Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to acquire Staufen AG, a Germany-based management consulting firm, and its subsidiaries¹. The acquisition will expand Accenture’s capabilities to drive operational excellence and competitiveness in manufacturing and supply chains, particularly for clients in discrete manufacturing industries including automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial goods and medical equipment.

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Accenture to acquire Staufen AG to drive manufacturing and supply chain excellence for clients (Photo: Business Wire)

Manufacturers are under pressure to mitigate supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions and fluctuating tariffs while staying abreast of rapid technological advances. Staufen brings deep operational excellence expertise to clients, helping them optimize their entire value chains, drive value with digital manufacturing initiatives, and improve overall businesses performance.

The company’s service portfolio includes solutions for Industry 4.0, supply chain management and organizational change as well as data-driven tools, continuous improvement techniques and lean management principles. Its comprehensive approach enhances clients’ product design, shopfloor processes, time to market and sustainability efforts, reducing costs, eliminating inefficiencies and optimizing production capacity. Staufen also fosters talent and leadership growth among industry professionals through its academy, ensuring lasting impact for its clients.

For example, Staufen improved an automotive supplier’s shopfloor management, which made the company’s production, logistics and quality control processes more agile and efficient. Its hands-on approach fostered a culture of collaboration among the workforce, leading to better operational performance and financial results.

Matthias Hégelé, Accenture’s supply chain and operations lead for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, said: “Manufacturers must continuously improve their entire value chains to stay competitive. The acquisition of Staufen aligns with our strategy to reinvent supply chains and manufacturing for clients. We will combine Staufen’s proven expertise in operational excellence and value chain transformation with our capabilities in digital technologies, such as AI, generative AI, digital twins and supply chain and manufacturing software platforms, to help clients transform their core value chains, improving efficiency and productivity, supporting sustainable practices, and building resilient, autonomous systems.”

Christina Raab, Accenture’s market unit lead for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, commented: “In today’s volatile landscape, organizations need solutions that address every critical aspect of their operations, from rising production costs to supply chain complexities. The need for operational excellence is greater than ever, particularly in Germany, home to top manufacturers. Adding Staufen will help us unlock the full value of manufacturing and supply chain operations.”

Wilhelm Goschy, CEO at Staufen AG, added: “We optimize our client’s entire value chains, which is essential in today’s fierce competition, disruptive innovations and global challenges. We go beyond technology, working directly in our clients’ offices and factories to drive true change. Joining Accenture will enable us to bring our three decades of hands-on expertise to even more clients to help them navigate complex transitions with customized digital solutions.”

With more than 200 professionals in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil, Staufen serves clients from mid-market companies to blue-chip organizations. The team will join Accenture’s supply chain and operations practice.

Staufen will be the latest in a series of strategic investments Accenture has made to enhance its supply chain and operations capabilities, including Joshua Tree Group and On Process Technology in the U.S., Camelot Management Consultants in Germany, and Flo Group in the Netherlands.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, and the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

¹ This does not include Staufen’s Chinese entities and Staufen.ValueStreamer GmbH.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “aspires,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook,” “goal,” “target” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance nor promises that goals or targets will be met, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and Staufen AG will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and geopolitical conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining client demand for the company’s services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; risks and uncertainties related to the development and use of AI could harm the company’s business, damage its reputation or give rise to legal or regulatory action; if Accenture is unable to match people and their skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key ecosystem partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer due to pricing pressure, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; Accenture’s debt obligations could adversely affect its business and financial condition; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and strategy to continue to grow in key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture’s services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

About Accenture

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