Accenture Reports Strong Second-Quarter Fiscal 2007 Financial Results

-- Revenues increase 16% to $4.75 billion, including record outsourcing revenues of $1.92 billion --

-- EPS up 27% over prior-year adjusted results; Company raises EPS outlook for full fiscal year 2007 to range of $1.88-$1.93 --

-- Bookings of $5.3 billion include record consulting bookings of $3.1 billion --

NEW YORK; March 27, 2007 — Accenture (NYSE: ACN) reported strong financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2007, ended Feb. 28, with net revenues of $4.75 billion, a year-over-year increase of 16 percent in U.S. dollars and 10 percent in local currency. Consulting and outsourcing revenues both grew by double digits in U.S. dollars.

GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.47, compared with $0.11 in the same period last year. EPS of $0.47 increased 27 percent over adjusted EPS of $0.37 in the second quarter last year, reflecting the items described below under Financial Review.

In addition, the company revised upward its expectations for EPS for the full fiscal year by $0.08, to a range of $1.88 to $1.93.

Operating income was $559 million (11.8 percent of net revenues), compared with $137 million (3.3 percent of net revenues) in the second quarter last year on a GAAP basis and $466 million (11.4 percent of net revenues) on an adjusted basis, reflecting the items described below under Financial Review. On this basis, Accenture expanded its operating margin by 40 basis points.

New bookings for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 were $5.33 billion, with outsourcing bookings of $2.25 billion and record consulting bookings of $3.08 billion.

William D. Green, Accenture’s chairman and CEO, said, “We delivered another strong quarter, demonstrating the strong fundamentals of our business, our continued momentum and the ongoing success in serving our clients and executing our strategy. We achieved revenue growth across every dimension of our business and double-digit earnings growth. Our solid bookings, which include record consulting bookings, reflect the continued demand for our services. We continue to focus on delivering value to our clients and shareholders while at the same time investing in our people and further sharpening and expanding the capabilities that help differentiate Accenture in the marketplace.”

Financial Review

In addition to providing year-over-year GAAP comparisons, Accenture is presenting results for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 on an adjusted basis, excluding the net impact of the NHS contract loss provision in that quarter (“the Provision”) and the benefit from a reduction in reorganization liabilities in that quarter. The company believes that adjusting for these items, which affect the comparability of results between periods, provides an additional meaningful comparison.

Revenues before reimbursements (“net revenues”) for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 were $4.75 billion, compared with $4.10 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, an increase of 16 percent in U.S. dollars and 10 percent in local currency.

• Consulting net revenues were $2.83 billion, an increase of 15 percent in U.S. dollars and 9 percent in local currency over the second quarter last year.
• Outsourcing net revenues were a record $1.92 billion, an increase of 17 percent in U.S. dollars and 12 percent in local currency over the same period last year.

GAAP diluted EPS for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 were $0.47, compared with $0.11 in the second quarter last year. EPS of $0.47 represents a 27 percent increase over the adjusted EPS of $0.37 for the second quarter last year. The adjusted EPS for the second quarter last year excludes a $0.27 net impact of the Provision and a $0.01 benefit from a reduction in reorganization liabilities.

GAAP operating income was $559 million, or 11.8 percent of net revenues, compared with $137 million, or 3.3 percent of net revenues, in the second quarter last year. On an adjusted basis, operating income for the second quarter last year was $466 million, or 11.4 percent of net revenues. On this basis, operating margin expanded 40 basis points over the second quarter last year.

Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net revenues) was 29.6 percent, compared with 21.2 percent on a GAAP basis and 30.2 percent on an adjusted basis in the second quarter last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $839 million, or 17.7 percent of net revenues, compared with $739 million, or 18.0 percent of net revenues, on a GAAP basis and $767 million, or 18.7 percent of net revenues, on an adjusted basis in the second quarter last year.

The company’s effective tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was 29.4 percent, which includes the effect of the reduction in the year-to-date tax rate from 36.7 percent to 34.9 percent as a result of changes in the forecasted geographic mix of income and final determinations of prior-year tax liabilities. The second-quarter tax provision also includes a non-recurring $21 million tax benefit related to a reduction in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, which resulted in a $0.02 benefit to GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter.

GAAP income before minority interest was $413 million, compared with $104 million in the second quarter last year.

For the three months ended Feb. 28, 2007, operating cash flow was $710 million; property and equipment additions were $76 million; and free cash flow, defined as operating cash flow net of property and equipment additions, was $634 million.

Accenture’s total cash balance at Feb. 28, 2007, was $2.96 billion, compared with $3.07 billion at Aug. 31, 2006. Cash combined with $267 million of fixed-income securities classified as investments on the company’s balance sheet was $3.23 billion, compared with $3.53 billion at Aug. 31, 2006. Total debt at Feb. 28, 2007, was $29 million.

