Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) shares are trading slightly lower on Friday.
In a press release late Thursday, the company said it has agreed to acquire OPENSTREAM HOLDINGS and its subsidiaries, Open Stream and Neutral, in Japan. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"With OPENSTREAM HOLDINGS, we can better help our clients reinvent their businesses and become truly data-driven," said Atsushi Egawa, who leads Accenture's business in Japan.
Unit Open Stream, with a team of 600 professionals, provides consulting and systems integration services and advanced technologies, including cloud, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity, for logistics and retail industries. On the other hand, unit Neutral and its 400 professionals specialize in system integration in the automotive and the manufacturing industries.
In Japan, Accenture reinforces its technology and digital engineering prowess through acquisitions like OPENSTREAM HOLDINGS and CLIMB, alongside a joint venture with MUJIN for AI and robotics integration in manufacturing and logistics.
The latest acquisition will add approximately 1,000 cloud and other digital experts to Accenture's cloud and digital engineering and manufacturing teams.
The development will also enhance Accenture's business by bringing a strong client portfolio and automation solutions for the entire product value chain, from procurement and manufacturing processes to logistics and after-sales service.
Yesterday, Accenture also revealed a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Turbine, a predictive simulation company that is building a platform for interpreting human biology. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
Accenture's investment will help Turbine further expand its capabilities to global biopharma companies. These companies can benefit from Turbine's ability to uncover hidden biological insights, which have the potential to guide and accelerate key drug development workstreams.
Price Action: ACN shares are trading lower by 0.05% to $307.85 premarket at last check Friday.
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