Brazilian-based local and long-distance telephone services provider Mirror S.A. and CGI today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding according to which CGI will provide Mirror S.A. with IS/IT systems integration services worth US$39.9 million (CDN$57 million) over a 12-month period.
Based on the comprehensive MOU, CGI will coordinate the work of approximately 80 IT professionals in Rio de Janeiro. It will act as Mirror S.A.'s prime integrator for a series of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), point-of-sale and workforce management systems. Brazilian-based local and long-distance telephone services provider Mirror S.A. and CGI today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding according to which CGI will provide Mirror S.A. with IS/IT systems integration services worth US$39.9 million (CDN$57 million) over a 12-month period.
Based on the comprehensive MOU, CGI will coordinate the work of approximately 80 IT professionals in Rio de Janeiro. It will act as Mirror S.A.'s prime integrator for a series of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), point-of-sale and workforce management systems. CGI will also coordinate the implementation of IBM's ICMS customer care and billing solution. A formal agreement is expected to be signed by August 1, 1999.
"We are pleased to be working with CGI for the implementation and integration of these mission-critical systems," said Mirror S.A.'s CEO, Gilberto Garbi. "We selected CGI as our partner based on its strong reputation for delivering quality work - on time and on budget. In addition to their telecom expertise, they also have an extensive track record in the integration of several systems and components within a single project," he added.
Jean Brassard, CGI's President and COO, added: "We are delighted that CGI was selected as Mirror S.A.'s primary partner to oversee the implementation and integration of this full suite of customer and management systems. This is our first large contract in Brazil, a key South American market for us. We believe that the experience gained with Mirror S.A. will allow us to secure more work with private and public organizations in this strong and growing telecom market."
Mirror S.A. is a consortium bringing together a unique combination of expertise in the areas of building and successfully managing telecommunications operations, advanced technology, international finance and local Brazilian experience. BCI (Bell Canada International) owns a 34.4% interest in the consortium and is joined by WLL International Inc. (34.4%), Qualcomm Incorporated (16.2%), the Liberman Group of Argentina (12.5%), and the Vicunha Group of Brazil (2.5%).
Mirror S.A. operates in the Northeast region of Brazil, comprised of 16 states and home to almost 90 million people, representing over half of the country's population. Major metropolitan areas covered by its license include Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Salvador. The consortium plans to service the area primarily using fixed wireless technologies and expects to invest more than CDN$1.5 billion in building its state-of-the art network.
CGI is the largest independent information technology consulting firm in Canada and the fifth largest in North America, based on its revenue run rate of CDN$1.6 billion. Its order backlog totals approximately CDN$8 billion and the company currently has proposals outstanding for an additional CDN$4 billion in potential large contracts. CGI has 10,000 professionals and provides end-to-end IT services and business solutions to 2,000 clients in Canada, the United States and more than 20 countries around the world. CGI's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (GIB), as well as on the Toronto and Montreal exchanges (GIB.A). They are included in the Toronto Stock Exchange's TSE 300 Composite and TSE 100 indexes. Web site: www.cgi.ca.
All statements contained in this or any other press release of CGI Group Inc., or in any document filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in any other written or oral communication by or on behalf of the Company, that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts, constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995. These statements represent the Company's expectations and beliefs, and no assurance can be given that the results described in such statements will be achieved.
This press release may contain forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the outlook for the company's business and results of operations. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Such factors include, without limitation, the various factors set forth in the Company's annual report or Form 40F filed with the SEC and its Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities commissions, which important factors are included here by reference.
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For more information:
CGI
André Imbeau
Executive Vice-President & CFO
(514) 841-3205
andre.imbeau@cgi.ca
Ronald White
Investor and Media Relations
(514) 841-3230
ronald.white@cgi.ca
