Sage Software Program Aids Family-Owned and Operated Small Businesses With Free Accounting Software and Support

ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwire - June 4, 2008) - Sage Software announced today the Peachtree Family-Owned Business Support Program, created to assist family-owned and operated small businesses in today's uncertain economic environment. Through this initiative, Sage Software will provide a free copy of Peachtree by Sage Complete Accounting 2009, single user, with six months of free customer support to up to 1500 qualifying businesses.

"Sage Software and our Peachtree product line have been helping small businesses for more than thirty years, through good and bad times," said Connie Certusi, general manager, small business accounting solutions, Sage Software. "The current economic environment can be challenging for small businesses, particularly those that are using Microsoft® Excel® or a manual system to manage their accounting. Small, family-operated companies are the backbone of the American economy, which is why we've launched the Peachtree Family-Owned Business Support Program to assist this key driver of the American economic machine. It is critical in times like these that small businesses manage their finances and cash flow carefully, and Peachtree gives them all the tools they need to do just that."

Family and closely held businesses represent the vast majority of employers throughout the US, says Wayne Rivers, President of The Family Business Institute. "Family and closely held businesses represent 99% of all employers and provide jobs for almost two out of every three Americans. They account for 64% of our nation's GDP," said Rivers. "In other words, family business is big business."

Rivers recommends that every small business concentrate on making smart decisions based on real numbers. "The economy is soft right now, and every closely held business owner should be doing three things: giving attention to how his/her time is spent to assure focus on highest payoff activities; right sizing in terms of people, equipment, and expenses; and making sure they have great numbers and data so they can make correct decisions relating to the two items above. This initiative by Sage Software could be a tremendous asset in getting business owners the kind of information they need to make smart decisions."

The Peachtree Family-Owned Business Support Program runs through September 30th, 2008, or until 1500 qualified applications have been received and software distributed -- at a total value of around $400,000. Sage Software will provide one free package per eligible company. For more details on the promotion and eligibility requirements, visit: http://www.peachtreecares.com.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.9 million small and medium-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services to small and medium-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage Group now has 5.7 million customers and employs over 14,800 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the web site at www.sagesoftware.com or call (866) 308-2378.

Contact Information: Contacts: Aimee Ertley 770-724-4556 Aimee.ertley@sage.com Shana Keith 404-995-4557 shana.keith@porternovelli.com