November 02, 2018

Accenture Interactive to Bolster Creative Capabilities by Acquiring Kolle Rebbe

Acquisition of one of Germany’s leading creative agencies will help Accenture Interactive create end- to-end brand experiences for clients

HAMBURG; Nov. 2, 2018 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Kolle Rebbe, one of Germany’s leading creative agencies, known for its digital-first approach. The Hamburg-based agency will become part of Accenture Interactive and strengthen its ability to create and deliver integrated brand experiences for clients in Germany and across other geographies. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1994, Kolle Rebbe delivers brand-building campaigns that combine award-winning creative with a dedicated focus on digital customer interaction. It is responsible for some of the most-recognized campaigns in recent years in Germany, such as Google´s “Life is a Search,” Lufthansa’s #sayyestotheworld, Audi´s “Next Level Luxury,” the campaign for Ritter Sport, which has been running successfully for ten years, as well as the launch of Netflix programs, Narcos and Better Call Saul.

Kolle Rebbe creates cross-channel advertising campaigns and digital content for clients across various industries, including brands such as Audi, DAZN, Netflix and TUI Cruises. Trade publication W&V ranked Kolle Rebbe the seventh largest independent agency in Germany by revenue, while Horizont ranked Kolle Rebbe #4 in its list of the most creative agencies in Germany in 2018. The agency employs approximately 300 artists, designers, digital designers, technologists, concept engineers and copywriters at its Hamburg headquarters.

Kolle Rebbe creative credentials will help Accenture Interactive create end-to-end solutions

“While Accenture Interactive already works for many leading brands in Germany, we know that propelling our future growth requires expanding our portfolio of marketing and digital services to deliver even more innovative customer experiences to our clients,” says Matthias Schrader, head of Accenture Interactive, Germany. "Together with Kolle Rebbe, we will have the ability to deliver end-to-end brand experiences, from activation in traditional media to targeting in programmatic channels and personalised content and e-commerce. Acquiring Kolle Rebbe advances our global strategy to bolster Accenture Interactive’s creative footprint and talent in the market.”

“With the addition of Kolle Rebbe to the Accenture Interactive team, we will greatly strengthen our ability to create, build and run the greatest customer experiences for our clients in Germany,” said Anatoly Roytman, head of Accenture Interactive in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. “The Kolle Rebbe team and their robust capabilities will complement and enhance our presence in Germany, and inject a greater level of creativity and data-driven experiences that we can deliver to our clients.”

Fabian Frese, chief creative officer, Kolle Rebbe, added: “The advertising market in Germany is undergoing significant change. Clients are increasingly looking for agencies with global reach and a full-service portfolio from ideation to execution. However, one thing remains unchanged: creative ideas still matter. We believe that, as part of Accenture Interactive, we will have a stronger impact by blending creativity with strategy and technology to create truly differentiating brand experiences. By joining the Accenture Interactive family, we will also bring new exciting opportunities to our employees.”

Kolle Rebbe is Accenture’s third recent acquisition in Germany. In January 2018, Accenture Interactive acquired Mackevision, a leading producer of computer-generated imagery and immersive content. In June 2018, Accenture acquired strategic design consultancy designaffairs to join its Industry X.0 team. In 2017, Accenture Interactive acquired a majority stake in digital agency SinnerSchrader. Kolle Rebbe is part of a series of moves that Accenture Interactive has made globally to strengthen its creative capabilities, including the addition of agencies such as Karmarama in the U.K, Rothco in Ireland, and The Monkeys in Australia.

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 459,000 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 Interactive helps the world’s leading brands transform their customer experiences across the entire customer journey. Through our connected offerings in design, marketing, content and commerce, we create new ways to win in today’s experience-led economy. Accenture Interactive is ranked the world’s largest digital agency in the latest Ad Age Agency Report, for the third year in a row. To learn more, follow us @accentureSong and visit www.accentureinteractive.com.

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 Kolle Rebbe 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 and political 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; Accenture could face legal, reputational and financial risks if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; 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 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; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; 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; 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; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect its intellectual property rights or if Accenture’s services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions 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 might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders’ ownership interest in the company; 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. 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Contacts:

Dr. Thomas Wittek
Accenture
+49 175 57-63105
thomas.wittek@accenture.com

Alexandra Annable
Accenture
+44 7918780916
alexandra.annable@accenture.com

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