Bermuda | 98-0341111 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Proposed Maximum | Proposed Maximum | |||||||||||
Title of Each Class of | Amount to | Aggregate | Aggregate | Amount of | ||||||||
Securities to Be Registered | Be Registered(1)(2) | Price Per Unit(3) | Offering Price(3) | Registration Fee | ||||||||
Class A Common Shares, par value $0.0000225 per share
|
108,600,713 | $24.93 | $2,707,415,775 | $318,663 | ||||||||
(1) | Represents Class A common shares issuable upon redemption of Accenture SCA Class I common shares that became redeemable on July 24, 2005 or will become redeemable either on July 24, 2006 or July 24, 2007. |
(2) | Including an indeterminate number of shares which may be issued with respect to such Class A common shares by way of a share dividend or share split. |
(3) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c), based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Class A common share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 1, 2005. |
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not issue and sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction state where the offer or sale is not permitted. |
Page | ||||
Accenture
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1 | |||
Risk Factors
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2 | |||
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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7 | |||
Use of Proceeds
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7 | |||
Redemption of SCA Class I Common Shares
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8 | |||
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Redeeming
SCA Class I Common Shares
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10 | |||
Material Luxembourg Tax Consequences of Redemption
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12 | |||
Description of Our Share Capital
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13 | |||
Comparison of Rights of Holders of Accenture Class A Common
Shares and SCA Class I Common Shares and Accenture
Class X Common Shares
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15 | |||
Plan of Distribution
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27 | |||
Legal Matters
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27 | |||
Experts
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27 | |||
Where to Find Additional Information
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28 | |||
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference
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29 |
i
1
| As of July 24, 2005, substantial numbers of shares previously received in connection with our transition to a corporate structure, which we refer to as founder shares, are still held by our partners, former partners and their permitted transferees. The founder shares remain directly or indirectly subject to provisions of our various charter documents permitting sales or dispositions of these shares by our partners or former partners in increasing amounts annually through July 2009 and, in the case of partners who remain employed with us for such longer periods, as they remain employed. For a more detailed description of these restrictions with respect to SCA Class I common shares, see Redemptions of SCA Class I Shares Restrictions on Redemption. SCA Class I common shares and Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares are redeemable or exchangeable, respectively. Upon any request for redemption or exchange, we have the option of honoring such requests through cash settlement or the issuance of a comparable number of our Class A common shares. |
Based on current partner demographics, the founder shares still held by our partners, former partners and their permitted transferees become available for transfer as follows: |
Number of SCA Class I | ||||||||
Common Shares and | ||||||||
Number of Our | Accenture Canada | |||||||
Class A | Holdings Inc. | |||||||
Available for Transfer | Common Shares | Exchangeable Shares | ||||||
Currently
|
19,505,208 | 36,714,562 | ||||||
July 24, 2006
|
12,110,428 | 38,600,707 | ||||||
July 24, 2007
|
13,988,543 | 34,900,286 | ||||||
July 24, 2008
|
13,469,343 | 37,440,451 | ||||||
July 24, 2009
|
37,109,465 | 97,613,276 | ||||||
Later of July 24, 2009 or end of employment
with Accenture
|
30,396,910 | 78,733,942 |
We may waive the transfer restrictions applicable to founder shares in accordance with their terms to permit transactions, such as issuer tender offers or secondary offerings, that we approve. From time to time, we may also approve limited relief from the existing share transfer restrictions for specified partners or groups of partners in connection with particular retirement, employment and severance arrangements that we determine to be important to the execution of our business strategy. |
2
| In July 2005, we implemented a Senior Executive Trading Policy applicable to our senior executives which provides, among other things, that all founder shares held by our senior executives and currently available for transfer will also be subject to quarterly trading guidelines. These guidelines seek to limit the total number of founder shares redeemed, sold or otherwise transferred in any calendar quarter to no more than a composite average weekly volume of trading in our Class A common shares. Currently, approximately 54% of the founder shares identified above remain subject to these additional quarterly guidelines of the Senior Executive Trading Policy. We expect to rigorously enforce this policy. However, sanctions under this policy may be prospective in nature and there can be no guarantee that we can prohibit all individual transfers that may be attempted in breach of this policy. |
