Accenture to Acquire MXM, a Content-Powered Digital Marketing Agency

Addition of award-winning team will enhance Accenture Interactive’s B2C marketing capabilities in North America

Loading media player...

MXM Sizzle Reel 2018

NEW YORK--()--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire New York-based digital agency, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing (MXM), a content-focused leader in integrated marketing, cross-channel strategy development and creative execution. The acquisition will bolster the capabilities of Accenture Interactive in creative services, data-led marketing execution, content strategy and digital marketing.

MXM has superior data and analytics skills, combined with award-winning content creation and strong customer engagement capabilities in direct-to-consumer marketing, particularly in the automotive, consumer brands and financial services industries. Its client roster boasts some highly recognized brands including, Barilla, Bob Evans Restaurants, Kraft Heinz, Lowe’s, Volkswagen and WebMD. MXM has broad experience bringing together high-performing content, customer data, marketing strategy and creative development to drive business impact for its clients.

Owned by Meredith Corporation – one of the leading media companies in the United States – MXM employs more than 450 people across the U.S. and Canada. Most notably, MXM has a strong team of creative professionals, technologists, and performance marketing professionals delivering digital excellence to clients. The acquisition will expand Accenture Interactive’s studio locations in key U.S. markets including, Dallas, Des Moines, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C.

The award-winning digital marketing agency has been working with leading brands for almost 50 years and possesses a strong combination of insightful strategy, creative and technology prowess. Over the last five years, MXM has won 27 Content Council Awards and a Gold Effie Award for its work with the FDA. Additionally, it was awarded Content Marketing Agency of the Year by the Content Marketing Institute and has been recognized by Forrester and Gartner for its digital and content capabilities.

“This is an exceptional opportunity for Accenture Interactive to add market-leading talent and capabilities,” said Jeannine Falcone, marketing offering lead, North America, Accenture Interactive. “Combined with other acquisitions, MXM adds creative, digital marketing, content strategy and marketing execution heft to our North America business. There is a clear strategic alignment around insight-led digital marketing and content strategy, where we each have had proven success in executing integrated programs for our clients.”

“The acquisition of MXM reflects our commitment to build on our existing capabilities in marketing services by bolstering our data and content offerings,” said Brian Whipple, head of Accenture Interactive. “The blend of MXM with our current capabilities and robust marketing intelligence platforms will set us apart as a leader to design, build and run the best customer experiences on the planet.”

“We are thrilled to be joining the Accenture Interactive family,” said Georgine Anton, president, MXM. “The combination of Accenture Interactive and MXM will be powerful in the market, plus the depth of their offerings will deepen our capabilities, enabling us to better serve both existing and new clients. Accenture Interactive will provide MXM with a home where it can offer clients best-in-class, single sourced, integrated solutions – this is a clear competitive advantage for Accenture Interactive and, now, MXM.”

The acquisition is expected to close within 60 days, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 442,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Interactive helps the world’s leading brands transform their customer experiences across the entire customer journey. Through our connected offerings in design, marketing, content and commerce, we create new ways to win in today’s experience-led economy. Accenture Interactive is ranked the world’s largest digital agency in the latest Ad Age Agency Report. To learn more, follow us @accentureACTIVE and visit www.accentureinteractive.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for the company; the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; the company’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable 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 changing technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if the company is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance 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; the markets in which the company competes are highly competitive, and the company might not be able to compete effectively; the company could have liability or the company’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; the company’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies; changes in the company’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; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; the company’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; the company might not be successful at identifying, acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; as a result of the company’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to the company’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; the company’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others; if the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; the company’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if the company is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that the company makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of the company’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; the company 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.

This document makes descriptive reference to trademarks that may be owned by others. The use of such trademarks herein is not an assertion of ownership of such trademarks by Accenture and is not intended to represent or imply the existence of an association between Accenture and the lawful owners of such trademarks.

Copyright © 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.

Contacts

Accenture
Kelly Coffed, +1 404-219-3100
kelly.coffed@accenture.com

Release Summary

Accenture will acquire Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, a content-focused leader in integrated marketing.

Contacts

Accenture
Kelly Coffed, +1 404-219-3100
kelly.coffed@accenture.com