Accenture snaps up Gestalt

Accenture Ltd. intends to purchase Gestalt LLC, a provider of defense consulting services to the Defense Department. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition is designed to enhance the capabilities of Accenture's defense practice in the realm of command and control systems, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based consulting giant said.

Gestalt specializes in mission-critical command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, known as C4ISR, that help defense organizations achieve systems interoperability and collaboration. The Camden, New Jersey-based company also provides services for modeling and simulation, decision-support technologies and tactical collaborative networks.

Accenture plans to offer jobs to Gestalt's 250 employees. Gestalt Chief Executive Officer William Loftus will have a leadership role within Accenture's Public Service operating group, as part of Accenture National Security Services LLC.

Gestalt's customers are the U.S. armed forces, Defense Information Security Agency and organizations that manage regional power grids.

Accenture expects to close the acquisition in 60 days.

Accenture Accenture of Hamilton, Bermuda, ranks No. 28 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.