Accenture to Acquire Soben, Boosting Capital Projects Capabilities in Data Center Development and Other Sectors
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced its agreement to acquire Soben, a Glasgow-based global construction consultancy firm specializing in data center development. The acquisition will enhance Accenture's capital projects capabilities, particularly in project management and cost control services.
Soben, with a team of 250 professionals serving clients across Western Europe, US, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Australia, will join Accenture's Industry X infrastructure division. The company provides services including project management, scheduling, cost management, and carbon cost management to major global hyperscalers and co-location providers.
Recent research by Accenture reveals significant challenges in capital projects, with only 6% of organizations delivering on schedule, and two-thirds missing targets, resulting in 29% additional labor costs and penalties. The data center market is experiencing rapid growth, with Accenture estimating annual spending exceeding $200 billion in the US, Europe, and Middle East over the next 3-5 years.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) ha annunciato di aver raggiunto un accordo per acquisire Soben, una società di consulenza globale nel settore delle costruzioni con sede a Glasgow, specializzata nello sviluppo di data center. L'acquisizione migliorerà le capacità di Accenture nei progetti di capitale, in particolare nei servizi di gestione dei progetti e controllo dei costi.
Soben, con un team di 250 professionisti che serve clienti in tutta l'Europa occidentale, negli Stati Uniti, in Messico, Brasile, India e Australia, entrerà a far parte della divisione infrastrutture Industry X di Accenture. L'azienda offre servizi che includono gestione dei progetti, pianificazione, gestione dei costi e gestione dei costi del carbonio per i principali hyperscalers globali e fornitori di co-location.
Ricerche recenti di Accenture rivelano sfide significative nei progetti di capitale, con solo il 6% delle organizzazioni che rispettano le scadenze, e due terzi che non raggiungono gli obiettivi, causando un aumento del 29% dei costi di lavoro e delle penali. Il mercato dei data center sta vivendo una crescita rapida, con Accenture che stima una spesa annuale superiore ai 200 miliardi di dollari negli Stati Uniti, in Europa e in Medio Oriente nei prossimi 3-5 anni.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) ha anunciado su acuerdo para adquirir Soben, una firma de consultoría de construcción global con sede en Glasgow, especializada en el desarrollo de centros de datos. La adquisición mejorará las capacidades de Accenture en proyectos de capital, particularmente en servicios de gestión de proyectos y control de costos.
Soben, con un equipo de 250 profesionales que atienden a clientes en toda Europa Occidental, EE. UU., México, Brasil, India y Australia, se unirá a la división de infraestructura Industry X de Accenture. La empresa ofrece servicios que incluyen gestión de proyectos, programación, gestión de costos y gestión de costos de carbono para importantes hyperscalers globales y proveedores de co-location.
Investigaciones recientes de Accenture revelan desafíos significativos en proyectos de capital, con solo el 6% de las organizaciones cumpliendo con los plazos, y dos tercios no alcanzando los objetivos, lo que resulta en un aumento del 29% en los costos laborales y penalizaciones. El mercado de centros de datos está experimentando un crecimiento rápido, con Accenture estimando un gasto anual que superará los 200 mil millones de dólares en EE. UU., Europa y Medio Oriente en los próximos 3-5 años.
엑센추어 (NYSE: ACN)는 데이터 센터 개발을 전문으로 하는 글래스고에 본사를 둔 글로벌 건설 컨설팅 회사인 소벤 인수를 발표했습니다. 이번 인수는 프로젝트 관리 및 비용 관리 서비스에서 엑센추어의 자본 프로젝트 능력을 향상시킬 것입니다.
소벤은 250명의 전문가 팀이 서유럽, 미국, 멕시코, 브라질, 인도 및 호주 전역의 고객을 서비스하며, 엑센추어의 Industry X 인프라 부문에 합류할 것입니다. 이 회사는 주요 글로벌 하이퍼스케일러 및 공동 위치 제공업체를 위해 프로젝트 관리, 일정 관리, 비용 관리 및 탄소 비용 관리와 같은 서비스를 제공합니다.
엑센추어의 최근 연구에 따르면 자본 프로젝트에서 상당한 도전 과제가 있으며, 조직의 6%만이 일정을 준수하고, 3분의 2는 목표를 달성하지 못해 29%의 추가 인건비와 벌금을 초래하고 있습니다. 데이터 센터 시장은 빠른 성장을 경험하고 있으며, 엑센추어는 향후 3-5년 동안 미국, 유럽 및 중동에서 연간 지출이 2,000억 달러를 초과할 것으로 추정하고 있습니다.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) a annoncé son accord pour acquérir Soben, une société de conseil en construction mondiale basée à Glasgow, spécialisée dans le développement de centres de données. Cette acquisition renforcera les capacités d'Accenture en matière de projets d'investissement, en particulier dans les services de gestion de projet et de contrôle des coûts.
Soben, avec une équipe de 250 professionnels servant des clients à travers l'Europe de l'Ouest, aux États-Unis, au Mexique, au Brésil, en Inde et en Australie, rejoindra la division Infrastructure Industry X d'Accenture. L'entreprise propose des services incluant la gestion de projet, la planification, la gestion des coûts et la gestion des coûts carbone pour les principaux hyperscalers mondiaux et les fournisseurs de co-location.
Des recherches récentes d'Accenture révèlent des défis significatifs dans les projets d'investissement, avec seulement 6 % des organisations respectant les délais, et deux tiers ne parvenant pas à atteindre les objectifs, entraînant une augmentation de 29 % des coûts de main-d'œuvre et des pénalités. Le marché des centres de données connaît une croissance rapide, Accenture estimant que les dépenses annuelles dépasseront 200 milliards de dollars aux États-Unis, en Europe et au Moyen-Orient au cours des 3 à 5 prochaines années.