New Bookings

New bookings for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 were $5.33 billion.

• Consulting bookings were $3.08 billion, a new quarterly record.
• Outsourcing bookings were $2.25 billion.

Net Revenues by Operating Group

Net revenues for Accenture’s five operating groups were as follows:

• Communications & High Tech: $1.086 billion, compared with $1.026 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, an increase of 6 percent in U.S. dollars and 1 percent in local currency.
• Financial Services: $1.051 billion, compared with $833 million for the same period last year, an increase of 26 percent in U.S. dollars and 18 percent in local currency.
• Government: $655 million, compared with $598 million for the year-ago period, an increase of 10 percent in U.S. dollars and 6 percent in local currency.
• Products: $1.165 billion, compared with $1.004 billion for the year-ago period, an increase of 16 percent in U.S. dollars and 11 percent in local currency.
• Resources: $787 million, compared with $639 million for the same period last year, an increase of 23 percent in U.S. dollars and 18 percent in local currency.

Net Revenues by Geographic Region

Net revenues by geographic region were as follows:

• Americas: $2.043 billion, compared with $1.898 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, an increase of 8 percent in U.S. dollars and 7 percent in local currency.
• Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): $2.334 billion, compared with $1.914 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, an increase of 22 percent in U.S. dollars and 11 percent in local currency.
• Asia Pacific: $373 million, compared with $291 million for the year-ago period, an increase of 28 percent in U.S. dollars and 24 percent in local currency.

Share Repurchase Activity

During the second quarter of fiscal 2007, Accenture repurchased or redeemed a total of 9.4 million shares for a total of $348 million. As previously announced, the company’s board of directors recently approved $1.5 billion in additional share repurchase authority, bringing Accenture’s total outstanding authority to approximately $2.6 billion.

Accenture’s board also recently approved the use of an additional $650 million solely in connection with Accenture SCA’s offer to purchase or redeem up to 19.7 million of its Class I common shares in a range of $30.50 to $33.00 per share, as well as up to an additional $144 million should Accenture SCA choose to increase the size of the offer in response to shareholder demand. The offer is expected to expire at midnight EDT on April 4, 2007.

Business Outlook

Third Quarter Fiscal 2007

Accenture expects net revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 to be in the range of $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion.

Fiscal Year 2007

For the full fiscal year 2007, Accenture now expects net revenue growth to be at the high end of its previously communicated range of 9 percent to 12 percent in local currency. The company has revised its outlook for diluted EPS upward to the range of $1.88 to $1.93, which is $0.08 higher than its previously communicated range of $1.80 to $1.85.

The company continues to expect operating cash flow to be $1.95 billion to $2.15 billion; property and equipment additions to be $335 million; and free cash flow to be in the range of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion. The company now expects its annual effective tax rate to be in the range of 34 percent to 36 percent. Accenture continues to target new bookings for fiscal 2007 in the range of $22 billion to $24 billion.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Accenture will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. EDT today to discuss its second-quarter 2007 financial results. To participate, please dial +1 (866) 233-3844 [+1 (651) 291-0618 outside the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada] approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the call. The conference call will also be accessible live on the Investor Relations section of the Accenture Web site at www.accenture.com.

A replay and podcast of the conference call will be available online at www.accenture.com for approximately two weeks beginning at 9:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, March 27. The replay will also be available via telephone by dialing +1 (800) 475-6701 [+1 (320) 365-3844 outside the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada] and entering access code 866857 from 9:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, March 27 through 11:59 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 10, 2007.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With more than 152,000 people in 49 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$16.65 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2006. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to our operations and results of operations, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial information as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation G. Pursuant to the requirements of this regulation, reconciliations of this non-GAAP financial information to Accenture’s financial statements as prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) are included in this press release. Accenture’s management believes providing investors with this information gives additional insights into Accenture’s results of operations. While Accenture’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating Accenture’s operations, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

