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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
FORM 10-K
 
     
(Mark One)
 
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008
OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from          to          .
 
Commission File Number: 001-16565
 
 
 
 
ACCENTURE LTD
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Bermuda
  98-0341111
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Canon’s Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM 12 Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
(441) 296-8262
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Class A common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share
  New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Class X common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Yes o     No þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) Yes o     No þ
 
The aggregate market value of the common equity of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant on February 29, 2008 was approximately $20,836,757,456 based on the closing price of the registrant’s Class A common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, reported on the New York Stock Exchange on such date of $35.25 per share and on the par value of the registrant’s Class X common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share.
 
The number of shares of the registrant’s Class A common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, outstanding as of October 13, 2008 was 612,769,296 (which number does not include 48,619,328 issued shares held by subsidiaries of the registrant). The number of shares of the registrant’s Class X common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, outstanding as of October 13, 2008 was 116,868,387.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders          Part III
 


 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
             
        Page
 
  Business     1  
  Risk Factors     22  
  Unresolved Staff Comments     38  
  Properties     38  
  Legal Proceedings     38  
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     39  
           
  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     42  
  Selected Financial Data     45  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     46  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     70  
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     71  
  Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     71  
  Controls and Procedures     71  
  Other Information     72  
           
  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance     73  
  Executive Compensation     73  
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters     73  
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence     74  
  Principal Accounting Fees and Services     74  
           
  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules     74  
  Signatures
 EX-10.10
 EX-10.11
 EX-10.12
 EX-10.15
 EX-21.1
 EX-23.1
 EX-23.2
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-99.1


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PART I
 
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) relating to our operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that might not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results could differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such differences, some of which could be material, include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed below under the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
 
Available Information
 
Our website address is www.accenture.com. We use our website as a channel of distribution for company information. We make available free of charge on the Investor Relations section of our website (http://investor.accenture.com) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. We also make available through our website other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC under the Exchange Act, including our proxy statements and reports filed by officers and directors under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, as well as our Code of Business Ethics. Financial and other material information regarding us is routinely posted on and accessible at http://investor.accenture.com. We do not intend for information contained in our website to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Any materials we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC, 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
 
In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we use the terms “Accenture,” “we,” “our Company,” “our” and “us” to refer to Accenture Ltd and its subsidiaries. All references to years, unless otherwise noted, refer to our fiscal year, which ends on August 31.
 
ITEM 1.   BUSINESS
 
Overview
 
Accenture is one of the world’s leading management consulting, technology services and outsourcing organizations, with more than 186,000 employees; offices and operations in more than 200 cities in 52 countries; and revenues before reimbursements (“net revenues”) of $23.39 billion for fiscal 2008.
 
Our “high performance business” strategy builds on our expertise in consulting, technology and outsourcing to help clients perform at the highest levels so they can create sustainable value for their customers, stakeholders and shareholders. We use our industry and business-process knowledge, our service offering expertise and our insight into and deep understanding of emerging technologies to


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identify new business and technology trends and formulate and implement solutions for clients under demanding time constraints. We help clients identify and enter new markets, increase revenues in existing markets, improve operational performance and deliver their products and services more effectively and efficiently.
 
We operate globally with one common brand and business model designed to enable us to provide clients around the world with the same high level of service. Drawing on a combination of industry expertise, functional capabilities, alliances, global resources and technology, we deliver competitively priced, high-value services that help our clients measurably improve business performance. Our global delivery model enables us to provide a complete end-to-end delivery capability by drawing on Accenture’s global resources to deliver high-quality, cost-effective solutions to clients under demanding timeframes.
 
Consulting, Technology and Outsourcing Services and Solutions
 
Our business is structured around five operating groups, which together comprise 17 industry groups serving clients in major industries around the world. Our industry focus gives us an understanding of industry evolution, business issues and applicable technologies, enabling us to deliver innovative solutions tailored to each client or, as appropriate, more-standardized capabilities to multiple clients.
 
Our three growth platforms—management consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing—are the innovation engines through which we develop our knowledge capital; build world-class skills and capabilities; and create, acquire and manage key assets central to the development of solutions for our clients. The subject matter experts within these areas work closely with the professionals in our operating groups to develop and deliver solutions to clients.
 
Client engagement teams—which typically consist of industry experts, capability specialists and professionals with local market knowledge—leverage the full capabilities of our global delivery model to deliver price-competitive solutions and services. In certain instances our client engagement teams include subcontractors, who supplement our professionals with additional resources in a specific skill, service or product area, as needed.
 
Operating Groups
 
The following table shows the organization of our five operating groups and their 17 industry groups. For financial reporting purposes, our operating groups are our reportable operating segments. We do not allocate total assets by operating group, although our operating groups do manage and control certain assets. For certain historical financial information regarding our operating groups (including certain asset information), as well as financial information by geography (including long-lived asset information), see Note 17 (Segment Reporting) to our Consolidated Financial Statements below under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
                 
Operating Groups
Communications
  Financial
           
& High Tech   Services   Products   Public Service   Resources
 
•   Communications
  •   Banking   •   Automotive   •   Public Service  
•   Chemicals
•   Electronics &
    High Tech
  •   Capital
    Markets
  •   Consumer Goods &
    Services
      •   Energy
•   Natural Resources
•   Media &
  •   Insurance   •   Health & Life       •   Utilities
Entertainment
          Sciences        
       
•   Industrial Equipment
       
       
•   Retail
       
        •   Transportation &
    Travel Services
       


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   Communications & High Tech
 
We are a leading provider of management consulting, technology, systems integration and outsourcing services and solutions to the communications, electronics, high technology, media and entertainment industries. Our Communications & High Tech professionals help clients enhance their business results through industry-specific solutions and by seizing the opportunities made possible by the convergence of communications, computing and content. Examples of our services and solutions include the application of mobile technology, advanced communications network optimization, broadband and Internet protocol solutions, product innovation and digital rights management as well as systems integration, customer care, supply chain and workforce transformation services. In support of these services, we selectively pursue strategic acquisitions and have developed an array of assets, repeatable solutions, methodologies and research facilities to demonstrate how new technologies and industry-leading practices can be applied in new and innovative ways to enhance our clients’ business performance. In fiscal 2008, as in the prior year, our net revenues from multiple contracts with a single client in Communications & High Tech were greater than 10% of the operating group’s net revenues, slightly exceeding that threshold. Our Communications & High Tech operating group comprises the following industry groups:
 
  •  Communications.  Our Communications industry group serves many of the world’s leading wireline, wireless, cable and satellite communications network operators and service providers. We provide a wide range of services designed to help our communications clients increase margins, improve asset utilization, improve customer retention, increase revenues, reduce overall costs and accelerate sales cycles. We offer a suite of reusable solutions, called Accenture Communications Solutions, designed to address major business and operational issues related to broadband and Internet protocol-based networks and services, including business intelligence, billing transformation, customer contact transformation, sales force transformation, service fulfillment and next-generation network optimization. Our Communications industry group represented approximately 61% of our Communications & High Tech operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.
 
  •  Electronics & High Tech.  Our Electronics & High Tech industry group serves the communications technology, consumer technology, enterprise technology, semiconductor, software and aerospace/defense segments. This industry group provides services in areas such as strategy, enterprise resource management, customer relationship management, supply chain management, software development, human performance, and merger/acquisition activities, including post-merger integration. We also offer a suite of reusable solutions, called Accenture High Tech Solutions, designed to address the industry’s major business and operational challenges, such as new product innovation and development, customer service and support, sales and marketing, and globalization. Our Electronics & High Tech industry group represented approximately 30% of our Communications & High Tech operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.
 
  •  Media & Entertainment.  Our Media & Entertainment industry group serves the broadcast, entertainment (television, music and movie), print, publishing and portal industries. Professionals in this industry group provide a wide range of services, including digital content solutions designed to help companies effectively manage, distribute and protect content across numerous media channels. These include Accenture Digital Media Services, which provide a comprehensive solution set to leading content owners and distributors, helping them adapt their organizations’ business processes and systems to stay ahead of the demand for digital content and services.


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Financial Services
 
Our Financial Services operating group focuses on the opportunities created by our clients’ needs to adapt to changing market conditions, including increased cost pressures, industry consolidation, regulatory changes, the creation of common industry standards and protocols, and the move to a more integrated industry model. We help clients meet these challenges through a variety of assets, services and solutions, including consulting and outsourcing strategies to increase cost efficiency and transform businesses, and customer relationship management initiatives that enable them to acquire and retain profitable customers and improve their cross-selling capabilities. Our Financial Services operating group comprises the following industry groups:
 
  •  Banking.  Our Banking industry group works with retail and commercial banks and diversified financial enterprises. We help these organizations develop and execute strategies to target, acquire and retain customers more effectively, expand product and service offerings, comply with new regulatory initiatives, and leverage new technologies and distribution channels. Our Banking industry group represented approximately 56% of our Financial Services operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.
 
  •  Capital Markets.  Our Capital Markets industry group helps investment banks, broker/dealers, asset-management firms, depositories, clearing organizations and exchanges improve operational efficiency and transform their businesses to increase competitiveness. For example, we help clients develop and implement innovative trading, asset-management and market-information-management systems and solutions.
 
  •  Insurance.  Our Insurance industry group helps property and casualty insurers, life insurers, reinsurance firms and insurance brokers improve business processes, modernize their technologies and improve the quality and consistency of risk selection decisions. Our Insurance industry group offers a claims management capability that enables insurers to provide better customer service while optimizing claims costs, as well as industry-leading insurance policy administration technology solutions that enable insurers to bring products to market more quickly and reduce costs. We also provide a variety of outsourced solutions to help insurers improve working capital and cash flow, deliver permanent cost savings and enhance long-term growth.
 
Products
 
Our Products operating group comprises the following industry groups:
 
  •  Automotive.  Our Automotive industry group works with auto manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, retailers and service providers. Professionals in this industry group help clients develop and implement innovative solutions focused on product development and commercialization, customer service and retention, channel strategy and management, branding, buyer-driven business models, cost reduction, customer relationship management and integrated supplier partnerships.
 
  •  Consumer Goods & Services.  Our Consumer Goods & Services industry group serves food, beverage, household goods and personal care, tobacco and footwear/apparel manufacturers around the world. We add value to these companies through service offerings designed to enhance performance by addressing critical elements of success, including large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) strategy and implementation, sales and marketing transformation, working-capital productivity improvement, supply chain collaboration and post-merger integration.


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  •  Health & Life Sciences.  Our Health & Life Sciences industry group works with healthcare providers, government health departments, policy-making authorities/regulators, managed care organizations, health insurers and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical products and other industry-related companies to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare. Our key offerings include health clinical transformation, electronic health records and hospital back-office services in the provider/government segment; research and development transformation, commercial effectiveness and customer interaction, and integrated electronic compliance (manufacturing and supply chain) in the pharmaceuticals and medical products segment; and health information and data management, claims excellence/cost containment and health plan back-office services in the payer segment.
 
  •  Industrial Equipment.  Our Industrial Equipment industry group serves the industrial and electrical equipment, construction, consumer durable and heavy equipment industries. We help our clients increase operating and supply chain efficiencies by improving processes and leveraging technology. We also help clients generate value from strategic mergers and acquisitions. In addition, our Industrial Equipment industry group develops and deploys innovative solutions in the areas of channel management, collaborative product design, remote field maintenance, enterprise application integration and outsourcing.
 
  •  Retail.  Our Retail industry group serves a wide spectrum of retailers and distributors, including supermarkets, specialty premium retailers and large mass-merchandise discounters. We provide service offerings that help clients address new ways of reaching the retail trade and consumers through precision marketing; maximize brand synergies and cost reductions in mergers and acquisitions; improve supply chain efficiencies through collaborative commerce business models; and enhance the efficiency of internal operations.
 
  •  Transportation & Travel Services.  Our Transportation & Travel Services industry group serves companies in the airline, freight transportation, third-party logistics, hospitality, gaming, car rental, passenger rail and travel distribution industries. We help clients develop and implement strategies and solutions to improve customer relationship management capabilities, operate more-efficient networks, integrate supply chains, develop procurement and electronic business marketplace strategies, and more effectively manage maintenance, repair and overhaul processes and expenses. Through our Navitaire subsidiary, we offer airlines a range of transaction-processing services on an outsourced basis, including distribution, Internet reservations, airport check-in, revenue management and accounting, crew scheduling and management, and disruption recovery.
 
Public Service
 
Our Public Service operating group helps public-service entities around the world improve the social and economic conditions of their citizens. The public-service marketplace is transforming, and traditional governmental entities are working increasingly with the “third sector”—non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, educational institutions, charities and non-profit organizations—to deliver services and benefits to citizens.
 
We typically work with defense, revenue, human services, health, postal, and justice and public-safety authorities or agencies, and our clients are generally national, state or local-level government organizations, as well as pan-geographic organizations. Our work with clients in the U.S. federal government represented approximately 33% of our Public Service operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.


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Our offerings help public-sector clients address some of their most pressing needs, including developing fair and equitable tax systems that help enhance revenues; ensuring the security of citizens and businesses; improving service delivery; and increasing operational efficiency. We work with clients to transform their customer-facing and back-office operations and enable services to be delivered through appropriate technologies that make government more accessible, in a manner consistent with expectations established in the private sector.
 
The Accenture Institute for Public Service Value is our research organization that helps our public-sector clients assess the value they add to the sector in much the same way shareholder value models measure the value of publicly traded entities. We have pioneered this work through our patent-pending public service value model. The Institute also focuses on understanding the expectations, desires and disappointments of citizens around the world in order to inform our solutions, and our clients, as public-service transformations continue globally.
 
Resources
 
Our Resources operating group serves the chemicals, energy, forest products, metals and mining, utilities and related industries. With market conditions driving energy companies to seek new ways of creating value for shareholders, deregulation fundamentally reforming the utilities industry and yielding cross-border opportunities, and an intensive focus on productivity and portfolio management in the chemicals industry, we are working with clients to create innovative solutions that are designed to help them differentiate themselves in the marketplace and gain competitive advantage. These include helping global energy companies optimize existing upstream and downstream operations while securing their upstream positions; helping utilities clients deal with deregulation; helping metals and mining clients globalize their business models; helping chemicals clients decrease operations costs; and working with clients across all industry segments on the “green agenda” to enable them to meet emission targets and increase energy efficiency. Our Resources operating group comprises the following industry groups:
 
  •  Chemicals.  Our Chemicals industry group works with a wide cross-section of industry segments, including petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, polymers and plastics, gases and life science companies. We also have long-term outsourcing contracts with many industry leaders.
 
  •  Energy.  Our Energy industry group serves a wide range of companies in the oil and gas industry, including upstream, downstream and oil services companies. Our key areas of focus include helping clients optimize production, manage the hydrocarbon supply chain, streamline retail operations and realize the full potential of third-party enterprise-wide technology solutions. In addition, our multi-client outsourcing centers enable clients to increase operational efficiencies and exploit cross-industry synergies. Our Energy industry group represented approximately 30% of our Resources operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.
 
  •  Natural Resources.  Our Natural Resources industry group serves the forest products and metals and mining industries. We help lumber, pulp, papermaking, converting and packaging companies, as well as iron, steel, aluminum, coal, copper and precious metals companies, develop and implement new business strategies, redesign business processes, manage complex change initiatives, and integrate processes and technologies to achieve higher levels of performance.
 
  •  Utilities.  Our Utilities industry group works with electric, gas and water utilities around the world to respond to an evolving and highly competitive marketplace. The group’s work includes helping utilities transform themselves from regulated, and sometimes state-owned, local entities to international deregulated corporations, as well as developing diverse products and service


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  offerings to help our clients deliver higher levels of service to their customers. These offerings include customer relationship management, workforce enablement, supply chain optimization, and trading and risk management. We also provide a range of outsourced customer-care services to utilities and retail energy companies in North America. Our Utilities industry group represented approximately 41% of our Resources operating group’s net revenues in fiscal 2008.
 
Growth Platforms
 
Our management consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing growth platforms are the skill-based “innovation engines” through which we develop our knowledge capital; build world-class skills and capabilities; and create, acquire and manage key assets central to the development of solutions for our clients. The professionals within these areas work closely with our operating groups to deliver integrated services and solutions to clients.
 
Management Consulting
 
Our management consulting growth platform is responsible for the development and delivery of our strategic, functional, industry, process and change consulting capabilities, working closely with the professionals in our operating groups. This growth platform comprises six service lines:
 
  •  Customer Relationship Management.  The professionals in our Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) service line help companies acquire, develop and retain more profitable customer relationships. We offer a full range of innovative capabilities that address every aspect of CRM, including marketing, direct and indirect sales, customer service, field support and customer contact operations. These capabilities include rigorous approaches to improving the return on marketing investment, methods for building insight into customers’ purchase habits and service preferences, tailoring offers and service treatment based upon that insight, and unique methods of optimizing the quality, cost and revenue impact of sales and service operations. We use these skills to help our clients accelerate growth, improve marketing and sales productivity and reduce customer-care costs—thus increasing the value of their customer relationships and enhancing the economic value of their brands.
 
  •  Finance & Performance Management.  The professionals in our Finance & Performance Management service line work with our clients’ finance and business-unit executives to develop financial transaction processing, risk management and business performance reporting capabilities. Among the services we provide are strategic consulting on the design and structure of the finance function; the establishment of shared service centers; and the configuration of enterprise resource planning platforms for streamlining transaction processing. Our finance capability services also address revenue cycle management, billing, credit risk and collection effectiveness, electronic invoicing and settlement, tax processing, lending and debt recovery. Our performance management services address shareholder value targeting, scorecard and performance metrics development, performance reporting solutions and applied business analytics to improve profitability. Our professionals often utilize the resources of Accenture Finance Solutions, one of our business process outsourcing (“BPO”) businesses, and work with finance executives to develop and implement solutions that help them align their companies’ investments with their business objectives and establish security relating to the exchange of information to reporting institutions.
 
  •  Talent & Organization Performance.  The professionals in our Talent & Organization Performance (formerly known as “Human Performance”) service line work with clients on a wide range of talent management, workforce and organizational issues to deliver improved business and operational results. Our integrated approach and end-to-end capabilities include


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  services and solutions in organization and change management, human resources (“HR”) administration, learning, knowledge management, organizational performance management, talent management, HR information technology (“IT”) systems implementation and overall transformation of key workforces. We help companies and governments improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their HR services while lowering associated costs; deliver improvements in employee and workforce performance; and transform organizations through project-, program- and enterprise-level change management.
 
  •  Process & Innovation Performance.  The Process & Innovation Performance service line, established in September 2008, helps clients achieve measurable, lasting improvements in operational performance, innovation performance and growth. Taking an end-to-end, process-based approach, professionals in this service line help clients address key business challenges such as complexity management, lean manufacturing and operations, process innovation, strategic cost reduction and growth through innovation. The service line is based on the capabilities and offerings that we gained with our 2007 acquisition of George Group, which specializes in process, operational and business transformation (including Lean Six Sigma) and innovation strategy.
 
  •  Strategy.  Our Strategy professionals combine their strategy and operations experience to help our clients turn insights into results at both the enterprise and business-unit level. With deep skills and capabilities in corporate strategy, corporate restructuring, growth and innovation strategies, mergers and acquisitions, merger integration, organization strategy, pricing strategy and profitability assessment, we help clients develop—and execute—pragmatic solutions that transform organizations and drive sustained high performance.
 
  •  Supply Chain Management.  The professionals in our Supply Chain Management service line work with clients across a broad range of industries to develop and implement supply chain and operations strategies that enable profitable growth in new and existing markets. Our professionals combine global industry expertise and skills in supply chain strategy, sourcing and procurement, supply chain planning, manufacturing and design, fulfillment and service management to help organizations achieve high performance. We work with clients to implement innovative consulting and outsourcing solutions that align operating models to support business strategies; optimize global operations; support profitable product launches; and enhance the skills and capabilities of the supply chain workforce.
 
Systems Integration and Technology
 
Our systems integration and technology growth platform comprises two service areas: systems integration and technology consulting.
 
Systems Integration
 
Our key systems integration consulting services and solutions include:
 
  •  Enterprise Solutions and Enterprise Resource Planning.  We implement a variety of application software—including SAP and Oracle, among others—to streamline business processes, systems and information and help organizations access, manage and exploit data to make more-informed business decisions. Our skilled professionals provide planning, implementation, change management and upgrade solutions across the primary application software product suites that underpin all major business functions.
 
  •  Industry and Functional Solutions.  Accenture provides clients with robust, large-scale industry and functional solutions based on proprietary reusable assets, aggregated into industry


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  solutions, such as the Accenture Communications Solutions suite and the Accenture Revenue Solution suite for tax offices, as well as solutions for major industry-specific requirements. We also provide specialized services and solutions to support specific business functions, including finance and planning, customer relationship management, supply chain and human resource management.
 
  •  Information Management Services.  We provide services to help organizations manage the full range of their information needs to improve data quality, enhance decision-making capabilities and meet compliance requirements. Our services include business intelligence as well as unstructured content management and portals; data management and data quality solutions; and information architecture development. Our information management assets complement and are embedded in our industry and functional solutions.
 
  •  Service-Oriented Architecture.  We help CIOs and business leaders use service-oriented architecture to enable improvement in IT efficiency and a more effective alignment between business processes and applications. Accenture guides organizations through a four-phased approach for designing and building flexible IT solutions that enable business process components to be assembled and used more efficiently to deliver distinctive business services and capabilities for higher performance.
 
  •  Custom Solutions.  With deep skills and expertise in both J2EE (Java-based) and .NET technology architectures, we work with clients to develop custom solutions that meet unique business needs, often using open-source technology products and platforms.
 
  •  Software as a Service (SaaS).  We help clients implement SaaS solutions to meet their business needs with the added benefits of increasing flexibility and reducing total cost of ownership. Our services include requirements definition, design, configuration, testing, change management, data conversion and integration.
 
  •  Mobility Solutions.  We help clients develop solutions that give their workforces access to key enterprise applications—including online trading and wealth management, supply chain management, telematics, radio frequency identification, field force enablement and customer relationship management—through mobile devices and/or the Internet. These solutions enable clients to improve efficiency, lower costs, enhance differentiation and ensure compliance.
 
  •  Microsoft Solutions.  Together with our alliance partner Microsoft and our Avanade subsidiary, we develop and deliver cost-efficient, innovative business solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server and other .NET technologies, leveraging our deep industry expertise and practical applications of leading-edge technologies.
 
Technology Consulting
 
Our key technology consulting services and solutions include:
 
  •  IT Strategy & Transformation.  We help CEOs and CIOs link IT investments to business results and help manage those investments to ensure that planned business impact is achieved. We also help CIOs transform how IT works, both internally and with business partners, so that IT is “run like a business” to deliver high performance.
 
  •  Enterprise Architecture.  We provide solutions that integrate IT with business capabilities to provide a seamless operating environment for organizations. Our solutions provide a reference point for measuring both IT investment and results, creating the delivery roadmap that defines how IT systems need to change to drive future business growth and higher performance.


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  •  Infrastructure Consulting.  We provide solutions to help organizations optimize their IT infrastructures while reducing costs. From data center, operations engineering and enterprise network design and implementation to desktop solutions, our services enable clients to rationalize, standardize, optimize, secure and transform their IT infrastructures for improved performance of mission-critical business processes, applications and end users.
 
  •  Security Consulting.  Our solutions help organizations forge secure business environments that enable them to grow their capabilities and become more agile in response to changing market forces and evolving threats—all without incurring additional complexity. Working with us, our clients are better able to secure data and applications, protect identities, address threats and vulnerabilities, and meet stringent compliance demands while reducing costs and improving efficiency.
 
