October 31, 2016

Accenture Acquires 2nd Road to Strengthen Strategy Capabilities in Australia and New Zealand

Acquisition will boost Accenture Strategy ability to envision new futures by breaking dependence on traditional approaches to strategy design

SYDNEY; Oct. 31, 2016 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced the acquisition of 2nd Road, an Australia-based strategic consultancy that specializes in infusing enterprise-wide innovation through design thinking methodologies into strategy creation. The acquisition will enable Accenture Strategy to combine the power of a strategic analytical thought process with the ability to craft breakthrough propositions and services through human-centered co-design. Together, this will give clients a competitive edge by enabling them to fundamentally re-imagine the future of their organizations.

Founded in 2002, 2nd Road provides consulting services in the areas of strategy, innovation and organizational systems to clients across multiple industries and sectors. The firm employs 22 strategists, designers and educators who apply strategic innovation and design thinking capabilities to deliver breakthrough strategy solutions.

“Business leaders in all industries are facing unprecedented levels of disruption and technology transformation, which is driving a sense of urgency to do things differently,” said Mark Knickrehm, group chief executive, Accenture Strategy. “The acquisition of 2nd Road boosts our ability to use innovation to co-create the future state for our clients and design the strategies that will drive real change for them.”

@AccentureStrat acquires @secondroad to boost strategic innovation capabilities #designthinking @Accenture_Aust

Luca Martini, managing director, Accenture Strategy in Australia, said, “Combining Accenture Strategy’s global capabilities and deep expertise at the intersection of business and technology, with 2nd Road’s innovation and design thinking powered approach to strategy, will help our clients get ahead of the transformation journey and gain competitive edge.”

2nd Road has built a powerful toolkit that helps turn creative thinking into accessible methodologies. At the heart of this approach lies The Thinking Wave – an end-to-end view of exploring a problem and finding a solution by highlighting the trajectory of fresh thinking that tough problems need.

“I founded 2nd Road because I saw rising demand for something fresh and different to conventional management practices, and I knew that by bringing together the power of analytics and creative thinking, I could fill a gap in the market,” said Tony Golsby-Smith, owner and chief executive officer of 2nd Road. “By joining Accenture Strategy, we will be able to take our approach to more organizations, serve our clients in new ways and provide more end-to-end solutions that they are increasingly seeking.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 384,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Strategy operates at the intersection of business and technology. We bring together our capabilities in business, technology, operations and function strategy to help our clients envision and execute industry-specific strategies that support enterprise wide transformation. Our focus on issues related to digital disruption, competitiveness, global operating models, talent and leadership help drive both efficiencies and growth. For more information, visit www.accenture.com/strategy.

About 2nd Road
2nd Road is a strategic innovation consultancy that offers a unique approach to strategy by applying design thinking methodologies to solve big problems. Its core strength is the mastery of deep design thinking capabilities that can help companies and leaders shape innovative strategies. 2nd Road’s approaches and methodologies are infused with design thinking which can be applied to a broad spectrum of issues across industries, sectors and levels of organisations. For more information, visit
www.secondroad.com.au

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the changing technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the markets in which Accenture competes are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture could have liability or Accenture’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accenture might not be successful at identifying, acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to Accenture’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; Accenture’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others; if Accenture is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of Accenture’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

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Contacts:

Georgia Hewett
Accenture
+ 61 4176 99567
georgia.hewett@accenture.com

Justyna Gnyp
Accenture
+ 44 750 012 4567
justyna.gnyp@accenture.com