Company:Sage Group

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The Sage Group plc
TypePublic limited company
  • LSE: [Script error: No such module "Stock tickers/LSE". SGE]
  • FTSE 100 Component
IndustrySoftware
Founded27 April 1981; 44 years ago (1981-04-27)[1]
Founder
  • David Goldman
  • Paul Muller
  • Sir Graham Wylie CBE
HeadquartersNewcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
Number of locations
Offices in 23 countries
Area served
Worldwide
Products
RevenueIncrease £ 2,332 million (2024)[2]
Increase £ 452 million (2024)[2]
Increase £ 323 million (2024)[2]
Total assetsDecrease £ 3,638 million (2024)[2]
Total equityDecrease £ 1,093 million (2024)[2]
Number of employees
10,996 (2024)[2]
Websitewww.sage.com

The Sage Group plc, commonly known as Sage, is a British multinational enterprise software company based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. As of 2017, it is the UK's second largest technology company.[3] It has offices in 23 countries.[4] The company is a patron of The Glasshouse, Gateshead music venue in Gateshead, known as The Sage Gateshead.[5]

Sage is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

1981 to 2000

The company was founded by David Goldman, Paul Muller, and Graham Wylie in 1981 in Newcastle upon Tyne, to develop estimating and accounting software for small businesses.[6]

A student at Newcastle University, Graham Wylie, took a summer job with an accountancy firm funded by a government small business grant to write software to help their record keeping. This became the basis for Sage Line 50. Next, hired by David Goldman to write some estimating software for his printing company, Campbell Graphics, Graham used the same accounting software to produce the first version of Sage Accounts. David was so impressed that he hired Graham and academic Paul Muller to form Sage, selling their software first to printing companies, and then to a wider market through a network of resellers.[7]

In 1984, the company launched Sage software, a product for the Amstrad PCW word processor,[6] which used the CP/M operating system. Sage software sales escalated in that year from 30 copies a month to over 300.[6] The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1989.[6]

In 1991, Sage acquired Dac Software, Inc., a pioneering American accounting software developer, from Insilco Corporation who were undergoing bankruptcy reorganization at the time. Dac Software were well known for their DacEasy software suite, which was one of the first integrated accounting software titles to retail for well under $100, when most of its competitors sold suites with equivalent functionality for thousands of US$.[8]

In 1994, Paul Walker was appointed Chief Executive. In 1998, Sage's Professional Accountants Division was established. In 1999, Sage entered FTSE 100[6] 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.[9][10]

Sage was the best-performing UK share in the 1990s, increasing in value by 28,000%.[11]

2000 to 2010

The Glasshouse music venue, located on the banks of the River Tyne, was named the Sage Gateshead during its sponsorship.

In 2001, Sage acquired Interact Commerce Inc.[12] and entered the CRM/contact management market and in 2002 Sage won "Business of The Year" in the National Business Awards.[13] Also that year, Sage sponsored the new Music Centre in Gateshead for £6m – known at the time as Sage Gateshead – the largest ever UK arts/business sponsorship.[14] Sage are one of two technology stocks listed on the FTSE 100 Index,[15] the other being Micro Focus.[16] In 2003, at age 43, Graham Wylie retired with 108.5 million shares in Sage worth £146m. He was rated Britain's 109th richest person in the 2002 Sunday Times Rich List.[7]

Tony Hobson joined the Sage board of directors in June 2004 and became chairman in May 2007.[17]

2010 to present

On 19 April 2010, Sage announced that its CEO, Paul Walker, had indicated an interest in stepping down from his position, which he had held for 16 years.[18] The Financial Times reported that his departure would lead to speculation over Sage's mergers and acquisitions, which have been a key component to the group's growth in the past 20 years.[18]

Walker was one of the longest serving CEOs of an FTSE100 company. Walker left the company on 1 December 2010.[19]

On 1 October 2010 Guy Berruyer became CEO of Sage Group; Berruyer had previously been CEO of Sage's Mainland Europe & Asia operations.[19]