  •  Application Portfolio Optimization and Renewal.  We specialize in defining and executing strategies that transform our clients’ application portfolios into rationalized, flexible, cost-efficient and reliable assets. Our services and solutions help clients define and implement innovative approaches to extending the useful life of legacy applications at a significantly reduced cost compared with replacement, rapidly turning around non-performing systems and migrating custom solutions written in vintage languages or hosted on retiring platforms to more modern, sustainable solutions. Our capabilities combine deeply skilled professionals with a suite of renewal tools that accelerate and automate the portfolio optimization process.
 
  •  Digital Solutions.  We provide clients with solutions that move more of their business and internal operations online to improve productivity, manage costs and drive revenue growth. We work with our clients to help define their online strategies, improve customer experiences and identify areas for website optimization. We also help clients incorporate next-generation digital technology—such as wikis, blogs, crowd-sourcing and mash-ups, among others—to create significant opportunities for collaboration and sharing with their employees, suppliers and customers.
 
  •  Research & Development.  Through Accenture Technology Labs—our research and development organization—we use new and emerging technologies to develop business solutions that we believe will be the drivers of our clients’ growth and enable them to be first to market with unique capabilities. Key areas of research and development for clients include information insight, collaboration, biometrics, virtualized infrastructures, predictive maintenance, Web 2.0, cloud computing and sensor technologies, among others.
 
  •  Microsoft Solutions.  Together with our alliance partner Microsoft and our Avanade subsidiary, we design and provide cost-efficient, innovative business solutions based on Microsoft Windows Server and other .NET technologies, leveraging our deep industry expertise and practical applications of leading-edge technologies.
 
Outsourcing
 
Accenture provides a wide range of outsourcing services, including application outsourcing, infrastructure outsourcing and business process outsourcing.
 
Application Outsourcing
 
Accenture takes a holistic approach to application outsourcing that goes beyond traditional cost-cutting measures, helping clients improve the total performance of application development and maintenance. We provide a wide array of application outsourcing services under flexible arrangements, managing custom or packaged software applications—including enterprise-wide applications such as


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SAP and Oracle—over their complete development and maintenance life-cycles. The scope of services ranges from standardized, discrete application outsourcing services, including application testing, application management of enterprise-wide software programs and capacity services, to large-scale application enhancement and development for individual or multiple applications, as well as application portfolio rationalization and consolidation. We can also take end-to-end responsibility for all of a client’s IT function, including infrastructure and operations, leveraging our shared services delivery groups and our application and infrastructure transformation consulting expertise to deliver significant gains in client productivity, providing services from a variety of locations, including lower-cost locations. By transferring to Accenture the responsibility for managing one or more of their applications, clients can leverage our assets, scale and global resources as well as our secure, global infrastructure delivery capabilities. This allows clients to maintain and control the overall performance of their IT capabilities while reducing the complexity and costs associated with managing third parties and increasing the flexibility, scalability, predictability and security of their IT infrastructures.
 
Infrastructure Outsourcing
 
We deliver an integrated set of managed infrastructure services encompassing all infrastructure functions—from network access and desktop management to remote technology support. Services can be delivered as discrete, standalone solutions or bundled with Accenture application outsourcing and BPO services. Our infrastructure outsourcing services include:
 
  •  IT spend management—Asset management, as well as managed procurement and technology spend, to reduce overall IT non-salary spending;
 
  •  Data center services—Hosting to support development and production environments, storage services, database management and messaging services;
 
  •  Service desk—Help desk, single point of contact for support and online portal services to resolve frontline issues;
 
  •  Security services—Identity management, intrusion and firewall protection, end-user device and messaging security, and policy and awareness;
 
  •  Network services—Data and voice network management, optimization and converged services; and
 
  •  Workplace services—Lifecycle management for desktops, field services and mobile devices, and file and print services.
 
We provide these services either through our own centers and capabilities or in conjunction with our strategic subcontractors.
 
Business Process Outsourcing
 
We work with clients to develop and deliver business process innovations that transform their businesses and deliver higher levels of performance and results as well as lower costs. Through our BPO services, we manage specific business processes or functions for clients, providing solutions that are more efficient and cost-effective than if the functions were provided in-house.
 
We offer clients across all industries a variety of function-specific BPO services, including finance and accounting, human resources, learning, procurement and customer contact. We also offer specialized services tailored to clients in specific industries. For instance, we offer life insurers policy administration and management services, including high-volume transaction processing capabilities. We provide utilities companies in North America and Europe with field services, as well as specialized


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customer care, finance and accounting, human resources, supply chain and IT services. We help market-leading health payers improve service performance in core operational functions, coupled with accompanying cost reductions. We provide services to medical organizations that improve and accelerate clinical development productivity. In addition, through our Navitaire subsidiary, we offer airlines a range of transaction-processing services, including distribution, Internet reservations, airport check-in, revenue management and accounting, crew scheduling and management, and disruption recovery.
 
In addition to providing individual BPO services, we can bundle two or more business functions, enabling clients to consolidate multiple business functions and their underlying IT systems with a single service provider to achieve greater efficiencies, control and cost savings.
 
Global Delivery Model
 
A key Accenture differentiator is our strategic global delivery model, which allows us to draw on the benefits of using people and other resources from around the world—including scalable, standardized processes, methods and tools; specialized business process and technology skills; cost advantages; foreign-language fluency; proximity to clients; and time-zone advantages—to deliver high-quality solutions under demanding time-frames. Emphasizing quality, reduced risk, speed to market and predictability, our global delivery model enables us to provide clients with price-competitive services and solutions that drive higher levels of performance.
 
A critical component of this capability is our Global Delivery Network, which comprises local Accenture professionals working at client sites around the world as well as more than 50 delivery centers—facilities where teams of Accenture technology and business-process professionals use proven assets to create and deliver business and technology solutions for clients. Our delivery centers improve the efficiency of our engagement teams through the reuse of processes, solution designs, infrastructure and software and by leveraging the experience of delivery center professionals.
 
Professionals in our Global Delivery Network apply a systematic approach to delivering technology consulting, systems integration, application outsourcing and business processing outsourcing solutions and services delivery to create and capture proven, repeatable processes, methodologies, tools and architectures. For example, we continue to evolve our Accenture Delivery Suite, which combines our common methods, tools, architectures and metrics in support of our global delivery efforts. The Accenture Delivery Suite provides us with a common language, framework and reusable assets that allow us to unite our global delivery capabilities into a single, cohesive approach for our client service teams—enabling us to start projects quickly, deliver with high quality, and improve our ability to meet our clients’ expectations. In addition, our ability to build seamless global teams—leveraging the right professionals with the right skills for each task—enables Accenture to provide a complete end-to-end capability, with consistent Accenture processes around the globe.
 
We continue to expand and enhance our Global Delivery Network, which we believe is a competitive differentiator for us. In fiscal 2008 we further expanded our Global Delivery Network by, among other things, increasing industry specialization; increasing our activities in systems integration, application outsourcing, business process outsourcing and technology consulting; opening new facilities; and recruiting actively in key locations of our network, including Eastern Europe, India, China and the Philippines. As of August 31, 2008, we had approximately 83,000 people in our network globally, an increase of more than 11,000 people since the end of fiscal 2007.
 
Alliances
 
We have sales and delivery alliances with companies whose capabilities complement our own, either by enhancing a service offering, delivering a new technology or helping us extend our services


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to new geographies. By combining our alliance partners’ products and services with our own capabilities and expertise, we create innovative, high-value business solutions for our clients. Some alliances are specifically aligned with one of our service lines, thereby adding skills, technology and insights that are applicable across many of the industries we serve. Other alliances extend and enhance our offerings specific to a single industry group.
 
Almost all of our alliances are non-exclusive. Although individual alliance agreements do not involve direct payments to us that are material to our business, we generate significant revenues from services to implement our alliance partners’ products.
 
Research and Innovation
 
We are committed to developing leading-edge ideas, as we believe that both research and innovation have been major factors in our success and will help us continue to grow in the future. We use our investment in research and development—on which we spent $390 million, $307 million and $298 million in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively—to help create, commercialize and disseminate innovative business strategies and technology.
 
Our research and innovation program is designed to generate early insights into how knowledge can be harnessed to create innovative business solutions for our clients and to develop business strategies with significant value. A key component of this is our research and development organization, Accenture Technology Labs, which identifies and develops new technologies that we believe will be the drivers of our clients’ growth and enable them to be first to market with unique capabilities. Our technology R&D team comprises approximately 200 professionals based in four Labs in the United States, France and India. We also promote the creation of knowledge capital and thought leadership through the Accenture Institute for High Performance. In addition, we spend a significant portion of our research and development resources directly through our operating groups and our consulting, technology and outsourcing capabilities to develop market-ready solutions for our clients.
 
Employees
 
Our most important asset is our people. The diverse and global makeup of our workforce enables us to serve our diverse and global client base. We are deeply committed to the continued development of our employees, who receive significant and focused technical, functional, industry, managerial and leadership skill development and training appropriate for their roles and levels within our company throughout their careers with us. We seek to reinforce our employees’ commitments to our clients, culture and values through a comprehensive performance management system and a career philosophy that rewards both individual performance and teamwork. We strive to maintain a work environment that reinforces our owner-operator culture and the collaboration, motivation, alignment of interests and sense of ownership and reward that this culture has fostered.
 
As of August 31, 2008, we had more than 186,000 employees worldwide.
 
Competition
 
We operate in a highly competitive and rapidly changing global marketplace and compete with a variety of organizations that offer services competitive with those we offer. We compete with a variety of companies with respect to our offerings, including:
 
  •  Off-shore service providers in lower-cost locations, particularly Indian providers, that offer services similar to those we offer, often at highly competitive prices;


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  •  Large multinational providers, including the service arms of large global technology providers, that offer some or all of the consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing services that we do;
 
  •  Niche solution or service providers that compete with us in a specific geographic market, industry segment or service area, including companies that provide new or alternative products, services or delivery models; and
 
  •  Accounting firms that are expanding or re-emphasizing their provision of consulting services.
 
In addition, a client may choose to use its own resources rather than engage an outside firm for the types of services we provide.
 
Our revenues are derived primarily from Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, medium-sized companies, governments, government agencies and other enterprises. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the industries in which we compete include:
 
  •  skills and capabilities of people;
 
  •  innovative service and product offerings;
 
  •  ability to add value;
 
  •  reputation and client references;
 
  •  price;
 
  •  scope of services;
 
  •  service delivery approach;
 
  •  technical and industry expertise;
 
  •  quality of services and solutions;
 
  •  ability to deliver results on a timely basis;
 
  •  availability of appropriate resources; and
 
  •  global reach and scale.
 
Our clients typically retain us on a non-exclusive basis.
 
Intellectual Property
 
Our success has resulted in part from our proprietary methodologies, software, reusable knowledge capital, assets and other intellectual property rights. We rely upon a combination of nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements as well as upon trade secret, copyright, patent and trademark laws to protect our intellectual property rights and the rights of third parties from whom we license intellectual property. We have promulgated policies related to confidentiality and ownership and to the use and protection of our intellectual property and that owned by third parties, and we also enter into agreements with our employees as appropriate.
 
We recognize the increasing value of intellectual property in the marketplace and vigorously create, harvest and protect our intellectual property. As of August 31, 2008, we had 1,709 patent applications pending in the United States and other jurisdictions and had been issued 344 U.S. patents and 223 non-U.S. patents in, among others, the following areas: goal-based educational simulation; virtual call centers; hybrid telecommunications networks; development architecture frameworks; emotion-based voice processing; mobile communications networks; location-based information filtering;


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and computerized multimedia asset systems. We intend to continue to vigorously identify, create, harvest and protect our intellectual property and to leverage our protected, differentiated assets and methodologies to provide superior value to our clients.
 
Organizational Structure
 
Accenture Ltd is a Bermuda holding company with no material assets other than Class II and Class III common shares in its subsidiary, Accenture SCA, a Luxembourg partnership limited by shares (“Accenture SCA”). Accenture Ltd’s only business is to hold these shares and to act as the sole general partner of Accenture SCA. Accenture Ltd owns a majority voting interest in Accenture SCA. As the general partner of Accenture SCA and as a result of Accenture Ltd’s majority voting interest in Accenture SCA, Accenture Ltd controls Accenture SCA’s management and operations and consolidates Accenture SCA’s results in its financial statements. Accenture operates its business through subsidiaries of Accenture SCA. Accenture SCA generally reimburses Accenture Ltd for its expenses but does not pay Accenture Ltd any fees.
 
Prior to our transition to a corporate structure in fiscal 2001, we operated as a series of related partnerships and corporations under the control of our partners. In connection with our transition to a corporate structure, our partners generally exchanged all of their interests in these partnerships and corporations for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares or, in the case of partners in certain countries, Accenture SCA Class I common shares or exchangeable shares issued by Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Accenture SCA. Generally, partners who received Accenture SCA Class I common shares or Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares also received a corresponding number of Accenture Ltd Class X common shares, which entitle their holders to vote at Accenture Ltd shareholder meetings but do not carry any economic rights.
 
In fiscal 2005, Accenture developed and announced a new, broader career model for its highest-level executives that recognizes the diversity of roles and responsibilities demonstrated by these employees. This new career framework replaced the internal use of the “partner” title with the more comprehensive “senior executive” title and applies the “senior executive” title to more than 4,600 of our highest-level employees, including those employees previously referred to as partners. However, for proper context, we continue to use the term “partner” in this report to refer to these persons in certain situations related to our reorganization and the period prior to our incorporation.
 
Accenture Ltd Class A Common Shares and Class X Common Shares
 
Each Class A common share and each Class X common share of Accenture Ltd entitles its holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of Accenture Ltd. A holder of a Class X common share is not, however, entitled to receive dividends or to receive payments upon a liquidation of Accenture Ltd.
 
Accenture Ltd may redeem, at its option, any Class X common share for a redemption price equal to the par value of the Class X common share, or $0.0000225 per share. Accenture Ltd has separately agreed with the original holders of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares not to redeem any Class X common share of such holder if the redemption would reduce the number of Class X common shares held by that holder to a number that is less than the number of Accenture SCA Class I common shares or Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares owned by that holder, as the case may be. Accenture Ltd will redeem Class X common shares upon the redemption or exchange of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares so that the aggregate number of Class X common shares outstanding at any time does not exceed the aggregate number of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada


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Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares outstanding. Class X common shares are not transferable without the consent of Accenture Ltd.
 
Accenture SCA Class I Common Shares
 
Only our current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees hold Accenture SCA Class I common shares. Each Class I common share entitles its holder to one vote on all matters submitted to the shareholders of Accenture SCA and entitles its holder to dividends and liquidation payments.
 
Subject to the transfer restrictions in Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association described below, Accenture SCA is obligated, at the option of the holder, to redeem any outstanding Accenture SCA Class I common share at any time at a redemption price per share generally equal to its current market value as determined in accordance with Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association. Under Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association, the market value of a Class I common share that is not subject to transfer restrictions will be deemed to be equal to (i) the average of the high and low sales prices of an Accenture Ltd Class A common share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or on such other designated market on which the Class A common shares trade), net of customary brokerage and similar transaction costs, or (ii) if Accenture Ltd sells its Class A common shares on the date that the redemption price is determined (other than in a transaction with any employee or an affiliate or pursuant to a preexisting obligation), the weighted average sales price of an Accenture Ltd Class A common share on the New York Stock Exchange (or on such other market on which the Class A common shares primarily trade), net of customary brokerage and similar transaction costs. See “—Restrictions on the Transfer of Certain Accenture Shares—Articles of Association of Accenture SCA—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions” below for additional information on these transfer restrictions. Accenture SCA may, at its option, pay this redemption price with cash or by delivering Accenture Ltd Class A common shares on a one-for-one basis. This one-for-one redemption price and exchange ratio will be adjusted if Accenture Ltd holds more than a de minimis amount of assets (other than its interest in Accenture SCA and assets it holds only transiently prior to contributing them to Accenture SCA) or incurs more than a de minimis amount of liabilities (other than liabilities for which Accenture SCA has a corresponding liability to Accenture Ltd). We have been advised by our legal advisors in Luxembourg that there is no relevant legal precedent in Luxembourg quantifying or defining the term “de minimis.” In the event that a question arises in this regard, we expect that management will interpret “de minimis” in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time in question. At this time, Accenture Ltd does not intend to hold any material assets other than its interest in Accenture SCA or to incur any material liabilities such that this one-for-one redemption price and exchange ratio would require adjustment and will disclose any change in its intentions that could affect this ratio. In order to maintain Accenture Ltd’s economic interest in Accenture SCA, Accenture Ltd generally will acquire additional Accenture SCA common shares each time additional Accenture Ltd Class A common shares are issued.
 
Accenture SCA Class II and Class III Common Shares
 
On June 28, 2005, Accenture SCA’s shareholders approved certain amendments to the rights of Accenture SCA Class II common shares held by Accenture Ltd, as well as the creation of a new class of common shares known as “Class III common shares” into which all Class I common shares held by Accenture Ltd and its affiliates were reclassified. Accenture SCA Class II common shares and Class III common shares may not be held by any person other than the general partner of Accenture SCA and its subsidiaries. All Class I common shares that are sold or otherwise transferred to Accenture Ltd or its subsidiaries will be automatically reclassified into Class III common shares.


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The amendments to the Class II common shares, the creation of Class III common shares (and all lettered sub-series of that class) and the reclassification of all Class I common shares held or to be held by Accenture Ltd and its subsidiaries have no effect on the computation of Accenture Ltd’s earnings per share.
 
Accenture SCA Class II common shares and Class III common shares (or any lettered sub-series of that class) are not entitled to any cash dividends. If the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd authorizes the payment of a cash dividend on Accenture Ltd’s Class A common shares, Accenture Ltd, as general partner of Accenture SCA, will cause Accenture SCA to redeem Class II common shares and Class III common shares that Accenture Ltd holds to obtain cash needed to pay dividends on its Class A common shares. At any time that Accenture SCA pays a cash dividend on its Class I common shares, new Class II common shares and Class III common shares will be issued to the existing holders of Class II common shares and Class III common shares, in each case having an aggregate value of the amount of any cash dividends that the holders of those Class II or Class III common shares would have received had they ratably participated in the cash dividend paid on the Class I common shares.
 
Each Class II common share entitles its holder to receive a liquidation payment equal to 10% of any liquidation payment to which a Class I common share entitles its holder. Each Accenture SCA Class III common share entitles its holder to receive a liquidation payment equal to 100% of any liquidation payment to which an Accenture SCA Class I common share entitles its holder.
 
Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
 
Subject to the transfer restrictions contained in Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws described below, holders of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares may exchange their shares for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares at any time on a one-for-one basis. Accenture may, at its option, satisfy this exchange with cash at a price per share generally equal to the market price of an Accenture Ltd Class A common share at the time of the exchange. Each exchangeable share of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. entitles its holder to receive distributions equal to any distributions to which an Accenture Ltd Class A common share entitles its holder.
 
Restrictions on the Transfer of Certain Accenture Shares
 
   Accenture Ltd Bye-Laws
 
Covered Person Transfer Restrictions.  Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws contain transfer restrictions that apply to certain Accenture current and former senior executives who hold Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. We refer to these persons as “covered persons.” The Accenture Ltd shares covered by the transfer restrictions generally include any Accenture Ltd Class A common shares beneficially owned by a senior executive at the time in question and also as of or prior to the initial public offering of the Accenture Ltd Class A common shares in July 2001. We refer to the shares covered by these transfer restrictions as “covered shares.”
 
Current senior executives.  Historically, the transfer restrictions applicable to covered shares lapsed with the passage of time on an annual basis until July 24, 2009. In 2007, we eliminated a requirement that active employees hold at least 25% of these shares at all times during their employment (the “25% minimum holding requirement”). We also enacted a waiver of certain transfer restrictions applicable to active employees, permitting covered shares that would otherwise not have become available for transfer until the later of July 24, 2009 or the termination of the employee’s employment with Accenture to become transferable on an accelerated basis. For a schedule of dates on which transfer restrictions are expected to be released, see below under “—Transfer Schedule.”


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Former senior executives.  On September 25, 2008, we also enacted a waiver of certain transfer restrictions applicable to retired and resigned employees, permitting covered shares that would otherwise not have become available for transfer until July 24, 2009 to become transferable by the holders on an accelerated basis (see “—Transfer Schedule”).
 
  •  Notwithstanding the foregoing, covered persons retiring from Accenture at the age of 50 or older are permitted to transfer covered shares they own on an accelerated basis as follows:
 
     
    Percentage of remaining
    transfer restricted shares
Age at retirement
 
permitted to be transferred
 
56 or older
  100%
55
  87.5%
54
  75%
53
  62.5%
52
  50%
51
  37.5%
50
  25%
 
  •  In addition, a retired senior executive who reaches the age of 56 is permitted to transfer any covered shares he or she owns. Any remaining shares owned by retiring senior executives for which transfer restrictions are not released on an accelerated basis will be eligible to be transferred as if the retiring senior executive continued to be employed by Accenture.
 
  •  Covered persons who became disabled before our transition to a corporate structure are permitted to transfer all of their covered shares. Current and former senior executives who have become disabled since our transition to a corporate structure are subject to the general transfer restrictions applicable to employees or, if disabled after the age of 50, benefit from the accelerated lapses of transfer restrictions applicable to retired senior executives.
 
All transfer restrictions applicable to a covered person under Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws terminate upon death.
 
If Accenture approves in writing a covered person’s pledge of his covered shares to a lender, foreclosures by the lender on those shares, and any subsequent sales of those shares by the lender, are not restricted, provided that the lender gives Accenture a right of first refusal to buy any shares at the market price before they are sold by the lender.
 
Notwithstanding the transfer restrictions described in this summary, Accenture Ltd Class X common shares may not be transferred at any time, except upon the death of a holder of Class X common shares or with the consent of Accenture Ltd.
 
Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares held by covered persons are also subject to the transfer restrictions in Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws.
 
Term and Amendment.  The transfer restrictions in Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws will not terminate unless they have been previously waived or terminated under the terms of the bye-laws. Amendment of the transfer restrictions in Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws requires the approval of the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd and a majority vote of Accenture Ltd’s shareholders.


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Waivers and Adjustments.  The transfer restrictions and the other provisions of Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws may be waived at any time by the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd or its designees to permit covered persons to:
 
  •  participate as sellers in underwritten public offerings of common shares and tender and exchange offers and share purchase programs by Accenture;
 
  •  transfer covered shares in family or charitable transfers;
 
  •  transfer covered shares held in employee benefit plans; and
 
  •  transfer covered shares in particular situations (for example, to immediate family members and trusts).
 
Subject to the foregoing, from time to time, pursuant to the provisions of Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws, the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd or its designees may also approve limited relief from the existing share transfer restrictions for specified senior executives or groups of senior executives in connection with particular retirement, employment and severance arrangements that are determined to be in the best interests of the Company.
 
Administration and Resolution of Disputes.  The terms and provisions of Accenture Ltd’s bye-laws are administered by the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd. The Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd or its designees have the sole power to enforce the provisions of the bye-laws.
 
Articles of Association of Accenture SCA
 
General.  Except in the case of a redemption of Class I common shares or a transfer of Class I common shares to Accenture Ltd or one of its subsidiaries, Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association provide that Accenture SCA Class I common shares may be transferred only with the consent of Accenture Ltd, as the general partner of Accenture SCA.
 
Covered Person Transfer Restrictions.  In addition, Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association contain transfer restrictions that apply to certain Accenture current and former senior executives who hold Accenture SCA Class I common shares and are parties to the Accenture SCA transfer rights agreement, including redemptions by Accenture SCA and purchases by subsidiaries of Accenture Ltd. We refer to these persons as “covered persons.” The shares covered by these transfer restrictions generally include all Class I common shares owned by a covered person. We refer to the shares covered by these transfer restrictions as “covered shares.”
 