The Senior Executive Trading Policy was implemented, in part, due to the expiration on July 24, 2005 of transfer restrictions contained in our bye-laws and in Accenture SCAs articles of association that generally precluded transfers of any founder shares prior to July 24, 2005 without our prior consent. Prior to July 24, 2005, we utilized these provisions to create and facilitate our Share Management Plan, pursuant to which substantially all founder shares that were transferred prior to July 24, 2005 were transferred in a series of annual secondary offerings and smaller, quarterly sales opportunities and related tender offer transactions. On and after July 24, 2005, holders of founder shares will be able individually to execute sales, redemptions or dispositions of those shares that are free of transfer restrictions and, in the case of our senior executives, in compliance with the quarterly trading guidelines contained in the Senior Executive Trading Policy. |
| As of July 25, 2005, a total of 32,137,592 of our Class A common shares underlying restricted share units generally were scheduled to be delivered during the calendar years indicated below: |
Number of Shares | Calendar Year | |||
663,397 | 2005 | |||
3,144,838 | 2006 | |||
3,609,008 | 2007 | |||
2,866,514 | 2008 | |||
8,414,964 | 2009 | |||
13,438,871 | After 2009 |
| In addition, as of July 25, 2005, a total of 75,955,522 of our Class A common shares were issuable pursuant to options, of which options to purchase an aggregate of 46,335,309 Class A common shares were exercisable and options to purchase an aggregate of 29,620,213 Class A common shares generally will become exercisable during the calendar years indicated below: |
Number of Shares | Calendar Year | |||
7,916,423 | 2005 | |||
10,649,566 | 2006 | |||
11,054,224 | After 2006 |
| take advantage of opportunities, including more rapid expansion; | |
| acquire complementary businesses or technologies; |
3
| develop new services and solutions; or | |
| respond to competitive pressures. |
4
| Our results of operations are materially affected by economic conditions, levels of business activity and rates of change in the industries we serve. | |
| Our business will be negatively affected if we are not able to anticipate and keep pace with rapid changes in technology or if growth in the use of technology in business is not as rapid as in the past. | |
| We may face damage to our professional reputation or legal liability if our clients are not satisfied with our services. | |
| Our engagements with clients may not be profitable or may be terminated by our clients on short notice. | |
| Our global operations pose complex management, foreign currency, legal, tax and economic risks, which we may not adequately address. | |
| The consulting, technology and outsourcing markets are highly competitive and the pace of consolidation, as well as vertical integration, among our competitors continues to increase. As a result, we may not be able to compete effectively if we cannot efficiently respond to these developments in a timely manner. |
5
| If we are unable to attract, retain and motivate employees, we will not be able to compete effectively and will not be able to grow our business. | |
| Our profitability will suffer if we are not able to maintain our pricing and utilization rates and control our costs. A continuation of current pricing pressures could result in permanent changes in pricing policies and delivery capabilities. | |
| Our quarterly revenues, operating results and profitability will vary from quarter to quarter, which may result in increased volatility of our share price. | |
| We continue to achieve greater percentages of revenues and growth through outsourcing. This strategy could result in higher concentrations of revenues and contributions to income from a smaller number of larger clients on customized outsourcing solutions or, in the case of more-standardized business process outsourcing services provided through our BPO businesses, from larger portfolios of clients for whom we provide similar services and solutions utilizing standard operating models. As our outsourcing business continues to grow, we may continue to experience increased pressure on our overall margins, particularly during the early stages of new outsourcing contracts. | |
| On certain complex engagements where we partner with third parties, clients are increasingly demanding that we guarantee the performance of these third parties, whom we do not control. Regardless of whether we guarantee the performance of third parties, our own performance may nonetheless be impacted if other software or infrastructure providers cannot deliver their contributions in a timely manner. | |
| If we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or attain an unqualified report from our independent auditors as to our internal controls as required as of the end of the current fiscal year, our reputation, our financial results and the market price of our stock could suffer. | |
| We may experience difficulties with new business and financial systems that we implemented as of September 1, 2004 that could disrupt our ability to timely and accurately process and report key components of our results of operations and financial condition, although, to date, we have not experienced any significant difficulties. | |
| Recent tax legislation, future legislation and negative publicity related to Bermuda companies may lead to an increase in our tax burden or affect our relationships with our clients. | |
| Our services or solutions may infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. | |
| We have only a limited ability to protect our intellectual property rights, which are important to our success. | |
| If our alliances do not succeed, we may not be successful in implementing our growth strategy. |
6
7
Cumulative percentage of shares | ||||||
permitted to be redeemed(1) | On or after | |||||
45% | July 24, 2005 | |||||
55% | July 24, 2006 | |||||
65% | July 24, 2007 | |||||
75% | July 24, 2008 | |||||
100% | The later of (a) July 24, 2009 and (b) the end of employment with Accenture |
(1) | Percentages include any SCA Class I common shares previously transferred, redeemed or repurchased. |
8
Percentage of remaining | ||||||
SCA Class I common shares | ||||||
Age at retirement | that may be redeemed(1) | |||||
56 or older | 100% | |||||
55 | 87.5% | |||||
54 | 75% | |||||
