Sage Payment Solutions Announces Ability to Provide Credit Card Processing Directly to Sage MAS 500 Customers

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwire - March 4, 2008) - Continuing its ongoing payment services integration to Sage Software business management applications, Sage Payment Solutions announced today the availability of a new integration solution for Sage MAS 500 customers. Using the ePayment services module provided by BHE Consulting, a longtime Sage Software valued Development Partner, Sage MAS 500 customers can obtain integrated credit card processing services, including merchant account origination directly from Sage.

The new solution works seamlessly with Sage MAS 500, an enterprise system that enables larger businesses to fully coordinate their business processes. Integrated payments improve efficiency and simplify cash flow awareness. Incorporating the merchant services and account management under Sage Payment Solutions, rather than through a third party, results in lower credit card processing costs for customers. Strong security from Sage Gateway and a single source for customer service enhance the customer experience.

In October 2007, the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) conducted an Electronic Payments Survey. The results of the survey indicate that the need for organizations to accept electronic payments is real and catching the attention of financial professionals and business owners.

--  Forty-three percent of respondents expect that their organization is
    very likely to convert the majority of its B2B payments to major suppliers
    from checks to electronic payments in the next three years.
--  Fifty-nine percent of organizations indicate that they use electronic
    payments to reduce costs.
--  Forty-one percent improved cash forecasting by using electronic
    payments.
--  Twenty-eight percent indicated that electronic payments improved
    working capital and a reduction in days' sales outstanding.
    

AFP survey respondents stated that the key benefits of integrating electronic payment systems with accounting systems were more efficient posting and reconciliation processes (87 percent) and cost savings (76 percent). Sage MAS 500 customers can take full advantage of these benefits by integrating credit card processing.

Bob Bennett, president, Sage Payment Solutions, stated, "We want to provide the services that make the biggest impact on our customers and help them succeed. Integrated payments at great rates are the way to go -- faster and easier. We are pleased to be part of a team effort to bring this convenience to Sage MAS 500 users."

Sage MAS 500 customers enjoy numerous benefits from the ePayment services solution:

--  Automatically connects to users' Merchant Accounts provided by Sage
    Payment Solutions for credit card authorizations and settlements
--  Complete integration with Sales Order and Accounts Receivable
--  Support for secure Internet connections through TCP/IP and SSL
--  Stored credit card numbers are encrypted within Sage MAS 500
--  Credit Verification Value (CVV & CVV2) is fully supported to help
    verify card authenticity
--  Multiple address verification options add another layer of credit card
    authentication
--  User-level password protection reduces the possibility of unauthorized
    access into database content and functions
    

The ePayment solution for Sage MAS 500 has been available for more than five years, according to Greg Archambault, president, BHE Consulting. "The maturity of our product and the availability of a Payment Processing solution direct from Sage made our decision, and the effort to adapt, an easy one," he explained. "With Sage Payment Solutions, we saw an opportunity to not only offer customers an alternative that could lower their processing fees, but also to provide channel partners the opportunity to increase their revenue potential while better serving their customers."

Pricing and Availability

Credit Card Processing for Sage MAS 500 Powered by Sage Payment Solutions is available now through BHE Consulting. For pricing and additional information, visit www.sagepayments.com/bhe.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.8 million small and mid-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 accounting and business management software solutions and related products and services for small and mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and the Group now has 5.5 million customers and employs over 13,900 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.

© 2008 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.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Renee Chenue Sage Payment Solutions Division (703) 852-5386 rchenue@sagepayments.com