MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS AFFECTING SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Share purchase and redemption activity

The Company’s share purchase activity during fiscal 2011 was as follows:

 

     Accenture plc Class A
Ordinary Shares
     Accenture SCA Class  I
Common Shares and Accenture Canada
Holdings Inc. Exchangeable Shares
 
     Shares      Amount              Shares                      Amount          
     (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share amounts)  

Open-market share purchases(1)

     24,348,140       $ 1,306,445               $   

Other share purchase programs

                     11,744,554         572,143   

Other purchases(2)

     6,665,101         293,289                   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     31,013,241       $ 1,599,734         11,744,554       $ 572,143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

The Company conducts a publicly announced, open-market share purchase program for Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares. These shares are held as treasury shares by Accenture plc and may be utilized to provide for select employee benefits, such as equity awards to the Company’s employees.

 

(2)

During fiscal 2011, as authorized under the Company’s various employee equity share plans, the Company acquired Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares primarily via share withholding for payroll tax obligations due from employees and former employees in connection with the delivery of Accenture plc Class A ordinary shares under those plans. These purchases of shares in connection with employee share plans do not affect the Company’s aggregate available authorization for the Company’s publicly announced open-market share purchase and the other share purchase programs.

Dividend Activity

The Company’s dividend activity during fiscal 2011 was as follows:

 

    Dividend  Per
Share
    Accenture plc Class A
Ordinary Shares
    Accenture SCA Class I Common
Shares and Accenture Canada
Holdings Inc. Exchangeable
Shares
    Total  Cash
Outlay
 

Dividend Payment Date

    Record Date     Cash Outlay     Record Date     Cash Outlay    

November 15, 2010

  $ 0.45        October 15, 2010      $ 285,263        October 12, 2010      $ 35,387      $ 320,650   

May 13, 2011

    0.45        April 15, 2011        292,933        April 12, 2011        30,059        322,992   
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Dividends

      $ 578,196        $ 65,446      $ 643,642