53 | 62.5% | |||||
52 | 50% | |||||
51 | 37.5% | |||||
50 | 25% |
(1) | Percentages include any SCA Class I common shares previously transferred, redeemed or repurchased. |
| if the redemption would be prohibited under applicable law or regulation (regardless of whether the redemption price is payable in our Class A common shares, cash or for other consideration); | |
| from the date of the announcement of a tender offer by us or any of our affiliates for SCA Class I common shares, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, SCA Class I common shares, until the expiration of ten United States business days after the termination of that tender offer (provided that, subject to any restrictions on transfer otherwise applicable to the SCA Class I common shares of a holder, no holder of SCA Class I common shares will be precluded from tendering SCA Class I common shares in that tender offer). |
9
10
11
| the holder has held, alone or together with his or her spouse and minor children, at any time during the last five years, at least 10% of Accenture SCAs shares; and | |
| the redeemed SCA Class I common shares have been held less than six months; |
| the holder has held, alone or together with his or her spouse and minor children, at any time during the last five years, at least 10% of Accenture SCAs shares; and | |
| the holder has been a Luxembourg tax resident for more than 15 years and became a non-Luxembourg tax resident less than five years prior to the disposition of the SCA Class I common shares. |
12
| 20,000,000,000 Class A common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share; | |
| 1,000,000,000 Class X common shares, par value $0.0000225 per share; and | |
| 2,000,000,000 undesignated shares, par value $0.0000225 per share. |
13
14
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
Authorized Share Capital | ||
Our authorized share capital is set out above under
Description of Our Share Capital. Our board of directors has authority to issue authorized but unissued Class A common shares, Class X common shares or undesignated shares, which may be designated and issued as preferred shares, without further vote or action by our shareholders up to the maximum number authorized. |
The authorized share capital of Accenture SCA is currently set at 50,000,000,000 euros consisting of: 10,000,000,000 Class I common shares, 20,000,000,000 Class II common shares, 9,782,549,738 Class III common shares, 5,000,000 Class III-A common shares, 5,000,000 Class III-B common shares, 10,000,000 Class III-C common shares, 10,000,000 Class III-D common shares, 15,000,000 Class III-E common shares, 15,000,000 Class III-F common shares, 20,000,000 Class III-G common shares, 25,000,000 Class III-H common shares, 5,000,000 Class III-I common shares, 5,000,000 Class III-J common shares, 16,050,000 Class III-K common shares, 5,025,720 Class III-L common shares, 68,626,707 Class III-M common shares and 12,747,835 Class III-N common shares, each with a par value of one euro and twenty-five cents. | |
Under Luxembourg law, the authorized share capital of Accenture SCA is automatically reduced to the amount represented by the issued and outstanding shares, unless the shareholders renew the authorized share capital at least every five years. The shareholders of Accenture SCA last renewed the authorized share capital at the extraordinary shareholders meeting held on June 28, 2005. Accordingly, the authorized share capital of Accenture SCA will automatically be reduced |
15
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | ||
to the amount represented by the issued and outstanding shares on June 28, 2010, on the fifth anniversary of the shareholders meeting referred to above, unless the authorized share capital of Accenture SCA is extended at or before that date. | |||
As the general partner of Accenture SCA, we are authorized,
without further shareholder action, to issue additional
Accenture SCA shares up to the maximum number authorized. Class II common shares and Class III common shares (including lettered sub-series of that class) may not be held by any person other than us and our subsidiaries. |
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At August 1, 2005, we owned approximately 76% of the outstanding Accenture SCA shares in terms of voting interests. | |||
Voting Rights | |||
Holders of our Class A common shares and Class X
common shares are entitled to one vote per share and vote
together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of
shareholders, except for those matters for which a class vote is
required, where a separate vote of the members of the affected
class only is also required. Under Bermuda law, except as otherwise provided in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda or our bye-laws, questions brought before a general meeting of shareholders are decided by a majority vote of shareholders present in person or by proxy at the meeting. Our bye-laws provide that, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, any question proposed for the consideration of the shareholders will generally be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast, except in the case of amendments to the provisions of our bye-laws relating to amalgamations, discontinuance, any sale, lease or exchange by us of all or substantially all of our property or assets and the appointment and removal of directors, where approval of the amendment by the board and shareholders holding not less than 80% of our issued and outstanding voting shares is required. |
Holders of SCA Class I common shares are entitled to one
vote for each share held and vote together with holders of
Class II and Class III common shares (including any
letter sub-series thereof) on all matters submitted to a vote of
shareholders, except for those matters for which a class vote is
required. In respect of class votes, special quorum (if any) and
majority requirements apply in addition to the quorum (if any)
