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PARIS–(BUSINESS WIRE) – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Exton Consulting, a French consulting firm that provides strategy and business management support to financial services clients across Europe. Financial terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Paris, France, Exton Consulting supports the management boards of large banks and insurance companies in successfully managing growth and transformation projects in various markets across Europe. The team of approximately 150 highly qualified professionals would join Accenture’s Financial Services Industry Group and strengthen its ability to deliver innovative end-to-end solutions to a wider range of financial services companies, covering all aspects of their transformation projects, including strategy, design, technology, and operations.

Olivier Girard, Market Unit Lead at Accenture France & Benelux, said: “Our intention to acquire Exton Consulting is part of our overall growth strategy to develop key capabilities and capabilities in strategic, high-growth market areas. It underscores our commitment to the financial services industry, which is facing unprecedented change driven by economic and geopolitical uncertainties, regulatory challenges, digital transformation, the urgency to reinvent the customer experience and the need to rethink operating models. This acquisition would cement Accenture’s position as a leading strategy and advisory firm for financial services clients in France and beyond, and take our innovative end-to-end solutions to a new level of speed and size. ”

Cedric Vatier, Strategy & Consulting Lead at Accenture France & Benelux, said: “The biggest challenges our financial services clients face today are global and clients need holistic solutions to address them and turn them into new opportunities. The acquisition of Exton Consulting would enhance our ability to leverage the combination of our talented people with the latest technologies – such as artificial intelligence, data and cloud – to help clients embrace change, accelerate transformations, unlock value and create new sustainable ones Projects to create models from which everyone benefits. ”

“For 15 years, the Exton Consulting team has been supporting companies in the financial services industry in their transformation, from strategy to implementation. Driven by the digitization of the economy, different areas of management consulting come together today. We are excited about the opportunity to join Accenture, which would allow us to accelerate our strategy. The combination of innovation, technology and data competence with our expertise would help us to offer an even broader customer base, both existing and future, highly differentiated end-to-end services, “said Philippe Derambure, co-founder of Exton Consulting.

The acquisition requires prior agreement with the responsible works council and is subject to the customary closing conditions.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills in more than 40 industries, we provide strategy and advisory, interactive, technology and operations services – all supported by the world’s largest network of advanced technology and intelligent operations centers. Our 537,000 employees live up to the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving customers in more than 120 countries. We harness the power of change to create value and mutual success for our customers, employees, 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 press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words like “can”, “will”, “should”, “likely”, “anticipated”, “expected”, “intends”, “planet”, “projected”, “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 listed below are and will be compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. 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