Alcan Inc.'s Rolled Products North America division (TSX: AL; NYSE: AL;), and CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB;), a leading provider of information technology and business processing services, announced today the signing of an end-to-end, 10-year information technology (IT) outsourcing contract valued at US$113 million. CGI will be responsible for all IT operations - everything from desktop support, server management and applications development and maintenance.
As part of this contract, Alcan IT professionals located in Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky and Ontario will be joining CGI. CGI has served Alcan for over 20 years, providing a range of services from consulting to basic infrastructure support to delivering specialty IT projects.
"We look forward to a long and successful strategic partnership with CGI," said Martha Brooks, president Alcan Rolled Products, America and Asia. "Jointly, we will leverage the strength and expertise of CGI to deliver the best IT solutions for Alcan."
Michael Roach, CGI's president and chief operating officer added: "We are very proud of our longstanding relationship with Alcan. With this new contract we are broadening the scope and scale of services we provide to Alcan. I would also like to warmly welcome the Alcan IT professionals to CGI."
About Alcan
Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 54,000 people and has operating facilities in 42 countries. To learn more visit www.alcan.com.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is the fifth largest independent information technology services firm in North America, based on its headcount. CGI and its affiliated companies employ 20,000 professionals. CGI's annualised revenue run-rate is currently CDN$2.8 billion (US$1.9 billion) and at September 30, 2003, CGI's order backlog was CDN$12.3 billion (US$9.1 billion). CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services clients worldwide from offices in Canada, United States and Europe. CGI's shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the TSX 100 Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Canadian Information Technology and Canadian MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com.
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. These statements represent CGI Group Inc.'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.
These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of contracts, acquisitions and other corporate developments; the ability to attract and retain qualified employees; market competition in the rapidly-evolving information technology industry; general economic and business conditions, foreign exchange and other risks identified in the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in CGI Group Inc.'s Annual Report or Form 40-F filed with the SEC, the Company's Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities, 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, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. In particular, statements relating to future revenue from outsourcing contracts 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.
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For more information:
Alcan:
Pat Persico
(440) 423-6522
CGI:
Investor relations
Julie Creed
(312) 201-4803
Ronald White
(514) 841-3230
Media relations
Eileen Murphy
(514) 841-3430
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