and majority requirements applicable to the general vote. Matters adversely affecting the rights of the holders of a specific share class only require a quorum, if and when required by Accenture SCAs articles of association or as a matter of Luxembourg law, of half of the class issued and outstanding shares and a two-thirds majority vote of the shares of that share class. Under Luxembourg law, shareholder action can generally be taken by a simple majority of shares present or represented, without regard to any minimum quorum requirements. The following matters, however, require a quorum of half of Accenture SCAs issued and outstanding shares (such quorum is not required in the context of a second shareholder meeting which is convened after a quorum could not be reached at a first meeting) and the approval of two-thirds of those shares, voting as a single class, represented and voting at the meeting: an amendment of Accenture SCAs articles of association; a dissolution and liquidation (special majority |
16
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | ||
requirements may apply if a companys share capital will be
lost to an extent of 75% or more) of Accenture SCA; the setting of the authorized share capital and the authorization given to Accenture Ltd, as Accenture SCAs general partner, to increase Accenture SCAs share capital within the limits of the authorization; a decrease of Accenture SCAs share capital; and the sale of all or substantially all of Accenture SCAs assets. The following matters require a unanimous resolution of all the shareholders of Accenture SCA: the redomestication of Accenture SCA (i.e., its migration) by the change of the nationality of Accenture SCA; and the assessment of the shareholders, which means the imposition of an obligation on the shareholders to pay to Accenture SCA more than their original investment. As the general partner of Accenture SCA, our approval is also required for all matters subject to a vote of the shareholders. Holders of SCA Class I common shares generally also hold an equivalent number of our Class X common shares entitling them to vote, along with holders of our Class A common shares, on matters submitted to a vote of our common shareholders. A corresponding number of your Accenture Ltd Class X common shares may be repurchased at par value upon any redemption of your SCA Class I common shares. See Redemption of SCA Class I Common Shares for additional information. |
|||
Dividend Rights | |||
Under Bermuda law, we may pay dividends that are declared from
time to time by our board of directors unless there are
reasonable grounds for believing that we are or would, after
payment, be unable to pay our liabilities as they become due or
that the realizable value of our assets would as a result be
less than the aggregate of our liabilities and issued share
capital and share premium accounts. Each Class A common share is entitled to a pro rata part of any dividend at the times and in the amounts, if any, which our board of directors from time to time determines to declare, subject to any preferred dividend rights of any preferred shares. Class X common shares are not entitled to dividends. |
As the general partner of Accenture SCA, we determine how
the annual net profits of Accenture SCA are disposed of,
and have the authority to decide to pay interim dividends. The
approval of Accenture SCAs shareholders at the annual
general meeting is required to pay dividends as well as the
profit allocation proposed by us. Accenture SCA is required under Luxembourg law to transfer 5% of its annual net profits to a non-distributable legal reserve until the reserve amounts to 10% of Accenture SCAs issued share capital. Holders of Accenture SCAs Class II or Class III common shares are not eligible to receive cash |
17
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
dividends. If a cash dividend is paid on SCA Class I common shares, holders of Accenture SCAs Class II or Class III common shares (including any letter sub-series thereof) will be entitled to receive a number of newly issued Class II or Class III common shares (respectively) having an aggregate value equal to the amount of any cash dividends that the holders of those Class II or Class III common shares would have received if they had ratably participated (in the case of Class II common shares on a 10% participating basis) in the cash dividends paid to the holders of the SCA Class I common shares. | ||
Pre-emptive Rights | ||
Holders of our Class A common shares and our Class X common shares do not have pre-emptive rights. | Under Luxembourg law, Accenture SCA shareholders generally have pre-emptive rights to subscribe for any new shares issued by Accenture SCA for cash consideration. However, as Accenture SCAs general partner, we are authorized, in the context of the authorized share capital in our discretion, to waive or limit any such preferential rights. We currently have the authority to waive entirely or partially or to limit, or to set conditions in respect of, any preferential subscription rights of the existing shareholders and to determine the amount of issue premium (if any) which will have to be paid by the subscriber(s) in the context of any capital increase. That authority will expire in 2010. | |
Redemption/Repurchase of Shares | ||
Our Class A common shares are not redeemable, although Class A common shares could be repurchased by agreement between us and the relevant Class A common shareholder. We may, at our option, repurchase at any time any of our Class X common shares for a purchase price equal to the par value of our Class X common shares. We have agreed with each partner who holds our Class X common shares, however, not to repurchase any such Class X common shares held by that partner if the repurchase would reduce the number of the Class X common shares held by that partner to a number that is less than the number of SCA Class I common shares or Accenture Canada Holdings Inc. exchangeable shares held by that partner, as applicable. |
Subject to restrictions on redemption contained in
Accenture SCAs articles of association and any
contractual restrictions on redemption applicable to a holder,
SCA Class I common shares are subject to the accomplishment
