Sage said that “the stronger trading performance reported for the second half of 2012 has continued in the first quarter” in North America. The United Kingdom and Ireland had good growth “whilst conditions in mainland Europe remain challenging” and South Africa was “in particular growing strongly.” Chief executive Guy Berruyer issued a prepared statement that “Overall, trading remains solid and in-line with expectations.” His remarks were substantially more optimistic than those issued with the year-ago management report in which he said fiscal 2012 had "a satisfactory start."