September 08, 2015

Accenture to Acquire S3 TV Technology to Help Video Service Providers Quickly Launch New Services and Expand Market Share

NEW YORK; September 8, 2015 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire S3 TV Technology, a business unit of Dublin-headquartered S3 Group that delivers consultancy, automated testing, service monitoring and diagnostic solutions to video service providers globally. S3 TV Technology is comprised of all the TV technology resources and assets of S3 Group. Accenture will integrate S3 TV Technology’s StormTest® automated testing platform and video consulting capabilities with Accenture Digital Video Services software and solutions, which is part of Accenture’s Communications, Media and Technology group. This new combination will help video service providers enhance the quality and performance of their services in an increasingly competitive and evolving market.

The addition of S3 TV Technology will expand Accenture’s global video consulting, systems integration and automated testing capabilities across all video industry segments including cable operators, broadcasters, communications service providers and new entrants in digital TV. S3 TV Technology also provides the StormTest® platform that enables video service providers to continuously test and optimize all aspects of services to improve user experience throughout the service delivery lifecycle.

Upon closing of the acquisition, Accenture Digital Video Services will strengthen and augment its capabilities to help video businesses create and evolve high quality products that can access linear content through broadband (IP) and broadcast networks and non-linear services such as catch-up TV and video on demand (VOD) through broadband networks. These services will be integrated with industrialized DevOps capabilities that foster an agile, continuous delivery approach to product development and enable video businesses to leverage cloud and device-based technologies in order to quickly launch, monitor, and iterate their products into the marketplace.

“In the volatile new media and entertainment ecosystem, one thing is unchanged – consumers will keep demanding more from their screens of choice,” said Francesco Venturini, managing director and Accenture Digital Video Services lead. “S3 TV Technology’s test automation solution, live event monitoring, video technology consulting capabilities, and systems integration experience combined with the rich capabilities of Accenture Digital Video Services and Accenture Video Solution software, will create an end-to-end platform that will help video service providers use cutting-edge technology to stay competitive by delivering more innovative features to customers.”

“Video is in our history; it’s in our DNA. Our collaboration and process automation technologies deliver reliable, shared insights into platform performance and service-readiness that can help video service providers make quick updates to meet consumer demand,” said Philip Brennan, managing director, S3 TV Technology. “We are excited to join Accenture, taking advantage of the company’s capabilities, technology, and experience in this industry to enable video service providers to build dynamic, interactive relationships with their customers.”

With over 20 years’ experience in digital video, S3 TV Technology works with many of the leading global video service providers to enhance the performance and service readiness of their video platforms, facilitating the creation of a continuous delivery model for the development and deployment of new services.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 336,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$30.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2014. Its home page is www.accenture.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: the parties will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent upon the parties’ ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for the company; the company’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; the company’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 the company 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 the company competes are highly competitive, and the company might not be able to compete effectively; the company could have liability or the company’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; the company’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 the company 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 the company’s contracts could have delivery inefficiencies and be less profitable than expected or unprofitable; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company’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; the company’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; the company’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; the company might not be successful at identifying, acquiring or integrating businesses or entering into joint ventures; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; changes in the company’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 the company’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to the company’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; the company’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 the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; the company’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; many of the company’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 the company is unable to collect its receivables or unbilled services, the company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected; if the company is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; the company’s share price and results of operations could fluctuate and be difficult to predict; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that the company makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; the company 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.

# # #

Contact:

Julie Bennink
Accenture
+ 1 312 693 7301
julie.l.bennink@accenture.com

Alison Mills
Accenture
+ 353 86 851 2890
alison.mills@accenture.com