CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), a world leader in information
technology (IT) and business process services, has signed a 10-year lease with
Russell County to occupy its new 42,000 square-foot software engineering and
development center. After the 10-year lease period is completed, ownership of
the building will transfer to CGI.
“It is a great pleasure working with
the people of CGI. They make us feel like long-time friends and we, as a county,
are very excited to enter into this long-term partnership with CGI,” said Harry
Rutherford, Chairman of the Russell County Industrial Development Authority.
“For years our region has attempted to attract quality employment opportunities
for our citizens. With the infrastructure that we now have in place, Russell
County has the ability to attract and retain industries – such as technology –
that wouldn’t have given us a second look a decade ago.”
CGI has
operated its development center in a temporary Russell County space since March
2006 and currently has more than 100 IT professionals at the facility. That
number is expected to grow to 300 programmers and business analysts.
“This commitment by CGI is another exciting step for Russell County and
the entire region,” said Patrick O. Gottschalk, Virginia Secretary of Commerce
and Trade. “I look forward to working with CGI and our local partners to ensure
the success of this project and to keep the economy in Virginia’s Great
Southwest moving forward.”
The expansion of the Southwest Virginia
Center of Excellence is an important next step in CGI’s plans to evolve its
global delivery capabilities to support the growing demands of its global
clients. Currently, CGI employs approximately 25,000 dedicated professionals
servicing clients around the world in their communities and from centers of
excellence in Canada, the United States, as well as in Western Europe and India.
“The progress we’ve made since opening our Southwest Virginia Center of
Excellence in Russell County could not have been accomplished without the
support we’ve received from the local community, County officials, Congressman
Rick Boucher, state Senators William Wampler and Phillip Puckett, Delegate Bud
Phillips, the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Authority, and many
others who have helped us launch and grow this effort,” said Lyn Tatum, from
CGI, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the Russell County data center.
“We’ve been able to recruit and develop a skilled labor force through our
partnerships with local colleges and universities, and in turn are providing
employment opportunities for local college graduates that did not exist before.”
The center will support a wide range of CGI’s global clients from
different sectors including telecommunications, insurance and energy, as well as
numerous Federal, state and local governmental agencies.
“We are very
proud of our long term, successful partnership with the Commonwealth of
Virginia. The inclusion of Southwest Virginia into our global network of centers
of excellence advances CGI’s vision to help provide rural America with a seat at
the rapidly growing global IT table,” said Nazzic Turner, Senior Vice-President,
CGI. “In addition to this, the hiring of such great local talent is one of our
proudest achievements. Working in close collaboration with local and state
officials has allowed all of us to turn the idea of a Southwest Virginia Center
of Excellence into reality.”
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 25,000 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 annualized revenue run rate stands at $3.6 billion
(US$3.1 billion) and at December 31st, 2006, CGI's order backlog was $12.6
billion (US$10.9 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.
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 are “forward-looking
information” within the meaning 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. Except to the extent required by
law, 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.
-30-
For more
information:
CGI
Philippe Beauregard
Director, Corporate
Communications and
Public Affairs
philippe.beauregard@cgi.com
(514)
841-3218
Russell County Industrial Development Authority
Harry
Rutherford
Chairman
harry@akos-va.com
(276) 971-0173
