CANBERRA, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire BCT Solutions (BCT), a privately held technology consultancy that specialises in Command and Control, Cybersecurity, Cyber Defence services and expertise, supporting the delivery of Defence, National Security and Public Safety mission-support capabilities.

Accenture has worked to support the objectives of Australia’s government for more than 20 years and the acquisition of BCT will further bolster Accenture’s deep Cybersecurity, Cyber Defence and technical expertise and advance its strategy to be a leading provider of end-to-end capabilities for its government clients.

“BCT will complement Accenture’s Defence, National Security and Public Safety capabilities in Australia, extending the reach and scale of our business to transform bold ideas into breakthrough outcomes for our public sector clients,” said Catherine Garner, who leads Accenture’s Health & Public Service practice in Australia and New Zealand. “BCT’s impressive experience and capabilities will enable us to enhance the services we provide to government agencies in Australia — ultimately helping improve the lives of citizens.”

Matthew Gollings, Accenture’s global Defence lead, said, “We are very proud to welcome the BCT team to Accenture, and we commend their work in supporting the local defence community. BCT is a strong match with Accenture’s values, culture and people — and we look forward to combining our skills to serve the needs of government agencies.”

Founded in 2015 by Defence Force veterans Patrick Batch and Angus Heatley, BCT has offices in Canberra and Brisbane. In March 2019, BCT was recognised in the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards for its work supporting Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans. With 87% of its workforce having served in the ADF, BCT is uniquely positioned to service the sector.

“We are excited to join forces with Accenture to address the pressing challenges facing the Defence and broader public sector landscape,” said Angus Heatley, a Director at BCT Solutions. “Most of the BCT workforce are veterans and have the deep, first-hand defence and national security industry experience, skills and understanding to better equip the men and women of Australia’s Defence force. Together with Accenture, we can further tailor services to our clients’ ever-changing security needs and ensure they are building resilience from the inside out.”

Terms of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, are not being disclosed.

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 specialised 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 477,000 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

About BCT Solutions

BCT Solutions is an award-winning Professional Services Organisation that provides Advisory Services to the Defence and National Security Sector. BCT focuses on the classified technology domain, with a specialisation in; Cyber, Electronic Warfare, and Intelligence capabilities. The company was founded by ex-servicemen and women, with over 87% of employees being veterans. BCT’s excellence in service delivery, growth and performance has been recognised by: being named the Prime Minister’s Veteran’s Outstanding Employer the Year, ranking in AFR fast starter lists, and winning Small Business Champion Awards (Growth).

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 company and BCT Solutions 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 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, 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 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 utilisation 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 from security breaches or cyberattacks; the company’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 the company’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; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; 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, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; 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 utilise the intellectual property of others; if the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorised 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; if the company is unable to manage the organisational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; 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; 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; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; 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.

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Contacts

Victoria Ancell Accenture +61 476 274 275 victoria.ancell@accenture.com