Accenture Hits The Daily Double

Seabiscuit. That's the name Accenture Ltd. (ACN ) employees gave to their bid to win a contract from the U.S. government to create a new border security system. Although Accenture is one of the world's top high-tech consulting firms, workers felt their odds were just as long as those of the racehorse that upset War Admiral to snare the Pimlico Special in 1938. After all, Accenture had never won a contract near the size of this $10 billion purse. It was up against outfits with closer ties to Uncle Sam. And some politicians were incensed that a company with a Bermuda headquarters, cutting its U. S. tax bill, would land such a plum.

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