Desjardins Financial Security, Desjardins Group General Insurance and CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB;) announced today the signing of two five-year IT outsourcing contract renewals valued at CDN$70 million for the delivery of facilities management services for central office data computing, the technical assistance centre and incident management.
"It's not what you deliver but rather how you deliver it that makes all the difference. I am very satisfied with the quality of the service we have from CGI. When you have a technical problem, for example, no matter how small, you want it treated immediately and effectively. The team always makes sure that everything runs smoothly so as to ensure the availability and stability of our operations across Canada," said Jude Martineau, president and chief operating officer of Desjardins Group General Insurance.
François Joly, president and chief operating officer of Desjardins Financial Security said: "We have seen over time that we could count on CGI's employees' expertise and professionalism to offer top quality service to our clients across Canada and to sustain our competitive edge. We are indeed convinced that this partnership will contribute to our business objectives in the coming years."
Michael Roach, president and chief operating officer of CGI added: "We are very pleased with our client's confidence in our ability to deliver. These contract renewals are clearly a result of client satisfaction stemming from quality services delivered by outstanding professionals who form our tight, focused team. We are proud of our long relationship with the Desjardins Group and look forward to many more years of partnering with them."
About Desjardins Group, General Insurance
A subsidiary of Desjardins Financial Corporation, Desjardins Group General Insurance (DGGI) has a portfolio of more than 1,500,000 in-force policies and assets of $1.8 billion. Through its own subsidiaries, DGGI offers its products directly to individuals, small businesses and partner groups. DGGI ranks among the top ten P&C insurers in Canada and is the leader in direct P&C insurance in Quebec.
Our insurers in the individual market, Certas Direct and Assurances générales des caisses Desjardins (AGCD), offer automobile and property insurance products to individuals and to small and medium-sized businesses as well, in the case of (AGCD). Using the brand name The Personal, our two group P&C insurers market their P&C insurance products to associations, professional corporations and employers.
About Desjardins Financial Security
Desjardins Financial Security is a subsidiary of the Desjardins Financial Corporation, specialized in life and health insurance and retirement savings products. Over 5 million Canadians depend on it each day for their financial security. Desjardins Financial Security employs 3,530 people and manages $13 billion in assets. As part of the Desjardins Group, Desjardins Financial Security has offices in several cities across the country, including Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Levis, Halifax and St-John's. It is also present in the Bahamas through its Imperial Life Financial division.
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 20,000 professionals. CGI's annualised revenue run-rate is currently CDN$2.9 billion (US$1.9 billion) and at March 31, 2003, CGI's order backlog was CDN$11.2 billion (US$7.6 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
(312) 201-4803
Ronald White
(514) 841-3230
Media relations
Eileen Murphy
(514) 841-3430
Desjardins Group, General Insurance
Nathalie Bissonnette
1-877-835-4900, ext. 7851
Desjardins Financial Security
Richard Fournier
(418) 838-7664 or toll-free: 1-800-463-7870, ext. 7664
