The Sage Group plc announced the appointment of Jonathan Howell, Neil Berkett and Jo Harlow to its Board as non-executive directors. Jonathan will join the company on May 15, 2013 and Neil and Jo will take up their appointments on 1 and 5 July 2013 respectively. Jonathan is currently Finance Director of Close Brothers Group plc, having joined the group from the London Stock Exchange in 2008. He will succeed Mark Rolfe as Chairman of the Audit Committee in November 2013. Neil is shortly to retire as Chief Executive of Virgin Media Group and is a non-executive director of Guardian Media Group. Jo is Executive Vice President, Smart Devices for Nokia Oy. She is responsible for the business and product development of Nokia's smartphones and other high-end devices. Tamara Ingram, after nine years' service, and Mark Rolfe and Ian Mason, after six years' service, have indicated their intentions to retire. Tamara will retire from the board on July 31, 2013 and Mark and Ian on November 30, 2013. Jonathan, Jo and Neil will join the Remuneration, Audit and Nomination Committees.

Sage Group plc reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for six months ended March 31, 2013. For the six months, the company reported revenue of £708.1 million compared to revenue of £673.1 million for the same period a year ago. Operating loss was £1.0 million compared to operating profit of £171.9 million last year. Loss before income tax was £7.7 million compared to profit before income tax of £167.1 million last year. Loss from continuing operations was £74.6 million or 6.27 pence per diluted share compared to profit from continuing operations of £118.6 million or 9.04 pence per diluted share last year. Loss attributable to owners of the parent was £75.9 million or 6.27 pence per diluted share compared to profit attributable to owners of the parent of £176.2 million or 13.43 pence per diluted share last year. EBITA was £190.9 million compared to £180.9 million last year. Net cash generated from operating activities was £161.3 million compared to £151.5 million last year. Purchases of property, plant and equipment was £0.4 million compared to £8.8 million last year. Underlying pre-tax profit of £184.9 million compared to £174.3 million last year, an increase of 6%. Underlying earnings per share was 10.75 pence compared to 9.36 pence per share, an increase of 15%. Strong operating cash flow of £208.9 million compared to £207.7 million last year, representing 112% of EBITA. Underlying revenue was £626.3 million compared to £606.7 million last year. Underlying EBITA £190.9 million compared to £179.1 million for the same period a year ago. Underlying earnings per share increased by 15% in current six months as a result of underlying growth in profitability and a reduction in the average number of shares in issue due to the share buyback programme. After dividends paid of £79.3 million, shares repurchased of £179.0 million and other outflows of £16.4 million, including exchange movements, net debt stood at £230.8 million at March 31, 2013 compared to net cash of £122.1 million as on March 31, 2012. Capital expenditure in the period ended March 31, 2013 including the purchase of third-party software systems for internal use was £3.1 million compared to £14.0 million last year.  The majority of this expenditure relates to IT infrastructure, both in new and replacement systems. After interest, tax, net capital expenditure, free cash flow was £158.7 million.  The company is encouraged by its performance, which the company expects to sustain for the remainder of the year, and it remains confident that it will deliver on strategic and financial goals.

The Sage Group plc announced that Paul Harrison, currently Group CFO, will leave to become CFO of WANdisco plc, based in California. Paul will leave the company on August 30, 2013.