Acquisition

Sage Group PLC
05 September 2002


5 September 2002


                       Sage acquires CPASoftware in the US

        Acquisition brings accounting practice management solutions
                    to US network of over 20,000 accountants


The Sage Group plc ('Sage'), a leading provider of accounting and business
management solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, has acquired
CPASoftware in the US, for $14.3m (£9.2m) in cash.

CPASoftware, based in Florida, provides accounting practice solutions to 10,000
accountancy firms. In the year to 31 December 2001 it reported annual turnover
of $7.4m (£4.8m).

Its products, such as Visual Practice Management and Visual Payroll, and its
support and information services, will be marketed to Sage's US network of over
20,000 certified public accountants (CPAs), who already recommend its
market-leading range including Peachtree, MAS90, FAS, ACT!, SalesLogix, and MIP.

Sage is, in all its markets, developing relationships with the accountancy
profession as part of its strategy of providing a range of industry-specific
solutions. Other industries served in this way include the non-profit sector,
which Sage entered in September 2001 with the acquisition of MIP.

Paul Walker, Sage Chief Executive, commented: 'CPAs have helped us expand our
business in the US, since they are key recommenders of software. We have a
detailed understanding of their businesses, and with the acquisition of
CPASoftware, we can now offer a solution to help them run their practices
better.

Following recent acquisitions, we have established accountants' divisions in the
UK and France, and with CPASoftware we will be able to provide accountants in
the US not only with industry-specific solutions but also with further
opportunities to recommend Sage solutions to their own clients.'


Enquiries
The Sage Group plc           0191 255 3000    Financial Dynamics   020 7831 3113
Paul Walker, Chief Executive                  Giles Sanderson
Paul Harrison, Finance Director               Harriet Keen
Phil Branston, Investor Relations


Notes to editors

The Sage Group plc is a leading international provider of accounting and
business management software solutions and related products and services for
small to medium-sized enterprises.  Formed in 1981, the Sage Group was floated
on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs over 5,600 people worldwide
in its market-leading companies in Europe and the US.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange