March 21, 2017

Accenture Acquires Focus Group Europe to Further Solidify Industry Leadership of ServiceNow Capabilities Globally

NEW YORK; Mar. 21, 2017 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Focus Group Europe, a United Kingdom-based, privately owned, ServiceNow® consulting services provider and software reseller that is one of the largest remaining pure-play ServiceNow consulting partners in the UK. The acquisition solidifies Accenture’s position as a leader in the ServiceNow partner ecosystem, adding to Accenture’s already strong technology capabilities and deep industry experience in cloud strategy, implementation, migration, integration and management.

“Using our proven Cloud First approach, Accenture is able to shepherd clients on their individual and unique journey to cloud ambitions and ultimately getting the most out of their cloud investments,” said Jack Sepple, senior managing director, Accenture Cloud and Accenture Operations group technology officer. “The acquisition of Focus Group Europe is just the latest in a series of significant investments we have made in our cloud business that drive our determination to create the best ServiceNow practice globally. We are particularly excited to welcome Focus Group Europe to our team because our ambitions and cultures are so closely aligned.”

Focus Group Europe is now part of Accenture’s global ServiceNow practice, adding more than 70 professionals with nearly 75 ServiceNow certifications to the team. The combination of Accenture’s already strong position in Europe and the skills acquired through the ServiceNow pure-play acquisition of solid-serVision and Focus Group Europe creates a powerhouse in the region. Accenture, solid-serVision and Focus Group Europe together received four of the seven partner awards, including Top Influencer, at ServiceNow’s recent EMEA PartnerNow Summit in Barcelona, Spain.

“Combining Focus Group Europe ’s talent and sales and delivery capabilities with Accenture’s client portfolio, global workforce and industry and functional expertise creates a powerful platform to drive growth, and is a natural complement to Accenture’s regional and global position,” said Ciaran Cosgrave, managing director and EALA Lead, Accenture ServiceNow Practice. “Focus Group Europe’s talented professionals will further aid our cloud team to help clients eager to expand and get the most out of their ServiceNow adoption efforts.”

Focus Group Europe, headquartered in London, was founded in 2009 and is now one of the largest independent ServiceNow pure-play companies in the UK, earning the coveted Gold Services and Sales Partner designation. Focus Group Europe has deployed hundreds of successful projects that helped companies of all sizes realize the transformational benefits of ServiceNow.

“We are eager to take our unique service offerings that accelerate our clients’ journeys with ServiceNow to the next level by aligning with Accenture’s deep industry expertise, business acumen and end-to-end cloud offerings,” said John Gilleran, CEO of Focus Group Europe. “Together with Accenture, we will be able to help clients, big and small, make even smarter decisions when implementing ServiceNow and solve their cloud business challenges more rapidly.”

The acquisition of Focus Group Europe is part of a strategic growth plan aimed at strengthening Accenture’s position as a leading provider of ServiceNow services and cloud implementations globally. It follows the acquisition of Germany-based solid-serVision earlier this year, Nashco, a leader in the Canadian ServiceNow market, in November 2016 and US-based Cloud Sherpas in 2015.

“Accenture’s continued investment in ServiceNow is proof of the importance of ServiceNow’s role in the cloud strategy of the largest enterprises,” said David Schneider, Chief Revenue Officer, ServiceNow. “Companies are using ServiceNow to replace the unstructured work patterns of the past with intelligent workflows of the future across IT, HR, customer service and security. As a result, they get energized employees, increased service levels and realize game-changing economics.”

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 more than 394,000 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 is a leader in helping organizations move to the cloud to take advantage of a new era of service delivery and flexibility, where applications, infrastructure and business processes are brought together and delivered As-a-Service. Accenture’s Cloud First agenda offers comprehensive, industry-focused cloud services including strategy, implementation, migration and managed services, and assets including the Accenture Cloud Platform that can drive broader transformational programs for clients. Accenture has worked on over 20,000 cloud computing projects for clients, including three-quarters of the Fortune Global 100, and has more than 33,000 professionals trained in cloud computing.

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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Contact:

Alexander Aizenberg
Accenture
+ 1 917 452 9878
alexander.aizenberg@accenture.com