CGI Group (Europe) Limited (CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) has signed a fully
managed IT services contract worth £1 million with Highway Insurance Holdings
Plc (Highway), the UK's eleventh largest motor insurer. Under the terms of
the agreement, CGI will support its IT infrastructure and desktop environment
for 600 users across six locations.
CGI will re-locate all Highway's hardware currently installed at its UK
headquarters in Brentwood to CGI's Basingstoke Datacentre in Hampshire.
CGI will provide full operation and technical support for Highway's
NT-based financial servers, and terminal servers which provide access to
print, email, database and application services. This is in addition to
an applications management contract Highway signed earlier this year for
CGI to provide full support for its recently implemented GIOS (Global
Insurance Open Solution) server -- CGI's renowned insurance administration
system.
CGI will also provide a combination of local and remote staff to provide Highway
with desktop support, as well as helpdesk services through a central helpdesk
at CGI's Basingstoke datacentre. The new contract will enable CGI to transfer
the previous suppliers incumbent staff to CGI's existing IT teams offering
Highway support from a larger, more flexible and diversely skilled workforce.
Peter Fraser, IT Director, Highway Insurance Holdings Plc, comments:
"In 2003 we wanted to ensure that Highway's server infrastructure
is maintained and protected in a secure and resilient datacentre environment.
The CGI datacentre in Basingtoke is manned by professional IT staff on a 24 x 7
basis and has full UPS and fire protection systems. We can therefore rest assured
that any failures, both hardware and software, will be dealt with promptly and
professionally by CGI, and in the most cost effective manner."
Peter Fraser adds:
"Highway has developed a strong relationship with CGI over
the past few years, following the implementation of GIOS. This new agreement is
an extension of our faith in CGI's IT outsourcing capabilities."
Gavin Chapman, managing director of CGI Group (Europe) Ltd, comments:
"Highway will see a number of benefits from outsourcing its
IT services to CGI including cost savings, improved service levels and flexibility
and the advantage of having a single point of contact for all IT related issues.
We look forward to working even more closely with Highway in 2003."
About Highway
Highway Insurance is the UK's 11th largest motor insurer. Founded over 50
years ago, Highway writes a broad range of motor risks and in 2003 will write
some GBP 320 million in gross premiums, representing 600,000 policies. Highway
is part of the Highway Insurance Holdings Plc group, quoted on the London Stock
Exchange (HWY.L).
Web site: www.highway-insurance.co.uk
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
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UK press enquiries:
Geraldine Grewal / Louisa Constable
Portfolio Communications Ltd.
(020) 7240 6959
geraldine.grewal@portfoliocomms.com
Ref: 02-527