On 15 February 2013, Sage announced that Accel-KKR intended to buy Sage Nonprofit Solutions, its division that produced software designed for nonprofit organisations and governmental agencies.[20]

In August 2014, Sage announced that Guy Berruyer would retire. Stephen Kelly, the UK government's former chief operating officer, became group CEO in November 2014.[21] In September 2014 the company announced the acquisition of PayChoice for $157 million.[22] In 2016 Sage introduced their first AI offering, a chat bot named Pegg.[23]

In March 2017, Sage Group acquired Compass, an analytics and benchmarking platform.[24] In March 2017, Sage Group also acquired Fairsail, a Human Capital Management (HCM) cloud-based platform.[25][26] In July 2017, Sage purchased Intacct for $850M.[27]

On 31 August 2018, Sage announced that Stephen Kelly had stepped down as a director and CEO.[28] On 2 November 2018, Steve Hare was appointed CEO.[29] Hare had been chief financial officer of Sage since 2014 and had been interim COO following the departure of the previous CEO.[29]

In 2020, Sage divested its Brazilian operations to the president of the local business, Jorge Carneiro.[30][31] In the 2020s Sage began to integrate artificial intelligence into more of their products.[32] In 2022 Sage launched a carbon accounting product, Sage Earth.[33]

In February 2024, Sage announced the release of Sage Copilot, a generative AI-powered assistant, and the integration of its features into both its online and hybrid-desktop products.[34]

In July 2025, Sage announced its acquisition of Fyle, an AI-powered expense management platform. [35][36]

Operations

Founded and headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, the company has grown organically, through acquisitions and, more recently, through subscription services.[37]

In June 1991, Sage Group moved into their first dedicated headquarters building, Sage House, in Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne, having previously been located in the Regent Centre office park.[38] In 2004, the company completed their £50 million headquarters in the Great Park area of Newcastle upon Tyne.[39] In 2021 Sage's Newcastle headquarters moved to Cobalt Park.[40][41]

The company's US headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, the Canadian headquarters are in Richmond, British Columbia, the Africa, Middle East & Australia headquarters are in Johannesburg, South Africa and the French and Continental European headquarters are in Paris, France. Sage has 6.1 million customers and 11,565 employees across the world.[2] Key industry focus includes: Healthcare; HR & Payroll; Construction/ Real-Estate; Transport/ Distribution; Payment Processing; Accountancy; Not-for-Profit; Manufacturing; Retail; Automotive Distribution.[42]

Financial information

Financial results are as follows:[43]

Sept year-end £'millions 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Revenue 552 560 688 760 936 1,158 1,295 1,439 1,435 1,334 1,340 1,376 1,307 1,436 1,569 1,715 1,857 1,936 1,903 1,846 1,949 2,184 2,332
Reported growth n/a n/a n/a n/a +12% +30% +7% +11% 0% +4% 0% +3% -5% +10% +9% +19% +8% +5% -2% -3% +5% +12% +7%
Underlying growth n/a n/a n/a n/a +7% +7% +3% -4% -1% +4% +2% +4% +5% +6% +12% +7% +7% +6% +8% +5% +6% +10% +9%
Operating profit n/a n/a n/a 202 249 283 300 321 365 365 366 180 360 360 427 348 427 382 404 373 367 315 452
Pre-Tax Profit 129 151 181 194 221 223 241 267 319 331 334 164 278 276 275 342 398 361 373 347 337 282 426

Sponsorships

A Marussia F1 promotional car on display in Sage's Newcastle headquarters.