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) hat die Vereinbarung zur Übernahme von Soben bekannt gegeben, einem globalen Beratungsunternehmen für Bauwesen mit Sitz in Glasgow, das sich auf die Entwicklung von Rechenzentren spezialisiert hat. Die Übernahme wird die Fähigkeiten von Accenture im Bereich Kapitalprojekte verbessern, insbesondere in den Bereichen Projektmanagement und Kostenkontrolle.
Soben, mit einem Team von 250 Fachleuten, die Kunden in Westeuropa, den USA, Mexiko, Brasilien, Indien und Australien bedienen, wird Teil der Infrastrukturabteilung Industry X von Accenture. Das Unternehmen bietet Dienstleistungen an, die Projektmanagement, Terminplanung, Kostenmanagement und Management der Kohlenstoffkosten für große globale Hyperscaler und Co-Location-Anbieter umfassen.
Neueste Forschungen von Accenture zeigen erhebliche Herausforderungen bei Kapitalprojekten, wobei nur 6 % der Organisationen im Zeitplan liegen und zwei Drittel die Ziele nicht erreichen, was zu zusätzlichen Arbeitskosten und Strafen von 29 % führt. Der Markt für Rechenzentren wächst schnell, wobei Accenture schätzt, dass die jährlichen Ausgaben in den USA, Europa und dem Nahen Osten in den nächsten 3-5 Jahren 200 Milliarden Dollar übersteigen werden.
- Strategic expansion into high-growth data center market with $200B+ annual spending potential
- Acquisition adds 250 skilled professionals to strengthen global capabilities
- Enhances service offerings in critical areas: project management, cost control, and carbon management
- Expands geographical presence across major markets in Europe, Americas, and Asia-Pacific
- Transaction value not disclosed, creating uncertainty about financial impact
- Integration challenges may arise from incorporating 250 new employees across multiple regions
- Completion subject to closing conditions, indicating potential execution risks
Insights
Accenture's acquisition of Soben represents a strategic move to capture share in the data center construction consultancy market at a pivotal moment. The $200+ billion annual data center spending projected for the next 3-5 years creates a substantial addressable market. While acquisition terms weren't disclosed, this transaction follows Accenture's pattern of acquiring specialized capabilities that complement its broader digital transformation services.
The efficiency challenges highlighted in the article - where two-thirds of capital projects miss targets with
This acquisition continues Accenture's strategy of expanding beyond pure technology consulting into adjacent high-growth areas. The data center market represents a perfect intersection of physical and digital infrastructure, allowing Accenture to leverage its technology expertise while adding specialized construction management capabilities.
For investors, this represents Accenture positioning itself to benefit from the AI infrastructure buildout that will continue for years. Data centers represent the physical foundation of AI deployment, creating sustainable demand for the specialized capabilities Soben brings. This acquisition strengthens Accenture's competitive positioning against both traditional engineering firms and management consultancies in this high-growth sector.
The acquisition of Soben gives Accenture specialized expertise in data center construction at a time when this infrastructure is becoming increasingly critical. Data centers represent the physical backbone for AI systems, cloud services, and enterprise computing - all experiencing extraordinary growth. The hyperscalers and co-location providers mentioned as Soben's clients are at the forefront of this expansion.
What makes this acquisition particularly timely is the complexity of modern data center construction. Today's facilities require sophisticated cooling systems, power management, physical security, and sustainability considerations while facing rising complexity from AI workloads. Soben's expertise in carbon cost management is especially valuable as data centers face increasing environmental scrutiny.
The integration challenge shouldn't be underestimated. Construction consultancy operates differently from Accenture's traditional technology consulting business. The success of this acquisition will depend on effectively blending Soben's specialized construction knowledge with Accenture's digital expertise and global delivery model.
For technology clients, this acquisition positions Accenture as a more complete partner for their infrastructure needs. As companies expand their digital capabilities, they increasingly need trusted advisors who understand both the technology requirements and the physical infrastructure that supports it. Accenture is systematically building this end-to-end capability through acquisitions like Soben.
Accenture to boost capital projects capabilities in data center development with acquisition of construction consultancy Soben (Photo: Business Wire)
Soben works for leading global hyperscalers and co-location providers on major data center construction. Its services include project management consultancy, scheduling, project controls, cost and commercial management, consultancy and advisory, and carbon cost management. With a team of 250, the company serves clients in
Organizations developing capital projects are facing a long list of challenges, new research from Accenture shows, ranging from increased scrutiny from stakeholders to supply chain issues to staffing shortages to cybersecurity risks. As a result, only
These challenges are particularly affecting companies looking to expand existing or to build new data centers. The market is experiencing hypergrowth, particularly in the US,
“The market for capital projects and especially data centers is growing rapidly, driven by ever-higher demand for cloud computing and AI and exponential data growth,” said Steve Roberts, senior managing director, Accenture Industry X. “Hyperscalers and co-location companies are under tremendous pressure to deliver on this demand. They need a provider that brings data center expertise plus proven capital projects experience, which is what the combination of Soben and Accenture will stand for.”
“Soben will enhance our infrastructure and capital projects capabilities across
“When we started Soben in 2011, our vision was to disrupt the construction consultancy marketplace, and we have now established Soben as one of the key players for capital projects in
With Soben, Accenture continues to grow its infrastructure and capital projects capabilities globally and in
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
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 Soben 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
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250307469841/en/
Jens R. Derksen
Accenture
+49 17557161393
jens.derksen@accenture.com
Natalie de Freitas
Accenture
+44 7380799196
natalie.de.freitas@accenture.com
Source: Accenture
FAQ
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