     Current senior executives.  Historically, the transfer restrictions applicable to covered shares lapsed with the passage of time on an annual basis until July 24, 2009. In 2007, we eliminated a requirement that active employees hold at least 25% of these shares at all times during their employment (the “25% minimum holding requirement”). We also enacted a waiver of certain transfer restrictions applicable to active employees, permitting covered shares that would otherwise not have become available for transfer until the later of July 24, 2009 or the termination of the employee’s employment with Accenture to become transferable on an accelerated basis. For a schedule of dates on which transfer restrictions are expected to be released, see below under “—Transfer Schedule.”
 
     Former senior executives.  On March 26, 2008 and September 25, 2008, we also enacted waivers of certain transfer restrictions applicable to retired and resigned employees, permitting covered shares that would otherwise not have become available for transfer until either July 24, 2008 or July 24, 2009 to become transferable by the holders on an accelerated basis (see “—Transfer Schedule”).


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Covered persons retiring at the age of 50 or above or who become disabled are granted accelerations of these provisions on terms identical to those applicable to Accenture Ltd Class A common shares held by covered persons and described under “—Accenture Ltd Bye-Laws—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions” above.
 
All transfer restrictions applicable to a covered person under Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association terminate upon death.
 
If Accenture SCA approves in writing a covered person’s pledge of his covered shares to a lender, foreclosures by the lender on those shares, and any subsequent sales of those shares by the lender, are not restricted, provided that the lender gives Accenture SCA a right of first refusal to buy any shares at the market price before they are sold by the lender.
 
Term and Amendment.  The transfer restrictions contained in Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association will not terminate unless they have been previously waived or terminated under the terms of the Articles of Association. Amendment of the transfer restrictions in Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association requires the consent of Accenture SCA’s general partner and approval at a general meeting of shareholders.
 
Waivers and Adjustments.  The transfer restrictions and the other provisions of Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association may be waived at any time by the general partner of Accenture SCA or its designees to permit covered persons to:
 
  •  participate as sellers in underwritten public offerings of common shares and tender and exchange offers and share purchase programs by Accenture;
 
  •  transfer covered shares in family or charitable transfers; and
 
  •  transfer covered shares in particular situations (for example, to immediate family members and trusts).
 
Subject to the foregoing, from time to time, pursuant to the provisions of Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association, the general partner of Accenture SCA or its designees may also approve limited relief from the existing share transfer restrictions for specified senior executives or groups of senior executives in connection with particular retirement, employment and severance arrangements that are determined to be in the best interests of the Company.
 
Other Restrictions.  In addition to the foregoing, all holders of Class I common shares are precluded from having their shares redeemed by Accenture SCA or transferred to Accenture SCA, Accenture Ltd or a subsidiary of Accenture Ltd at any time or during any period when Accenture SCA determines, based on the advice of counsel, that there is material non-public information that may affect the average price per share of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, if the redemption would be prohibited by applicable law, during an underwritten offering due to an underwriters lock-up or during the period from the announcement of a tender offer by Accenture SCA or its affiliates for Accenture SCA Class I common shares until the expiration of ten business days after the termination of the tender offer (other than to tender the holder’s Accenture SCA Class I common shares in the tender offer).
 
Administration and Resolution of Disputes.  The terms and provisions of Accenture SCA’s Articles of Association are administered by the general partner of Accenture SCA.
 
Transfer Schedule
 
The following table shows the total number of covered shares held by active employees and their permitted transferees that are scheduled to be released from transfer restrictions each quarter. This


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table reflects all waivers granted to date, including the waivers described above under “—Accenture Ltd Bye-Laws—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions” and “—Articles of Association of Accenture SCA—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions,” and further assumes that any covered persons who are active employees as of October 1, 2008 remain actively employed by Accenture through June 1, 2009.
 
     
    Total number of Accenture Ltd
    Class A common shares, Accenture SCA Class I
    common shares and Accenture
    Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable
    shares that are scheduled to become
    available for transfer after giving
   
effect to waivers
 
2nd Quarter Fiscal 2009
  5,178,168
3rd Quarter Fiscal 2009
  4,762,625
4th Quarter Fiscal 2009
  4,273,782
 
The following table shows the total number of covered shares held by former employees and their permitted transferees that are scheduled to be released from transfer restrictions each quarter. This table reflects all waivers granted to date, including the waivers described above under “—Accenture Ltd Bye-Laws—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions” and “—Articles of Association of Accenture SCA—Covered Person Transfer Restrictions,” and further assumes that no covered persons who are active employees as of October 1, 2008 retire or resign through June 1, 2009.
 
     
    Total number of Accenture Ltd
    Class A common shares, Accenture SCA Class I
    common shares and Accenture
    Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable
    shares that are scheduled to become
    available for transfer after giving
   
effect to waivers
 
2nd Quarter Fiscal 2009
  14,667,892
3rd Quarter Fiscal 2009
  14,668,060
4th Quarter Fiscal 2009
  14,668,321
 
Senior Executive Ownership Requirements
 
To ensure that senior executives continue to maintain equity ownership levels that Accenture considers meaningful, we require current senior executives to comply with the Accenture Senior Executive Equity Ownership Policy. This policy requires senior executives to own Accenture equity valued at a multiple (ranging from 1/2 to 6) of their base compensation determined by their position level. This policy remains in place notwithstanding the waiver of the 25% minimum holding requirement described above.
 
Senior Executive Trading Policy
 
We have a Senior Executive Trading Policy applicable to our senior executives that provides, among other things, that covered shares held by actively employed senior executives will be subject to company-imposed quarterly trading guidelines. We set allocation limits of unrestricted covered shares based on a composite average weekly volume of trading in Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. These guidelines allow us to manage the total number of shares redeemed, sold or otherwise transferred by our senior executives in any calendar quarter. The guidelines, which can be adjusted by management, are not legal or contractual restrictions, however, and there is a risk that the internal sanctions available to us might not adequately dissuade individual employees from attempting transfers in excess of the amounts permitted under the policy. The Senior Executive Trading Policy also prohibits senior executives from trading in any Accenture equity during any company-designated black-out period.


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ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS
 
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the following factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us.
 
Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
 
Risks That Relate to Our Business
 
Our results of operations could be adversely affected by economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on our clients’ businesses and levels of business activity.
 
Global economic and political conditions affect our clients’ businesses and the markets they serve. A severe and/or prolonged economic downturn or a negative or uncertain political climate could adversely affect our clients’ financial condition and the levels of business activity of our clients and the industries we serve. This may reduce demand for our services or depress pricing of those services and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Changes in global economic conditions could also shift demand to services for which we do not have competitive advantages, and this could negatively affect the amount of business that we are able to obtain. In addition, if we are unable to successfully anticipate changing economic and political conditions, we may be unable to effectively plan for and respond to those changes, and our business could be negatively affected.
 
Our results of operations could be negatively affected if we cannot expand and develop our services and solutions in response to changes in technology and client demand.
 
Our success depends on our ability to develop and implement consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing services and solutions that anticipate and respond to rapid and continuing changes in technology, industry developments and client needs. We may not be successful in anticipating or responding to these developments on a timely basis, and our offerings may not be successful in the marketplace. Implementing new services or solutions for our clients may entail more risk than supplying existing offerings. Also, services, solutions and technologies offered by current or future competitors may make our service or solution offerings uncompetitive or obsolete. Any one of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain or successfully deliver client work.
 
The consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing markets are highly competitive, and we might not be able to compete effectively.
 
The consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing markets are highly competitive. We compete with a variety of companies with respect to our offerings, including:
 
  •  Off-shore service providers in lower-cost locations, particularly Indian providers, that offer services similar to those we offer, often at highly competitive prices;
 
  •  Large multinational providers, including the service arms of large global technology providers, that offer some or all of the consulting, systems integration and technology, and outsourcing services that we do;


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  •  Niche solution or service providers that compete with us in a specific geographic market, industry segment or service area, including companies that provide new or alternative products, services or delivery models; and
 
  •  Accounting firms that are expanding or re-emphasizing their provision of consulting services.
 
In addition, a client may choose to use its own resources rather than engage an outside firm for the types of services we provide.
 
Some of our competitors may have greater financial, marketing or other resources than we do and, therefore, may be better able to compete for new work and skilled professionals. Additionally, some of our competitors, particularly those located in regions with lower costs of doing business, may be able to provide services and solutions at lower cost or on more favorable terms than we can, particularly in the outsourcing and systems integration markets. There is a risk that increased competition could put downward pressure on the prices we can charge for our services and on our operating margins. Similarly, if our competitors develop and implement methodologies that yield greater efficiency and productivity, they may be able to offer services similar to ours at lower prices without adversely affecting their profit margins. Even if we have potential offerings that address marketplace or client needs, our competitors may be more successful at selling similar services they offer, including to companies that are Accenture clients. If we are unable to provide our clients with superior services and solutions at competitive prices, our results of operations may suffer.
 
In addition, we may face greater competition from companies that have increased in size or scope as the result of strategic mergers. These mergers may include consolidation activity among hardware manufacturers, software developers and vendors, and service providers. This vertical integration may result in greater convergence among previously separate technology functions or reduced access to products, and may adversely affect our competitive position.
 
Our work with government clients exposes us to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment.
 
Our clients include national, provincial, state and local governmental entities. Our government work carries various risks inherent in the government contracting process. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
  •  Government entities typically fund projects through appropriated monies. While these projects are often planned and executed as multi-year projects, the government entities usually reserve the right to change the scope of or terminate these projects for lack of approved funding and at their convenience. Changes in government or political developments could result in our projects being reduced in scope or terminated altogether.
 
  •  Government entities often reserve the right to audit our contract costs, including allocated indirect costs, and conduct inquiries and investigations of our business practices with respect to our government contracts. If the client finds that the costs are not reimbursable, then we will not be allowed to bill for them, or the cost must be refunded to the client if it has already been paid to us. Findings from an audit also may result in our being required to prospectively adjust previously agreed rates for our work and may affect our future margins.
 
  •  If a government client discovers improper or illegal activities in the course of audits or investigations, we may become subject to various civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, which may include termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines and suspensions or debarment from doing business with other agencies of that government. The inherent limitations of internal controls may not prevent or detect all improper


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  or illegal activities, regardless of their adequacy. Additionally, an allegation of improper activity, even if not proven, could result in adverse publicity and damage to our reputation and business.
 
  •  Government contracts, and the proceedings surrounding them, are often subject to more extensive scrutiny and publicity than contracts with commercial clients. Negative publicity related to our government contracts, regardless of its accuracy, may further damage our business by affecting our ability to compete for new contracts.
 
  •  Political and economic factors such as pending elections, the outcome of recent elections, changes in leadership among key executive or legislative decision makers, revisions to governmental tax policies and reduced tax revenues can affect the number and terms of new government contracts signed.
 
  •  Terms and conditions of government contracts tend to be more onerous and are often more difficult to negotiate than those for commercial contracts.
 
The occurrences or conditions described above could affect not only our business with the particular government agency involved, but also our business with other agencies of the same or other governmental entities. Additionally, because of their visibility and political nature, government projects may present a heightened risk to our reputation. Either of these could have a material adverse effect on our business or our results of operations.
 
Our business could be adversely affected if our clients are not satisfied with our services.
 
Our business model depends in large part on our ability to attract new work from our base of existing clients, at times on a sole source basis. Our business model also depends on relationships our senior executives develop with our clients so that we can understand our clients’ needs and deliver solutions and services that are tailored to those needs. If a client is not satisfied with the quality of work performed by us or a subcontractor, or with the type of services or solutions delivered, then we could incur additional costs to address the situation, the profitability of that work might be impaired, and the client’s dissatisfaction with our services could damage our ability to obtain additional work from that client. In particular, clients that are not satisfied might seek to terminate existing contracts prior to their scheduled expiration date and could direct future business to our competitors. In addition, negative publicity related to our client relationships, regardless of its accuracy, may further damage our business by affecting our ability to compete for new contracts with current and prospective clients.
 
We could be subject to liabilities if our subcontractors or the third parties with whom we partner cannot deliver their project contributions on time or at all.
 
Large and complex arrangements often require that we utilize subcontractors or that our services and solutions incorporate or coordinate with the software, systems or infrastructure requirements of other vendors and service providers. Our ability to serve our clients and deliver and implement our solutions in a timely manner depends on the ability of these subcontractors, vendors and service providers to meet their project obligations in a timely manner, as well as on our effective oversight of their performance. The quality of our services and solutions could suffer if our subcontractors or the third parties with whom we partner do not deliver their products and services in accordance with project requirements. In addition, certain work requires the use of unique and complex structures and alliances. Some of these structures require us to assume responsibility to the client for the performance of third parties whom we do not control. (For a discussion of our indemnification obligations under our client agreements, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of


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Operations—Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.”) If our subcontractors or these third parties fail to deliver their contributions on time or at all, if their contributions do not meet project requirements or require us to incur unanticipated costs to meet these requirements, or if we are unable to obtain reimbursement for liabilities of third parties that we have assumed, then our ability to perform could be adversely affected and we might be subject to additional liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, profitability or cash flow.
 
Our results of operations could be adversely affected if our clients terminate their contracts with us on short notice.
 
Our clients typically retain us on a non-exclusive, project-by-project basis. Although we do not centrally track the termination provisions of our consulting contracts, we estimate that the majority of our contracts can be terminated by our clients with short notice. Many of our consulting contracts are less than 12 months in duration, and these shorter-duration contracts typically permit a client to terminate the agreement with as little as 30 days notice and without significant penalty. Longer-term, larger and more complex contracts, such as the majority of our outsourcing contracts, generally require a longer notice period for termination and often include an early termination charge to be paid to us, but this charge might not be sufficient to cover our costs or make up for anticipated profits lost upon termination of the contract. Additionally, large client projects often involve multiple contracts or stages, and a client could choose not to retain us for additional stages of a project, try to renegotiate the terms of its contract or cancel or delay additional planned work.
 
Terminations, cancellations or delays could result from factors that are beyond our control and unrelated to our work product or the progress of the project, including the business or financial conditions of the client, changes in ownership or management at our clients, changes in client strategies or the economy or markets generally. When contracts are terminated, we lose the anticipated revenues and might not be able to eliminate associated costs in a timely manner. Consequently, our profit margins in subsequent periods could be lower than expected.
 
Outsourcing services are a significant part of our business and subject us to operational and financial risk.
 
We earned approximately 40% of our net revenues in fiscal 2008 from our outsourcing services. This portion of our business presents potential operational and financial risks that are different from those of our consulting, technology and systems integration services. Our outsourcing services often involve taking over the operation of certain portions of our clients’ businesses. In some cases, we may deliver those services using client personnel and third-party contracts that are transferred to us. Occasionally, however, we assume responsibility for delivering our services using client personnel or client subcontractors who are not transferred to us, and we therefore have less ability to fully control their work and efforts. In addition, we could incur liability for failure to comply with laws or regulations related to the portions of our clients’ businesses that are transferred to us.
 
This type of work also presents financial risks to us. Outsourcing contracts typically have longer terms than consulting contracts and generally have lower gross margins than consulting contracts, particularly during the first year of the contract. This could exert downward pressure on our overall gross margins, particularly during the early stages of new outsourcing contracts, which might not be offset by improved performance on contracts in our portfolio that we have been operating for a longer time. Furthermore, we face considerable competition for outsourcing work and our clients are increasingly using intensive contracting processes and aggressive contracting techniques, sometimes assisted by third-party advisors.


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Our results of operations may be affected by the rate of growth in the use of technology in business and the type and level of technology spending by our clients.
 
Our business depends in part upon continued growth in the use of technology in business by our clients and prospective clients and their customers and suppliers. In challenging economic environments, our clients may reduce or defer their spending on new technologies in order to focus on other priorities. At the same time, many companies have already invested substantial resources in their current means of conducting commerce and exchanging information, and they may be reluctant or slow to adopt new approaches that could disrupt existing personnel, processes and infrastructures. If the growth of use of technology in business or our clients’ spending on technology in business declines or if we cannot convince our clients or potential clients to embrace new technology solutions, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Our profitability could suffer if we are not able to maintain favorable pricing rates.
 
Our profit margin, and therefore our profitability, is dependent on the rates we are able to charge for our services. If we are not able to maintain favorable pricing for our services, our profit margin and our profitability could suffer. The rates we are able to charge for our services are affected by a number of factors, including:
 
  •  our clients’ perceptions of our ability to add value through our services;
 
  •  competition;
 
  •  introduction of new services or products by us or our competitors;
 
  •  our competitors’ pricing policies;
 
  •  our ability to charge higher prices where market demand or the value of our services justifies it;
 
  •  our ability to accurately estimate, attain and sustain contract revenues, margins and cash flows over long contract periods;
 
  •  procurement practices of clients and their use of third-party advisors;
 
  •  aggressive use by our competitors of off-shore resources to provide lower-cost service delivery capabilities; and
 
  •  general economic and political conditions.
 
Our profitability could suffer if we are not able to maintain favorable utilization rates.
 
The cost of providing our services, including the utilization rate of our professionals, affects our profitability. Our utilization rates are affected by a number of factors, including:
 
  •  our ability to transition employees from completed projects to new assignments and to hire and assimilate new employees;
 
  •  our ability to forecast demand for our services and thereby maintain an appropriate headcount in each of our geographies and workforces;
 
  •  our ability to manage attrition; and
 
  •  our need to devote time and resources to training, business development, professional development and other non-chargeable activities.


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In recent periods we have maintained a utilization rate that is high by our historical standards. There are no assurances this will be our utilization rate in future periods. Additionally, we may not achieve a utilization rate that is optimal for us. If our utilization rate is too high, it could have an adverse effect on employee engagement and attrition. If our utilization rate is too low, our profit margin and profitability could suffer.
 
Our business could be negatively affected if we incur legal liability in connection with providing our solutions and services.
 
If we fail to meet our contractual obligations, fail to disclose our financial or other arrangements with our alliance partners or otherwise breach obligations to clients, or if our subcontractors dispute the terms of our agreements with them, we could be subject to legal liability. We may enter into non-standard agreements because we perceive an important economic opportunity or because our personnel did not adequately adhere to our guidelines. In addition, the contracting practices of our offshore competitors may cause contract terms and conditions that are unfavorable to us to become standardized in the marketplace. We may find ourselves committed to providing services that we are unable to deliver or whose delivery will cause us financial loss. If we cannot or do not perform our obligations, we could face legal liability and our contracts might not always protect us adequately through limitations on the scope of our potential liability. If we cannot meet our contractual obligations to provide solutions and services, and if our exposure is not adequately limited through the terms of our agreements, we might face significant legal liability and our business could be adversely affected.
 
If our pricing structures do not accurately anticipate the cost and complexity of performing our work, then our contracts could be unprofitable.
 
We negotiate pricing terms with our clients utilizing a range of pricing structures and conditions. Depending on the particular contract, these include time-and-materials pricing, fixed-price pricing, and contracts with features of both of these pricing models. Our pricing is highly dependent on our internal forecasts and predictions about our projects and the marketplace, which might be based on limited data and could turn out to be inaccurate. If we do not accurately estimate the costs and timing for completing projects, our contracts could prove unprofitable for us or yield lower profit margins than anticipated. We could face greater risk when pricing our outsourcing contracts, as many of our outsourcing projects entail the coordination of operations and workforces in multiple locations, utilizing workforces with different skillsets and competencies and geographically distributed service centers. Furthermore, on outsourcing work we occasionally hire employees from our clients and assume responsibility for one or more of our clients’ business processes. Our pricing, cost and profit margin estimates on outsourcing work frequently include anticipated long-term cost savings from transformational and other initiatives that we expect to achieve and sustain over the life of the outsourcing contract. There is a risk that we will underprice our contracts, fail to accurately estimate the costs of performing the work or fail to accurately assess the risks associated with potential contracts. In particular, any increased or unexpected costs, delays or failures to achieve anticipated cost savings, or unexpected risks we encounter in connection with the performance of this work, including those caused by factors outside our control, could make these contracts less profitable or unprofitable, which could have an adverse effect on our profit margin.
 
Many of our contracts utilize performance pricing that links some of our fees to the attainment of various performance or business targets. This could increase the variability of our revenues and margins.
 
Many of our contracts include performance clauses that require us to achieve agreed-upon performance standards or milestones. If we fail to satisfy these measures, it could reduce our fees


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under the contracts, delay expected payments or subject us to potential damage claims under the contract terms. Additionally, we have a number of contracts, many of which are outsourcing contracts, in which a portion of our fees or incentives depends on factors such as cost-savings, revenue enhancement, benefits produced, business goals attained and adherence to schedule. These goals can be complex and may depend in some measure on our clients’ actual levels of business activity. These provisions could increase the variability in revenues and margins earned on those contracts.
 
Our alliance relationships may not be successful.
 
We have alliances with companies whose capabilities complement our own. See “Business—Alliances.” As most of our alliance relationships are non-exclusive, our alliance partners are not prohibited from forming closer or preferred arrangements with our competitors. Loss of or limitations on our relationships with them could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our global operations are subject to complex risks, some of which might be beyond our control.
 
We have offices and operations in 52 countries around the world and provide services to clients in more than 120 countries. In fiscal 2008, approximately 42% of our net revenues were attributable to the Americas region, 49% were attributable to the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (“EMEA”), and 9% were attributable to the Asia Pacific region. In addition, our Global Delivery Network comprises local Accenture professionals working at client sites around the world in tandem with professionals resident in other countries located in more than 50 delivery centers. If we are unable to manage the risks of our global operations, including fluctuations in foreign exchange and inflation rates, international hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters, security breaches, failure to maintain compliance with our clients’ control requirements and multiple legal and regulatory systems, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Our operating results may be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.  Although we report our operating results in U.S. dollars, a significant percentage of our net revenues is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can have a number of adverse effects on us.
 
  •  Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues, expenses and income, as well as assets and liabilities, into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect during or at the end of each reporting period. Therefore, changes in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies will affect our net revenues, operating income and the value of balance-sheet items originally denominated in other currencies. Declines in the value of other currencies against the U.S. dollar could cause our consolidated earnings stated in U.S. dollars to be lower than our consolidated earnings in local currency and could affect our reported results when compared against other periods. Conversely, increases in the value of other currencies against the U.S. dollar could cause our consolidated earnings stated in U.S. dollars to be higher than our consolidated earnings in local currency and could affect our reported results when compared against other periods. There is no guarantee that our financial results will not be adversely affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations.
 
  •  In some countries we could be subject to strict restrictions on the movement of cash and the exchange of foreign currencies, which could limit our ability to use this cash across our global operations.
 
  •  As we continue to leverage our global delivery model, more of our expenses are incurred in currencies other than those in which we bill for the related services. An increase in the value


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  of certain currencies, such as the Indian rupee, against the U.S. dollar could increase costs for delivery of services at off-shore sites by increasing labor and other costs that are denominated in local currency, and there can be no assurance that our contractual provisions or our currency hedging activities would offset this impact. This could result in a decrease in the profitability of our contracts that are utilizing delivery center resources.
 
International hostilities, terrorist activities, natural disasters and infrastructure disruptions could prevent us from effectively serving our clients and thus adversely affect our operating results.  Acts of terrorist violence, armed regional and international hostilities and international responses to these hostilities, natural disasters, global health risks or pandemics or the threat of or perceived potential for these events, could have a negative impact on us. These events could adversely affect our clients’ levels of business activity and precipitate sudden significant changes in regional and global economic conditions and cycles. These events also pose significant risks to our people and to physical facilities and operations around the world, whether the facilities are ours or those of our alliance partners or clients. By disrupting communications and travel and increasing the difficulty of obtaining and retaining highly skilled and qualified personnel, these events could make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver services to our clients. Extended disruptions of electricity, other public utilities or network services at our facilities, as well as system failures at, or security breaches in, our facilities or systems, could also adversely affect our ability to serve our clients. While we plan and prepare to defend against each of these occurrences, we might be unable to protect our people, facilities and systems against all such occurrences. We generally do not have insurance for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist attacks, conflicts and wars. If these disruptions prevent us from effectively serving our clients, our operating results could be adversely affected.
 
