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Accenture to Acquire Symbian Professional Services Operations from Nokia, Expanding Capabilities in Embedded Software Services for Mobile Devices


WEBWIRE

Acquisition to expand Accenture’s mobile software engineering capabilities

NEW YORK — Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire the professional services unit of Nokia (NOK) responsible for Symbian customer engineering and customer support. The Symbian operating system is the world’s most widely used platform for smartphones. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Nokia unit provides engineering consulting and product development services to mobile phone manufacturers, chip manufacturers and mobile operators globally. Its services include advanced technical support; innovative device-tuning techniques for enhancing the performance, memory and power of mobile devices; advanced error diagnosis and repair; and turnkey software development services that can be used in a range of technical environments.

Approximately 165 Nokia professional services engineers and consultants in the United Kingdom, Finland, Japan, Korea and Australia are expected to transfer to Accenture as a result of the agreement.

“The acquisition of the Symbian professional services unit will enhance Accenture’s existing embedded software, product-development and testing skills to help players in the mobile solutions ecosystem address ever-more-demanding time-to-market and quality requirements,” said Jean Laurent Poitou, managing director of Accenture’s Electronics & High Tech industry group. “The capabilities we are acquiring from Nokia will help support the tremendous growth our clients can expect from the explosive adoption of converged mobile multimedia services and will expand Accenture’s role as a key supplier of new tools, products and solutions to clients in this industry.”

Peter Ropke, senior vice president of Devices at Nokia, said, “This agreement allows the Symbian professional services team to realize its full potential in the supply of independent services to the open-source ecosystem. In combination with Accenture’s strong brand, global sales organization and broad technology skills, the unit’s software engineering capabilities will be a significant benefit to customers throughout the industry. The transaction underscores Nokia’s commitment to the open-source community and the Symbian ecosystem.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close within 60 - 90 days.

For more about Accenture Product Software Solutions, visit www.accenture.com/PSS.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. 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. With approximately 177,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$23.39 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2008. Its home page is 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. 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 Nokia will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability to receive requisite regulatory approvals and satisfy the closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations could be negatively affected if Accenture cannot expand and develop its services and solutions in response to changes in technology and client demand; the consulting, systems integration and technology and outsourcing markets are highly competitive and we might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’s results of operations could be affected by economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on our clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes us to additional risks in the government contracting environment; clients may not be satisfied with our services; Accenture’s business could be negatively affected by legal liability that results from our providing solutions or services; liabilities could arise if Accenture’s subcontractors or other third parties cannot deliver their project contributions on time or at all; Accenture’s results of operations could be adversely affected if clients terminate their contracts with Accenture on short notice; Accenture’s outsourcing services subject it to operational and financial risk; Accenture’s results of operations may be adversely affected by the type and level of technology spending by clients; Accenture’s profitability may suffer if Accenture is not able to maintain favorable pricing rates and utilization rates, if Accenture cannot control costs, or if Accenture cannot anticipate the cost and complexity of performing Accenture’s work; Accenture’s global operations are subject to complex risks, some of which might be beyond Accenture’s control; Accenture’s growth and ability to compete may be adversely affected if Accenture cannot attract, retain and motivate employees or efficiently utilize their skills, including those personnel currently employed by the Nokia unit; Accenture’s business may be adversely affected if it cannot manage the organizational challenges associated with the size and expansion of Accenture; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press 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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