Accenture (NYSE:ACN) today announced that working in partnership with other vendors, it has built and will operate an end-to-end e-commerce and direct to consumer distribution solution for HarperCollins Publishers e-books globally. The project will commence with the launch of HarperCollins' www.CSLewis.com and www.Narnia.com today, with Accenture supporting future efforts as they develop.

HarperCollins will sell e-books using innovative technology from Accenture. Accenture's Digital Content Solution will provide a number of capabilities and tools that will allow HarperCollins and its authors to experiment with direct sales to a global audience of readers.

In the case of C.S. Lewis, HarperCollins will now be able to digitally store and distribute the e-books in its catalogue directly to the consumer. It will also have the tools to analyze all online purchase data, which will lead to expanded decision-making capabilities. This e-commerce approach will be extended in time to other HarperCollins online properties.

"Combining Accenture's suite of digital delivery and analytics capabilities with HarperCollins' traditional strengths of content acquisition, editing, marketing and distribution, will position HarperCollins as a digital innovator with the tools to evolve its digital strategy. HarperCollins' increased commitment to the digital value chain gives it a unique edge in attracting writing talent and driving growth in an expanding e-publishing market," said Thomas Grayson, managing director, Accenture Digital Services.

"The publishing industry is undergoing a technological transformation unparalleled in our 200 year history," said Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer, HarperCollins. "Launching a platform that allows HarperCollins to establish a direct-to-consumer marketing and sales proposition to expand some of its strongest brands to new audiences means we honor both our past and our present."

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 275,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About Accenture Digital Services

Accenture Digital Services, an Accenture Business Service, is designed to deliver value from digital content in a complex environment. It engages digital consumers with unique, personalized interactive experiences on a massive scale. It supports a mix of business models to drive new revenue streams and find new ways to monetize content. It distributes digital content in any format, across all platforms, to any device. And it optimizes operating models, delivering next-generation solutions on a pay-as-you-grow basis - all to help clients thrive in a changing digital ecosystem. Its home page is www.accenture.com/digital-services.

About HarperCollins Publishers

HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NNC, NNCLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: http://www.harpercollins.com.

HarperCollins
Erin Crum, + 212-207-7223
erin.crum@harpercollins.com
or
Accenture
Gary Morgenstern, + 862-579-7662 (mobile)
gary.a.morgenstern@accenture.com