We could have liability or our reputation could be damaged if we do not protect client data or information systems or if our information systems are breached.  We are dependent on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic information and to communicate among our locations around the world and with our alliance partners and clients. Security breaches of this infrastructure could lead to shutdowns or disruptions of our systems and potential unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. We are also required at times to manage, utilize and store sensitive or confidential client or employee data. As a result, we are subject to numerous U.S. and foreign jurisdiction laws and regulations designed to protect this information, such as the European Union Directive on Data Protection and various U.S. federal and state laws governing the protection of health or other individually identifiable information. If any person, including any of our employees, negligently disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to such data or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates that data, we could be subject to monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution. Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or employee data, whether through systems failure, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation, could damage our reputation and cause us to lose clients. Similarly, unauthorized access to or through our information systems or those we develop for our clients, whether by our employees or third parties, could result in negative publicity, legal liability and damage to our reputation.
 
We could incur liability or our reputation could be damaged if our provision of services and solutions to our clients contributes to our clients’ internal control deficiencies.  Our clients may request that we provide an audit of control activities we perform for them when we host or process data belonging to them. Our ability to acquire new clients and retain existing clients may be adversely affected and our reputation could be harmed if we receive a qualified opinion, or if we cannot obtain an unqualified opinion in a timely manner. Additionally, we could incur liability if a process we manage for a client were to result in internal controls failures or impair our client’s ability to comply with its own internal control requirements.


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Our global operations expose us to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements, and violation of these regulations could harm our business.  Because we provide services to clients in more than 120 countries, we are subject to numerous, and sometimes conflicting, legal regimes on matters as diverse as import/export controls, content requirements, trade restrictions, tariffs, taxation, sanctions, government affairs, immigration, internal and disclosure control obligations, securities regulation, anti-competition, data privacy and labor relations. Violations of these regulations in the conduct of our business could result in fines, criminal sanctions against us or our officers, prohibitions on doing business and damage to our reputation. Violations of these regulations in connection with the performance of our obligations to our clients also could result in liability for monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution, unfavorable publicity and other reputational damage, restrictions on our ability to process information and allegations by our clients that we have not performed our contractual obligations. Due to the varying degrees of development of the legal systems of the countries in which we operate, local laws might be insufficient to protect our rights.
 
Legislation related to certain non-U.S. corporations has been enacted in various jurisdictions in the United States, none of which adversely affects Accenture. However, additional legislative proposals remain under consideration in various legislatures which, if enacted, could limit or even prohibit our eligibility to be awarded state or federal government contracts in the United States in the future. Changes in laws and regulations applicable to foreign corporations could also mandate significant and costly changes to the way we implement our services and solutions, such as preventing us from using off-shore resources to provide our services, or could impose additional taxes on the provision of our services and solutions. These changes could threaten our ability to continue to serve certain markets.
 
In many parts of the world, including countries in which we operate, practices in the local business community might not conform to international business standards and could violate anticorruption regulations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits giving or offering to give anything of value with the intent to influence the awarding of government contracts. Although we have policies and procedures to ensure legal and regulatory compliance, our employees, subcontractors and agents could take actions that violate these requirements. Violations of these regulations could subject us to criminal or civil enforcement actions, including fines and suspension or disqualification from U.S. federal procurement contracting, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
Our profitability could suffer if we are not able to control our costs.
 
Our ability to control our costs and improve our efficiency affects our profitability. As the continuation of pricing pressures could result in permanent changes in pricing policies and delivery capabilities, we must continuously improve our management of costs. Our short-term cost reduction initiatives, which focus primarily on reducing variable costs, might not be sufficient to deal with all pressures on our pricing. Our long-term cost-reduction initiatives, which focus on global reductions in costs for service delivery and infrastructure, rely upon our successful introduction and coordination of multiple geographic and competency workforces and a growing number of geographically distributed delivery centers. As we increase the number of our professionals and execute our strategies for growth, we might not be able to manage significantly larger and more diverse workforces, control our costs or improve our efficiency, and our profitability could be negatively affected.


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If we are unable to attract, retain and motivate employees or efficiently utilize their skills, we might not be able to compete effectively and will not be able to grow our business.
 
Our success and ability to grow are dependent, in large part, on our ability to hire, retain and motivate sufficient numbers of talented people with the increasingly diverse skills needed to serve clients and grow our business. Competition for skilled personnel is intense at all levels of experience and seniority. To address this competition, we may need to further adjust our compensation practices, which could put upward pressure on our costs and adversely affect our profit margins. We are particularly dependent on the skills of our senior executives, and if we are not able to successfully retain and motivate our senior executives and experienced managers, our ability to develop new business and effectively lead our current projects could be jeopardized. At the same time, the profitability of our business model depends on our ability to effectively utilize personnel with the right mix of skills and experience to support our projects and global delivery centers. The processes and costs associated with recruiting, training and retaining employees place significant demands on our resources. There is a risk that at certain points in time and in certain geographical regions, we will find it difficult to hire and retain a sufficient number of employees with the skills or backgrounds we require, or that it will prove difficult to retain them in a competitive labor market. If we are unable to hire and retain talented employees with the skills, and in the locations, we require, we might need to redeploy existing personnel or increase our reliance on subcontractors to fill certain of our labor needs. If we need to re-assign personnel from other areas, or employ subcontractors, it could increase our costs and adversely affect our profit margins. If we are not successful at retaining and motivating our senior executives, attracting and retaining other qualified employees in sufficient numbers to meet the demands of our business, or utilizing our people effectively, then our ability to compete for new work and successfully complete existing work for our clients could be adversely affected.
 
If we are unable to collect our receivables or unbilled services, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
 
Our business depends on our ability to successfully obtain payment from our clients of the amounts they owe us for work performed. We evaluate the financial condition of our clients and usually bill and collect on relatively short cycles. In limited circumstances, we also extend financing to our clients, which totaled $156 million at August 31, 2008. We maintain allowances against receivables and unbilled services. Actual losses on client balances could differ from those that we currently anticipate and as a result we might need to adjust our allowances. There is no guarantee that we will accurately assess the creditworthiness of our clients. Macroeconomic conditions could also result in financial difficulties for our clients, and as a result could cause clients to delay payments to us, request modifications to their payment arrangements that could increase our receivables balance, or default on their payment obligations to us. Recovery of client financing and timely collection of client balances also depend on our ability to complete our contractual commitments and bill and collect our contracted revenues. If we are unable to meet our contractual requirements, we might experience delays in collection of and/or be unable to collect our client balances, and if this occurs, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. In addition, if we experience an increase in the time to bill and collect for our services, our cash flows could be adversely affected.
 
Our services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or we might lose our ability to utilize the intellectual property of others.
 
We cannot be sure that our services and solutions, or the solutions of others that we offer to our clients, do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of third parties, and we could have


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infringement claims asserted against us or against our clients. These claims could harm our reputation, cost us money and prevent us from offering some services or solutions. In a number of our contracts, we agree to indemnify our clients for expenses or liabilities resulting from claimed infringements of the intellectual property rights of third parties. In some instances, the amount of these indemnities could be greater than the revenues we receive from the client. Any claims or litigation in this area, whether we ultimately win or lose, could be time-consuming and costly, injure our reputation or require us to enter into royalty or licensing arrangements. We might not be able to enter into these royalty or licensing arrangements on acceptable terms. If a claim of infringement were successful against us or our clients, an injunction might be ordered against our client or our own services or operations, causing further damages.
 
We could lose our ability to utilize the intellectual property of others. Third-party suppliers of software, hardware or other intellectual assets could be acquired or sued, and this could disrupt use of their products or services by Accenture and our clients. If our ability to provide services and solutions to our clients is impaired, our operating results could be adversely affected.
 
We have only a limited ability to protect our intellectual property rights, which are important to our success.
 
Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to protect our proprietary methodologies and other intellectual property. Existing laws of some countries in which we provide services or solutions might offer only limited protection of our intellectual property rights. We rely upon a combination of trade secrets, confidentiality policies, nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements, and patent, copyright and trademark laws to protect our intellectual property rights. The steps we take in this regard might not be adequate to prevent or deter infringement or other misappropriation of our intellectual property, and we might not be able to detect unauthorized use of, or take appropriate and timely steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights.
 
Depending on the circumstances, we might need to grant a specific client greater rights in intellectual property developed in connection with a contract than we otherwise generally do. In certain situations, we might forego all rights to the use of intellectual property we help create, which would limit our ability to reuse that intellectual property for other clients. Any limitation on our ability to provide a service or solution could cause us to lose revenue-generating opportunities and require us to incur additional expenses to develop new or modified solutions for future projects.
 
New tax legislation or interpretations could lead to an increase in our tax burden.
 
New tax legislation, regulations or other interpretations could materially increase our tax expense. In 2004, the United States Congress enacted the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, or the “AJCA,” which enacted an Internal Revenue Code provision that treats a non-U.S. company that undertook an expatriation transaction as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Other similar proposals have been made from time to time. We do not believe the 2004 legislation applies to Accenture; however, future legislative developments or adverse interpretations related to this legislation may materially increase our tax expense. We are not able to predict with certainty the impact of new legislation or whether a tax authority will challenge our interpretation of this or other tax legislation.
 
Negative publicity related to Bermuda companies could affect our relationships with our clients.
 
From time to time, there has been negative publicity related to companies incorporated in Bermuda. One frequent criticism is that certain U.S. companies undertook expatriation transactions to


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offshore jurisdictions, such as Bermuda, to improperly avoid U.S. taxes or to create an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. companies. Although incorporated in Bermuda, Accenture did not undertake an expatriation transaction. Nonetheless, such negative publicity could harm our reputation and impair our ability to generate new business if companies or government agencies decline to do business with us as a result of a negative public image of Bermuda companies or the possibility of our clients receiving negative media attention from doing business with us.
 
If we are unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with our size and expansion, we might be unable to achieve our business objectives.
 
Since 2001, we have more than doubled the size of our workforce so that, as of August 31, 2008, we had more than 186,000 employees, located in more than 200 cities in 52 countries. Increasingly, our expansion is taking place outside of the United States and Europe, with particular growth in our locations in India and the Philippines. Our size presents significant management and organizational challenges and these issues may become more pronounced as we continue our expansion. It takes time for our newer employees to develop the knowledge, skills and experience that our business model requires. As a result, it could become increasingly difficult to maintain common standards across an expanding enterprise or to effectively institutionalize our know-how. Continued growth may also make it increasingly difficult to maintain our culture, effectively manage our personnel and operations and effectively communicate to our personnel worldwide our core values, strategies and goals. Finally, the size and scope of our operations increases the possibility that an employee will engage in unlawful or fraudulent activity, or otherwise expose us to unacceptable business risks, despite our efforts to maintain internal controls to prevent such instances. If we do not continue to develop and implement the right processes and tools to manage our large and expanding enterprise, our ability to compete successfully and achieve our business objectives could be impaired.
 
We may not be successful at identifying, acquiring or integrating other businesses or technologies.
 
We expect to continue our program of pursuing strategic acquisitions designed to enhance our capabilities. However, there can be no assurance that we will successfully identify suitable acquisition candidates, succeed in completing targeted transactions or achieve desired financial or operating results. Furthermore, we face numerous risks in integrating any businesses we might acquire. We might need to dedicate additional management and other resources to complete the transactions. Our organizational structure could make it difficult for us to efficiently integrate acquired businesses or technologies into our ongoing operations and assimilate employees of those businesses into our culture and operations. Accordingly, we might fail to realize the expected benefits or strategic objectives of any acquisition we undertake. If we are unable to complete the number and kind of acquisitions for which we plan, or if we are inefficient or unsuccessful at integrating any acquired businesses into our operations, we may not be able to achieve our planned rates of growth or further improve our market share, profitability or competitive position in specific markets or services.
 
Consolidation in the industries that we serve could adversely affect our business.
 
Companies in the industries that we serve may seek to achieve economies of scale and other synergies by combining with or acquiring other companies. If two or more of our current clients merge or consolidate and combine their operations, it may decrease the amount of work that we perform for these clients. If one of our current clients merges or consolidates with a company that relies on another provider for its consulting, systems integration and technology, or outsourcing services, we may lose work from that client or lose the opportunity to gain additional work. The increased market power of


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larger companies could also increase pricing and competitive pressures on us. Any of these possible results of industry consolidation could adversely affect our business.
 
Our ability to attract and retain business may depend on our reputation in the marketplace.
 
Our services are marketed to clients and prospective clients based on a number of factors. Since many of our specific client engagements involve unique services and solutions, our corporate reputation is a significant factor in our clients’ evaluation of whether to engage our services. We believe the Accenture brand name and our reputation are important corporate assets that help distinguish our services from those of our competitors and also contribute to our efforts to recruit and retain talented employees. However, our corporate reputation is potentially susceptible to damage by actions or statements made by current or former clients, competitors, vendors, adversaries in legal proceedings, government regulators, as well as members of the investment community and the media. There is a risk that negative information about Accenture, even if based on rumor or misunderstanding, could adversely affect our business. In particular, damage to our reputation could be difficult and time-consuming to repair, could make potential or existing clients reluctant to select us for new engagements, resulting in a loss of business, and could adversely affect our recruitment and retention efforts. Damage to our reputation could also reduce the value and effectiveness of the Accenture brand name and could reduce investor confidence in us, adversely affecting our share price.
 
Risks That Relate to Ownership of Our Class A Common Shares
 
The share price of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares could be adversely affected from time to time by sales, or the anticipation of future sales, of Class A common shares held by our employees and former employees.
 
Our employees and former employees continue to hold significant amounts of equity in Accenture in the form of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, restricted share units and options, and shares in our subsidiaries, most of which are exchangeable or redeemable for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. The majority of these holdings are, or may become, freely tradable in the marketplace, as described below.
 
Our current and former employees hold a large number of shares that will become freely tradable in the periods before and after July 24, 2009
 
At the time of our transition to a corporate structure in 2001, many of our senior executives received a substantial number of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares and/or securities that may be exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares or pursuant to which Accenture Ltd Class A common shares may be delivered to such senior executives. Those shares have generally been subject to transfer restrictions that lapse with the passage of time through July 24, 2009. In 2007, we eliminated a requirement that active employees hold at least 25% of these shares at all times during their employment. In addition, we have also enacted a number of graduated waivers of transfer restrictions to permit our current and former senior executives to transfer or sell into the marketplace a portion of these shares significantly earlier than would have been the case in the past. As a result, there are a substantial number of shares, previously subject to transfer restrictions, that are currently available for sale, and more will become available through July 2009. As a result, there is a risk that sales of these shares could have an adverse effect on our share price. For a complete description of the transfer restrictions and waivers, see “Business—Organizational Structure—Restrictions on Transfer of Certain Accenture Shares.”


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Our Senior Executive Trading Policy might not be effective at limiting the number of shares sold
 
We maintain a Senior Executive Trading Policy that provides, among other things, that covered shares held by actively employed senior executives will be subject to company-imposed quarterly trading guidelines. See “Business—Organizational Structure—Restrictions on Transfer of Certain Accenture Shares—Senior Executive Trading Policy.” These guidelines, which can be adjusted by management, are not legal or contractual restrictions, however, and there is a risk that the internal sanctions available to us might not adequately dissuade individual employees from attempting transfers in excess of the amounts permitted under the policy. Additionally, there is a risk that this policy creates an adverse incentive for some senior executives to retire or to terminate their employment in order to sell unrestricted shares that would otherwise be governed by these quarterly trading guidelines. This could have an adverse effect on our ability to retain talented and experienced senior executives.
 
The sale of shares issued under our 2001 Share Incentive Plan could have an adverse effect on our share price
 
In addition to the covered shares described above, as of October 1, 2008, a total of 54,159,824 Accenture Ltd Class A common shares underlying restricted share units were scheduled to be delivered during the calendar years indicated below:
 
         
Calendar Year
  Number of Shares  
 
2008
    1,718,486  
2009
    16,548,327  
2010
    16,979,277  
2011
    6,458,262  
2012 and after
    12,455,472  
 
Furthermore, as of October 1, 2008, a total of 33,732,489 Accenture Ltd Class A common shares were issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable. Upon delivery of restricted stock, or exercise of employee stock options, under our 2001 Share Incentive Plan, our employees or former employees may choose to sell a significant number of our shares in open market transactions. There is a risk that this could put additional downward pressure on the price of Accenture Ltd Class A common stock.
 
Our share price has fluctuated in the past and could continue to fluctuate, including in response to variability in revenues, operating results and profitability, and as a result our share price could be difficult to predict.
 
Our share price has fluctuated in the past and could continue to fluctuate in the future in response to various factors. These factors include:
 
  •  announcements by us or our competitors about developments in our business or prospects;
 
  •  projections or speculation about our business or that of our competitors by the media or investment analysts;
 
  •  changes in macroeconomic or political factors unrelated to our business;
 
  •  general or industry-specific market conditions or changes in financial markets; and
 
  •  changes in our revenues, operating results and profitability.


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Our revenues, operating results and profitability have varied in the past and are likely to vary significantly from quarter to quarter in the future, making them difficult to predict. Some of the factors that could cause our revenues, operating results and profitability to vary include:
 
  •  seasonality, including number of workdays and holiday and summer vacations;
 
  •  the business decisions of our clients regarding the use of our services;
 
  •  periodic differences between our clients’ estimated and actual levels of business activity associated with ongoing work;
 
  •  the stage of completion of existing projects and/or their termination;
 
  •  our ability to transition employees quickly from completed to new projects;
 
  •  the introduction of new products or services by us or our competitors;
 
  •  changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors;
 
  •  our ability to manage costs, including those for personnel, travel, support services and severance;
 
  •  our ability to maintain an appropriate headcount in each of our workforces;
 
  •  acquisition and integration costs related to possible acquisitions of other businesses;
 
  •  changes in, or the application of changes in, accounting principles or pronouncements under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, particularly those related to revenue recognition;
 
  •  currency exchange rate fluctuations;
 
  •  changes in estimates, accruals or payments of variable compensation to our employees; and
 
  •  global, regional and local economic and political conditions and related risks, including acts of terrorism.
 
As a result of any of these factors, our share price could be difficult to predict and our share price in the past might not be a good indicator of the price of our shares in the future. In addition, if litigation is instituted against us following variability in our share price, we might need to devote substantial time and resources to responding to the litigation, and our share price could be adversely affected.
 
Our share price could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain effective internal controls.
 
The accuracy of our financial reporting is dependent on the effectiveness of our internal controls. We are required to provide a report from management to our shareholders on our internal control over financial reporting that includes an assessment of the effectiveness of these controls. Internal control over financial reporting has inherent limitations, including human error, the possibility that controls could be circumvented or become inadequate because of changed conditions, and fraud. Because of these inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting might not prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud. If we cannot maintain and execute adequate internal control over financial reporting or implement required new or improved controls that provide reasonable assurance of the reliability of the financial reporting and preparation of our financial statements for external use, we could suffer harm to our reputation, fail to meet our public reporting requirements on a timely basis, or be unable to properly report on our business and the results of our operations and the market price of our securities could be materially adversely affected.


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We are registered in Bermuda and a significant portion of our assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it might not be possible for shareholders to enforce civil liability provisions of the federal or state securities laws of the United States.
 
We are organized under the laws of Bermuda, and a significant portion of our assets are located outside the United States. A shareholder who obtains a court judgment based on the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws may be unable to enforce the judgment against us in Bermuda or in countries other than the United States where we have assets. In addition, there is some doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda and other countries would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers based on the civil liabilities provisions of the federal or state securities laws of the United States or would hear actions against us or those persons based on those laws. We have been advised by our legal advisors in Bermuda that the United States and Bermuda do not currently have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not based solely on U.S. federal or state securities laws, would not automatically be enforceable in Bermuda. Similarly, those judgments might not be enforceable in countries other than the United States where we have assets.
 
Bermuda law differs from the laws in effect in the United States and might afford less protection to shareholders.
 
Our shareholders could have more difficulty protecting their interests than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction of the United States. As a Bermuda company, we are governed by the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. The Companies Act differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to U.S. corporations and shareholders, including the provisions relating to interested directors, mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, shareholder lawsuits and indemnification of directors.
 
Under Bermuda law, the duties of directors and officers of a company are generally owed to the company only. Shareholders of Bermuda companies do not generally have rights to take action against directors or officers of the company, and may only do so in limited circumstances. Officers of a Bermuda company must, in exercising their powers and performing their duties, act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company and must exercise the care and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position in which their duties to the company and their personal interests might conflict and also are under a duty to disclose any personal interest in any contract or arrangement with the company or any of its subsidiaries. If a director or officer of a Bermuda company is found to have breached his duties to that company, he could be held personally liable to the company in respect of that breach of duty. A director may be liable jointly and severally with other directors if it is shown that the director knowingly engaged in fraud or dishonesty. In cases not involving fraud or dishonesty, the liability of the director will be determined by the Bermuda courts on the basis of their estimation of the percentage of responsibility of the director for the matter in question, in light of the nature of the conduct of the director and the extent of the causal relationship between his conduct and the loss suffered.


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We might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all. If we raise equity capital, it may dilute our shareholders’ ownership interest in us.
 
We might choose to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financings in order to:
 
  •  take advantage of opportunities, including more rapid expansion;
 
  •  acquire other businesses or technologies;
 
  •  repurchase shares from our shareholders;
 
  •  develop new services and solutions; or
 
  •  respond to competitive pressures.
 
Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity could dilute shareholders’ ownership percentage in us. Furthermore, any additional financing we need might not be available on terms favorable to us, or at all.
 
ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.
 
ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES
 
We have major offices in the world’s leading business centers, including New York, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Chicago, Milan, Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Rome, Bangalore, San Francisco, Sydney, Manila and Boston, among others. In total, we have offices and operations in more than 200 cities in 52 countries around the world. We do not own any material real property. Substantially all of our office space is leased under long-term leases with varying expiration dates. We believe that our facilities are adequate to meet our needs in the near future.
 
ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are involved in a number of judicial and arbitration proceedings concerning matters arising in the ordinary course of our business. We and/or our personnel also from time to time are involved in investigations by various regulatory or legal authorities concerning matters arising in the course of our business around the world. We do not expect that any of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
As previously reported, in September 2007, the State of Connecticut filed an action in State Superior Court in Hartford against Accenture arising out of an alleged data security breach. The action arose in connection with work we undertook for the State of Connecticut’s Office of the Comptroller (the “Core-CT Project”), during which Accenture properly came into the possession of confidential information, including personally identifiable information, concerning Connecticut citizens. The complaint alleges that some of the information was subsequently placed on a server maintained by the State of Ohio by Accenture employees who were transferred from the Core-CT Project to a similar project for the State of Ohio, and that a back-up tape from the Ohio server containing some of the information was stolen in June 2007 from an Ohio state employee. The State of Connecticut claims that Accenture breached its contract with the Connecticut Comptroller’s office and also asserts negligence and the unauthorized taking of information by Accenture. The complaint seeks injunctive relief and damages, including restitution of some unspecified portion of the amount paid to Accenture pursuant to the Core-CT Project contract. During the investigation of this matter, it was discovered that confidential information belonging to several other Accenture clients appeared on the Ohio server, and


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Accenture has notified the affected clients. Although these events represent a breach of Accenture’s internal policies on data security, we have no evidence that any individual has been harmed as a result. Accenture is committed to maintaining the security of its clients’ data and has conducted an internal investigation to ensure the integrity of all confidential data, including personally identifiable information, in its possession. Accenture is continuing to take proactive remedial measures to reinforce adherence to its data protection policies. In addition to the Connecticut suit, it is possible that other affected parties could bring similar lawsuits or proceedings. We do not believe these matters will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
As previously reported, on April 12, 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) intervened in a civil “qui tam” action previously filed under seal by two private individuals in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas against Accenture and several of its indirect subsidiaries. The complaint alleges that, in connection with work we undertook for the U.S. federal government, we received payments, resale revenue, or other benefits as a result of alliance agreements we maintain with technology vendors and others in violation of our contracts with the U.S. government and/or applicable law or regulations. Similar suits were brought against other companies in our industry. The total amount of the payments, resale revenue and other benefits alleged in the complaint is $32 million. The suit alleges that these amounts were not disclosed to the government in violation of the Federal False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act, among other statutes. The DOJ complaint seeks various remedies including treble damages, statutory penalties and disgorgement of profits. The suit could lead to other related proceedings by various agencies of the U.S. government, including potential suspension or debarment proceedings. We intend to defend this matter vigorously and do not believe this matter will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
As previously reported in July 2003, we became aware of an incident of possible noncompliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and/or with Accenture’s internal controls in connection with certain of our operations in the Middle East. In 2003, we voluntarily reported the incident to the appropriate authorities in the United States promptly after its discovery. Shortly thereafter, the SEC advised us it would be undertaking an informal investigation of this incident, and the DOJ indicated it would also conduct a review. Since that time, there have been no further developments. We do not believe that this incident will have any material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
We currently maintain the types and amounts of insurance customary in the industries and countries in which we operate, including coverage for professional liability, general liability and management liability. We consider our insurance coverage to be adequate both as to the risks and amounts for the businesses we conduct.
 
ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of Accenture Ltd or Accenture SCA during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
 
Executive Officers of the Registrant
 
Our executive officers and persons chosen to become executive officers as of the date hereof are as follows:
 
Kevin Campbell, 48, became our group chief executive—Outsourcing in September 2006, after serving as our senior managing director—Business Process Outsourcing beginning in February 2005. Previously, he served as the vice president of global sales at Hewitt Associates from September 2004 to February 2005, and as president and chief operating officer of Exult Inc. from May 2000 to


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September 2004, when Exult merged with Hewitt. Mr. Campbell was previously employed by Accenture from 1982 until 1999.
 
Gianfranco Casati, 49, became our group chief executive—Products operating group in September 2006. From April 2002 to September 2006, Mr. Casati was managing director of the Products operating group’s Europe operating unit. He also served as Accenture’s country managing director for Italy and as chairman of our geographic council in its IGEM (Italy, Greece, emerging markets) region, supervising Accenture offices in Italy, Greece and several Eastern European countries. Mr. Casati has been with Accenture for 24 years.
 
Martin I. Cole, 52, became our group chief executive—Communications & High Tech operating group in September 2006, after serving as our group chief executive—Public Service operating group from September 2004 to September 2006. From September 2000 to August 2004, he served in leadership roles in our outsourcing group, including serving as global managing partner of our Outsourcing & Infrastructure Delivery group. Mr. Cole has been with Accenture for 28 years.
 
Anthony G. Coughlan, 51, has been our principal accounting officer since September 2004 and our controller since September 2001. Mr. Coughlan has been with Accenture for 30 years.
 
Pamela J. Craig, 51, has been our chief financial officer since October 2006. From March 2004 to October 2006, she was our senior vice president—Finance. Previously, Ms. Craig was our group director—Business Operations & Services from March 2003 to March 2004, and was our managing partner—Global Business Operations from June 2001 to March 2003. Ms. Craig has served as a director of Avanade Inc. since February 2006, and is a member of its Audit Committee. Ms. Craig has been with Accenture for 26 years.
 
Juan Domenech, 52, became our group chief executive—Public Service operating group in September 2008. Prior to assuming his current role, he served in various leadership roles in our Public Service operating group, including as its chief operating officer from 2004 until September 2008. Mr. Domenech has been with Accenture for 25 years.
 
Karl-Heinz Flöther, 56, has been our group chief executive—Systems Integration & Technology since May 2005. From December 1999 to May 2005 he was our group chief executive—Financial Services operating group. In addition, Mr. Flöther served as one of our directors from June 2001 to February 2004, and is currently a director of Avanade Inc. Mr. Flöther has been with Accenture for 29 years.
 
Mark Foster, 49, became our group chief executive—Management Consulting & Integrated Markets in September 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Foster served as our group chief executive—Products operating group from March 2002 to September 2006. From September 2000 to March 2002, he was managing partner of our Products operating group in Europe. Mr. Foster has been with Accenture for 24 years.
 
Robert N. Frerichs, 56, has been our chief risk officer since September 2004. From November 2003 to September 2004, he was chief operating officer of our Communication & High Tech operating group. From August 2001 to November 2003, he led the market maker team for our Communications & High Tech operating group. Prior to these roles, Mr. Frerichs held numerous leadership positions within our Communications & High Tech operating group. He currently serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of Avanade Inc., and is a member of its Audit Committee. Mr. Frerichs has been with Accenture for 32 years.
 
William D. Green, 55, became chairman of the Board of Directors on August 31, 2006, and has been our chief executive officer since September 2004 and a director since June 2001. From March 2003 to August 2004 he was our chief operating officer—Client Services, and from August 2000 to


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August 2004 he was our country managing director, United States. Mr. Green has been with Accenture for 30 years.
 
Pierre Nanterme, 49, became our group chief executive—Financial Services operating group on September 1, 2007. Prior to assuming this role, Mr. Nanterme held various leadership roles throughout the Company, including serving as our chief leadership officer from May 2006 through September 2007, and our country managing director for France from November 2005 to September 2007. Mr. Nanterme has been with Accenture for 25 years.
 
Stephen J. Rohleder, 51, has been our chief operating officer since September 2004. From March 2003 to September 2004, he was our group chief executive—Public Service operating group. From March 2000 to March 2003, he was managing partner of our Public Service operating group in the United States. Mr. Rohleder has been with Accenture for 27 years.
 
Douglas G. Scrivner, 57, has been our general counsel and secretary since January 1996 and our compliance officer since September 2001. Mr. Scrivner has been with Accenture for 28 years.
 
Alexander M. van’t Noordende, 45, became our group chief executive—Resources operating group in September 2006. Prior to assuming that role, he led our Resources operating group in Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, and has served as managing partner of the Resources operating group in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. From 2001 until September 2006, Mr. van’t Noordende served as our country managing director for the Netherlands. Mr. van’t Noordende has been with Accenture for 21 years.


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PART II
 
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Price Range of Accenture Ltd Class A Common Shares
 
Accenture Ltd Class A common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ACN.” The New York Stock Exchange is the principal United States market for these shares.
 
The following table sets forth, on a per share basis for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
                 
    Price Range  
    High     Low  
 
Fiscal 2007
               
First Quarter
  $ 35.17     $ 28.28  
Second Quarter
  $ 39.25     $ 33.45  
Third Quarter
  $ 41.19     $ 34.28  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 44.03     $ 37.25  
Fiscal 2008
               
First Quarter
  $ 42.32     $ 33.03  
Second Quarter
  $ 38.44     $ 31.91  
Third Quarter
  $ 42.04     $ 32.42  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 42.00     $ 38.02  
Fiscal 2009
               
First Quarter (through October 13, 2008)
  $ 43.04     $ 24.76  
 
The closing sale price of an Accenture Ltd Class A common share as reported by the New York Stock Exchange consolidated tape as of October 13, 2008 was $33.63. As of October 13, 2008, there were 1,265 holders of record of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares.
 
There is no trading market for Accenture Ltd Class X common shares. As of October 13, 2008, there were 1,257 holders of record of Accenture Ltd Class X common shares.
 
Dividend Policy
 
On November 15, 2007 and 2006, Accenture Ltd paid a cash dividend of $0.42 and $0.35 per share, respectively, on its Class A common shares and Accenture SCA paid a cash dividend of $0.42 and $0.35 per share, respectively, on its Class I common shares.
 
On September 24, 2008, Accenture Ltd declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its Class A common shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on October 10, 2008. Accenture Ltd will cause Accenture SCA to declare a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its Class I common shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on October 7, 2008. Both dividends are payable on November 17, 2008.
 
Future dividends on Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, if any, will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements and surplus, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant, as well as our ability to pay dividends in compliance with the Bermuda Companies Act.


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Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
None.
 
Purchases and redemptions of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares and Class X common shares
 
The following table provides information relating to the Company’s purchases of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares and redemptions of Accenture Ltd Class X common shares for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. For year-to-date information on all share purchases, redemptions and exchanges by the Company and further discussion of the Company’s share purchase activity, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Share Purchases and Redemptions.”
 
                                 
                      Approximate Dollar
 
                Total Number of Shares
    Value of Shares that May
 
                Purchased as Part of
    Yet Be Purchased Under
 
    Total Number of
    Average Price
    Publicly Announced
    Publicly Announced
 
Period
  Shares Purchased     Paid per Share(1)     Plans or Programs(2)     Plans or Programs(3)  
                      (in millions)  
 
June 1, 2008—June 30, 2008
                               
Class A common shares
                    $ 3,086  
Class X common shares
                       
July 1, 2008—July 31, 2008
                               
Class A common shares
    656,162     $ 38.79           $ 2,558  
Class X common shares
    14,730,993     $ 0.0000225              
August 1, 2008—August 31, 2008
                               
Class A common shares
                    $ 2,503  
Class X common shares
    3,286,276     $ 0.0000225              
Total
                               
Class A common shares(4)
    656,162     $ 38.79                
Class X common shares(5)
    18,017,269     $ 0.0000225                
 
(1) Average price per share reflects the total cash outlay for the period, divided by the number of shares acquired, including those acquired by redemption or purchase and any acquired by means of employee forfeiture.
 
(2) Since August 2001, the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd has authorized and periodically confirmed a publicly announced open-market share purchase program for acquiring Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we did not purchase any Accenture Ltd Class A common shares under this program. The open-market purchase program does not have an expiration date.
 
(3) As of August 31, 2008, our aggregate available authorization for share repurchases and redemptions was $2,503 million, which management has the discretion to use for either our publicly announced open-market share purchase program or our other share purchase programs. To date, the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd has authorized an aggregate of $11.1 billion for repurchases and redemptions of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, Accenture SCA Class I common shares or Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares. This includes $3.0 billion authorized on October 25, 2007.
 
(4) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, Accenture purchased 656,162 Accenture Ltd Class A common shares in transactions unrelated to publicly announced share plans or programs. These transactions consisted of acquisitions of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares via share withholding for payroll tax obligations due from employees and former employees in connection with the delivery of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares under our various employee equity share plans.
 
(5) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we redeemed 18,017,269 Accenture Ltd Class X common shares pursuant to our bye-laws. Accenture Ltd Class X common shares are redeemable at their par value of $0.0000225 per share.
 
Purchases and redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares
 
The following table provides additional information relating to purchases and redemptions by Accenture of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. The Company’s management believes the following


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table and footnotes provide useful information regarding the share purchase and redemption activity of the Company. Generally, purchases and redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares reduce shares outstanding for purposes of computing earnings per share.
 
                                 
                      Approximate Dollar
 
                      Value of Shares
 
                Total Number of
    that May Yet Be
 
                Shares Purchased as
    Purchased Under
 
                Part of Publicly
    Publicly
 
    Total Number of
    Average Price
    Announced Plans or
    Announced Plans
 
Period
  Shares Purchased(1)     Paid per Share(2)     Programs     or Programs(3)  
 
Accenture SCA
                               
June 1, 2008—June 30, 2008
                               
Class I common shares
                       
July 1, 2008—July 31, 2008
                               
Class I common shares
    13,000,148     $ 40.12              
August 1, 2008—August 31, 2008
                               
Class I common shares
    1,299,982     $ 41.21              
Total
                               
Class I common shares(4)
    14,300,130     $ 40.22              
Accenture Canada Holdings Inc.
                               
June 1, 2008—June 30, 2008
                               
Exchangeable shares
                       
July 1, 2008—July 31, 2008
                               
Exchangeable shares
    162,817     $ 40.16              
August 1, 2008—August 31, 2008
                               
Exchangeable shares
    40,784     $ 40.85              
Total
                               
Exchangeable shares
    203,601     $ 40.30              
 
(1) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we acquired a total of 14,300,130 Accenture SCA Class I common shares and 203,601 Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares from current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees. This includes acquisitions by means of redemption or purchase, or employee share forfeiture, as applicable.
 
(2) Average price per share reflects the total cash outlay for the period, divided by the number of shares acquired, including those acquired by redemption or purchase and any acquired by means of employee forfeiture.
 
(3) As of August 31, 2008, our aggregate available authorization for share repurchases and redemptions was $2,503 million, which management has the discretion to use for either our publicly announced open-market share purchase program or our other share purchase programs. To date, the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd has authorized an aggregate of $11.1 billion for repurchases and redemptions of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, Accenture SCA Class I common shares or Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares. This includes $3.0 billion authorized on October 25, 2007.
 
(4) In addition to the amounts included in this table, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we also redeemed a total of 7,066,139 Accenture SCA Class I common shares from current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees by issuing an equivalent number of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Other Share Redemptions.”
 
Purchases and redemptions of Accenture SCA Class II and Class III common shares
 
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, Accenture SCA did not redeem any Accenture SCA Class II or Class III common shares from Accenture. Transactions involving Accenture SCA Class II and Class III common shares consist exclusively of inter-company transactions undertaken to facilitate other corporate purposes. These inter-company transactions do not reduce shares outstanding for purposes of computing earnings per share reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”


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ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The data as of August 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the years ended August 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes that are included elsewhere in this report. The data as of August 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 and for the years ended August 31, 2005 and 2004 are derived from audited Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes that are not included in this report. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this report.
 
                                         
    Year Ended August 31,  
    2008     2007     2006(1)(2)     2005     2004  
    (in millions)  
 
Income Statement Data:
                                       
Revenues before reimbursements (“Net revenues”)
  $ 23,387     $ 19,696     $ 16,646     $ 15,547     $ 13,673  
Revenues
    25,314       21,453       18,228       17,094       15,113  
Operating income
    3,012       2,493       1,841       2,111       1,759  
Income before minority interest
    2,197       1,723       1,433       1,509       1,223  
Net income
    1,692       1,243       973       940       691  
 
(1) Includes the financial impact of the resolution of the NHS matter recorded during fiscal 2006. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations for the Year Ended August 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2006.”
 
(2) Includes the impact of the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.”
 
                                         
    Year Ended August 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
 
Earnings Per Class A Common Share:
                                       
Basic
  $ 2.77     $ 2.06     $ 1.65     $ 1.60     $ 1.25  
Diluted
    2.65       1.97       1.59       1.56       1.22  
Dividends per Common Share
    0.42       0.35       0.30              
 
                                         
    As of August 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (in millions)  
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,603     $ 3,314     $ 3,067     $ 2,484     $ 2,553  
Total assets
    12,399       10,747       9,497       8,957       8,013  
Long-term debt, net of current portion
    2       3       27       44       32  
Shareholders’ equity
    2,541       2,063       1,894       1,697       1,472  


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ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis also contains forward-looking statements and should also be read in conjunction with the disclosures and information contained in “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
We use the terms “Accenture,” “we,” “our Company,” “our” and “us” in this report to refer to Accenture Ltd and its subsidiaries. All references to years, unless otherwise noted, refer to our fiscal year, which ends on August 31. For example, a reference to “fiscal 2008” means the 12-month period that ended on August 31, 2008. All references to quarters, unless otherwise noted, refer to the quarters of our fiscal year.
 
Overview
 
Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions generally, including macroeconomic conditions. We are monitoring current macroeconomic and credit market conditions and levels of business confidence and their potential effect on our clients and on us. A severe and/or prolonged economic downturn could adversely affect our clients’ financial condition and the levels of business activities in the industries and geographies where we operate. This may reduce demand for our services or depress pricing of those services and have a material adverse effect on our new contract bookings and results of operations. Particularly in light of recent economic uncertainty, we continue to monitor our costs closely in order to respond to changing conditions and to manage any impact to our results of operations.
 
Our results of operations are also affected by levels of business activity and rates of change in the industries we serve, as well as by the pace of technological change and the type and level of technology spending by our clients. The ability to identify and capitalize on these market and technological changes early in their cycles is a key driver of our performance.
 
Revenues are driven by the ability of our executives to secure new contracts and to deliver solutions and services that add value to our clients. Our ability to add value to clients and therefore drive revenues depends in part on our ability to deliver market-leading service offerings and to deploy skilled teams of professionals quickly and on a global basis.
 
Revenues before reimbursements (“Net revenues”) for fiscal 2008 were $23.39 billion, compared with $19.70 billion for fiscal 2007, an increase of 19% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $6.00 billion, compared with $5.11 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase of 17% in U.S. dollars and 10% in local currency.
 
Consulting net revenues for fiscal 2008 were $14.12 billion, compared with $11.86 billion for fiscal 2007, an increase of 19% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, consulting net revenues were $3.61 billion, compared with $3.04 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase of 19% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency.
 
Outsourcing net revenues for fiscal 2008 were $9.27 billion, compared with $7.84 billion for fiscal 2007, an increase of 18% in U.S. dollars and 11% in local currency. Outsourcing net revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $2.39 billion, compared with $2.07 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase of 15% in U.S. dollars and 9% in local currency. Outsourcing contracts typically have longer terms than consulting contracts and generally have lower gross margins than consulting contracts, particularly in the first year. Long-term relationships with many of our


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clients continue to contribute to our success in growing our outsourcing business. Long-term, complex outsourcing contracts, including their consulting components, require ongoing review of their terms and scope of work, in light of our clients’ evolving business needs and our performance expectations. Should the size or number of modifications to these arrangements increase, as our business continues to grow and these contracts evolve, we may experience increased variability in expected cash flows, revenues and profitability.
 
As we are a global company, our revenues are denominated in multiple currencies and may be significantly affected by currency exchange-rate fluctuations. During the majority of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008, the U.S. dollar weakened against many currencies, resulting in favorable currency translation and greater reported U.S. dollar revenues, operating expenses and operating income. However, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, the U.S. dollar began to strengthen against many currencies. In the future, if the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen against other currencies, our revenue growth in U.S. dollars may be lower than our growth in local currency. In the future, if the U.S. dollar weakens against other currencies, our revenue growth in U.S. dollars may be higher than our growth in local currency.
 
The primary categories of operating expenses include cost of services, sales and marketing and general and administrative costs. Cost of services is primarily driven by the cost of client-service personnel, which consists mainly of compensation, sub-contractor and other personnel costs, and non-payroll outsourcing costs. Cost of services as a percentage of revenues is driven by the prices we obtain for our solutions and services, the utilization of our client-service personnel and the level of non-payroll costs associated with the growth of new outsourcing contracts. Utilization represents the percentage of our professionals’ time spent on billable work. Utilization for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was approximately 84%, down slightly from the third quarter of fiscal 2008 and in the range we expect. Utilization for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 was also approximately 84%. Sales and marketing expense is driven primarily by compensation costs for business-development activities, the development of new service offerings and client-targeting, image-development and brand-recognition activities. General and administrative costs primarily include costs for non-client-facing personnel, information systems and office space, which we seek to manage, as a percentage of revenues, at levels consistent with or lower than levels in prior-year periods. Operating expenses also include reorganization costs and benefits, which may vary substantially from year to year.
 
Gross margin (Net revenues less Cost of services before reimbursable expenses as a percentage of net revenues) for the three months and year ended August 31, 2008 were 31.7% and 30.7%, respectively, compared with 31.2% and 30.7%, respectively, for the same periods in fiscal 2007.
 
Our cost-management strategies include anticipating changes in demand for our services and identifying cost-management initiatives. A primary element of these strategies is to aggressively plan and manage our payroll costs to meet the anticipated demand for our services, given that payroll costs are the most significant portion of our operating expenses.
 
Our headcount increased to more than 186,000 as of August 31, 2008, compared with approximately 170,000 as of August 31, 2007. Annualized attrition, excluding involuntary terminations, for the three months and year ended August 31, 2008 was 15% and 16%, respectively, compared with 18% for the three months and year ended August 31, 2007. We monitor our current and projected future demands and recruit new employees as needed to balance our mix of skills and resources to meet that demand, to replace departing employees, and to expand our global sourcing approach, which includes our Global Delivery Network and other capabilities around the world. From time to time, we adjust compensation in certain skill sets and geographies in order to attract and retain appropriate numbers of qualified employees, and we may need to continue to adjust compensation in the future.


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We also use managed attrition as a means to keep our supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand. In addition, compensation increases for fiscal 2008, which for the majority of our personnel were effective September 1, 2007, were higher than in prior fiscal years. As in prior fiscal years, we have adjusted and expect to continue to adjust pricing with the objective of recovering these increases. Our margins and ability to grow our business could be adversely affected if we do not continue to manage headcount and attrition, recover increases in compensation and/or effectively assimilate and utilize large numbers of new employees.
 
Sales and marketing and general and administrative costs as a percentage of net revenues were 17.7% for fiscal 2008, compared with 17.9% for fiscal 2007. The decrease as a percentage of net revenues was primarily due to strong revenue growth and our management of general and administrative costs at a growth rate lower than that of our Net revenues.
 
Operating income was $785 million, or 13.1% as a percentage of net revenues, for the three months ended August 31, 2008 compared with $642 million, or 12.6%, for the three months ended August 31, 2007. Operating income was $3,012 million, or 12.9% as a percentage of net revenues, for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared with $2,493, or 12.7%, for the year ended August 31, 2007.
 
Our Operating income and Earnings per share are also affected by currency exchange-rate fluctuations on revenues and costs, which have been favorable in fiscal 2008 and 2007. Most of our costs are incurred in the same currency as the related revenues. Where practical, we also seek to manage foreign currency exposure for costs not incurred in the same currency as the related revenues, by using currency protection provisions in our customer contracts and our hedging programs. We estimate that the aggregate percentage impact of foreign exchange rates on our operating expenses is similar to that disclosed for revenues. For more information on our hedging programs, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.”
 
From time to time we purchase Accenture shares through our open-market purchase program and also purchase and redeem Accenture shares held by our current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we purchased 60.8 million of our shares for $2,261 million. This included $668 million for purchases of 19.0 million Accenture Ltd Class A common shares and $1,593 million for redemptions and purchases of 41.8 million Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares held by our current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees.
 
Bookings and Backlog
 
New contract bookings for the three months ended August 31, 2008 were $7.67 billion, with consulting bookings of $3.63 billion and outsourcing bookings of $4.04 billion. New contract bookings for the year ended August 31, 2008 were $26.79 billion, with consulting bookings of $14.77 billion and outsourcing bookings of $12.02 billion.
 
We provide information regarding our new contract bookings because we believe doing so provides useful trend information regarding changes in the volume of our new business over time. However, new bookings can vary significantly quarter to quarter depending on the timing of the signing of a small number of large contracts. Information regarding our new bookings is not comparable to, nor should it be substituted for, an analysis of our revenues over time. There are no third-party standards or requirements governing the calculation of bookings. New contract bookings involve estimates and judgments regarding new contracts as well as renewals, extensions and additions to existing contracts. Subsequent cancellations, extensions and other matters may affect the amount of bookings previously


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reported. New contract bookings are recorded using then existing currency exchange rates and are not subsequently adjusted for currency fluctuations.
 
The majority of our contracts are terminable by the client on short notice or without notice. Accordingly, we do not believe it is appropriate to characterize bookings attributable to these contracts as backlog. Normally, if a client terminates a project, the client remains obligated to pay for commitments we have made to third parties in connection with the project, services performed and reimbursable expenses incurred by us through the date of termination.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. We continually evaluate our estimates, judgments and assumptions based on available information and experience. Because the use of estimates is inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain of our accounting policies require higher degrees of judgment than others in their application. These include certain aspects of accounting for revenue recognition, income taxes and defined benefit pension plans.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Our contracts have different terms based on the scope, deliverables and complexity of the engagement, the terms of which frequently require Accenture to make judgments and estimates in recognizing revenues. We have many types of contracts, including time-and-materials contracts, fixed-price contracts and contracts with features of both of these contract types. In addition, some contracts include incentives related to costs incurred, benefits produced or adherence to schedule that may increase the variability in revenues and margins earned on such contracts. We conduct rigorous reviews prior to signing such contracts to evaluate whether these incentives are reasonably achievable.
 