of certain formalities redeemable at the option of the holder by
the giving of irrevocable notice of an election for redemption
to Accenture SCA. The redemption price is payable in cash
or, at the election of Accenture SCA, in our Class A common
shares. See Redemption of SCA Class I Common
Shares Restriction on Redemptions for
additional information. Accenture SCA is authorized to redeem its Class II or Class III common shares (including any letter sub-series thereof) at our request The redemption price for any Accenture SCA Class II or III common shares will, subject to the equality of shareholder treatment, be agreed between Accenture SCA and the holder of the shares. The redemption price for Accenture SCA Class II common shares will equal 10% of the price agreed with respect to an Accenture SCA Class III |
18
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
common shares or Accenture SCA Class III letter common share. If the redemption of the Accenture SCA Class II or Class III common shares (including any letter sub-series thereof) is done in the context of or is accompanied by a share capital reduction of Accenture SCA or cancellation of shares, the redemption of these shares must, in addition, be approved by a resolution at a meeting of shareholders passed by a two thirds majority of those present and voting, including the consent of Accenture Ltd, as Accenture SCAs general partner. | ||
Share Conversions | ||
Our Class A common shares and our Class X common shares are not convertible. |
All SCA Class I common shares that are sold or otherwise
transferred to us or our subsidiaries will be automatically
reclassified into Accenture SCA Class III common shares. Accenture SCA Class II common shares are convertible into Class III common shares and vice versa on a ratio of ten Class II common shares to one Class III common share. Such a conversion may be effected by a resolution of an extraordinary meeting of shareholders adopted by the same vote of shareholders required for amendments to Accenture SCAs articles of association. |
|
Management | ||
Our board of directors manages our business and affairs. | We manage Accenture SCA, as its general partner. Accenture SCA also has a supervisory board, which supervises the affairs of Accenture SCA and its books and records and is consulted by us if we are compelled to do so under the articles of association of Accenture SCA, or from time to time on such matters as we may determine. |
19
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
Fiduciary Duties of Directors/ General Partner and Members of Supervisory Board | ||
Under Bermuda law, our directors owe their fiduciary duty
principally to Accenture rather than to our shareholders. Our bye-laws provide that a director, in taking action, including an action that may involve or relate to a change in control or potential change of control of us, may, but is not required to, consider, among other things, the effects that the action may have on other interests or persons, including our partners, retired partners and employees and the communities in which we do business, as long as the director acts honestly and in good faith with a view to our best interests. |
Under Luxembourg law, the general partner if acting in such capacity is an agent of Accenture SCA and as an agent owes fiduciary duties principally to Accenture SCA. Likewise, the members of the supervisory board are agents acting for Accenture SCA and owe fiduciary duties principally to Accenture SCA. | |
Our board of director has adopted a resolution providing that our directors and officers will occupy a fiduciary relationship with us and our shareholders and these directors and officers, in performing their duties, will act in good faith in a manner that a director or officer believes to be in our best interests and in the best interests of our shareholders, as that standard of care is interpreted by the courts. | ||
Management Liability and Indemnification | ||
If a director or officer of a Bermuda company is found to have
breached his or her fiduciary duties to that company, he or she
may be held personally liable to the company in respect of that
breach of duty. A director may be liable jointly and severally
with others if it is shown that the director knowingly engaged
in fraud or dishonesty. Our bye-laws contain provisions which release the directors and officers from liability and indemnify them against all liabilities, losses, damages or expenses in respect of any negligence, default or breach of duty. In addition, no director or officer is liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer. The exemption from liability and indemnity provisions apply to the fullest extent permitted by law and so do not extend to fraud or dishonesty on the part of the directors and officers. |
As the general partner of Accenture SCA, we are liable for all
of Accenture SCAs liabilities that cannot be satisfied out
of its assets. Further, under Accenture SCAs articles of association, no member of the Accenture SCA supervisory board is liable in respect of any negligence, default or breach of duty and each member of the supervisory board is indemnified out of the funds of Accenture SCA against all liabilities, losses, damages or expenses arising out of the actual or purported execution or discharge of his or her duties or the exercise of his or her powers or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his or her duties, powers or office; provided that this exemption from liability and indemnity shall not extend to any matter which would render them void pursuant to Luxembourg law. Under Luxembourg law, our civil liability in the performance of our duties as general partner of Accenture SCA, or the Accenture SCA supervisory board to Accenture SCA and to third parties, is generally considered to be a matter of public policy. It is possible that Luxembourg courts would declare void an explicit or even implicit contractual limitation on our liability or the liability of the Accenture SCA |
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Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
