8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

Accenture plc 8-K Report, Financial Results (Dec 15, 2011)

Filed December 15, 2011For Securities:ACN

Summary

Accenture plc filed an 8-K on December 15, 2011, to report its first quarter fiscal year 2012 financial results, which concluded on November 30, 2011. The filing primarily references a press release (Exhibit 99.1) containing these results, which includes both GAAP and non-GAAP financial information. Investors should note that the press release provides key performance indicators such as free cash flow and net revenue changes excluding foreign currency fluctuations. These non-GAAP measures are considered supplemental by management and are intended to offer additional insight into the company's operational performance and liquidity. The company utilizes specific non-GAAP financial measures to provide a clearer picture of its performance, namely free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) and net revenues calculated on a local currency basis, excluding reimbursements. These adjustments are made to help investors better understand the underlying operational trends of the business by mitigating the impact of currency exchange rate volatility and the pass-through nature of certain expenses. Reconciliations to GAAP are provided within the referenced press release, underscoring the supplementary nature of these alternative metrics.

Key Highlights

  • 1Accenture plc announced its Q1 FY2012 financial results via an 8-K filing on December 15, 2011.
  • 2The results cover the fiscal quarter ending November 30, 2011.
  • 3The filing incorporates by reference a press release (Exhibit 99.1) containing detailed financial results.
  • 4Key non-GAAP financial measures disclosed include Free Cash Flow and net revenue growth excluding foreign currency impacts.
  • 5Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful additional insight into liquidity and operational performance.
  • 6Reconciliations from non-GAAP to GAAP measures are available in the referenced press release.
  • 7The company's principal executive offices are located in Dublin, Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to report Accenture's financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ended on November 30, 2011. It also serves to attach the press release containing these results as an exhibit.

Accenture highlights two key non-GAAP financial measures: Free Cash Flow (defined as operating cash flow net of property and equipment additions) and percentage changes in revenues before reimbursements ('net revenues') on a local currency basis. These measures are presented to provide additional insights into the company's liquidity and operational performance, excluding currency fluctuations.

No, the non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Accenture's management considers them supplemental information to facilitate a better understanding of its operations and liquidity. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the press release.

The detailed financial results are provided in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this 8-K filing. While furnished with this report, the information in the press release is not considered formally 'filed' with the SEC.