Sage and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to Offer Clients Simple, Flexible Financing

PARIS, January 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- New European Framework Agreement focused on Sage ERP X3 and mid-market companies

The Sage Group plc and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions have signed a European Framework Agreement which will support Sage's business development by offering flexible financing solutions to customers of its operating companies (OpCos) and resellers. The agreement will be focused on Sage ERP X3 primarily, Sage's global ERP solution for the mid-market. BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions will collaborate with Sage across the entire Sage ERP X3 ecosystem by offering rental solutions covering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) i.e. not only software, but also associated services and the acquisition of hardware if relevant.

This financing solution enables medium-sized companies to preserve their cash flow while still making crucial investments and capital purchases, helping them improve business performance. It will also enable companies to start their contracts only when the software is set up and operational. Companies will be able to adjust their contract throughout its life in order to benefit from Sage ERP X3 upgrades, or the addition of new services or hardware.

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has already signed local financing agreements with Sage in four countries (France, Italy, Portugal and Spain). The cooperation in these countries is very promising and around 50 financing contracts have already been signed.

Christophe Letellier, CEO of Sage ERP X3 commented, "We expect this new Agreement with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions and its simple and flexible financing to really help medium companies in the challenging economic environment we are in. As a partner of these companies, we want to do all we can to assist them in increasing their productivity and efficiency. Working with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions we aim to provide a framework to encourage business growth."

Richard Gendreau, Head of Partnerships at the International Business Line Technology Solutions of BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions added, "We are committed and proud to support innovative and cutting edge companies like Sage. Following a longstanding and fruitful cooperation in France, which stressed how the combination of the mid-market product offerings of our two groups bring additional business to both partners, we now aim at extending our cooperation throughout Europe. This agreement also consolidates BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions' position as the main financing player in the European software market."

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions will also support Sage by organizing training sessions dedicated to Sage's salespeople, providing them with support and expertise for complex client requests.

Notes to Editors

About The Sage Group plc

Sage is a leading global supplier of business management software and services for small and midsized businesses.  The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs more than 12,300 people and supports more than 6 million customers worldwide. For further information please visit http://www.sage.com.

About Sage ERP X3

Sage ERP X3 is a dedicated solution for mid-market and larger companies with international demands enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Over 3,300 customers representing 180,000 users worldwide have already chosen Sage ERP X3 because it is easy to use, fast to deploy and cost effective. For over 10 years Sage ERP X3 has been a proven and comprehensive ERP solution addressing mid-market company's specific requirements and challenges in various industries from manufacturing, to services to distribution and many more. Sage ERP X3 has presence in 55 countries and counts a network of more than 1,500 Sage professionals and 220 resellers in its ecosystem.

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, far more than finance…

Within BNP Paribas, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions is specialised in leasing and rental solutions for professional equipment and in real estate assets, offered either directly to businesses and professionals or through its partners - manufacturers, software vendors and their distribution channels (dealers and resellers).

With more than €31.2 billion of outstandings under management and 3,600 employees located worldwide, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions is the European leader in equipment leasing and is today the only financial institution with such a wide-ranging offer, extending from simple leasing arrangements to long term rental solutions and IT asset management contracts.

Thanks to its both global and local dimension, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions is able to offer services and solutions that create value in 22 countries worldwide: directly in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India (Financial Company with SREI), Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom; through BNP Paribas Group entities in Algeria (El Djazaïr), Egypt (BNP Paribas Egypt), Morocco (BMCI Leasing), Tunisia (UBCI Leasing), Ukraine (UkrSibbank) and USA (Bank of the West).