M&A: Accenture Acquires Sustainable Engineering, Data Center Infrastructure Consultancy Boslan

Global IT consulting firm Accenture has acquired Boslan, an engineering and consulting firm that assists customers with net-zero infrastructure and sustainable IT projects. Key Boslan areas of expertise include wind farms, solar power plants, smart grids, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, hydrogen plants, data centers and critical infrastructure. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is M&A deal number 247 that Sustainable Tech Partner has covered so far in 2024. Related: See all M&A deals involving sustainability, climate tech and green IT services listed here.

The acquisition reinforces Accenture's hybrid energy strategy. On one hand, Accenture offers sustainable IT services that assist customers with carbon reduction and net-zero strategies. On the other hand, Accenture also helps customers in legacy energy markets -- including the Oil and Gas sector, for instance.

Together, Accenture and Boslan will harness artificial intelligence (AI) and IT solutions to help customers optimize asset lifecycle management and march toward carbon-neutral operations, the companies said.

Accenture Acquires Boslan: Business Backgrounds

Boslan, founded in 2000, is based in Bilbao, Spain. The company -- backed by roughly 1,000 engineering and project management professionals -- also has a presence in Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States and Mexico. Boslan offers feasibility studies, project planning, cost and quality control, contract negotiation and management, design reviews, equipment purchase assistance and field work supervision. Key sectors served include renewable energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, data centers and utilities industries.

Accenture, based in Dublin, Ireland, has roughly 750,000 employees worldwide. The company's focus spans IT consulting, managed IT services, sustainability services, and dozens of additional capabilities.

The Boslan team now joins Accenture’s infrastructure and capital projects practice within its digital engineering and manufacturing service, known as Industry X.

Boslan Acquired: Executive Perspectives

In a prepared statement about the deal, Accenture's Götz Erhardt, who leads Industry X in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “European companies in the energy and utilities sector are leading the charge in transitioning to renewable energy and ensuring low-carbon emission power is competitive. BOSLAN has helped pioneer many projects in this space. Their engineering and industry expertise will bolster our capabilities to help clients in Europe and globally realize their net zero ambitions. It will also grow our footprint as a global provider of infrastructure and capital projects services, including digital and AI solutions for asset lifecycle management, which are essential to the reinvention of infrastructure projects.”

Added Mercedes Oblanca, Iberia market unit lead at Accenture:: “Spain is at the forefront of the net-zero transition because of our country’s experience, knowledge and capabilities in this sector. We are delighted to welcome the professionals from BOSLAN to Accenture. Together, we will bring the power of data and AI to engineering to help our energy, industrial, and public and private infrastructure clients execute their energy transition infrastructure projects more efficiently, securely and predictably.”

Concluded Boslan CEO Isaac Gómez: "As a long-standing partner to many of our clients, BOSLAN has been helping organizations continuously adopt new technologies for large-scale infrastructure projects and energy projects, such as offshore wind farms and hydrogen infrastructure, some of which have become milestones in the energy sector. By joining Accenture, we are expanding our services for clients with advanced technology solutions, advisory and transformation capabilities, and global reach."

Accenture M&A Activity: Sustainability, Carbon Reduction and Net-Zero Focus

Accenture has been active in the M&A market for sustainability, engineering and energy transition consultancies.

Earlier acquisitions include Anser Advisory and Insight Sourcing the United States; Comtech Group and True North Solutions in Canada; and Partners in Performance of Australia.

Still, Accenture's business faces some economic headwinds. For instance, revenue was $16.5 million in Q3 of 2024, down 1% compared to Q3 of 2023.

During its current fiscal year through June 2024, the compan had acquired 35 businesses for $5.2 billion.