September 15, 2016

Accenture Announces Intention to Acquire OCTO Technology to Expand Digital Capabilities in France

PARIS, FRANCE; Sept. 15, 2016 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to purchase a 47.4 percent shareholding in OCTO Technology (ISIN code FR0004157428), a technology consultancy specializing in digital transformation and software development, with the intention to acquire the remaining shares.

Under the terms of the agreement, Accenture will purchase the shareholding in OCTO from François Hisquin, founder and CEO of OCTO, other OCTO partners and Financière Arbevel at a price of €22.50 per share and €1.7222 per equity warrant. Following the closing of the acquisition, Accenture will make a voluntary cash tender offer to acquire the remaining shares and equity warrants at the same prices.

The price of €22.50 per share represents a 43.8 percent premium over the closing share price of OCTO on September 14, 2016 and a 76.2 percent premium over the volume-weighted average share price during the last 12 months. The tender offer values 100% of the issued ordinary shares of OCTO (on a fully diluted basis) at approximately €115 million.

The supervisory board of OCTO unanimously supports the transaction and has appointed Ledouble SAS to act as independent expert to issue a formal statement confirming the fairness of the tender offer. In accordance with applicable regulations, the supervisory board of OCTO will issue its formal recommendation on the tender offer once it has received the report of the independent expert and the opinion of OCTO’s works council has been obtained. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early Q1 of CY2017.

Following successful completion of the tender offer, OCTO will join Accenture Digital to expand its capabilities and operations in France. OCTO’s clients will have access to the global scale, broad capabilities and deep industry experience of Accenture for their major projects.

“OCTO has built an extremely talented, enthusiastic workforce that will significantly enhance the existing capabilities of Accenture Digital in France,” said Pascal Delorme, Accenture Digital lead, France and Benelux. “With its flexible working culture, OCTO will invigorate Accenture’s operations in this region. OCTO’s leadership have demonstrated their firm support for the acquisition. Together, we can focus on delivering the greatest possible returns for clients locally and globally, applying our shared pragmatic and agile approach to technology to drive digital transformations.”

“We have always been a firm with international ambitions,” said François Hisquin, CEO and founder of OCTO, who will remain in his role post-acquisition. “The proposed sale of my shares and those belonging to OCTO’s partners demonstrates the value of the transaction and a strong belief that in becoming part of Accenture Digital, we can pursue a joint ambition to offer end to end digital transformation capabilities to clients. OCTO people are passionate digital natives, and our commitment to fostering innovation and being trusted to deliver a range of digital solutions will continue when working alongside Accenture Digital, where we intend to take full advantage of the global reach and deep industry knowledge available.”

“The proposed addition of OCTO to our business in France demonstrates that we are committed to building a digital powerhouse for the country and the region,” said Christian Nibourel, country managing director for Accenture in France and Benelux. “We recently launched an Innovation Centre in Paris, which along with this acquisition will give our clients in France access to the strongest skills, most strategic thinkers and the latest transformational technologies available. Together, we will help our clients rotate to the New to drive operational efficiency, adapt business models, and implement new capabilities for success.”

In addition, Sycomore Asset Management has irrevocably committed to tender its 4.6 percent ownership in OCTO to Accenture, once it launches its offer.

Rothschild & Cie and Société Générale are acting as financial advisors to OCTO and Accenture, respectively.

About OCTO Technology
OCTO Technology is a technology consultancy specializing in digital transformation and software development operating in five countries: France (headquarter), Morocco, Switzerland, Brazil and Australia. OCTO has nearly 360 employees with specialized digital technology skills, including big data and analytics, user experience design, and mobile services delivery. Awarded the Great Place to Work® award (companies under 500 employees) for each of its four participations, OCTO also runs the successful ‘Unexpected Sources of Inspiration’ (USI) event each year in Paris where leaders, industry innovators and technology entrepreneurs exchange ideas, draw inspiration and discuss the digital transformations in our societies.

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 375,000 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 Digital, comprised of Accenture Analytics, Accenture Interactive and Accenture Mobility, offers a comprehensive portfolio of business and technology services across digital marketing, mobility and analytics. From developing digital strategies to implementing digital technologies and running digital processes on their behalf, Accenture Digital helps clients leverage connected and mobile devices; extract insights from data using analytics; and enrich end-customer experiences and interactions, delivering tangible results from the virtual world and driving growth. To learn more about Accenture Digital, follow us @AccentureDigi and visit www.accenture.com/digital.

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: Accenture and OCTO will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; 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, and a significant reduction in such demand 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 or information systems as obligated by law or contract or if the company’s information systems are breached; Accenture’s results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if the company cannot adapt and expand its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings by new entrants; the company’s results of operations could materially suffer if the company is not able to obtain sufficient pricing to enable it to meet its profitability expectations; if Accenture does not accurately anticipate the cost, risk and complexity of performing its work or if the third parties upon whom it relies do not meet their commitments, then Accenture’s contracts could have delivery inefficiencies and be less profitable than expected or unprofitable; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; Accenture’s profitability could suffer if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful, and the company may not be able to improve its profitability through improvements to cost-management to the degree it has done in the past; 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 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; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in the company’s treatment as an Irish company, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations and financial condition; 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; if Accenture is unable to collect its receivables or unbilled services, the company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected; 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:

Nelly Grellier
OCTO Technology
+ 33 (0) 1 58 56 10 18
ngrellier@octo.com

Joanna Vos
Accenture
+ 44 7500 835588
joanna.r.vos@accenture.com

Francois Luu
Accenture
+ 33 1 53 23 68 55
francois.luu@accenture.com