We recognize revenues from technology integration consulting contracts using the percentage-of-completion method pursuant to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 81-1, “Accounting for Performance of Construction Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts” (“SOP 81-1”). Percentage-of-completion accounting involves calculating the percentage of services provided during the reporting period compared with the total estimated services to be provided over the duration of the contract. Estimated revenues for applying the percentage-of-completion method include estimated incentives for which achievement of defined goals is deemed probable. This method is followed where reasonably dependable estimates of revenues and costs can be made. Estimates of total contract revenues and costs are continuously monitored during the term of the contract, and recorded revenues and costs are subject to revision as the contract progresses. Such revisions may result in increases or decreases to revenues and income and are reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements in the periods in which they are first identified. If our estimates indicate that a contract loss will occur, a loss provision is recorded in the period in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably estimable. Contract losses are determined to be the amount by which the estimated direct and indirect costs of the contract exceed the estimated total revenues that will be generated by the contract and are included in Cost of services and classified in Other accrued liabilities. Contract loss provisions recorded as of August, 31, 2008 and 2007 are immaterial.
 
Revenues from contracts for non-technology integration consulting services with fees based on time and materials or cost-plus are recognized as the services are performed and amounts are earned in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 101, “Revenue Recognition in Financial


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Statements” (“SAB 101”), as amended by SAB No. 104, “Revenue Recognition” (“SAB 104”). We consider amounts to be earned once evidence of an arrangement has been obtained, services are delivered, fees are fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. In such contracts, our efforts, measured by time incurred, typically represent the contractual milestones or output measure, which is the contractual earnings pattern. For non-technology integration consulting contracts with fixed fees, we recognize revenues as amounts become billable in accordance with contract terms, provided the billable amounts are not contingent, are consistent with the services delivered, and are earned. Contingent or incentive revenues relating to non-technology integration consulting contracts are recognized when the contingency is satisfied and we conclude the amounts are earned.
 
Outsourcing contracts typically span several years and involve complex delivery, often through multiple workforces in different countries. In a number of these arrangements, we hire client employees and become responsible for certain client obligations. Revenues are recognized on outsourcing contracts as amounts become billable in accordance with contract terms, unless the amounts are billed in advance of performance of services in which case revenues are recognized when the services are performed and amounts are earned in accordance with SAB 101, as amended by SAB 104. Revenues from time-and-materials or cost-plus contracts are recognized as the services are performed. In such contracts, our effort, measured by time incurred, represents the contractual milestones or output measure, which is the contractual earnings pattern. Revenues from unit-priced contracts are recognized as transactions are processed based on objective measures of output. Revenues from fixed-price contracts are recognized on a straight-line basis, unless revenues are earned and obligations are fulfilled in a different pattern. Outsourcing contracts can also include incentive payments for benefits delivered to clients. Revenues relating to such incentive payments are recorded when the contingency is satisfied and we conclude the amounts are earned. We continuously review and reassess our estimates of contract profitability. Circumstances that potentially affect profitability over the life of the contract include decreases in volumes of transactions or other inputs/outputs on which we are paid, failure to deliver agreed benefits, variances from planned internal/external costs to deliver our services, and other factors affecting revenues and costs.
 
Costs related to delivering outsourcing services are expensed as incurred, with the exception of certain transition costs related to the set-up of processes, personnel and systems, which are deferred during the transition period and expensed evenly over the period outsourcing services are provided. The deferred costs are specific internal costs or incremental external costs directly related to transition or set-up activities necessary to enable the outsourced services. Generally, deferred amounts are protected in the event of early termination of the contract and are monitored regularly for impairment. Impairment losses are recorded when projected undiscounted operating cash flows of the related contract are not sufficient to recover the carrying amount of contract assets. Amounts billable to the client for transition or set-up activities are deferred and recognized as revenue evenly over the period outsourcing services are provided.
 
Revenues for contracts with multiple elements are allocated pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 00-21, “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,” based on the lesser of the element’s relative fair value or the amount that is not contingent on future delivery of another element. If the amount of non-contingent revenues allocated to a delivered element is less than the costs to deliver such services, then such costs are deferred and recognized in future periods when the revenues become non-contingent. Fair value is determined based on the prices charged when each element is sold separately. Revenues are recognized in accordance with our accounting policies for the separate elements when the services have value on a stand-alone basis, fair value of the separate elements exists and, in arrangements that include a general right of refund relative to the delivered element, performance of the undelivered element is considered probable and substantially in our control. While determining fair value


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and identifying separate elements require judgment, generally fair value and the separate elements are readily identifiable as we also sell those elements unaccompanied by other elements.
 
Revenues recognized in excess of billings are recorded as Unbilled services. Billings in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as Deferred revenues until revenue recognition criteria are met. Client prepayments (even if nonrefundable) are deferred and recognized over future periods as services are delivered or performed.
 
Our consulting revenues are affected by the number of work days in the fiscal quarter, which in turn is affected by the level of vacation days and holidays. Consequently, since we typically have approximately 5 to 10 percent more work days in our first and third quarters than in our second and fourth quarters, our consulting revenues are typically higher in our first and third quarters than in our second and fourth quarters.
 
Net revenues include the margin earned on computer hardware and software resale contracts, as well as revenues from alliance agreements, neither of which is material to us. Reimbursements include billings for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses and third-party costs, such as the cost of hardware and software resales. In addition, Reimbursements may include allocations from gross billings to record an amount equivalent to reimbursable costs, where billings do not specifically identify reimbursable expenses. We report revenues net of any revenue-based taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transactions.
 
Income Taxes
 
Determining the consolidated provision for income tax expense, income tax liabilities and deferred tax assets and liabilities involves judgment. As a global company, we calculate and provide for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. This involves estimating current tax exposures in each jurisdiction as well as making judgments regarding the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Tax exposures can involve complex issues and may require an extended period to resolve. Changes in the geographic mix or estimated level of annual income before taxes can affect the overall effective tax rate.
 
We apply an estimated annual effective tax rate to our quarterly operating results to determine the provision for income tax expense. In accordance with FIN 48, a change in judgment that impacts the measurement of a tax position taken in a prior year is recognized as a discrete item in the interim period in which the change occurs. In the event there is a significant unusual or infrequent item recognized in our quarterly operating results, the tax attributable to that item is recorded in the interim period in which it occurs.
 
No taxes have been provided on undistributed foreign earnings that are planned to be indefinitely reinvested. If future events, including material changes in estimates of cash, working capital and long-term investment requirements, necessitate that these earnings be distributed, an additional provision for withholding taxes may apply, which could materially affect our future effective tax rate.
 
As a matter of course, we are regularly audited by various taxing authorities, and sometimes these audits result in proposed assessments where the ultimate resolution may result in us owing additional taxes. We establish tax liabilities or reduce tax assets for uncertain tax benefits when, despite our belief that our tax return positions are appropriate and supportable under local tax law, we believe we may not succeed in realizing the tax benefit of certain positions if challenged. We evaluate these uncertain tax benefits each quarter and adjust the related tax liabilities or assets in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit or the expiration of a statute of limitations. We believe the estimates and assumptions used to support our evaluation of uncertain tax benefits are reasonable. However, final determinations of prior-year tax liabilities, either by settlement with tax


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authorities or expiration of statutes of limitations, could be materially different from estimates reflected in assets and liabilities and historical income tax provisions. The outcome of these final determinations could have a material effect on our income tax provision, net income, or cash flows in the period in which that determination is made. We believe our tax positions comply with applicable tax law and that we have adequately accounted for uncertain tax benefits.
 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
 
In the United States and certain other countries, we maintain and administer defined benefit pension plans. The annual cost of these plans can be significantly affected by changes in assumptions and differences between expected and actual experience.
 
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 106, and 132(R)” (“SFAS No. 158”). SFAS No. 158 requires companies to prospectively recognize the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans on the balance sheet. Under SFAS No. 158, gains and losses, prior service costs and credits and any remaining transition amounts under SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” (“SFAS No. 87”) that have not yet been recognized through pension expense will be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, until they are amortized as a component of net periodic pension/postretirement benefits expense. Additionally, SFAS No. 158 requires companies to measure plan assets and obligations at their year-end balance sheet date. We adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions as of August 31, 2007 and will adopt the year-end measurement date provision as of August 31, 2009.
 
The adoption of SFAS No. 158 affected the August 31, 2007 Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows: increase in assets of $2 million, decrease in liabilities of $24 million, and increase in shareholders’ equity of $26 million. For additional information, refer to Note 11 (Retirement and Profit Sharing Plans) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
We utilize actuarial methods required by SFAS No. 87 to account for our defined benefit pension plans. The actuarial methods require numerous assumptions to calculate the net periodic pension benefit expense and the related projected benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans. Two of the most significant assumptions are the discount rates and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In making these assumptions, we are required to consider current market conditions, including changes in interest rates. Changes in the related net periodic pension costs may occur in the future due to changes in these and other assumptions. Our assumptions reflect our historical experience and management’s best judgment regarding future expectations. The assumptions, assets and liabilities used to measure our annual pension expense are determined as of June 30 or August 31 for our U.S. and non-U.S. benefit plans.
 
Key weighted-average assumptions used to determine annual pension expense are as follows:
 
                                                 
    Pension Benefits  
    2009     2008     2007  
          Non-U.S.
          Non-U.S.
          Non-U.S.
 
    U.S. Plans     Plans     U.S. Plans     Plans     U.S. Plans     Plans  
 
Discount rate
    6.75 %     5.45 %     6.25 %     5.08 %     6.50 %     4.68 %
Expected return on plan assets
    7.50 %     5.86 %     7.50 %     5.97 %     7.50 %     5.67 %
Rate of increase in future compensation
    4.59 %     3.59 %     4.50 %     3.84 %     4.50 %     3.45 %


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Discount Rate
 
The discount rate is required to be used in each pension plan actuarial valuation. Our methodology for selecting the discount rate for our U.S. Plans is to match the plans’ cash flows to that of a yield curve that provides the equivalent yields on zero-coupon corporate bonds for each maturity. Our discount rate assumption for our non-U.S. Plans primarily reflects the market rate for high-quality, fixed-income debt instruments. The discount rate assumptions are based on the expected duration of the benefit payments for each of our pension plans as of the annual measurement date and is subject to change each year. Our estimated U.S. pension expense for fiscal 2009 reflects a 50 basis point increase in our discount rate, while our non-U.S. estimated pension expense for fiscal 2009 reflects a 33 basis point increase in our discount rate. These changes in discount rate will decrease estimated pension expense in fiscal 2009 by approximately $15.0 million.
 
A 25 basis point increase in the discount rate would decrease our annual pension expense by $5.1 million. A 25 basis point decrease in the discount rate would increase our annual pension expense by $6.6 million.
 
Expected Return on Plan Assets
 
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets should, over time, approximate the actual long-term returns on pension plan assets and is based on historical returns and the future expectations for returns for each asset class, as well as the target asset allocation of the asset portfolio. A 7.50% expected return on plan assets assumption was used for both fiscal 2009 and 2008 for our U.S. plans, while the expected return on plan assets assumptions for our non-U.S. plans were 5.86% and 5.97% in fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
A 25 basis point change in our return on plan assets would change our annual pension expense by $3.6 million.
 
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles include mechanisms that serve to limit the volatility in our earnings which otherwise would result from recording changes in the value of plan assets and benefit obligations in our Consolidated Financial Statements in the periods in which those changes occur. For example, while the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets should, over time, approximate the actual long-term returns, differences between the expected and actual returns could occur in any given year. These differences contribute to the deferred actuarial gains or losses, which are then amortized over time. Negative market returns occurred for fiscal 2008, as compared to fiscal 2007, causing actual pension plan asset returns to be lower than our expected returns.
 
Revenues by Segment/Operating Group
 
Our five reportable operating segments are our operating groups, which are Communications & High Tech, Financial Services, Products, Public Service (known as “Government” prior to September 1, 2007) and Resources. Operating groups are managed on the basis of net revenues because our management believes net revenues are a better indicator of operating group performance than revenues. In addition to reporting net revenues by operating group, we also report net revenues by two types of work: consulting and outsourcing, which represent the services sold by our operating groups. Consulting net revenues, which include management and technology consulting and systems integration services, reflect a finite, distinct project or set of projects with a defined outcome and typically a defined set of specific deliverables. Outsourcing net revenues typically reflect ongoing, repeatable services or capabilities provided to transition, run and/or manage operations of client systems or business functions.


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From time to time, our operating groups work together to sell and implement certain contracts. The resulting revenues and costs from these contracts may be apportioned among the participating operating groups. Generally, operating expenses for each operating group have similar characteristics and are subject to the same factors, pressures and challenges. However, the economic environment and its effects on the industries served by our operating groups affect revenues and operating expenses within our operating groups to differing degrees. The mix between consulting and outsourcing is not uniform among our operating groups. Local currency fluctuations also tend to affect our operating groups differently, depending on the geographic concentrations and locations of their businesses.
 
While we provide discussion about our results of operations below, we cannot measure how much of our revenue growth in a particular period is attributable to changes in price or volume. Management does not track standard measures of unit or rate volume. Instead, our measures of volume and price are extremely complex, as each of our services contracts is unique, reflecting a customized mix of specific services that does not fit into standard comparability measurements. Pricing for our services is a function of the nature of each service to be provided, the skills required and outcome sought, as well as estimated cost, risk, contract terms and other factors.


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Results of Operations for the Year Ended August 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2007
 
Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements were as follows:
 
                                                 
                            Percent of Total
 
                      Percent
    Net Revenues
 
    Year Ended
    Percent
    Increase
    for the Year Ended
 
    August 31,     Increase
    Local
    August 31,  
    2008     2007     U.S.$     Currency     2008     2007  
    (in millions)                          
 
OPERATING GROUPS
                                               
Communications & High Tech
  $ 5,450     $ 4,600       18 %     10 %     23 %     23 %
Financial Services
    5,005       4,357       15       6       22       22  
Products
    6,069       4,913       24       17       26       25  
Public Service
    2,871       2,561       12       7       12       13  
Resources
    3,963       3,243       22       14       17       17  
Other
    29       22       n/m       n/m              
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
    23,387       19,696       19 %     11 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
Reimbursements
    1,927       1,757       10                          
                                                 
TOTAL REVENUES
  $ 25,314     $ 21,453       18 %                        
                                                 
GEOGRAPHY
                                               
Americas
  $ 9,726     $ 8,483       15 %     12 %     42 %     43 %
EMEA
    11,546       9,534       21       10       49       48  
Asia Pacific
    2,115       1,679       26       15       9       9  
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
  $ 23,387     $ 19,696       19 %     11 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
TYPE OF WORK
                                               
Consulting
  $ 14,117     $ 11,856       19 %     11 %     60 %     60 %
Outsourcing
    9,270       7,840       18       11       40       40  
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
  $ 23,387     $ 19,696       19 %     11 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
 
n/m = not meaningful
 
We conduct business in the following countries that individually comprised more than 10% of consolidated net revenues within the three years ended August 31, 2008:
 
                         
    August 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
United States
    34 %     36 %     39 %
United Kingdom
    12       14       13  


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Results of Operations for the Year Ended August 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2007
 
Revenues
 
The following revenues by operating group commentary discusses local currency revenues changes for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to August 31, 2007:
 
  •  Communications & High Tech’s net revenues increased 10% in local currency, driven by solid consulting and outsourcing growth. The consulting increase was driven by growth in the EMEA region across all industry groups. The outsourcing increase was led by growth in our Communications industry group across all geographic regions and in our Electronics & High Tech industry group in the Asia Pacific region.
 
  •  Financial Services net revenues increased 6% in local currency, primarily due to outsourcing growth in our Banking industry group across all geographic regions and in our Insurance and Capital Markets industry groups in the Americas region. Consulting growth in our Banking and Insurance industry groups in the Americas region and in our Banking industry group in the Asia Pacific region was offset by a consulting revenue decline in the EMEA region, principally in our Banking and Capital Markets industry groups. During the first nine months of fiscal 2008, we recorded modest growth in our Financial Services consulting business. However, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we experienced a slight year over year decline in our consulting business.
 
  •  Products net revenues increased 17% in local currency, driven by strong consulting and outsourcing growth across all geographic regions. The consulting growth was led by our Retail and Health & Life Sciences industry groups in the Americas region and by our Consumer Goods & Services, Retail and Industrial Equipment industry groups in the EMEA region. The outsourcing growth was led by our Health & Life Sciences and Consumer Goods & Services industry groups in the Americas region and by our Consumer Goods & Services, Automotive and Industrial Equipment industry groups in the EMEA region.
 
  •  Public Services net revenues increased 7% in local currency, primarily due to consulting growth across all geographic regions, led by strong growth in the EMEA and Americas regions, partially offset by an outsourcing decline in the Americas region.
 
  •  Resources net revenues increased 14% in local currency, primarily driven by strong consulting growth across all geographic regions, led by our Utilities and Natural Resources industry groups, and by solid outsourcing growth, led by our Utilities and Energy industry groups in the Americas region.
 
In the Americas region, we achieved net revenues of $9,726 million for fiscal 2008, compared with $8,483 million for fiscal 2007, an increase of 15% in U.S. dollars and 12% in local currency. Growth was principally driven by our business in the United States, Brazil and Canada.
 
In the EMEA region, we achieved net revenues of $11,546 million for fiscal 2008, compared with $9,534 million for fiscal 2007, an increase of 21% in U.S. dollars and 10% in local currency. Growth was led by our business in Italy, Spain and France.
 
In the Asia Pacific region, we achieved net revenues of $2,115 million in fiscal 2008, compared with $1,679 million for fiscal 2007, an increase of 26% in U.S. dollars and 15% in local currency. Growth was principally driven by our business in Japan, China and Singapore.


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Operating Expenses
 
Operating expenses were $22,302 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $3,342 million, or 18%, over fiscal 2007, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 88.1% from 88.4% during this period. Operating expenses before reimbursable expenses were $20,375 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $3,172 million, or 18%, over fiscal 2007, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 87.1% from 87.3% during this period.
 
Cost of Services
 
Cost of services was $18,128 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $2,717 million, or 18%, over fiscal 2007, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 71.6% from 71.8% during this period. Cost of services before reimbursable expenses was $16,201 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $2,547 million, or 19%, over fiscal 2007, and remained flat as a percentage of net revenues at 69.3%. Gross margin (net revenues less cost of services before reimbursable expenses as a percentage of net revenues) remained flat at 30.7% during this period.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Sales and marketing expense was $2,271 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $367 million, or 19%, over fiscal 2007, and remained flat as a percentage of net revenues at 9.7% during this period.
 
General and Administrative Costs
 
General and administrative costs were $1,880 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $262 million, or 16%, over fiscal 2007, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 8.0% from 8.2% during this period. The decrease as a percentage of net revenues was primarily due to strong revenue growth and our management of these costs at a growth rate lower than that of our net revenues.
 
Reorganization Costs (Benefits)
 
We recorded net reorganization costs of $23 million and $26 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to interest expense associated with carrying the reorganization liabilities. In fiscal 2001, we accrued reorganization liabilities in connection with our transition to a corporate structure. As of August 31, 2008, the remaining liability for reorganization costs was $309 million, of which $299 million was classified as Other accrued liabilities because expirations of statutes of limitations or other final determinations could occur within 12 months. We anticipate that reorganization liabilities will be substantially diminished by the end of fiscal 2009 because we expect final determinations will have occurred. However, resolution of current tax audits, initiation of additional audits or litigation may delay final settlements. Final settlement will result in a payment on a final settlement and/or recording a reorganization cost or benefit in our Consolidated Income Statement. For additional information, refer to Note 3 (Reorganization Costs (Benefits)) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”


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Operating Income
 
Operating income was $3,012 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $519 million, or 21%, from fiscal 2007. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues was 12.9% and 12.7% in fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. Operating income for each of the operating groups was as follows:
 
                                         
    Year Ended August 31,        
    2008     2007        
    Operating
    Percent of OG
    Operating
    Percent of OG
    Increase
 
    Income     Net Revenues     Income     Net Revenues     (Decrease)  
    (in millions)  
 
Communications & High Tech
  $ 657       12 %   $ 582       13 %   $ 75  
Financial Services
    661       13       491       11       170  
Products
    864       14       669       14       195  
Public Service
    260       9       272       11       (12 )
Resources
    570       14       479       15       91  
                                         
Total
  $ 3,012       12.9 %   $ 2,493       12.7 %   $ 519  
                                         
 
Operating income commentary for each of the operating groups is as follows:
 
  •  Communications & High Tech operating income increased principally due to revenue growth, partially offset by delivery inefficiencies on a small number of consulting contracts.
 
  •  Financial Services operating income increased primarily due to outsourcing revenue growth and improved outsourcing contract margins, partially offset by a decline in contract margins due to a lower proportion of high-margin consulting contracts. In addition, operating income for the twelve months ended August 31, 2007 reflects the impact of delivery inefficiencies on several contracts.
 
  •  Products operating income increased due to revenue growth, partially offset by lower outsourcing contract profitability.
 
  •  Public Service operating income decreased slightly in fiscal 2008. Consulting revenue growth and improved outsourcing contract margins were more than offset by profitability challenges, including delivery inefficiencies on a few contracts, revenue adjustments on certain contracts and higher selling costs associated with business-development opportunities which fueled strong fourth quarter fiscal 2008 bookings. The fiscal 2007 operating income also reflects asset impairments associated with an outsourcing contract recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
 
  •  Resources operating income increased primarily due to strong revenue growth.
 
Gain on Investments, net
 
Gain on investments, net was $6 million in fiscal 2008, a decrease of $12 million from fiscal 2007. The fiscal 2007 gain was primarily from a gain on the sale of a remaining investment from our portfolio of investments that was written down in fiscal 2002.
 
Interest Income
 
Interest income was $115 million in fiscal 2008, a decrease of $40 million, or 26%, from fiscal 2007. The decrease was primarily due to lower interest rates.


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Other Expense, net
 
Other expense, net was $2 million in fiscal 2008, a decrease of $20 million from fiscal 2007. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in net foreign currency exchange losses.
 
Provision for Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rates for fiscal 2008 and 2007 were 29.3% and 34.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate decreased in 2008 primarily as a result of benefits related to: final determinations of prior year tax liabilities, which reduced the rate by 3.9%; non-US research and development tax credits, which reduced the rate by 1.3%; and changes in the geographic distribution of income. These benefits were offset by expenses related to tax rate changes enacted during the year ended August 31, 2008, which reduced the value of our deferred tax assets. Fiscal 2007 included a reduction in the effective tax rate of 0.8%, recorded as a result of a nonrecurring benefit related to a reduction in the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets.
 
Minority Interest
 
Minority interest eliminates the income earned or expense incurred attributable to the equity interest that some of our current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees have in our Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. subsidiaries. See “Business—Organizational Structure.” The resulting Net income of Accenture Ltd represents the income attributable to the shareholders of Accenture Ltd. Since January 2002, minority interest has also included immaterial amounts primarily attributable to minority shareholders in our Avanade Inc. subsidiary.
 
Minority interest was $505 million in fiscal 2008, an increase of $26 million, or 5%, over fiscal 2007. The increase was primarily due to an increase in Income before minority interest of $474 million, partially offset by a reduction in the Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares average minority ownership interests to 22% for the year ended August 31, 2008 from 27% for the year ended August 31, 2007.
 
