Montreal, Quebec, November 9, 2010

 

Read more about our Q4 and F2010 financial results (PDF)

Read more about our Q4 and F2010 MD&A (PDF)

CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) generated revenue of $3.73 billion for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 compared with $3.83 billion in fiscal 2009. Foreign exchange fluctuations unfavourably impacted revenue by $223.3 million or 5.8% compared with the same period last year. Excluding this impact, revenue growth was 3.4%.  

Fiscal 2010 adjusted EBIT was $511.9 million, compared with $460.7 million in fiscal 2009, representing an increase of 11.1%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 13.7% compared with 12.0% in fiscal 2009.

Earnings from continuing operations in fiscal 2010 were $362.8 million compared with $315.9 million in fiscal 2009, an increase of 14.8%. The earnings margin from continuing operations was 9.7%, compared with 8.3% in fiscal 2009. 

On a diluted basis, earnings per share were $1.24 in fiscal 2010 compared with $1.02 in fiscal 2009, representing an increase of 21.6%.

In fiscal 2010, CGI generated $552.4 million in cash from operations, or 14.8% of revenue, representing $1.89 per share. 

During the fiscal year, the Company acquired 35.6 million shares as part of its Normal Course Issuer Bid for $516.7 million, at an average price of $14.51. In addition, the Company finished fiscal 2010 with net debt of $1.01 billion representing a net debt to capitalization of 30.6%, primarily the result of financing the Stanley acquisition which closed on August 17, 2010.

In fiscal 2010, new contract signings totaled $4.6 billion or 124% of revenue.  The Company’s backlog at year-end was $13.3 billion or 3.6 times annual revenue.

Fiscal 2010 included expenses of $20.9 million related to the Stanley acquisition, primarily due to integrating operations, costs associated with realizing synergies from the business combination and for professional fees. This was offset by positive income tax adjustments of $38.0 million during fiscal 2010. This compares with favourable tax adjustments of $15.9 million in F2009.  

Before these items, fiscal 2010 earnings from continuing operations would have been $342.0 million and diluted EPS would have been $1.17 per share representing a year-over-year improvement of 14.0% and 20.6% respectively.

“Thanks to the loyalty of our clients and the dedication of our employees, fiscal 2010 was a very successful year. By remaining focused on fundamentals, we have continued executing our profitable growth strategy driving competitive value for our clients while creating additional wealth for shareholders,” commented Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

Q4 and Fiscal 2010 Results"
Fiscal 2010
In $ 000’s except percentages and share data
All figures are from continuing operations and include 6 weeks of Stanley results FY2010 FY2009
Revenue 3,732,117 3,825,161
Year-over-year growth (2.4%) 3.2%
Year-over-year growth at constant currency 3.4% (1.9%)
Adjusted EBIT 511,902 460,741
Adjusted EBIT margin 13.7% 12.0%
Earnings 362,766 315,897
Earnings margin 9.7% 8.3%
Basic EPS* 1.27 1.03
Diluted EPS* 1.24 1.02
Weighted number of outstanding shares (diluted) 292,919,950 310,345,241
Number of outstanding shares at September 30 271,292,950 300,886,269
Net debt to capitalization ratio 30.6% --
Return on invested capital 16.3% 14.0%
Bookings 4,643,200 4,059,096
Backlog 13,320,078 10,893,636

*Attributable to shareholders of CGI 

Q4 F2010 Results
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, CGI generated revenue of $1.01 billion. This compares with $926.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 or an improvement of 8.7%. On a constant currency basis, this represents growth of 13.8%.

Adjusted EBIT in Q4 2010 was $139.8 million, or 13.9% of revenue compared with $126.1 million or 13.6% of revenue in the same period last year.  

Earnings from continuing operations in the fourth quarter were $84.1 million, representing a margin of 8.3%. This is an improvement of $1.4 million or 1.7% compared with $82.6 million in Q4 2009.  

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were 30 cents in the fourth quarter, compared with 27 cents in the fourth quarter of 2009, representing an increase of 11.1%.  

The quarter included expenses of $16.7 million related to the Stanley acquisition. Before these one-time expenses, earnings from continuing operations would have been $94.5 million and diluted EPS would have been 34 cents per share representing a year-over-year improvement of 14.4% and 25.9% respectively. Earnings margin would have been 9.4%.

Cash provided by operating activities totalled $158.5 million in the fourth quarter or 15.7% of revenue representing $0.56 per share.

“We enter fiscal 2011 in an excellent position strategically, operationally and financially,” added Mr. Roach. “From an operational point of view, the integration of Stanley is essentially complete. In Q4, we have taken the operational actions necessary to realize an EPS accretion rate of 15 to 20% over the next 12 to 24 months. To date, we have achieved more than $23 million in annualized synergies representing over 85% of our targeted amount with the balance expected to be realized by the end of the fiscal year.”

As part of its Normal Course Issuer Bid, the Company acquired 8.1 million shares for $123.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2010 at an average price of $15.20 per share. This brings the cumulative total number of shares purchased under the current Normal Course Issuer Bid to approximately 18.2 million shares or 72% of the authorized limit for the current buyback program, which runs through February 2011.

In the fourth quarter, new contract signings totalled $1.1 billion, or 108% of revenue, composed primarily of new bookings in the government & healthcare as well as the financial services verticals.

percentages and share data
Q4 F2010 Results
In $ 000’s except percentages, share data and DSO
All figures are from continuing operations and include 6 weeks of Stanley results Q4-2010 Q4-2009
Revenue 1,007,056 926,051
Year-over-year growth 8.7% (0.3%)
Year-over-year growth at constant currency 13.8% (1.4%)
Adjusted EBIT margin 13.9% 13.6%
Earnings 84,076 82,640
Earnings margin 8.3% 8.9%
Basic EPS* 0.31 0.27
Diluted EPS* 0.30 0.27
Weighted average number of outstanding shares (diluted) 281,951,998 307,221,737
DSO (Days of sales outstanding) 47 39
Bookings 1,082,620 549,807

*Attributable to shareholders of CGI 

Q4 and full-year F2010 Results Conference Call
Senior management will host a conference call to discuss results at 9 a.m. EST this morning. Participants may access the call by dialing (866) 226-1792 or on the Web at www.cgi.com/investors. Supporting slides for the call will also be available. For those unable to participate on the live call, a podcast and copy of the slides will be archived for download at www.cgi.com/investors.

About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 31,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices and centers of excellence in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. As at September 30, 2010, CGI's revenue was $3.7 billion and its order backlog was $13.3 billion. CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in both, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index. Website:www.cgi.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
CGI reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations as they provide additional measures of its performance. Explanations as well as a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures with GAAP financial statements are provided in the MD&A which is posted on CGI’s website, and filed with SEDAR and EDGAR.

Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of section 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act. These statements and this information represent CGI’s intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, of which many are beyond the control of the Company. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. These factors include but are not restricted to: the timing and size of new contracts; acquisitions and other corporate developments; the ability to attract and retain qualified members; market competition in the rapidly evolving IT industry; general economic and business conditions; foreign exchange and other risks identified in the press release, in CGI’s Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov), the Company’s Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com), as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. The words “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “foresee,” “plan,” and similar expressions and variations thereof, identify certain of such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. In particular, statements relating to future performance are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information. You will find more information about the risks that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations in the Risks and Uncertainties section.

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For more information:

Investors
Lorne Gorber
Senior Vice-President,
Global Communications and Investor Relations
514 841-3355
lorne.gorber@cgi.com