Acquisition accelerates growth of Accenture
Security in the U.K. and internationally
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Context Information Security,
a leading cyber defense consultancy, previously owned by parent
company Babcock International Group. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
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Founded in 1998 and headquartered in London, Context is one of
the most recognizable and respected information security service
providers in the U.K. and in global financial services. The company
provides high-end cyber defense, intelligence-driven red team,
vulnerability research and incident response services. They have
been involved in handling some of the most advanced incident
response cases in the industry.
The acquisition of Context — which also has offices in Germany,
the U.S. and Australia — strengthens Accenture Security’s existing
portfolio and becomes part of Accenture’s cyber defense offerings.
The addition of Context’s more than 250 employees will further
deepen Accenture Security’s services to clients.
Context’s client base spans multiple industries including
financial services, government, aerospace & defense, critical
infrastructure and more. The company has played a significant role
in helping government organizations, financial institutions and
other clients, respond to the threat of advanced cyberattacks.
“This acquisition is an excellent match for us, combining a
group of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals globally while
providing differentiated services to clients in the U.K. market,”
said Kelly Bissell, a senior managing director at Accenture, who
leads Accenture Security. “The deal signals continued aggressive
growth for Accenture Security and gives us a new branch of talented
family members to help clients grow their business with confidence
and resilience.”
“Context has a remarkable set of cybersecurity skills,
capabilities and reputation in the U.K. as well as in the
international financial services industry to complement the growth
we have already driven for more than a decade in this market,” said
Nick Taylor, UKI lead at Accenture Security. “We are excited to
welcome this talented group of professionals that share a common
vision of providing world-class cybersecurity to our clients."
Mark Raeburn, Context Information Security’s chief executive
officer, said, “We are excited about the opportunity to become part
of the Accenture family. Combining our skills and expertise under
one roof to help us do more for our clients and create more
opportunities for our people was an easy decision. Accenture’s
industry-focused approach across adversary simulation, red teaming,
incident response and more, matches Context’s own strategy.
Accenture’s family culture is a great fit for Context. We’re
genuinely excited to join forces to help clients better defend
themselves against the world’s most advanced adversaries.”
Earlier this year in January, Accenture agreed to acquire
Symantec’s Cyber Security Services business, which is the latest in
a series of acquisitions — including those of Deja vu Security,
iDefense, Maglan, Redcore, Arismore and FusionX — that demonstrate
Accenture Security’s commitment to investing, innovating and
scaling its cybersecurity services for clients.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting,
interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities
across all of these services. We combine unmatched experience and
specialized capabilities across more than 40 industries – powered
by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and
Intelligent Operations centers. With 505,000 people serving clients
in more than 120 countries, Accenture brings continuous innovation
to help clients improve their performance and create lasting value
across their enterprises. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
Accenture Security helps organizations build resilience
from the inside out, so they can confidently focus on innovation
and growth. Leveraging its global network of cybersecurity labs,
deep industry understanding across client value chains and services
that span the security lifecycle, Accenture protects organizations’
valuable assets, end-to-end. With services that include strategy
and risk management, cyber defense, digital identity, application
security and managed security, Accenture enables businesses around
the world to defend against known sophisticated threats, and the
unknown. Follow us @AccentureSecure on Twitter or visit us at
www.accenture.com/security.
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 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 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 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 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; 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 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; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational
challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to
achieve its business objectives; Accenture’s ability to attract and
retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the
marketplace; 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;
many of Accenture’s contracts include fees subject to the
attainment of targets or specific service levels, which could
increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its
margins; 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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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005076/en/
Alison Geib Accenture +1 703 947 4404
alison.geib@accenture.com
Denise Berard Accenture +1 617 488 3611
denise.berard@accenture.com
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