Earnings Per Share
 
Diluted earnings per share were $2.65 in fiscal 2008, compared with $1.97 in fiscal 2007. The $0.68 increase in our earnings per share was primarily the result of the following: $0.25 from strong growth in revenues and operating income in local currency; $0.19 from a lower effective tax rate and $0.12 from lower weighted average shares outstanding, partially offset by $0.02 from lower non-operating income. In addition, favorable foreign currency exchange rates accounted for $0.14 of the increase. For information regarding our earnings per share calculation, see Note 2 (Earnings Per Share) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”


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Results of Operations for the Year Ended August 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended August 31, 2006
 
Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements were as follows:
 
                                                 
                            Percent of Total
 
                      Percent
    Net Revenues
 
    Year Ended
    Percent
    Increase
    for the Year Ended
 
    August 31,     Increase
    Local
    August 31,  
    2007     2006     U.S.$     Currency     2007     2006  
    (in millions)                          
 
OPERATING GROUPS
                                               
Communications & High Tech
  $ 4,600     $ 4,177       10 %     5 %     23 %     25 %
Financial Services
    4,357       3,558       22       16       22       22  
Products(1)
    4,913       4,011       23       18       25       24  
Public Service(1)(2)
    2,561       2,221       15       12       13       13  
Resources
    3,243       2,666       22       17       17       16  
Other
    22       13       n/m       n/m              
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
    19,696       16,646       18 %     13 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
Reimbursements
    1,757       1,582       11                          
                                                 
TOTAL REVENUES
  $ 21,453     $ 18,228       18 %                        
                                                 
GEOGRAPHY
                                               
Americas
  $ 8,483     $ 7,741       10 %     9 %     43 %     46 %
EMEA
    9,534       7,644       25       16       48       46  
Asia Pacific
    1,679       1,261       33       28       9       8  
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
  $ 19,696     $ 16,646       18 %     13 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
TYPE OF WORK
                                               
Consulting
  $ 11,856     $ 9,892       20 %     15 %     60 %     59 %
Outsourcing
    7,840       6,754       16       12       40       41  
                                                 
TOTAL Net Revenues
  $ 19,696     $ 16,646       18 %     13 %     100 %     100 %
                                                 
 
n/m = not meaningful
 
(1) During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, in connection with certain large, long-term contracts (the “NHS Contracts”), we recorded a $450 million aggregate loss provision that was reflected in Cost of services. We later entered into an agreement to transfer to a third party the majority of our rights and obligations under the NHS Contracts. This agreement resulted in a $339 million reduction in net revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, which was offset by a $339 million decrease in Cost of services, including a reversal of the remainder of the loss provision recorded earlier in fiscal 2006. These adjustments were reflected in the operating results of our Products and Public Service operating groups.
 
(2) Known as “Government” prior to September 1, 2007.
 
Revenues
 
Our Communications & High Tech operating group achieved net revenues of $4,600 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, compared with $4,177 million for the year ended August 31, 2006, an increase of 10% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency. The increase was driven by outsourcing growth across all industry groups and all geographic regions and consulting growth in the Asia Pacific


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and EMEA regions. This was partially offset by a consulting decline in our Communications industry group in the Americas region.
 
Our Financial Services operating group achieved net revenues of $4,357 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, compared with $3,558 million for the year ended August 31, 2006, an increase of 22% in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency, with both consulting and outsourcing contributing to the growth. The increase was primarily driven by growth in the EMEA region across all industry groups, particularly Banking; and in the Americas region, particularly in our Capital Markets and Insurance industry groups.
 
Our Products operating group achieved net revenues of $4,913 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, compared with $4,011 million for the year ended August 31, 2006, an increase of 23% in U.S. dollars and 18% in local currency, with both consulting and outsourcing contributing to the growth. The increase was driven by strong growth in our Consumer Goods & Services and Health & Life Sciences industry groups in the EMEA region and in our Retail and Health & Life Sciences industry groups in the Americas region. These increases more than offset an expected revenue decline in our Retail industry group in the EMEA region during the year ended August 31, 2007 related to a contract termination in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Revenue growth was also affected by a fiscal 2006 $169 million reduction in consulting revenues in our Health & Life Sciences industry group in the EMEA region associated with the resolution of the NHS matter recorded during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above.
 
Our Public Service operating group achieved net revenues of $2,561 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, compared with $2,221 million for the year ended August 31, 2006, an increase of 15% in U.S. dollars and 12% in local currency. The increase was driven by consulting growth in the EMEA and Americas regions. Revenue growth was also affected by a fiscal 2006 $169 million reduction in consulting revenues associated with the resolution of the NHS matter recorded during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above.
 
Our Resources operating group achieved net revenues of $3,243 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, compared with $2,666 million for the year ended August 31, 2006, an increase of 22% in U.S. dollars and 17% in local currency, primarily driven by strong consulting growth across all geographic regions and strong outsourcing growth in the EMEA region. We experienced strong growth across all four industry groups: Energy, Utilities, Chemicals and Natural Resources.
 
In the Americas region, we achieved net revenues of $8,483 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $7,741 million for fiscal 2006, an increase of 10% in U.S. dollars and 9% in local currency. Growth was principally driven by our business in the United States, Brazil and Canada.
 
In the EMEA region, we achieved net revenues of $9,534 million for fiscal 2007, compared with $7,644 million for fiscal 2006, an increase of 25% in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency. Growth was principally driven by our business in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and France.
 
In the Asia Pacific region, we achieved net revenues of $1,679 million in fiscal 2007, compared with $1,261 million for fiscal 2006, an increase of 33% in U.S. dollars and 28% in local currency. Growth was principally driven by our business in Australia, Japan and Singapore.


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Operating Expenses
 
Operating expenses were $18,960 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $2,573 million, or 16%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 88.4% from 89.9% during this period. Operating expenses before reimbursable expenses were $17,203 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $2,398 million, or 16%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 87.3% from 88.9% during this period. Excluding the effects of reorganization benefits recorded in fiscal 2006, operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended August 31, 2007 decreased 2.0 percentage points compared with the year ended August 31, 2006.
 
Cost of Services
 
Cost of services was $15,411 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $2,177 million, or 16%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of revenues to 71.8% from 72.6% during this period. Cost of services before reimbursable expenses were $13,654 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $2,002 million, or 17%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 69.3% from 70.0% during this period. Gross margin (net revenues less cost of services before reimbursable expenses as a percentage of net revenues) increased to 30.7% from 30.0% over this period. The decrease in Cost of services as a percentage of net revenues was principally due to the net impact during fiscal 2006 of the NHS Transfer Agreement and the second-quarter fiscal 2006 NHS adjustments, partially offset by higher annual bonus accruals during fiscal 2007. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Sales and marketing expense was $1,904 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $196 million, or 12%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 9.7% from 10.2% during this period. This decrease as a percentage of net revenues was primarily due to lower business and market development costs as a result of higher utilization of our client service personnel on contracts.
 
General and Administrative Costs
 
General and administrative costs were $1,618 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $125 million, or 8%, over fiscal 2006, and decreased as a percentage of net revenues to 8.2% from 9.0% during this period. This decrease as a percentage of net revenues was primarily due to lower costs resulting from our continued efforts to leverage cost efficient locations.
 
Reorganization Costs (Benefits)
 
We recorded net reorganization costs of $26 million for the year ended August 31, 2007 related to interest expense associated with our reorganization liabilities. During fiscal 2006, we recorded net reorganization benefits of $48 million, which included a $72 million reduction in reorganization liabilities offset by $24 million of interest expense associated with carrying these liabilities. In fiscal 2006, the reduction in liabilities was primarily due to final determinations of certain reorganization liabilities established in connection with our transition to a corporate structure in 2001. For additional information, refer to Note 3 (Reorganization Costs (Benefits)) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
Operating Income
 
Operating income was $2,493 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $652 million, or 35%, from fiscal 2006. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues was 12.7% and 11.1% in fiscal 2007


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and 2006, respectively. Excluding the effects of reorganization benefits during fiscal 2006, Operating income as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended August 31, 2007 increased by 2.1 percentage points, compared with the year ended August 31, 2006. Operating income for each of the operating groups was as follows:
 
Operating income for each of the operating groups was as follows:
 
                                         
    Year Ended August 31,  
                      Effect of
    Net
 
                Increase
    Reorganization
    Increase
 
    2007     2006     (Decrease)     Benefits(1)     (Decrease)  
    (in millions)  
 
Communications & High Tech
  $ 582     $ 631     $ (49 )   $ 17     $ (32 )
Financial Services
    491       388       103       15       118  
Products
    669       400       269       18       287  
Public Service
    272       83       189       11       200  
Resources
    479       339       140       11       151  
                                         
Total
  $ 2,493     $ 1,841     $ 652     $ 72     $ 724  
                                         
 
(1) Represents the effect of reorganization benefits recorded during the year ended August 31, 2006.
 
The following Operating income commentary by operating group excludes the effect of reorganization benefits recorded in fiscal 2006:
 
  •  Communications & High Tech operating income decreased due to higher compensation costs and a decline in contract margins due to a lower proportion of high-margin consulting contracts.
 
  •  Financial Services operating income increased due to revenue growth, higher utilization and lower sales and marketing costs as a percentage of net revenues, partially offset by higher compensation costs and delivery inefficiencies on certain contracts.
 
  •  Products operating income increased due to strong revenue growth and lower sales and marketing costs as a percentage of revenue before reimbursements, partially offset by higher compensation costs. Operating income also increased due to the impact of a $225 million loss provision associated with the NHS Contracts recorded during the second quarter of fiscal 2006, partially offset by revenue recognized in connection with a contract termination in our Retail industry group in the EMEA region recorded during the third quarter of fiscal 2006. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above.
 
  •  Public Service operating income increased due to the impact of a $225 million loss provision associated with the NHS Contracts recorded during the second quarter of fiscal 2006. The fiscal 2007 operating income also reflects consulting revenue growth and improved consulting contract margins, offset by higher compensation costs and asset impairments associated with an outsourcing contract recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above.
 
  •  Resources operating income increased due to strong revenue growth and improved contract margins, partially offset by higher compensation costs.
 
Higher compensation costs for the year ended August 31, 2007 resulted from higher annual bonus accruals and market compensation adjustments in certain skill sets and geographies.


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Gain on Investments, net
 
Gain on investments, net was $19 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $17 million over fiscal 2006. The increase resulted primarily from a gain on the sale of a remaining investment from our portfolio of investments that was written down in fiscal 2002.
 
Interest Income
 
Interest income was $155 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $25 million, or 19%, over fiscal 2006. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in interest rates and higher average cash balances.
 
Other Expense
 
Other expense was $22 million in fiscal 2007, a decrease of $6 million from fiscal 2006. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in net foreign currency exchange losses.
 
Provision for Income Taxes
 
The effective tax rates for fiscal 2007 and 2006 were 34.2% and 25.5%, respectively. The effective tax rate increased in 2007 primarily as a result of benefits recorded in fiscal 2006 related to final determinations of prior-year tax liabilities. Final determinations of prior year tax liabilities, including final agreements with tax authorities and expirations of statutes of limitations, reduced the annual effective tax rate in 2007 and 2006 by 1.8 and 10.8 percentage points, respectively.
 
Minority Interest
 
Minority interest was $480 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $20 million, or 4%, from fiscal 2006. The increase was primarily due to an increase in income before minority interest of $290 million, partially offset by a reduction in the Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares average ownership interests to 27% for the year ended August 31, 2007 from 32% for the year ended August 31, 2006.
 
Earnings Per Share
 
Diluted earnings per share were $1.97 in fiscal 2007, compared with $1.59 in fiscal 2006. Our earnings per share for the year ended August 31, 2006 were reduced by $0.26 due to the net impact of the second-quarter fiscal 2006 NHS adjustments. See footnote (1) to the “Net revenues (by operating group, geography and type of work) and reimbursements” table above. This reduction of earnings per share was partially offset by increases of $0.08 resulting from the impact of reorganization benefits and $0.16 resulting from the impact of tax benefits recorded in June 2006. For information regarding our earnings per share calculation, see Note 2 (Earnings Per Share) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from operations, debt capacity available under various credit facilities and available cash reserves. We may also be able to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financings in order to:
 
  •  take advantage of opportunities, including more rapid expansion;
 
  •  acquire complementary businesses or technologies;
 
  •  develop new services and solutions;


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  •  respond to competitive pressures; or
 
  •  facilitate purchases, redemptions and exchanges of Accenture shares.
 
As of August 31, 2008, cash and cash equivalents of $3,603 million combined with $23 million of liquid fixed-income securities that are classified as investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheet totaled $3,626 million, compared with $3,614 million as of August 31, 2007, an increase of $12 million.
 
Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in our Consolidated Cash Flows Statements, are summarized in the following table:
 
                                 
    Year Ended August 31,  
                      2008 to 2007
 
    2008     2007(1)     2006     Change  
    (in millions)  
 
Net cash provided by (used in):
                               
Operating activities
  $ 2,803     $ 2,631     $ 2,668     $ 172  
Investing activities
    (324 )     (350 )     (243 )     26  
Financing activities
    (2,162 )     (2,128 )     (1,944 )     (34 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (29 )     95       102       (124 )
                                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents(1)
  $ 288     $ 247     $ 583     $ 40  
                                 
 
(1) May not total due to rounding.
 
Operating activities:  The $172 million increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher net income, partially offset by an increase in net client balances (receivables from clients, current and non-current unbilled services and deferred revenues) and other changes in operating assets and liabilities.
 
Investing activities:  The $26 million decrease in cash used was primarily due to a decrease in net purchases of available-for-sale securities and lower spending on property and equipment, driven by effective space management within the Global Delivery Network, partially offset by increased spending on business acquisitions. For additional information regarding our business acquisitions, see Note 6 (Business Combinations and Goodwill) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
Financing activities:  The $34 million increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in cash dividends paid. For additional information, see Note 14 (Material Transactions Affecting Shareholders’ Equity) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
We believe that our available cash balances and the cash flows expected to be generated from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our current and planned working capital and investment needs for the next twelve months. We also believe that our longer-term working capital and other general corporate funding requirements will be satisfied through cash flows from operations and, to the extent necessary, from our borrowing facilities and future financial market activities.


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Borrowing Facilities
 
As of August 31, 2008, we had the following borrowing facilities, including the issuance of letters of credit, to support general working capital purposes:
 
                 
          Borrowings
 
    Facility
    Under
 
    Amount     Facilities  
    (in millions)  
 
Syndicated loan facility(1)
  $ 1,200     $  
Separate bilateral, uncommitted, unsecured multicurrency revolving credit facilities(2)
    350       5  
Local guaranteed and non-guaranteed lines of credit(3)
    152        
                 
Total
  $ 1,702     $ 5  
                 
 
(1) This facility, which matures on July 31, 2012, provides unsecured, revolving borrowing capacity for general working capital purposes, including the issuance of letters of credit. Financing is provided under this facility at the prime rate or at the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a spread. This facility requires us to: (1) limit liens placed on our assets to (a) liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (subject to certain qualifications) and (b) other liens securing obligations not to exceed 30% of our consolidated assets; and (2) maintain a debt-to-cash-flow ratio not exceeding 1.75 to 1.00. We continue to be in compliance with these terms. As of August 31, 2008 and 2007, we had no borrowings under the facility. The facility is subject to annual commitment fees.
 
(2) We maintain two separate bilateral, uncommitted, unsecured multicurrency revolving credit facilities. These facilities provide local-currency financing for the majority of our operations. Interest rate terms on the bilateral revolving facilities are at market rates prevailing in the relevant local markets. As of August 31, 2008 and 2007, we had $5 million and $1 million, respectively, of borrowings under these facilities.
 
(3) We also maintain local guaranteed and non-guaranteed lines of credit for those locations that cannot access our global facilities. As of August 31, 2008 and 2007, we had no borrowings under these various facilities.
 
Under the borrowing facilities described above, we had an aggregate of $169 million and $164 million of letters of credit outstanding as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In addition, we had no other short-term borrowings as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
We also had total outstanding debt of $3 million and $25 million as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The outstanding debt as of August 31, 2007 was primarily incurred in conjunction with the purchase of Accenture HR Services.
 
Share Purchases and Redemptions
 
The Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd has authorized funding for our publicly announced open-market share purchase program for acquiring Accenture Ltd Class A common shares and for purchases and redemptions of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares, Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares held by our current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees.


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A summary of our share purchase activity for cash during the year ended August 31, 2008 is as follows:
 
                                                 
                Accenture SCA Class I
       
    Accenture Ltd Class A
    Common Shares and Accenture Canada
       
    Common Shares     Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares     Total  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
    (in millions, except share amounts)  
 
Open-market share purchases(1)
    10,250,028     $ 358           $       10,250,028     $ 358  
Other share purchase programs
    5,898,398       196 (2)     41,757,115 (3)     1,593       47,655,513       1,789  
Other purchases(4)
    2,874,791       114                   2,874,791       114  
                                                 
Total
    19,023,217     $ 668       41,757,115     $ 1,593       60,780,332     $ 2,261  
                                                 
 
(1) We conduct a publicly announced, open-market share purchase program for Accenture Ltd Class A common shares. These shares are held as treasury shares by one or more subsidiaries of Accenture Ltd and may be utilized to provide for select employee benefits, such as equity awards to our employees.
 
(2) On February 1, 2008, Accenture Equity Finance B.V., an indirect subsidiary of Accenture SCA, purchased 5,898,398 Accenture Ltd Class A common shares at a per share price of $33.29, resulting in a cash outlay of approximately $196 million. Shares from this transaction were purchased from certain former senior executives residing outside the United States.
 
(3) Primarily represents purchases and redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares from current and former senior executives and their permitted transferees.
 
(4) During the year ended August 31, 2008, as authorized under our various employee equity share plans, we acquired Accenture Ltd Class A common shares primarily via share withholding for payroll tax obligations due from employees and former employees in connection with the delivery of Accenture Ltd Class A common shares under those plans.
 
On October 25, 2007, the Board of Directors of Accenture Ltd authorized an additional $3.0 billion for share purchases. Management has discretion to use this authorization for purchases under either our publicly announced open-market share purchase program or our other share purchase programs. As of August 31, 2008, our aggregate available authorization was $2.5 billion.
 
Other Share Redemptions
 
During fiscal 2008, we issued 11,130,150 Accenture Ltd Class A common shares upon redemptions of an equivalent number of Accenture SCA Class I common shares pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-3 (the “registration statement”) filed on May 15, 2007. The registration statement allows us, at our option, to issue freely tradable Accenture Ltd Class A common shares in lieu of cash upon redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares held by our senior executives, former executives and their permitted transferees.
 
Senior Executive Ownership Requirements
 
To ensure that senior executives continue to maintain equity ownership levels that Accenture considers meaningful, we require current senior executives to comply with the Accenture Senior Executive Equity Ownership Policy. This policy requires senior executives to own Accenture equity valued at a multiple (ranging from 1/2 to 6) of their base compensation determined by their position level.
 
Senior Executive Trading Policy
 
We have a Senior Executive Trading Policy applicable to our senior executives that provides, among other things, that covered shares held by actively employed senior executives will be subject to company-imposed quarterly trading guidelines. We set allocation limits of unrestricted covered shares based on a composite average weekly volume of trading in Accenture Ltd Class A common shares.


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These guidelines allow us to manage the total number of shares redeemed, sold or otherwise transferred by our senior executives in any calendar quarter. The guidelines, which can be adjusted by management, are not legal or contractual restrictions, however, and there is a risk that the internal sanctions available to us might not adequately dissuade individual employees from attempting transfers in excess of the amounts permitted under the policy. The Senior Executive Trading Policy also prohibits senior executives from trading in any Accenture equity during any company-designated black-out period.
 
Subsequent Development
 
On September 24, 2008, Accenture Ltd declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on our Class A common shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on October 10, 2008. Accenture Ltd will cause Accenture SCA to declare a cash dividend of $0.50 per share on its Class I common shares for shareholders of record at the close of business on October 7, 2008. Both dividends are payable on November 17, 2008.
 
Obligations and Commitments
 
As of August 31, 2008, we had the following obligations and commitments to make future payments under contracts, contractual obligations and commercial commitments:
 
                                         
    Payments due by period  
Contractual Cash Obligations(1)(2)
  Total(3)     Less than 1 year     1-3 years     3-5 years     More than 5 years  
    (in millions)  
 
Long-term debt
  $ 3     $ 2     $ 1     $     $  
Operating leases
    2,260       427       600       358       875  
Retirement obligations(4)
    158       36       44       23       55  
Other commitments(5)
    103       71       27       4        
                                         
Total
  $ 2,524     $ 536     $ 672     $ 385     $ 930  
                                         
 
(1) We adopted FIN 48 on September 1, 2007. The liability related to unrecognized tax benefits has been excluded from the contractual obligations table because a reasonable estimate of the timing and amount of cash out flows from future tax settlements cannot be determined. For additional information, refer to Note 10 (Income Taxes) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
(2) In fiscal 2001, we accrued reorganization liabilities in connection with our transition to a corporate structure. As of August 31, 2008, the remaining liability for reorganization costs was $309 million, of which $299 million was classified as Other accrued liabilities because expirations of statutes of limitations or other final determinations could occur within 12 months. The reorganization liabilities have been excluded from the contractual obligations table because a reasonable estimate of the timing and amount of cash out flows from future tax settlements cannot be determined. We anticipate that reorganization liabilities will be substantially diminished by the end of fiscal 2009 because we expect final determinations will have occurred. However, resolution of current tax audits, initiation of additional audits or litigation may delay final settlements. Final settlement will result in a payment on a final settlement and/or recording a reorganization cost or benefit in our Consolidated Income Statement. For additional information, refer to Note 3 (Reorganization Costs (Benefits)) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
(3) May not total due to rounding.
 
(4) This represents projected payments under certain unfunded retirement plans for former pre-incorporation partners. Because both of these plans are unfunded, we pay these benefits directly. These plans were eliminated for active partners after May 15, 2001.
 
(5) Other commitments include, among other things, information technology, software support and maintenance obligations, as well as other obligations in the ordinary course of business that we cannot cancel or where we would be required to pay a termination fee in the event of cancellation. Amounts shown do not include recourse that we may have to recover termination fees or penalties from clients.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have various agreements by which we may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters. Generally, these indemnification provisions are included in contracts arising in the normal course of business under which we customarily agree to hold the indemnified party


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harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations related to such matters as title to assets sold, licensed or certain intellectual property rights and other matters. Payments by us under such indemnification clauses are generally conditioned on the other party making a claim. Such claims are generally subject to challenge by us and dispute resolution procedures specified in the particular contract. Furthermore, our obligations under these arrangements may be limited in terms of time and/or amount and, in some instances, we may have recourse against third parties for certain payments made by us. It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnification agreements due to the conditional nature of our obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement. Historically, we have not made any payments under these agreements that have been material individually or in the aggregate. As of August 31, 2008, we were not aware of any obligations under such indemnification agreements that would require material payments.
 
From time to time, we enter into contracts with clients whereby we have joint and several liability with other participants and/or third parties providing related services and products to clients. Under these arrangements, we and other parties may assume some responsibility to the client or a third party for the performance of others under the terms and conditions of the contract with or for the benefit of the client or in relation to the performance of certain contractual obligations. To date, we have not been required to make any payments under any of the contracts described in this paragraph. For further discussion of these transactions, see Note 16 (Commitments and Contingencies) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
On September 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of FIN 48, which is a change in accounting for income taxes. FIN 48 specifies how tax benefits for uncertain tax positions are to be recognized, measured and derecognized in financial statements; requires certain disclosures of uncertain tax matters; specifies how reserves for uncertain tax positions should be classified in the balance sheet; and provides transition and interim-period guidance, among other provisions. For additional information, see Note 10 (Income Taxes) to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 1, “Financial Statements.”
 
