CGI PURSUES GROWTH STRATEGY IN EUROPE WITH ACQUISITION OF PLAUT CONSULTING SAS
Paris, France, May 30, 2006 -CGI Group Inc. (CGI) announced today the acquisition of Plaut Consulting SAS, a
French management and technology consulting firm. Founded in 1998, the company,
which is headquartered in Paris, is privately owned and has annual revenues of
approximately €14 million (CAN$20 million). The acquisition, expected to close
on June 1st 2006, will allow CGI to significantly increase its footprint in
France.
Recognized for its expertise in implementing SAP solutions,
Plaut Consulting SAS guides its worldwide clients through organizational and
information systems transformation projects. Plaut Consulting SAS consists of
120 professionals in the manufacturing, retail and distribution, financial
services and telecommunications markets.
“Our two companies are focused
on achieving results and developing long-term partnerships that create value for
our clients,” affirmed Didier Moscatelli, President of Plaut Consulting SAS. “By
coming together with CGI, we will be well positioned to increase our service
offering, and our professionals will have access to rich and stimulating career
opportunities within a global end-to-end IT and BPS provider.”
In
addition to specializing in SAP integration, Plaut Consulting SAS is also
recognized for its expertise in business intelligence (BI), customer
relationship management (CRM) and integrated technologies.
“This
acquisition is ideally aligned with our strategic plan to profitably triple our
operations in Europe by 2010,” stated Jacques Leray, Vice-President, General
Manager of CGI France. “We have chosen Plaut Consulting SAS, because it has all
of the key factors to allow us to increase our results over both the short and
long term. Plaut Consulting SAS is a business that complements our own in terms
of its professionals, activities and sectors of expertise. By joining forces, we
will be capable of enhancing our response to the growing needs of our European
and international clients, particularly with respect to the integration of SAP
solutions. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to CGI.”
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. (“CGI”) is the
eighth largest independent information technology and business process services
firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000
professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to
clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States of America (“US”),
Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in Canada, the US,
Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run rate is currently $3.5 billion
(US$3.0 billion) and at March 31, 2006, CGI's order backlog was $13.7 billion
(US$11.7 billion). CGI's shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB)
and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX
Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com.
CGI 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 may be “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario
Securities Act. These statements and this information represent CGI Group Inc.’s
(“CGI”) 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
and 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 information technology
industry; general economic and business conditions, foreign exchange and other
risks identified in the MD&A, in CGI’s Annual Report or 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. CGI disclaims any
intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements or forward-looking information. You will find more information about
the risks that could cause our actual results to significantly differ from our
current expectations in the Risks and Uncertainties section.
-30-
Contacts
Investors
Lorne Gorber
Vice-President
Corporate Communications
and Investor Relations
lorne.gorber@cgi.com
+ 1 514 841-3355
Media
Philippe
Beauregard
Director, Public Affairs
philippe.beauregard@cgi.com
+ 1 514
841-3218
CGI France
Hervé Dusart
Communications and
Marketing
herve.dusart@cgi.com
+33 1 53 45 67 47








