Highlights
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To access the financial results – click here (PDF)
To access the MD&A – click here (PDF)
CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) reported fourth quarter revenue of $922.8 million, up 9.1% compared with $845.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. On a constant currency basis, this represents growth of 11.3%.
Adjusted EBIT in Q4 2007 was $101.5 million, or 11.0% of revenue. This is an 11.4% increase compared with adjusted EBIT of $91.1 million or 10.8% of revenue in Q4 2006.
Net earnings in the fourth quarter were $65.6 million, for a net margin of 7.1%. This is an improvement of 66% compared with net earnings of $39.5 million for a net margin of 4.7% in Q4 2006.
Earnings per share were 20 cents in the fourth quarter, compared with 12 cents in the fourth quarter of 2006, representing an increase of 67%.
Cash generated by operating activities totaled $120.4 million in the fourth quarter. This represents an improvement of 132% compared with $51.8 million generated in Q4 of fiscal 2006.
As part of its Normal Course Issuer Bid, the Company repurchased 5.6 million shares in addition to making $31.5 million dollars in net debt repayments during the fourth quarter of 2007.
In the fourth quarter, new contract bookings totaled $840.9 million, an improvement of 82% from the same period last year.
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“Our fourth quarter results continued to show a strengthening of all key performance indicators, including double digit revenue growth and industry leading margins,” said Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The enhancements we made to our business development model have significantly increased our ongoing ability to consistently and profitably grow our business globally.”
Fiscal 2007 results
Revenue for fiscal 2007 was up 6.7% to $3.71 billion, compared with $3.48 billion in fiscal 2006. This represents 7.1% year-over-year growth at constant currency.
Fiscal 2007 adjusted EBIT was $407.8 million, or 11.0% of revenue. This is an increase of $97.5 million or 31% compared with $310.3 million in F2006.
Net earnings in fiscal 2007 were $236.4 million for a net margin of 6.4%. This represents a 61% increase compared with $146.5 million in fiscal 2006, or a net earnings margin of 4.2%.
On a fully diluted earnings per share basis, the Company reported 71 cents compared with 40 cents in fiscal 2006, representing an increase of 78%.
In fiscal 2007, CGI generated $550.2 million in cash from operations, or $1.65 per share. This is an 80% improvement compared with $305.6 million in cash generated during fiscal 2006.
As part of its Normal Course Issuer Bid, the Company repurchased more than 12.3 million shares of CGI during the fiscal year for an investment of $126.4 million. In addition, net debt repayments of $331.0 million were made over the last twelve months, for a net debt to capitalization ratio of 16.8%. As a result, the Company finished fiscal 2007 with $88.9 million in cash and cash equivalents on hand.
In fiscal 2007, new contract signings totaled $3.3 billion or 0.9x revenue. This includes a bookings adjustment of $200 million reflecting the mutually agreed upon cancellation of a binding MOU with CAE that had been booked in Q3. Including this impact and currency fluctuations, the Company’s backlog at year-end stood at $12.0 billion.
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Note: Audited 2007 Annual Financial Statements are available on www.cgi.com and will be filed with both SEDAR and EDGAR. All dollar figures are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.
“Fiscal 2007 was a very successful year for CGI. Throughout the year, we were able to significantly enhance shareholder value by focusing on delivering on the fundamentals necessary for sustained profitable growth. We grew revenue while significantly increasing profitability and cash flow as we continue to implement our build and buy strategy,” added Roach. “In addition, we were able to significantly reduce our debt and buy back shares for a total investment of $459.5 million. We entered our F2008 in excellent position to continue to profitably grow our business.”
Fourth Quarter and full-year F2007 Results Conference Call
Senior management will host a conference call to discuss results at 9 a.m. Eastern time this morning. Participants may access the call by dialing (877) 922-4773 or on the Web at www.cgi.com. 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.
Investor Day: Friday, November 16, 2007
CGI will be hosting an Investor Day for equity analysts and institutional shareholders on Friday, November 16th from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in New York City. Interested parties are invited to tune into the live webcast via www.cgi.com. Please note that registration for this event was by invitation only and is now closed.
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 26,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI's annual revenue run rate stands at $3.7 billion and at September 30th, 2007, CGI's order backlog was $12.0 billion. CGI 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.
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 sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act, as amended. 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 Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“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), and in CGI’s annual and quarterly MD&A and 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information.
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For more information:
Lorne Gorber
Vice-President, Global Communications and Investor Relations
514 841-3355
lorne.gorber@cgi.com