New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.” This Statement requires enhanced disclosures for derivative instruments and hedging activities about (i) how and why a company uses derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and its related interpretations, and (iii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a Company’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. We will adopt the provisions of SFAS 161 on December 1, 2008. We are currently assessing the potential impact that adoption of SFAS No. 161 may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”), which is a revision of SFAS 141, “Business Combinations.” SFAS 141R establishes principles and requirements for: recognizing and measuring the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; expensing acquisition related costs as incurred; and determining what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. We will adopt the provisions of SFAS 141R for acquisitions that occur on or after September 1, 2009. The


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impact of SFAS 141R on our Consolidated Financial Statements will depend on the size and nature of any acquisitions on or after September 1, 2009.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary (previously referred to as minority interests). Upon adoption of SFAS 160 on September 1, 2009, our minority interest will be reported as a separate component of Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”), which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). On September 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 and it did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. On September 1, 2009, we will adopt the provisions of FSP 157-2, and we are currently assessing the potential impact that adoption of FSP 157-2 may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
All of our market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading.
 
Foreign Currency Risk
 
We are exposed to foreign currency risk in the ordinary course of business. We hedge material cash flow exposures when feasible using forward contracts. These instruments are subject to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and credit risk. Credit risk is managed through careful selection and ongoing evaluation of the financial institutions utilized as counterparties.
 
Certain of these hedge positions are undesignated hedges of balance sheet exposures such as intercompany loans and typically have maturities of less than one year. These hedges—primarily U.S. dollar/Indian rupee, U.S. dollar/euro, U.S. dollar/Swiss franc, U.S. dollar/yen and U.S. dollar/Norwegian krone—are intended to offset remeasurement of the underlying assets and liabilities. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recorded in Other expense, net in the Consolidated Income Statement. Additionally, we have hedge positions that are designated cash flow hedges of certain intercompany charges relating to our Global Delivery Network and typically have maturities not exceeding three years. These hedges—U.S. dollar/Indian rupee, U.S. dollar/Philippine peso and U.K. pound/Indian rupee—are intended to partially offset the impact of currency movements on future costs relating to resources supplied by Accenture’s Global Delivery Network.
 
For designated cash flow hedges, gains (losses) currently recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income will be reclassified into earnings at the time when certain anticipated intercompany charges are accrued as Cost of Services. As of August 31, 2008, it is anticipated that $2.2 million of the net gains, net of tax currently recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income will be reclassified into Cost of Services within the next 12 months.
 
We use sensitivity analysis to determine the effects that market exchange rate fluctuations may have on the fair value of our hedge portfolio. The sensitivity of the hedge portfolio is computed based on the market value of future cash flows as affected by changes in exchange rates. This sensitivity


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analysis represents the hypothetical changes in value of the hedge position and does not reflect the offsetting gain or loss on the underlying exposure. A 10% change in the levels of foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar (or other base currency of the hedge if not a U.S. dollar hedge) with all other variables held constant would have resulted in a change in the fair value of our hedge instruments of approximately $146 million and $9 million as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
The interest rate risk associated with our borrowing and investing activities as of August 31, 2008 is not material in relation to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. While we may do so in the future, we have not used derivative financial instruments to alter the interest rate characteristics of our investment holdings or debt instruments.
 
Equity Price Risk
 
The equity price risk associated with our marketable equity securities that are subject to market price volatility is not material in relation to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
See the index included on page F-1, Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None.
 
ITEM 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
(a)  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report.
 
Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Accenture Ltd have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, Accenture Ltd’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
(b)  Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Accenture’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
 
(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
 
(ii) provide reasonable assurance that the transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,


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and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of management and/or our Board of Directors; and
 
(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of any unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
 
Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on its evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, as part of their audit, has issued its attestation report, included herein, on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. See “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on page F-2.
 
(c)  Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There has been no change in Accenture Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Accenture Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.


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PART III
 
ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
Information about our directors is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Board and Corporate Governance Matters—Director Biographies” in the Proxy Statement for our 2009 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “2009 Proxy Statement”). Information about our executive officers is contained in the discussion entitled “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I of this Form 10-K. Information about compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the 2009 Proxy Statement. Information about our Code of Business Ethics governing our employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and principal accounting officer, is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Board and Corporate Governance Matters—Board Meetings and Committees” in the 2009 Proxy Statement. Information about our Audit Committee, including the members of the Committee, and our Audit Committee financial experts is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Board and Corporate Governance Matters—Audit Committee” in the 2009 Proxy Statement.
 
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors from those described in the Proxy Statement for our Annual General Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on December 28, 2007.
 
ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Information about director and executive compensation is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings “Compensation of Executive Officers and Directors,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Reports of the Committees of the Board—Compensation Committee Report” in the 2009 Proxy Statement.
 
ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
 
Information about security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related shareholder matters is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings “Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” and “Beneficial Ownership of More Than Five Percent of Any Class of Voting Securities” in the 2009 Proxy Statement.


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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
 
The following table sets forth, as of August 31, 2008, certain information related to our compensation plans under which Accenture Ltd Class A common shares may be issued.
 
                         
                Number of Shares
 
    Number of Shares
          Remaining Available
 
    to be Issued Upon
          for Future Issuance
 
    Exercise of
    Weighted-Average
    Under Equity
 
    Outstanding
    Exercise Price of
    Compensation Plans
 
    Options,
    Outstanding
    (Excluding
 
    Warrants and
    Options, Warrants
    Securities Reflected
 
Plan Category
  Rights     and Rights     in 1st Column)  
 
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders:
                       
2001 Share Incentive Plan
    89,666,887 (1)   $ 19.14       140,153,960  
2001 Employee Share Purchase Plan
          N/A       21,672,757  
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders
          N/A        
                         
Total
    89,666,887               161,826,717  
                         
 
(1) Consists of 34,981,064 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $19.14 per share and 54,685,823 restricted share units.
 
ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
Information about certain relationships and transactions with related persons is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Board and Corporate Governance Matters—Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” in the 2009 Proxy Statement. Information about director independence is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Board and Corporate Governance Matters—Director Independence” in the 2009 Proxy Statement.
 
ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
 
Information about the fees for professional services rendered by our independent auditors in 2008 and 2007 and our Audit Committee’s policy on pre-approval of audit and permissible non-audit services of our independent auditors is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Independent Auditors’ Fees” in the 2009 Proxy Statement.
 
PART IV
 
ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a) List of documents filed as part of this report:
 
1.   Financial Statements as of August 31, 2008 and August 31, 2007 and for the three years ended August 31, 2008—Included in Part II of this Form 10-K:
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Consolidated Income Statements
 
Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income Statements
 
Consolidated Cash Flows Statements
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


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2.   Financial Statement Schedules:
 
None
 
3.   Exhibit Index:
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit
 
  3 .1   Memorandum of Continuance of the Registrant, dated February 21, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on July 2, 2001 (the “July 2, 2001 Form S-1/A”)).
  3 .2   Form of Bye-laws of the Registrant, effective as of February 7, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the February 29, 2008 10-Q).
  9 .1   Form of Voting Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2001, among the Registrant and the covered persons party thereto as amended and restated as of February 3, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.1 to the February 28, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .1   Form of Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2001, among the Registrant and certain employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on April 19, 2001 (the “April 19, 2001 Form S-1”)).
  10 .2   2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on July 12, 2001).
  10 .3   2001 Employee Share Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the November 30, 2001 10-Q).
  10 .4   Form of Articles of Association of Accenture SCA, updated as of December 14, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the November 30, 2007 10-Q).
  10 .5   Form of Accenture SCA Transfer Rights Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2001, among Accenture SCA and the covered persons party thereto as amended and restated as of February 3, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the February 28, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .6   Form of Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2001, among Accenture SCA and certain employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the April 19, 2001 Form S-1).
  10 .7   Form of Letter Agreement, dated April 18, 2001, between Accenture SCA and certain shareholders of Accenture SCA (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the April 19, 2001 Form S-1).
  10 .8   Form of Support Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2001, between the Registrant and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the July 2, 2001 Form S-1/A).
  10 .9   Form of Employment Agreement of Messrs. Campbell, Cole, Frerichs, Green, Rohleder and Scrivner and Ms. Craig (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 8, 2001 (the “June 8, 2001 S-1/A”)).
  10 .10   Form of Employment Agreement of Karl-Heinz Flöther (filed herewith).
  10 .11   Form of Employment Agreement of Messrs. Coughlan and Foster (filed herewith).
  10 .12   Form of Employment Agreement of Gianfranco Casati (English translation) (filed herewith).
  10 .13   Form of Employment Agreement of Alexander van ’t Noordende (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the August 31, 2006 10-K).
  10 .14   Form of Employment Agreement of Pierre Nanterme (English translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the August 31, 2007 10-K).
  10 .15   Form of Employment Agreement of Juan Domenech (English translation) (filed herewith).
  10 .16   Form of Articles of Association of Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the July 2, 2001 Form S-1/A).


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Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit
 
  10 .17   Form of Exchange Trust Agreement by and between the Registrant and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. and CIBC Mellon Trust Company, made as of May 23, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the July 2, 2001 Form S-1/A).
  10 .18   Form of Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture Ltd and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.1 to the November 30, 2002 10-Q).
  10 .19   Form of Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture SCA and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9.1 to Accenture SCA’s November 30, 2002 10-Q).
  10 .20   Form of First Amendment, dated as of May 1, 2003, to Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture Ltd and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(d)(13) to Accenture SCA’s and Accenture International SARL’s Schedule TO filed on September 30, 2003).
  10 .21   Form of First Amendment, dated as of May 1, 2003, to Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture SCA and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(d)(14) to Accenture SCA’s and Accenture International SARL’s Schedule TO filed on September 30, 2003).
  10 .22   Form of Second Amendment, dated as of October 1, 2003, to Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture Ltd and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(d)(15) to Accenture SCA’s and Accenture International SARL’s Schedule TO filed on April 29, 2004).
  10 .23   Form of Second Amendment, dated as of October 1, 2003, to Transfer Restriction Agreement dated as of October 1, 2002 among Accenture SCA and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(d)(16) to Accenture SCA’s and Accenture International SARL’s Schedule TO filed on April 29, 2004).
  10 .24   Form of Ltd Transfer Restriction Agreement for the Accenture Family and Charitable Transfer Program dated as of April 1, 2005 among Accenture Ltd and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the May 31, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .25   Form of SCA Transfer Restriction Agreement for the Accenture Family and Charitable Transfer Program dated as of April 1, 2005 among Accenture SCA and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the May 31, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .26   Form of Transfer Agreement (for transfers of “Unrestricted” Shares of Accenture Ltd) for the Accenture Family and Charitable Transfer Program dated as of April 1, 2005 among Accenture Ltd and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the May 31, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .27   Form of Transfer Agreement (for transfers of “Unrestricted” Shares of Accenture SCA) for the Accenture Family and Charitable Transfer Program dated as of April 1, 2005 among Accenture SCA and the transferors and transferees signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the May 31, 2005 10-Q).
  10 .28   Form of Restricted Share Unit Agreement for senior executives pursuant to the Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the November 30, 2004 10-Q).
  10 .29   Form of Nonqualified Share Option Agreement for senior executives pursuant to the Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the November 30, 2004 10-Q).

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Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit
 
  10 .30   Form of Key Executive Performance-Based Award Restricted Share Unit Agreement pursuant to Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the February 28, 2007 10-Q).
  10 .31   Form of Senior Officer Performance Equity Award Restricted Share Unit Agreement pursuant to Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the February 28, 2007 10-Q).
  10 .32   Form of Senior Leadership Equity Award Restricted Share Unit Agreement pursuant to Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the February 28, 2007 10-Q).
  10 .33   Form of Voluntary Equity Investment Program Matching Grant Restricted Share Unit Agreement pursuant to Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the February 28, 2007 10-Q).
  10 .34   Form of Restricted Share Unit Agreement for director grants pursuant to Accenture Ltd 2001 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the February 29, 2008 10-Q).
  10 .35   Description of Annual Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the February 28, 2006 10-Q).
  21 .1   Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).
  23 .1   Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).
  23 .2   Consent of KPMG LLP related to the Accenture Ltd 2001 Employee Share Purchase Plan (filed herewith).
  24 .1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
  31 .1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  31 .2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  32 .1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  32 .2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  99 .1   Accenture Ltd 2001 Employee Share Purchase Plan Financial Statements (filed herewith).

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf on October 20, 2008 by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Accenture Ltd
 
  By: 
/s/  William D. Green
Name: William D. Green
Title: Chief Executive Officer
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints William D. Green, Pamela J. Craig and Douglas G. Scrivner, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with power to act with or without the others and with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents and each of them may deem necessary or desirable to enable the registrant to comply with the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in connection with the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 (the “Annual Report”), including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, power and authority to sign the name of the registrant and the name of the undersigned, individually and in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the registrant, to the Annual Report as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, to any and all amendments thereto, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part thereof or in connection therewith; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys and agents and each of them shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on October 20, 2008 by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.
 
         
Signature
 
Title
 
     
/s/  William D. Green

William D. Green
 
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman of the Board and Director
(principal executive officer)
     
/s/  Dina Dublon

Dina Dublon
 
Director
     
/s/  Dennis F. Hightower

Dennis F. Hightower
 
Director
     
/s/  Nobuyuki Idei

Nobuyuki Idei
 
Director


Table of Contents

         
Signature
 
Title
 
     
/s/  William L. Kimsey

William L. Kimsey
 
Director
     
/s/  Robert I. Lipp

Robert I. Lipp
 
Director
     
/s/  Marjorie Magner

Marjorie Magner
 
Director
     
/s/  Blythe J. McGarvie

Blythe J. McGarvie
 
Director
     
/s/  Sir Mark Moody-Stuart

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart
 
Director
     
/s/  Wulf von Schimmelmann

Wulf von Schimmelmann
 
Director
     
/s/  Pamela J. Craig

Pamela J. Craig
 
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)
     
/s/  Anthony G. Coughlan

Anthony G. Coughlan
 
Principal Accounting Officer and Controller
(principal accounting officer)


 

ACCENTURE LTD
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
         
    Page
 
    F-2  
Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the three years ended August 31, 2008:
       
    F-4  
    F-5  
    F-6  
    F-8  
    F-9  


F-1


Table of Contents

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Accenture Ltd:
 
We have audited the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets of Accenture Ltd and its subsidiaries as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related Consolidated Statements of Income, Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income, and Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended August 31, 2008. We also have audited Accenture Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Accenture Ltd’s management is responsible for these Consolidated Financial Statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (Item 9A(b)). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, the Consolidated Financial Statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Accenture Ltd and its subsidiaries as of August 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-


F-2


Table of Contents

year period ended August 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, Accenture Ltd maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
 
As disclosed in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company, as of September 1, 2007, changed its method of accounting for uncertain tax positions. As disclosed in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company, as of August 31, 2007, changed its method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other post retirement plans. Additionally, as disclosed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company, as of September 1, 2005, changed its method of accounting for share-based awards.
 
/s/ KPMG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
October 20, 2008


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ACCENTURE LTD
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
August 31, 2008 and 2007
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
 
                 
    2008     2007  
 
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,602,760     $ 3,314,396  
Short-term investments
    20,282       231,278  
Receivables from clients, net
    2,996,815       2,409,299  
Unbilled services, net
    1,518,580       1,290,035  
Deferred income taxes, net
    425,859       318,172  
Other current assets
    594,832       407,998  
                 
Total current assets
    9,159,128       7,971,178  
                 
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Unbilled services, net
    43,627       63,995  
Investments
    19,034       81,935  
Property and equipment, net
    800,164       808,069  
Goodwill
    839,957       643,728  
Deferred contract costs
    539,856       407,640  
Deferred income taxes, net
    613,943       389,858  
Other non-current assets
    382,816       380,759  
                 
Total non-current assets
    3,239,397       2,775,984  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 12,398,525     $ 10,747,162  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Current portion of long-term debt and bank borrowings
  $ 6,570     $ 23,795  
Accounts payable
    1,017,227       985,071  
Deferred revenues
    1,810,661       1,701,990  
Accrued payroll and related benefits
    2,809,196       2,274,098  
Accrued consumption taxes
    343,658       220,219  
Income taxes payable
    249,986       942,310  
Deferred income taxes, net
    57,258       39,078  
Other accrued liabilities
    553,322       692,759  
                 
Total current liabilities
    6,847,878       6,879,320  
                 
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Long-term debt
    1,708       2,565  
Deferred revenues relating to contract costs
    555,935       303,159  
Retirement obligation
    483,857       494,416  
Deferred income taxes, net
    32,258       31,758  
Income taxes payable
    1,086,244       32,330  
Other non-current liabilities
    197,970       200,096  
                 
Total non-current liabilities
    2,357,972       1,064,324  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
MINORITY INTEREST
    652,169       740,186  
                 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Preferred shares, 2,000,000,000 shares authorized, zero shares issued and outstanding
           
Class A common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, 20,000,000,000 shares authorized, 659,097,033 and 635,108,578 shares issued as of August 31, 2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively
    15       14  
Class X common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 118,331,269 and 162,629,929 shares issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively
    3       4  
Restricted share units
    819,577       649,475  
Additional paid-in capital
           
Treasury shares, at cost, 46,215,019 and 39,187,569 shares as of August 31, 2008 and August 31, 2007, respectively
    (1,405,732 )     (1,033,025 )
Retained earnings
    3,120,515       2,362,703  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    6,128       84,161  
                 
Total shareholders’ equity
    2,540,506       2,063,332  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 12,398,525     $ 10,747,162  
                 
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Table of Contents

ACCENTURE LTD
 
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
 
For the Years Ended August 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts)
 
                         
    2008     2007     2006  
 
REVENUES:
                       
Revenues before reimbursements (“Net revenues”)
  $ 23,386,802     $ 19,695,814     $ 16,646,391  
Reimbursements
    1,927,024       1,756,933       1,581,975  
                         
Revenues
    25,313,826       21,452,747       18,228,366  
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                       
Cost of services:
                       
Cost of services before reimbursable expenses
    16,201,217       13,654,341       11,652,216  
Reimbursable expenses
    1,927,024       1,756,933       1,581,975  
                         
Cost of services
    18,128,241       15,411,274       13,234,191  
Sales and marketing
    2,270,789       1,903,990       1,708,392  
General and administrative costs
    1,880,342       1,618,498       1,492,690  
Reorganization costs (benefits), net
    22,872       26,366       (47,966 )
                         
Total operating expenses
    22,302,244       18,960,128       16,387,307  
                         
OPERATING INCOME
    3,011,582       2,492,619       1,841,059  
Gain on investments, net
    6,476       18,532       2,018  
Interest income
    114,621       154,566       129,547  
Interest expense
    (22,704 )     (25,036 )     (21,146 )
Other expense, net
    (2,213 )     (21,763 )     (27,811 )
                         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    3,107,762       2,618,918       1,923,667  
Provision for income taxes
    910,574       895,861       490,535  
                         
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST
    2,197,188       1,723,057       1,433,132  
Minority interest in Accenture SCA and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. 
    (485,891 )     (453,917 )     (447,382 )
Minority interest—other
    (19,546 )     (25,992 )     (12,421 )
                         
NET INCOME
  $ 1,691,751     $ 1,243,148     $ 973,329  
                         
Weighted average Class A common shares:
                       
Basic
    610,949,205       604,128,805       589,099,824  
Diluted
    822,371,710       862,431,623       894,664,164  
Earnings per Class A common share:
                       
Basic
  $ 2.77     $ 2.06     $ 1.65  
Diluted
  $ 2.65     $ 1.97     $ 1.59  
Cash dividends per share
  $ 0.42     $ 0.35     $ 0.30  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.


F-5


Table of Contents

 
 
ACCENTURE LTD
 
CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENTS
 
For the Years Ended August 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In thousands of U.S. dollars and in thousands of share amounts)
 
                                                                                                 
                                                                Accumulated
       
          Class A
    Class X
                                  Other
       
          Common
    Common
    Restricted
    Additional
                      Comprehensive
       
    Preferred
    Shares     Shares     Share
    Paid-in
    Treasury Shares     Retained
    Income
       
    Shares     $     No. Shares     $     No. Shares     Units     Capital     $     No. Shares     Earnings     (Loss)     Total  
 
Balance as of August 31, 2005
  $     $ 13       602,706     $ 7       321,088     $ 365,708     $ 1,365,013     $ (763,682 )     (32,266 )   $ 962,339     $ (232,484 )   $ 1,696,914  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Net income
                                                                            973,329               973,329  
Other comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Unrealized losses on marketable securities, net of reclassification adjustments
                                                                                    (1,260 )     (1,260 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                                                                                    52,423       52,423  
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax
                                                                                    154,827       154,827  
                                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income
                                                                                    205,990          
                                                                                                 
Comprehensive income
                                                                                            1,179,319  
Income tax benefit on:
                                                                                               
Share-based compensation plans
                                                    100,508                                       100,508  
Contract termination
                                                                            497               497  
Purchases of Class A common shares
                    (581 )                             (16,192 )     (366,481 )     (15,470 )                     (382,673 )
Share-based compensation expense
                                            152,158       112,952                                       265,110  
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X common shares
                            (1 )     (76,081 )             (1,704,353 )                                     (1,704,354 )
Issuances of Class A common shares related to employee share programs
            1       15,441                       (49,141 )     273,089       260,206       10,745       (47,237 )             436,918  
Dividends
                                            13,564                               (281,537 )             (267,973 )
Minority interest
                                                    569,989                                       569,989  
                                                                                                 
Balance as of August 31, 2006
  $     $ 14       617,566     $ 6       245,007     $ 482,289     $ 701,006     $ (869,957 )     (36,991 )   $ 1,607,391     $ (26,494 )   $ 1,894,255  
Adoption of FASB Statement No. 158, net of tax
                                                                                    26,053       26,053  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Net income
                                                                            1,243,148               1,243,148  
Other comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of reclassification adjustments
                                                                                    2,165       2,165  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                                                                                    84,474       84,474  
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax
                                                                                    (2,037 )     (2,037 )
                                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income
                                                                                    84,602          
                                                                                                 
Comprehensive income
                                                                                            1,327,750  
Income tax benefit on:
                                                                                               
Share-based compensation plans
                                                    27,469                                       27,469  
Contract termination
                                                                            31               31  
Purchases of Class A common shares
                    (759 )                             (21,559 )     (412,918 )     (12,518 )     (6,372 )             (440,849 )
Share-based compensation expense
                                            242,435       62,128                                       304,563  


F-6


Table of Contents

 
                                                                                                 
                                                                Accumulated
       
          Class A
    Class X
                                  Other
       
          Common
    Common
    Restricted
    Additional
                      Comprehensive
       
    Preferred
    Shares     Shares     Share
    Paid-in
    Treasury Shares     Retained
    Income
       
    Shares     $     No. Shares     $     No. Shares     Units     Capital     $     No. Shares     Earnings     (Loss)     Total  
 
Purchases/redemptions of Accenture SCA Class I common shares, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares and Class X common shares
                            (2 )     (82,377 )             (1,706,399 )                     (160,697 )             (1,867,098 )
Issuances of Class A common shares:
                                                                                               
Employee share programs
                    15,116                       (89,846 )     338,763       249,850       10,321       (10,517 )             488,250  
Upon redemption of Accenture SCA Class I common shares
                    3,186                                                                        
Dividends
                                            14,597       2,625                       (310,281 )             (293,059 )
Minority interest
                                                    595,967                                       595,967  
                                                                                                 
Balance as of August 31, 2007
  $     $ 14       635,109     $ 4       162,630     $ 649,475     $     $ (1,033,025 )     (39,188 )   $ 2,362,703     $ 84,161     $ 2,063,332  
Adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48
                                                    (1,756 )                     19,245               17,489  
Comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Net income
                                                                            1,691,751               1,691,751  
Other comprehensive income:
                                                                                               
Unrealized gains on cash flow hedges, net of tax and reclassification adjustments
                                                                                    11,381       11,381  
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of reclassification adjustments