ACCENTURE LTD CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended February 28,				Six Months Ended February 28,
	2007	% of Net Revenues	2006	% of Net Revenues	2007	% of Net Revenues	2006	% of Net Revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues before reimbursements (Net revenues)	$ 4,749,838	100%	$ 4,102,795	100%	$ 9,503,926	100%	$ 8,272,270	100%
Reimbursements	419,515		388,317		831,786		761,858
Revenues	5,169,353		4,491,112		10,335,712		9,034,128
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of services:
Cost of services before reimbursable expenses	3,344,772	70.4%	3,234,139	78.8%	6,666,616	70.1%	6,083,306	73.5%
Reimbursable expenses	419,515		388,317		831,786		761,858
Cost of services	3,764,287		3,622,456		7,498,402		6,845,164
Sales and marketing	434,293	9.2%	393,412	9.6%	871,223	9.2%	802,014	9.7%
General and administrative costs	405,065	8.5%	345,347	8.4%	784,708	8.2%	739,113	8.9%
Reorganization benefits, net	6,316		(7,415)		12,395		(2,031)
Total operating expenses	4,609,961		4,353,800		9,166,728		8,384,260
OPERATING INCOME	559,392	11.8%	137,312	3.3%	1,168,984	12.3%	649,868	7.9%
Gain on investments, net	33		1,792		2,887		3,230
Interest income	34,948		24,581		71,255		54,934
Interest expense	(6,862)		(4,558)		(11,984)		(9,243)
Other income (expense)	(3,433)		2,805		(5,899)		(13,142)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	584,078	12.3%	161,932	3.9%	1,225,243	12.9%	685,647	8.3%
Provision for income taxes	171,542		57,820		406,850		253,689
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST	412,536	8.7%	104,112	2.5%	818,393	8.6%	431,958	5.2%
Minority interest in Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc	(111,311)		(32,654)		(227,124)		(142,790)
Minority interest – other (1)	(4,503)		(1,778)		(10,315)		(4,548)
NET INCOME	$ 296,722	6.2%	$ 69,680	1.7%	$ 580,954	6.1%	$ 284,620	3.4%
CALCULATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Net income	$ 296,722		$ 69,680		$  580,954		$ 284,620
Minority interest in Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (2)	111,311		32,654		227,124		142,790
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$ 408,033		$ 102,334		$ 808,078		$ 427,410
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Basic	$ 0.49		$ 0.12		$ 0.97		$ 0.49
Diluted	$ 0.47		$ 0.11		$ 0.93		$ 0.47
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:
Basic	604,326,019		585,674,656		601,363,210		586,031,530
Diluted	867,330,893		892,893,907		870,985,464		903,729,925
Cash Dividends Per Share	$ —		$ —		$ 0.35		$ 0.30

[1]	Minority interest – other is comprised primarily of minority interest attributable to the minority shareholders of Avanade, Inc.
[2]	Diluted earnings per share assumes the redemption and exchange of all Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares, respectively, for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares on a one-for-one basis.

ACCENTURE LTD RECONCILIATION OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT, AS REPORTED (GAAP), TO CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT ON AN ADJUSTED BASIS (NON-GAAP) For the Three Months Ended February 28, 2006 (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
	As Reported (GAAP)	Adjustments	Adjusted (Non-GAAP)	% of Net Revenues
REVENUES:
Revenues before reimbursements (Net revenues)	$ 4,102,795	$ —	$ 4,102,795	100%
Reimbursements	388,317	—	388,317
Revenues	4,491,112	—	4,491,112
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of services:
Cost of services before reimbursable expenses	3,234,139	(370,000)	2,864,139	69.8
Reimbursable expenses	388,317	—	388,317
Cost of services	3,622,456	(370,000)	3,252,456
Sales and marketing	393,412	20,000	413,412	10.1
General and administrative costs	345,347	8,000	353,347	8.6%
Reorganization benefits, net	(7,415)	13,540	(6,125)
Total operating expenses	4,353,800	(328,460)	4,025,340
OPERATING INCOME	137,312	328,460	465,772	11.4%
Gain on investments, net	1,792	—	1,792
Interest income	24,581	—	24,581
Interest expense	(4,558)	—	(4,558)
Other income	2,805	—	2,805
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	161,932	328,460	490,392	12.0%
Provision for income taxes	57,820	105,000	162,820
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST	104,112	223,460	327,572	8.0%
Minority interest in Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc	(32,654)	—	(32,654)
Minority interest – other (3)	(1,778)	—	(1,778)
NET INCOME	$ 69,680	$ 223,460	$ 293,140	7.1%
CALCULATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Net income	$ 69,680		$ 293,140
Minority interest in Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (4)	32,654		32,654
Net income for diluted earnings per share calculation	$ 102,334		$ 325,794
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
- Basic	$ 0.12		$ 0.50
- Diluted	$ 0.11		$ 0.37
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:
- Basic	585,674,656		585,674,656
- Diluted	892,893,907		892,893,907

[1]	Represents the net National Health Service (NHS) adjustments of $342,000 less $105,000 in related tax benefit.
[2]	Adjustment represents reorganization benefits recorded during the quarter.
[3]	Minority interest – other is comprised primarily of minority interest attributable to the minority shareholders of Avanade, Inc.
[4]	Diluted earnings per share assumes the redemption and exchange of all Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares, respectively, for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares on a one-for-one basis.