The Sage Group was a patron of The Sage Gateshead, a Tyneside music venue designed by Sir Norman Foster. Now known as the Glasshouse Gateshead, it was completed in 2004 at a cost of £70 million, and has since become a main sight on the River Tyne. It is primarily used as a concert venue and centre for musical education, but also hosts other events including conferences.[14]

In 2008, Sage funded the revival of The Krypton Factor television series for ITV as a part of the Business Brain Training campaign.[44] Sage were the football shirt sponsor in May 2011 for Whitley Bay F.C.'s FA Vase winning match.[45] Sage had previously been a minor sponsor for Newcastle United F.C.[46]

For the 2012 Formula One season, Sage were an official supplier for the Marussia F1 team, and for the 2013 and 2014 seasons Sage logos were placed on the car.[47] For the 2017–18 Bristol City F.C. season, Sage has partnered with Bristol City F.C. as minor sponsor through their provision of Sage X3 for Bristol Sport.[48][49]

Sage sponsored the Invictus Games in a multi-year partnership starting in 2016.[50] Sage also sponsored the 2019 editions of the Reading Half Marathon and the Blaydon Race.[51][52] Sage are an official partner of The Hundred cricket tournament.[53] In 2025 Sage became the Official Finance Software Partner of the LPGA in a multi-year deal.[54]

