Acquisition will strengthen Accenture’s capabilities to deliver AI-powered data and advanced analytics services to clients

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Analytics8, a privately held Australian big data and analytics consultancy that specialises in data management, reporting and visualisation, data science and analytics services.

Founded in 2002, Analytics8 provides data and analytics solutions to some of Australia’s largest organisations. With deep expertise across multiple industries, from healthcare to financial services, Analytics8 enables clients to derive enhanced insights from data.

Analytics8’s Melbourne and Sydney-based team of 70 professionals will join Accenture Applied Intelligence, which uses artificial intelligence-powered data, automation and analytics to help clients transform their businesses.

“In this data-driven age, organisations are increasingly seeking to harness the power of their information for competitive advantage and to identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost reduction,” said Amit Bansal, a managing director at Accenture who leads its analytics and artificial intelligence business in Australia and New Zealand. “Together we will offer a unique, AI-based approach to help clients combine data, analytics and automation at scale.”

Dr. Athina Kanioura, Accenture’s chief analytics officer and global applied intelligence lead, said, “Having the right talent is a critically important aspect of how we deliver value to clients. The Analytics8 team’s deep technical expertise and experience advising clients across a range of industries will complement our own — bolstering our growing Applied Intelligence business, particularly in the Australian market, and creating new opportunities to help clients accelerate their digital transformations.”

Hedde Schuitemaker, co-owner of Analytics8, said, “We are excited about joining Accenture. Our data scientists and data analytics expertise will complement Accenture’s applied intelligence capabilities and industry knowledge, allowing us to help customers further leverage data and analytics to transform their businesses.”

The agreement to acquire Analytics8 is the latest demonstration of Accenture's continued investment in innovation and ongoing commitment to growing its capabilities in digital growth channels. It follows two other acquisitions Accenture made in Australia in the last 12 months: its June 2019 acquisition of cybersecurity and technology company BCT Solutions, and its December 2018 acquisition of PrimeQ, one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s top Oracle software-as-a-service cloud implementation service providers.

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 482,000 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 Applied Intelligence, part of Accenture Digital, applies artificial intelligence and human ingenuity at the core of business to help clients solve their most complex business problems. By deploying AI responsibly and combining it with our deep industry and analytics expertise, we enable the digital transformation of organizations, extend human capabilities, and make intelligent products and services a reality. Follow @AccentureAI and visit accenture.com/appliedintelligence.

About Analytics8 Founded in Melbourne in 2002, Analytics8 is a professional services company providing data and analytics solutions to some of Australia’s largest organisations, across multiple industries, enabling them to do new, better things with data. Analytics8 provides its clients with an end-to-end service spanning the complete data and analytics life cycle: data management; data reporting and visualisation; data science; and advanced analytics.

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 Analytics8 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 utilisation 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 favourable 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 organisational 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 utilise 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 favourable 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 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Contacts

Sinéad Moore Accenture +61 419 468 985 sinead.moore@accenture.com

Katy Rosati Accenture +1 917 452 6662 Kathryn.rosati@accenture.com