Long description text

Upper mid-market: 3% of our customer base - < 5,000 employees
Lower mid-market: 17% of our customer base - 500
Entry-level: 80% of our customer base - 25

24 Countries with direct operations – a presence in many more.
- UK & Ireland 17%
- Mainland Europe 36%
- North America 40%
- Rest of World 7%

- Accounting 55%
- Industry-specific 26%
- HR and payroll 10%
- CRM 4%
- Payment processing 5%

These brands, such as ACT!, Ciel! in France, Sage 50 in the UK, Softline Pastel in South Africa, Peachtree in the US or Simply in Canada, are widely recognised and trusted in their local markets. Above and beyond the strength of our local brands, Sage is an internationally recognised brand in its own right.

Year 2005: 12.07p
Year 2006: 14.29p
Year 2007: 16.34p
Year 2008: 16.63p
Year 2009: 16.63p
Adjusted EPS represents income for the financial year, prior to the amortisation of intangible assets, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. All figures provided above are restated to reflect the neutralisation of foreign exchange movements.

Year 2005: 27%
Year 2006: 27%
Year 2007: 24%
Year 2008: 23%
Year 2009: 22%
EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation. This measure excludes the effects of amortisation of acquired intangible assets and the net amortisation or capitalisation of software development expenditure. The EBITA margin represents EBITA divided by revenue for the year.

Year 2005: 6%
Year 2006: 7%
Year 2007: 7%
Year 2008: 3%
Year 2009: -5%
Organic revenues are derived from our core business operations, excluding the contribution from acquisitions and disposals made in the current and prior year, along with non-core products. Current year revenue is compared to the prior financial year translated on consistent exchange rates to eliminate distortions due to fluctuations in exchange rates.

Year 2005: 119%
Year 2006: 107%
Year 2007: 112%
Year 2008: 114%
Year 2009: 112%
Cash flows from operating activities divided by EBITA provide a measure of the ability of the Group to yield cash from its ongoing business to reinvest and fund liabilities. The Group aims to maintain positive cash generation from operations.

Year 2005: 78%
Year 2006: 80%
Year 2007: 81%
Year 2008: 81%
Year 2009: 81%
Cash flows from operating activities divided by EBITA provide a measure of the ability of the Group to yield cash from its ongoing business to reinvest and fund liabilities. The Group aims to maintain positive cash generation from operations.

£1,439.3m –4%**
2005 £759.6m
2006 £935.6m
2007 £1,157.6m
2008 £1,295.0m
2009 £1,439.3m
Note: The results of all comparative years have not been retranslated to current year exchange rates.
** Growth has been calculated after the neutralisation of foreign exchange movements.

£307.5m –2%**
2005 £196.4m
2006 £234.7m
2007 £251.3m
2008 £273.4m
2009 £307.5m
Note: The results of all comparative years have not been retranslated to current year exchange rates.
^ Adjusted pre-tax profit stated prior to amortisation of intangible fixed assets.
** Growth has been calculated after the neutralisation of foreign exchange movements.

£320.7m –6%**
2005 £202.1m
2006 £249.3m
2007 £283.2m
2008 £299.8m
2009 £320.7m
Note: The results of all comparative years have not been retranslated to current year exchange rates.
^† EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of intangible assets.
** Growth has been calculated after the neutralisation of foreign exchange movements.

7.43p +3%
2005 2.88p
2006 3.59p
2007 7.00p
2008 7.21p
2009 7.43p

- Accounting 50%
- Industry-specific 11%
- HR and payroll 31%
- CRM 5%
- Payment processing 3%

£242.2m –2%*
2008 £248.0m*
2009 £242.2m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£84.3m –6%*
35% margin
2008 £89.6m*
2009 £84.3m
^† EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of intangible assets.
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£171.1m +6%*
2008 £161.7m*
2009 £171.1m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£71.1m –18%*
2008 £86.3m*
2009 £71.1m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

803,000 +31,000
2008 772,000
2009 803,000

360,000 –3,000
2008 363,000
2009 360,000

- Accounting 78%
- Industry-specific 18%
- HR and payroll 3%
- CRM 1%
- Payment processing 0%

£520.5m flat*
2008 £519.1m*
2009 £520.5m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£107.3m –6%*
21% margin
2008 £114.1m*
2009 £107.3m
^† EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of intangible assets.
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£292.7m +8%*
2008 £271.5m*
2009 £292.7m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£227.8m –8%*
2008 £247.6m*
2009 £227.8m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

1,676,000 +47,000
2008 1,629,000
2009 1,676,000

652,000 +24,000
2008 628,000
2009 652,000

- Accounting 36%
- Industry-specific 43%
- HR and payroll 4%
- CRM 7%
- Payment processing 10%

£576.4m –10%*
2008 £637.3m*
2009 £576.4m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£105.3m –6%*
18% margin
2008 £111.7m*
2009 £105.3m
^† EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of intangible assets.
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£428.3m –4%*
2008 £444.5m*
2009 £428.3m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£148.1m –23%*
2008 £192.8m*
2009 £148.1m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

3,118,000 +123,000
2008 2,995,000
2009 3,118,000

601,000
2008 601,000
2009 601,000

- Accounting 41%
- Industry-specific 10%
- HR and payroll 45%
- CRM 4%
- Payment processing 0%

£100.2m +1%*
2008 £99.6m*
2009 £100.2m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£23.8m –8%*
24% margin
2008 £25.8m*
2009 £23.8m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.
^† EBITA is defined as earnings before interest, tax and amortisation of intangible assets.

£44.7m +14%*
2008 £39.4m*
2009 £44.7m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

£55.5m –8%*
2008 £60.2m*
2009 £55.5m
* Foreign currency results for the prior year ended 30 September 2008 have been retranslated based on the average exchange rates for the year ended 30 September 2009 of $1.54/£1 and €1.14/£1 to facilitate the comparison of results.

545,000 +44,000
2008 501,000
2009 545,000

166,000 +12,000
2008 154,000
2009 166,000

The graphical worldmap indicates 25,377 tonnes total carbon emissions from energy. Operating company and total carbon emissions from energy (in nearest whole tonnes): North America 12,830, UK & Ireland 3,993, Germany 454, Austria 54, Poland 232, Spain 1,825, Portugal 102, France 484, China 38, South Africa 4,498, Malaysia 72, Singapore 155, Australia 641