Accenture to Help Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Manage its New IT Company, Cayuse Technologies.

PENDLETON, Ore. -- Accenture (NYSE:ACN), a global management, consulting technology services and outsourcing company, has signed a five-year agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) near Pendleton to help manage Cayuse Technologies, LLC, a newly formed American Indian enterprise.

Cayuse Technologies, 100-percent owned by the CTUIR, will provide U.S. companies with services including: software development, call center, helps desk, image and document processing, storage and retrieval, and finance and accounting support.

"CTUIR and Accenture are creating living-wage jobs for American Indians and others in the community, with full- and part-time opportunities," said Bill Tovey, Tribal economic development director and member of Cayuse Technologies board of directors. "The new company's workforce will play an important role in our efforts to expand and diversify the Reservation economy beyond gaming and traditional employment opportunities."

Cayuse Technologies is initially filling 15 to 25 positions by recruiting CTUIR members, other American Indians and non-Indians living on or near the Reservation, and it is prepared to grow its workforce to 200 to 250 people over the next two years.

"We're responding to the tremendous demand among Accenture clients for outsourcing services performed by professionals within the United States, and Cayuse Technologies will help fulfill that demand," said Randy Willis, a senior executive at Accenture. "Working with Cayuse Technologies also complements Accenture's efforts to build and maintain a global workforce that mirrors that of its clients, employing diverse groups of people from different backgrounds, with a vast range of skills and experience."

Accenture will provide up to nine months of intensive and hands-on training for new hires.

"This is yet another example of how the Tribes are taking innovative steps to improve not only the lives of their members, but also to strengthen rural Oregon's economy as a whole," said U.S. Senator Gordon Smith. "I have high hopes that the jobs this venture brings will be only the beginning of greater opportunities for Tribes and communities across Oregon."

"The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla are showing real vision in developing a partnership that will not only create jobs now, but will also provide opportunities over the long term through training and development," said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. "I'm pleased Accenture has chosen to partner with the Tribes to achieve this vision."

Located in Northeast Oregon near the city of Pendleton (population 17,000), Umatilla County (population 71,000) is home to the Pendleton Round-up, Pendleton Woolen Mills, and Blue Mountain Community College. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation employs more than 1,100 people (50 percent tribal members, 40 percent non-Indian, 10 percent other Indians.) The Umatilla tribal government focuses on economic development, natural resources, education, planning, housing, health and social services. The Umatilla Tribe also owns and operates the Wildhorse Casino and Resort.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With approximately 140,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$16.65 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2006. Its home page is www.accenture.com.