCS RightSource] (HR and Payroll)

Products

Sage's products include:
* Abra HRMS
* Accounts Production (formerly Apex Accounts Production)
* Accounts Production Advanced
* Accpac ERP
* ACT!
* Billing Boss
* BOB 50
* BusinessWorks
* Business Intelligence (for Line 200 / Line 500)
* Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
* Construction Solutions
* ContaPlus
* CRM
* DacEasy
* Enterprise Resource Package X3 (formerly Adonix)
* FacturaPlus
* Facturfacil
* FAS Fixed Assets
* Financial Forecaster
* Intelligent Reporting
* Intergy
* Line 50
* Line 100
* Line 200
* Line 500
* Logic Class
* MainLAN
* MAS 90
* MAS 200
* MAS 500
* Master Builder
* Master Production Schedule
* Medical Manager
* Mid Market Solutions
* MIP Fund Accounting
* My Business
* NominaPlus
* Pastel Partner
* Pastel Evolution
* Payroll Services
* Peachtree Accounting
* PFW
* Practice Solution
* Pro ERP
* PymePlus
* SalesLogix
* Sage 50
* Sage 200
* Sage 1000
* Simply Accounting
* Start Up
* Timberline Office
* Timeslips
* TPVplus
* V-ISAM database

ponsorship

The Sage Group is a patron of The Sage Gateshead, a new Tyneside music venue designed by Sir Norman Foster.

Preferred Vendors

*Carney Direct Marketing - Irvine, CA
*NewGen Business Solutions - Naperville, IL

ee also

*Susan G. Swenson
*Comparison of accounting software

References and footnotes

External links

* [http://www.sage.com/ Sage Group plc website]
* [http://www.sage.co.uk/ Sage UK Website]
* [http://www.sagesoftware.com Sage Software's website]
* [http://www.sageexperts.net Blog on Sage Group]
* [http://www.erpforum.co.uk Sage Forum Support Site]
* [http://www.sage.co.uk/store Sage Store]