supervisory board to Accenture SCA. However, Accenture SCA may, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, validly indemnify the Accenture SCA supervisory board against the consequences of liability actions brought by third parties, including shareholders, if such shareholders have suffered a damage which is independent of and distinct from the damage caused to Accenture SCA. | ||
Classification of Board; Number of Directors; Election of
Directors; Filling of Vacancies; Removal of Directors/ Supervisory Board and General Partner |
||
Our bye-laws divide our board of directors into three classes,
with members of each class being elected to three-year terms. Our board of directors determines the number of directors within the range of eight to 15 set forth in our bye-laws. The election of our directors is determined by a majority of the votes cast at the general meeting at which the directors are elected. Our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the voting rights attaching to our common shares will, as a practical matter, be entitled to control the election of all directors. Our board of directors has adopted guidelines providing that, except for our chief executive officer and up to two additional inside directors designated by our chief executive officer, our directors will not be allowed to serve more than three consecutive terms. Our board of director may fill a vacancy resulting from the resignation or termination of office of any director until the next annual general meeting. A director is required to vacate office if he or she resigns, is not re-elected at the end of any three-year term or ceases to be a director by reason of law. Additionally, a director may be removed by a two-third majority vote of certain employee shareholders where such employee shareholders hold more than 50% of all votes capable of being cast or, where such requirement is not fulfilled, by a vote of 75% of the other directors. |
The supervisory board is composed of at least three board
members. The supervisory board is elected by a simple majority
vote of the general meeting of shareholders for a maximum term
of six years, which is renewable. Vacancies in the supervisory board are filled by way of a simple majority vote of the general meeting of shareholders of Accenture SCA. Luxembourg law and Accenture SCAs articles of association are silent in respect of the nomination process. The shareholder have the ability to remove general partner in accordance with the formal requirements applicable in respect of the amendments of Accenture SCAs articles of association. The removal would require the consent of the general partner. |
|
Director Nominations by Shareholders | ||
Our bye-laws require advance notice for shareholders to nominate a director at an annual general meeting of shareholders. Under our bye-laws, a shareholder must deliver to our secretary a notice executed by a shareholder (not being the person to be proposed) not less than 120 nor more than 150 days before the date | Luxembourg law and Accenture SCAs articles of association are silent in respect of the specific procedures for nominating supervisory board members. As a general matter of Luxembourg law it is possible for a shareholder or a shareholder group representing at least 20% of a companys outstanding share capital |
21
Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
of our proxy statement released to shareholders in connection
with the prior years annual general meeting. The notice
must contain (a) the name, age, business address and
residence address of the person proposed to be nominated for
election as a director (b) the principal occupation or
employment of such person, (c) the class, series and number
of our shares which are beneficially owned by such person,
(d) information which would, if he or she were so
appointed, be required to be included in the companys
register of directors and officers and (e) all other
information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations for proxies for the election of
directors pursuant to the SECs proxy rules, together with
notice executed by such person of his or her willingness to
serve as a director if so elected. Shareholders are not entitled
to nominate persons for election as directors at any special
general meeting of shareholders.
|
to request that an agenda item or matter be put to a resolution of the shareholders. In such case, the general partner has the obligation to convene a shareholder meeting. | |
New Business Proposals by Shareholders | ||
Bermuda law provides that only shareholders who collectively hold at least 5% of the total voting rights of our aggregate outstanding Class A common shares and our Class X common shares, or any group comprised of at least 100 or more registered shareholders, may require a proposal to be submitted to an annual general meeting of shareholders. |
Only matters submitted with our consent, as the general partner
of Accenture SCA, may be voted on at any meeting of Accenture
SCA shareholders. As a general matter of Luxembourg law it is possible for a shareholder or a shareholder group representing at least 20% of a companys outstanding share capital to request that an agenda item or matter be put to a resolution of the shareholders. In such case, the general partner has the obligation to convene a shareholder meeting. |
|
Call of Special Meetings of Shareholders | ||
Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting may be called by our board of directors and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the aggregate outstanding Class A common shares and Class X common shares. | Luxembourg law provides that the general partner may call extraordinary meetings of shareholders. It is also generally held that the supervisory board may convene general meetings. In addition, special general meetings can be called upon the request of a shareholder or shareholder group holding at least 20% of the outstanding share capital of a company. | |
Shareholder Action by Written Consent | ||
