Sage Software Gives Greater Buying Power to Business Owners Through Superior Financing Program

May 2, 2006; 06:07 AM
IRVINE, CA - Sage Software announced today details on the company's comprehensive publisher-sponsored financing program, Sage Superior Financing. The program was developed with and is administered by Key Equipment Finance.

Beginning with a minimum transaction size of only $1,500 (all dollar figures are U.S.) on leases from two to five years, Sage Software enables a greater number of small and mid-sized businesses to take advantage of financing through Sage Superior Financing. Moreover, virtually everything associated with an IT purchase, such as software, installation, maintenance, conversion, training, consulting fees, hardware and freight, can be rolled right into the lease terms offered through Sage Superior Financing.

The relationship with Key Equipment Finance enables Sage Software to provide a complete solution to its customers from industry-leading technology and service, to flexible financing options. Additionally, by sponsoring a lease program Sage Software enables its customers to take advantage of tax benefits, one-stop shopping and financing, upgrade flexibility and better asset management.

"Thanks to Key Equipment Finance, Sage Software's new all-inclusive, flexible financing programs should attract small and mid-sized business owners because all the costs of an IT purchase are covered," said Taylor Macdonald, Sage Software executive vice president, Channel and Sales Operations, Mid-Market Division. "We are proud to bring this new service to our customers."

For qualifying North American customers, Sage Superior Financing offers deferred payment options up to five years. All offerings are available immediately from authorized Sage Software business partners, so customers need not spend time shopping at financial institutions for rates and packages that may not cover the entire IT purchase.

"Sage Software understands the challenges facing small and mid-sized business owners and recognizes the importance of offering flexible financing as part of the complete customer service package," said Adam Warner, president and COO of Key Equipment Finance's express leasing services group. "We look forward to working with Sage Software business partners and their customers to offer more diversified and comprehensive financing products, and we anticipate that they will experience even greater customer satisfaction as a result of the ease of customer financing through this program."

The Right Financing at the Right Time

Delivering IT solutions to the small and mid markets for more than 25 years, Sage Software recognizes the needs and challenges of the 2.5 million North American customers it serves. With Key Equipment Finance's support, Sage Superior Financing delivers terms and options that satisfy those needs and overcome the challenges most often faced by small to mid-sized business owners.

"Sage Superior Financing is more than just a tool in my bag to help sell more Sage Software," said Kevin Cumley, president of Forepoint, LLC., one of the largest authorized Sage Accpac business partners in North America. "The outstanding flexibility the program offers enables my clients to put their cash assets to better use, attracting new customers and growing their business. Sage understands what it is like to run a small business, and Sage Superior Financing helps my customers and my business be more successful."

"With the ability to finance my software purchase, I was able to purchase a complete solution for my business. Not only did I get the latest software, I added new hardware, installation, maintenance and training," said L. Scott Harmon of The Settlement Plan Group, a law firm and Sage Software customer. "Best of all, I was able to keep my budget in line."

For more information about Sage Superior Financing programs call 800-523-3398.

About Key Equipment Finance

Key Equipment Finance is an affiliate of KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) and provides business-to-business equipment financing solutions to businesses of many types and sizes. The company focuses on four distinct markets:

-- Businesses of all sizes in the U.S. and Canada (from small business to large corporate)

-- Equipment manufacturers, distributors and value-added resellers worldwide

-- Federal, provincial, state and local governments as well as other public sector organizations

-- Lease advisory services for manufacturers' captive leasing and finance companies

About Sage Software

Sage Software offers leading business management software and services that support the needs, challenges and dreams of more than 2.5 million small and mid-sized business customers in North America. Its parent company, The Sage Group plc (LSE: SGE.L), supports 4.7 million customers worldwide. For more than 25 years, Sage Software has delivered easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software for accounting, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking and the specialized needs of accounting practices and the construction, distribution, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.

© 2006 Sage Software. All rights reserved. The Sage Software logo and the Sage Software product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software or its affiliated entities.