Accenture To Buy 190-Person Energy Technology Business

Accenture has agreed to acquire a 190-person consulting and systems integration firm to strengthen its presence in the energy and utility verticals.

New York-based Accenture said the deal with Houston-based Structure will strengthen the company's grid operations, energy commodity trading and risk management.

"Structure's capabilities in grid operations and power systems engineering, combined with Accenture's global strengths in information technology, will provide our clients with comprehensive end-to-end solutions and services," Omar Abbosh, senior managing director of Accenture Resources operating group, said in a statement.

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Financial terms of the transaction -- which are subject to regulatory review -- were not disclosed. The deal should close by the end of the month, Jack Azagury, Accenture's managing director of North America utilities, said in an email.

Structure will operate within Accenture's Resources operating group, with Structure's client relationships and deep senior talent strengthening Accenture's North American utilities and energy business, Azagury said.

The company was founded in 1998, has won more than a dozen industry awards since 2010 and counts in excess of 100 blue-chip energy and utility companies as its clients. Azagury praised Structure for its deep engineering expertise and its market leadership in grid operations.

The deal will extend Structure's capabilities, allowing it to offer energy technology platforms on a global scale, according to managing partner Lelon Winstead.

"Accenture is a strong strategic fit with our offerings, presence and capabilities," Winstead said in a statement. "We share very similar company cultures focused on delivery excellence, strong client relations and deep industry experience and specialization."

Accenture is No. 3 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, with $30 billion in annual revenue. The global management consulting firm has 319,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries.

The company expects to form a smarter, more digital, grid by fusing Structure's operational technology with Accenture's IT systems, Abbosh said. Grid operations are a core priority of clients looking to manage the digital grid, Azagury said.

Thanks to Structure's expertise, Abbosh said Accenture is slated to deploy automation solutions and advanced distribution management systems, as well as boost its outage management and grid analytics capabilities.

In addition, Abbosh indicated that Structure's market operations and commodities trading services will be combined with Accenture's digital asset management to help clients optimize their commercial positions.

This will allow clients to optimize their assets and commercial portfolios in natural gas, electric power, chemicals and crude oil, Azagury said.

Accenture has been an active player in the M&A market over the past few years, setting aside $800 million in September 2013 for strategic acquisitions.

The solution provider acquired Oracle Platinum partner Enkitec in May 2014 for an undisclosed sum and ASM Research in September 2013, whose strengths lie in electronic medical records and the federal health-care vertical.

In the first half of 2013, Accenture acquired digital marketing and e-commerce company Acquity Group along with Fjord, which offers mobility and online services design consulting.

PUBLISHED JAN. 8, 2015