Except in the case of the removal of auditors or directors, anything which may be done by resolution at a general meeting of all or any class of shareholders, may, without a meeting, be done by a resolution signed by all of the shareholders or class of shareholders who at the date of the resolution in writing would be entitled to attend a meeting and vote on the resolution. | As the Luxembourg law currently stands, shareholders may not act by written consent. |
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Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
Amendment of Governing Documents | ||
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association or
continuance of a company may be amended by a resolution passed
at a properly noticed general meeting of shareholders. An
amendment to the memorandum of association or continuance to
include certain restricted business activities also requires the
approval of the Bermuda Minister of Finance, who may grant or
withhold approval at his or her discretion. Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of no less than 20% in par value of our issued share capital or any class of issued share capital have the right to apply to the Bermuda Court for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association or continuance adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment that alters or reduces share capital. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda Court. An application for the annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association or continuance must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering the companys memorandum is passed and may be made on behalf of the persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No such application may be made by persons voting in favor of the amendment. Amendments to our bye-laws must be approved by our board of directors and by shareholders by a resolution passed by the holders of a majority of the votes cast, except for amendments to the provisions of our bye-laws relating to amalgamations, discontinuance, any sale, lease or exchange by us of all or substantially all of our property or assets and the appointment and removal of directors which must be approved by our board of directors and by shareholders holding not less than 80% of our issued and outstanding voting shares. |
Amendments to Accenture SCAs articles of association generally must be approved by us, as Accenture SCAs general partner, and by shareholders by a two-thirds majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum of half of Accenture SCAs issued and outstanding shares are present. If the amendment adversely affects the rights of the holders of a specific share class, a quorum of half of the issued and outstanding shares of the relevant share class would be required at the occasion of a first shareholder meeting with no quorum requirement existing in case of a second shareholder meeting and a two-thirds majority vote of the shares of that share class, in addition to our approval as general partner, would be required. | |
Amalgamation, Discontinuance and Sale of All or Substantially All of Our Assets or the Assets of Accenture SCA |
||
Any amalgamation of us and another company, discontinuance out of Bermuda or sale, lease or exchange by us of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, including our goodwill and corporate franchises, requires the approval of (a) our board of directors by a majority of the directors then | Any amalgamation, dissolution and liquidation of Accenture SCA, or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets, requires our approval, as the general partner of Accenture SCA, and the approval of two- thirds of the outstanding Accenture SCA shares represented and voting at a meeting where a quorum |
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Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
in office and (b) a majority of votes cast by our shareholders, in addition to any other sanction in the case of an amalgamation or discontinuance required by the Companies Act in respect of any variation of the rights of any class of shareholders. | is present. | |
Rights on Liquidation | ||
If we were to liquidate, each of our Class A common shares would be entitled to be paid a pro rata part of the value of our assets remaining after payment of our liabilities, subject to any preferred rights on liquidation of any preferred shares. Our Class X common shares would not be entitled to be paid any amount upon our liquidation. | Upon any liquidation of Accenture SCA, each holder of Accenture SCA shares would be entitled, to the extent of the availability of funds or assets in sufficient amount, to the repayment of the nominal share capital amount corresponding to the holders share holdings. The liquidation proceeds, if any, including the return of nominal share capital, would be paid so that each holder of Accenture SCA Class II common shares received a liquidation payment equal to 10% of any liquidation payment received by a holder of SCA Class I common shares or Accenture SCA Class III common shares of Class III letter common shares. | |
Access to Books and Records | ||
Members of the general public have the right to inspect the
public documents of a company available at the office of the
Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include our
memorandum of continuance, and any alteration thereto. The
shareholders have the additional right to inspect our bye-laws,
minutes of general meetings and our audited financial
statements. Our register of shareholders is also open to
inspection by shareholders without charge and by members of the
general public on the payment of a fee. We are required to
maintain our share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the
provisions of Bermuda law, establish a branch register outside
Bermuda. We maintain our principal share register in Hamilton,
Bermuda and a branch register in the United States. We are
required to keep at our registered office a register of our
directors and officers which is open for inspection for not less
than two hours each day by members of the public without charge.
Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for
shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate
records. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution providing that our shareholders have the right to inspect, at a principal place of business in the United States, copies of our books and records, including shareholder names, addresses, and shareholdings in accordance with the terms set forth in the Model |
The public has the right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Trade and Companies Register in Luxembourg. Certain publications of amongst others articles of association and amendments thereto are in addition published in the Official Gazette in Luxembourg. Fifteen days prior to the annual general meeting of shareholders, the shareholders have the right to inspect at Accenture SCAs registered office certain documents such as the balance sheet, the profit and loss statement, the report of the general partner and of the auditor. |
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Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
Business Corporation Act, as that act may be amended from time to time. If Model Business Corporation Act does not provide access to the shareholder names, addresses, and shareholdings, these books and records will be made available for inspection by our shareholders for purposes properly related to their status as shareholders. | ||
Appraisal Rights | ||
Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation of a Bermuda company with another company, a shareholder who is not satisfied that fair value has been paid for his or her shares in the Bermuda company may apply to the Bermuda Court to appraise the fair value of his or her shares. Within one month of such appraisal, the company is entitled to pay the appraised fair value or decide not to proceed with the amalgamation. If the amalgamation has already become effective prior to such appraisal, the company is bound to pay the appraised fair value to the shareholder. | Shareholders of Accenture SCA have in principle no appraisal rights under Luxembourg law. However, in exceptional circumstances, the court may appoint ad hoc auditors in view of examining the books and accounts of a company, to investigate specific matters and to prepare a report. | |
Shareholder Suits | ||
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available
to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda Court, however,
would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence
an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong done to the
company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the
corporate power of the company or is illegal or would result in
violation of the companys memorandum of association or
continuance or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be
given by the Bermuda Court to acts that are alleged to
constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or, for
instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater
percentage of the companys shareholders than that which
actually approved it. When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Bermuda Court for an order regulating the companys conduct of affairs in the future or compelling the purchase of the shares of any shareholder, by other shareholders or by the company. Our board of directors has adopted resolutions providing, among other things, that (a) our shareholders may bring derivative proceedings on behalf of us, if these derivative proceedings are |
Under Luxembourg law a company may institute a suit against its directors in respect of a loss suffered by the company upon a shareholder resolution being taken to that effect. Shareholders may as a rule not institute individual proceedings against a director unless the shareholders have suffered a loss which is distinct and separate from the loss suffered by the company. |
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Accenture Ltd | Accenture SCA | |
brought on a basis and under the terms set forth in the Model Business Corporation Act as it is interpreted by, or required by, the courts; (b) we will consent to the jurisdiction, for any otherwise available cause of action by or on behalf of our shareholders, of all Delaware state courts and U.S. federal courts in Delaware; and (c) our directors and officers will occupy a fiduciary relationship with us and our shareholders and these directors and officers, in performing their duties, will act in good faith in a manner that a director or officer believes to be in our best interest and in the best interest of our shareholders, as that standard of care is interpreted by the courts. Notwithstanding the passing of these resolutions, all substantive and procedural requirements of Bermuda law would have to be satisfied for any such derivative proceedings to be brought in Bermuda. |
26
27
28
File Number (001-16565) | Filing Date | |
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2004
|
Filed on November 5, 2004. | |
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods
ended November 30, 2004, February 28, 2005 and
May 31, 2005
|
Filed on January 10, 2005, April 8, 2005 and July 11, 2005. | |
Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated September 8, 2004,
November 22, 2004, February 2, 2005, May 20, 2005
and July 7, 2005 (Item 1.01 only)
|
Filed on September 8, 2004, November 24, 2004, February 9, 2005, May 20, 2005 and July 7, 2005. | |
The description of our Class A common shares contained in
the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated June 25,
2001, filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
|
Filed on June 25, 2001. |
29
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
SEC Registration Fee
|
$ | 318,663 | |||
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
7,000 | ||||
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
125,000 | ||||
Printing Expenses
|
50,000 | ||||
Miscellaneous
|
10,000 | ||||
Total
|
$ | 510,663 | |||
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Item 16. | Exhibits |
Item 17. | Undertakings |
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; | |
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated |
II-1
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and | |
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in the periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement. |
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | |
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
II-2
Accenture Ltd |
By: | /s/ Douglas G. Scrivner |
|
|
Name: Douglas G. Scrivner | |
Title: General Counsel and Secretary |
Signature | Title | Date | ||||
/s/ Joe W. Forehand |
Chairman of the Board | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ William D. Green |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) |
July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Michael G. McGrath |
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) |
July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Anthony G. Coughlan |
Principal Accounting Officer and Controller (principal accounting officer) |
July 27, 2005 |
II-3
Signature | Title | Date | ||||
/s/ Steven A. Ballmer |
Director | July 29, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Dina Dublon |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Dennis F. Hightower |
Director | July 27, 2005 | ||||
/s/ William L. Kimsey |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Robert I. Lipp |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Blythe J. McGarvie |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Sir Mark
Moody-Stuart |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Carlos Vidal |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Wulf von
Schimmelmann |
Director | July 28, 2005 | ||||
/s/ Douglas G. Scrivner |
Authorized U.S. Representative | July 28, 2005 |
II-4
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Description | |||
5.1 | Opinion of Appleby Spurling Hunter regarding the legality of the securities being registered | |||
23.1 | Consent of KPMG LLP | |||
23.2 | Consent of Appleby Spurling Hunter (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |||
24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement) |