Quebec City, Quebec, February 3, 2003 - CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) announced today that it has signed a business process services contract worth an estimated CDN$18.9 million over five years with the Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du Québec. This public-private partnership agreement will see CGI supply a Web-accessible electronic call for tenders system to all Quebec government departments and agencies as well as establishments in the education, health and social services and municipal networks. The platform will publish and distribute requests for quotations for goods and services, including those sought from the construction sector. The new service will become effective in June 2004 and will replace the MERX system currently used by the Government of Quebec.
As project manager, CGI will be responsible for development and operation of the solution, including its hosting and the printing and distribution of call for tenders documents, and will provide support to users via a call centre. Cactus Internet will partner in the development of the solution, and the Mouvement des caisses Desjardins du Québec will allow users access to its on-line electronic payment solutions.
"This new contract clearly demonstrates that CGI has the ability to handle end-to-end business processes and in doing so tangibly improve its clients' efficiency," stated Michael Roach, CGI's president and chief operating officer. "It also speaks volumes about our commitment to our long-standing partnership with the Government of Quebec."
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is the fourth largest independent information technology services firm in North America, based on its headcount. CGI and its affiliated companies employ more than 21,000 professionals. CGI's annualized revenue run-rate is CDN$3 billion (US$2 billion) and at December 31, 2002, CGI's order backlog was CDN$10.7 billion (US$7.1 billion). CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to more than 3,500 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:
CGI:
Investor relations
Julie Creed
Vice-president, investor relations
(312) 201-4803
Ronald White
Director, investor relations
(514) 841-3230
Media relations
Eileen Murphy
Director, media relations
(514) 841-3430
