Accenture Closes Structure Acquisition, Strengthening Capabilities in Smart Grid Operations & Energy Trading & Risk Managemen...
January 27 2015 - 7:03AM
Business Wire
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has completed the acquisition of
Structure, a provider of consulting, system integration and
customized solutions and services to energy and utilities clients.
The transaction expands and enhances Accenture’s deep experience
and capabilities in smart grid solutions, especially grid
operations, as well as commodity trading and risk management
(CTRM).
“Our ability to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions and
services in the grid operations and commodities trading space to a
wider variety of utilities and energy clients is significantly
enhanced by this combination,” said Peggy Kostial, senior managing
director for Accenture’s North America Resources operating
group.
In the utilities industry, the combination adds Structure’s deep
skills, including those in grid operations, with Accenture’s global
strengths in information technology (IT) to support the integration
of operational technologies (OT) with IT systems. Examples include
the deployment of advanced distribution management systems and
automation solutions, as well as improved outage management and
grid analytics.
In commodities trading, the transaction strengthens Accenture’s
business capabilities with utilities, mid-stream pipeline and
energy companies. It brings Structure’s end-to-end expertise in
market operations and commodities trading to help clients optimize
their assets and commercial portfolios in natural gas, electric
power, chemicals and crude oil.
As announced earlier this month, Structure’s approximately 200
employees will operate within Accenture’s Resources operating
group.
"Over the last few weeks, the reaction from our people, clients,
and industry partners has been overwhelmingly positive with many
parties excited about the strategic synergies of our businesses,”
said Lelon Winstead, Structure managing partner. "Today, we turn
our attention towards realizing those strategic synergies by
integrating our businesses to maximize the value for our clients
and create growth opportunities for our people."
Founded in 1998, Structure has been consistently recognized in
its field since 2010 with more than a dozen industry awards for
growth, advisory services and solutions that make utilities and
energy clients’ transformational strategies achievable.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services
and outsourcing company, with approximately 319,000 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.
About Structure
Structure is a leading provider of business advisory, system
integration and customized solution development services focused
exclusively on the energy and utilities industries. Structure
relies on deep industry expertise and proven methodologies to
deliver energy technology platforms for the next generation across
Energy Trading and Risk Management, Smart Grid / Distribution
Operations / Distribution Automation, SCADA and Energy Management
Systems, and Competitive Energy Market Solutions. Its website is:
www.thestructuregroup.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 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.
AccentureGuy Cantwell,
281-900-9089guy.cantwell@accenture.comorJustyna Devraj, +
44-20-7844-0090+ 44-750-012-4567justyna.devraj@accenture.com
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