Sage are sponsoring the 2023 Rugby World Cup,[55] as well as the Six Nations Championship.[56] Starting in the 2023 season Sage are an official partner of Major League Baseball organization.[57] Additionally, opening 2025, Sage are the named sponsor of the new Newcastle Gateshead Quayside arena and conference centre, named "The Sage".[58]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Company name changed / certificate issued". 27 April 1981. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01045967/filing-history/MTQwNjM4ODc4YWRpcXprY3g/document?format=pdf&download=0. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Annual Report 2024". Sage Group. https://www.sage.com/investors/-/media/files/investors/documents/pdf/annual%20report/sage-annual-report-2024.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Ram, Aliya (22 November 2017). "Sage posts 7% revenue growth after switching customers to cloud". https://www.ft.com/content/3e0752ee-0a12-3e71-8f19-21d3bf874e16. 
  4. ↑ "Sage Investor Relations Website". http://www.investors.sage.com/. 
  5. ↑ "Sage Gateshead to be renamed ahead of new venue opening" (in en-GB). 2022-06-16. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-61822375. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "History". Sage. http://www.sage.com/ourbusiness/aboutus/ourhistory. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Vaughan-Adams, Liz (12 April 2003). "Sage founder retires at 43 to get married and enjoy his £146m fortune". The Independent on Sunday (London). https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/sage-founder-retires-at-43-to-get-married-and-enjoy-his-acircpound146m-fortune-594205.html. 
  8. ↑ Hill, Dee (May 3, 1991). "British firm snares DacEasy for $18M". Dallas Business Journal 14 (36): 1 et seq. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A10841159/GPS?sid=wikipedia. 
  9. ↑ "Sage buys Tetra". The Independent (London). 2 March 1999. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/sage-buys-tetra-1077870.html. 
  10. ↑ "Accounting for Sage's move on Tetra". https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/03/08/accounting_for_sages_move/. 
  11. ↑ Buckingham, Lisa; Finch, Julia (1999-12-23). "The share that rose 28,000%" (in en-GB). https://www.theguardian.com/business/1999/dec/23/ftse.stockmarkets1. 
  12. ↑ Greenman, Catherine (29 March 2001). "Technology Briefing: Software; Sage Buys Interact Commerce". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/29/business/technology-briefing-software-sage-buys-interact-commerce.html. 
  13. ↑ "Business of the year 2002". Red Hot Curry. 29 October 2002. http://www.redhotcurry.com/archive/money/2003/national_biz_awards2002.htm. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Software sages of Newcastle". Global Technology Forum. 23 April 2007. http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=10576&title=Software+sages+of+Newcastle&categoryid=4&channelid=3. 
  15. ↑ "FTSE 100 Fact sheet". FTSE. 31 March 2015. http://www.ftse.com/Analytics/FactSheets/Home/DownloadSingleIssue?issueName=UKX. 
  16. ↑ Titcomb, James (2017-09-01). "Micro Focus becomes UK's biggest tech company as it completes £7bn HPE deal". Telegraph Media Group Limited. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/09/01/micro-focus-becomes-uks-biggest-tech-company-completes-7bn-hpe/. "At this value, Micro Focus will leapfrog Sage as the FTSE 100's biggest technology firm and into the UK's 50 most valuable public companies." 
  17. ↑ "Directors' Biographies". Sage Group plc. http://www.investors.sage.com/company_information/directors_bio/. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Walker to step down as Sage chief executive". https://www.ft.com/content/157ab314-4b7c-11df-9db6-00144feab49a. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Group Chief Executive". Sage Group plc. 6 July 2010. http://www.investors.sage.com/news/press_releases/?id=73558. 
  20. ↑ "Sage Nonprofit Solutions To Be Acquired By Accel-KKR". 15 February 2013. http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/article/detail/sage-nonprofit-solutions-to-be-acquired-by-accel-kkr-5210. 
  21. ↑ "New CEO at Sage Group takes up his post". The Journal. 5 November 2015. http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/new-ceo-sage-group-takes-8051732. 
  22. ↑ "Sage buys PayChoice for $157.8 million, bolsters SMB base". ZD.net. 22 September 2014. https://www.zdnet.com/article/sage-buys-paychoice-for-157-8-million-bolsters-smb-base/. 
  23. ↑ "Sage Announces Slack Partnership and AI Bot 'Pegg'". 26 July 2016. https://brainstation.io/magazine/sage-slack-partnership-ai-bot-pegg. 
  24. ↑ Brooks, Steve (2017-03-30). "Sage buys Compass for SME ecommerce analytics -" (in en-GB). https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2017/03/30/sage-buys-compass-for-sme-ecommerce-analytics/. 
  25. ↑ "Sage acquires Fairsail". https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2017/03/03/sage-acquires-fairsail/. 
  26. ↑ Kepes, Ben (2017-03-14). "Sage acquires Fairsail: Is this Salesforce-based strategy going to work?" (in en). https://www.computerworld.com/article/3179767/sage-acquires-fairsail-is-this-salesforce-based-strategy-going-to-work.html. 
  27. ↑ "Sage Group buys Intacct accounting software for £850m". Tech Crunch. 25 July 2017. https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/25/sage-group-buys-intacct-accounting-software-for-850m/. 
