Recommended Tender Offer for Best Software

Sage Group PLC
14 February 2000

                                                                              
THE SAGE GROUP PLC RECOMMENDED TENDER OFFER FOR BEST                          
SOFTWARE, INC ('BEST')                                                        
                                                                              
Sage  announces that as at midnight New York time on 11th                     
February  2000,  Sage  had received acceptances  for  its                     
tender offer accounting for approximately 97 per cent. of                     
Best's share capital.  The tender offer has therefore now                     
become unconditional and settlement for the tendered Best                     
shares  will  start to take place on 15th February  2000.                     
Sage  intends to acquire the balance of the  Best  shares                     
under  the  terms  of  the merger agreement  as  soon  as                     
possible.                                                                     
                                                                              
As   a  result  the  vendor  placing  has  become  wholly                     
unconditional and the admission of the Placing Shares  to                     
the  Official  List  of the London  Stock  Exchange  will                     
become  effective  today.  The Placing Shares  will  rank                     
pari  passu  in  all  respects with the  existing  issued                     
ordinary  shares of the Company.  Payment for  value  for                     
the  Placing  Shares  will be on Wednesday,  16  February                     
2000.                                                                         
                                                                              
                                                                              
Press enquiries:                                                              
                                                                              
Sage                                        0191 255 3000                     
Paul Walker, Chief Executive                                                  
Aidan Hughes, Finance Director                                                
                                                                              
Deutsche Bank AG London                     0171 545 8000                     
Chris Airey                                                                   
Nicola Beale                                                                  
                                                                              
Financial Dynamics                          0171 831 3113                     
Giles Sanderson                                                               
Jon Earl