Accenture Acquires REPL to Expand Retail Technology and Supply Chain Capabilities

LONDON; Mar. 3, 2021 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired REPL Group (“REPL”), a U.K.-based technology consultancy specializing in solutions for supply chain, workforce management, store operations and retail customer experiences. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition expands Accenture’s capabilities that help clients across retail and adjacent industries transform their supply chains and operations and deliver seamless customer and employee experiences. REPL uses its deep retail expertise, coupled with cutting-edge technology skills, to help global businesses deliver sustainable value.

Founded in 2007, REPL is headquartered in Henley-In-Arden, U.K., with additional offices in London, Warwick and Leeds in the U.K. as well as in the U.S., South Africa and Germany. REPL’s team of approximately 440 professionals will join Accenture Technology.

“With COVID-19 permanently disrupting the retail landscape, businesses need technology more than ever to embrace change and deliver products to customers where and when they want them,” said Doug Blyth, a managing director at Accenture Technology in the U.K. and Ireland. “With REPL now part of Accenture, we have significantly grown our capabilities to help clients reimagine their supply chains, people and store technologies to become more efficient and meet new customer needs.”

Mike Callender, REPL’s founder and chairman, said, “Accenture and REPL are greatly aligned with a complementary set of retail and supply chain capabilities. Being part of Accenture will provide fantastic opportunities for our people and our clients as we combine our expertise, people-first approach and passion with Accenture’s end-to-end transformational capabilities and global reach. We’re thrilled to come together to take technology-led transformation to the next level for our clients.”

REPL has deep relationships with key ecosystem partners, including Blue Yonder, and is recognized as a Gold Consulting Partner in Blue Yonder’s Partner network. The acquisition will further Accenture’s Supply Chain & Operations functional focus to meet demand for Blue Yonder’s cloud-based solutions — for which Accenture was recently recognized as Customer Excellence Global Partner of the Year for supporting clients with customer-centric supply chain transformations that capitalize on a cloud-first approach.

Kris Timmermans, who leads Accenture’s Supply Chain & Operations practice globally, said, “As companies reimagine how products are distributed to be more flexible and meet ever-changing demand, they need customer-centric supply chains that are resilient, efficient and responsible. The addition of REPL will extend our skilled workforce and ability to support clients in their digital supply chain transformation journeys, enabling Accenture to further deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity.”

REPL is the latest acquisition Accenture has made to strengthen its technology capabilities in the U.K. In February, Accenture acquired Edenhouse, an independent SAP partner, and Infinity Works, a cloud and digital transformation consultancy.

Accenture also recently announced the creation of Accenture Cloud First, a multi-service group of 70,000 cloud professionals backed by a $3 billion investment over three years to rapidly expand the company’s cloud service capabilities and offerings.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 514,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at 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. Many of the following risks, uncertainties and other factors identified below are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations have been significantly adversely affected and could in the future be materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; Accenture’s results of operations have been, and may in the future 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 evolving 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 utilization 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 incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’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 or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; 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 ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, 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; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational 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 might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce 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 utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; 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; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable 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 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:

Natalie de Freitas
Accenture
+44 380 799 196
natalie.de.freitas@accenture.com

Maggie Nolan
Accenture
+1 845 661 0952
margaret.d.nolan@accenture.com