  28. ↑ "Stephen Kelly ousted as Sage CEO after dismal results and faltering transformation" (in en). 2018-08-30. https://diginomica.com/stephen-kelly-ousted-as-sage-ceo-after-dismal-results-and-faltering-transformation. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Cook, James (2018-11-02). "Sage's finance chief Steve Hare takes helm as CEO" (in en-GB). The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/11/02/sages-finance-chief-steve-hare-takes-helm-ceo/. 
  30. ↑ PYMNTS (2020-03-03). "Sage Exits Latin America With £1M Deal" (in en-US). https://www.pymnts.com/news/b2b-payments/2020/sage-exits-latin-america/. 
  31. ↑ Mari, Angelica. "Sage sells Brazilian business" (in en). https://www.zdnet.com/article/sage-sells-brazilian-business/. 
  32. ↑ Whitfield, Graeme (26 March 2021). "Sage buys Israeli AI firm as part of push into new technologies" (in en). https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/sage-buys-israeli-ai-firm-20263865. 
  33. ↑ "Spherics completes integration into Sage; rebrands to Sage Earth". London, UK. 5 December 2022. https://www.sage.com/en-gb/news/press-releases/2022/12/spherics-completes-integration-into-sage/. 
  34. ↑ Whitfield, Graeme (27 February 2024). "Sage launches AI product that aims to "revolutionise" accounting". https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/sage-launches-ai-product-aims-28715709. 
  35. ↑ "Sage Acquires Fyle to simplify and automate expense management workflows for SMBs" (in en-GB). https://www.sage.com/en-gb/company/digital-newsroom/2025/07/28/sage-acquires-fyle-to-simplify-and-automate-expense-management-workflows-for-smbs/. 
  36. ↑ Penn, David (2025-07-28). "Sage Acquires Expense Management Platform Fyle" (in en-US). https://finovate.com/sage-acquires-expense-management-platform-fyle/. 
  37. ↑ "Sage boasts turnover growth as more clients turn to subscriptions". Chronicle Live. 17 January 2019. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/sage-boasts-turnover-growth-more-15692083. 
  38. ↑ Full group accounts made up to 30 September 1991, The Sage Group plc, 16 February 1992 
  39. ↑ "Sage's £50m move may blaze a trail for others" (in en). The Northern Echo. 26 June 2002. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7069247.sages-50m-move-may-blaze-a-trail-for-others/. 
  40. ↑ Manning, Jonathon (2019-07-01). "Tech giant Sage to leave Great Park". https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/tech-giant-sage-leave-great-16511149. 
  41. ↑ "No full-time return to the office for over a million". BBC News. 6 May 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56972207. 
  42. ↑ "Company Profile - Reuters.co.uk". http://uk.reuters.com/business/quotes/companyProfile?symbol=SGE.L. 
  43. ↑ "Sage Group - Investor Centre". The Sage Group plc. https://www.sage.com/corporate/investors/investor-resources/investor-downloads/. 
  44. ↑ "The Krypton Factor". Business Brain Training. http://www.trainyourbusinessbrain.com/kryptonfactor/. 
  45. ↑ "Whitley Bay FC win FA Vase for third time". The Journal. 9 May 2011. http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/whitley-bay-fc-win-fa-4431553. 
  46. ↑ April 2021, PA Staff 04 (4 April 2021). "On this day in 2005: Lee Bowyer fined for brawl with Kieron Dyer" (in en). https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/on-this-day-in-2005-lee-bowyer-fined-for-brawl-with-kieron-dyer-1617447610000. 
  47. ↑ "Marussia F1 team ties up with Sage". India in F1. 27 January 2012. http://indiainf1.com/formula1/marussia-f1-team-ties-up-with-sage/. 
  48. ↑ Gregor MacGregor (2017-12-18). "Lee Johnson salutes 'icon' Aden Flint and says Bristol City is right club for him". Bristol Post. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lee-johnson-salutes-icon-aden-944712. 
  49. ↑ "Sage X3 and Percipient bolster Bristol Sport's growth". Percipient. 8 September 2015. http://www.percipient.co.uk/sage-x3-and-percipient-bolster-bristol-sports-growth/. 
  50. ↑ "Sage announces multi-year partnership with Invictus Games". Sage.com. 2016-04-14. http://www.sage.com/company/news-and-events/2016/04/14/sage-partners-with-invictus-games. 
  51. ↑ Brooks, Steve (18 March 2019). "Sage doubles down on fundraising target". Enterprise Times. https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2019/03/18/sage-doubles-down-on-fundraising-target/. 
  52. ↑ "Sage Blaydon Race". Blaydon Race. https://blaydon-race.co.uk/2019/03/29/sage-blaydon-race/. 
  53. ↑ "SAGE becomes Official Partner of The Hundred" (in en). https://www.thehundred.com/news/2606361/sage-becomes-official-partner-of-the-hundred. 
  54. ↑ Irby, Robert (5 June 2025). "LPGA aims to empower ‘CFO’ golfers with Sage deal" (in en). Sports Business Journal. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/06/05/lpga-aims-to-empower-cfo-golfers-with-sage-deal/. 
  55. ↑ "Sage becomes Official Supporter of Rugby World Cup 2023" (in en). https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/693521/sage-becomes-official-supporter-of-rugby-world-cup-2023. 
  56. ↑ "Six Nations Rugby and Sage join forces to bring exciting in-match data and analysis to fans". 18 October 2022. https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2022/10/18/six-nations-rugby-and-sage-join-forces-to-bring-exciting-in-match-data-and-analysis-to-fans/. 
  57. ↑ "Sage Becomes Official Partner of Major League Baseball in Tech Brand's First North American Sports Partnership". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  58. ↑ "The Sage". https://www.thesage.co.uk/. 

Template:Sage Group

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