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CGI reports sequential revenue growth and signs $1.06 billion in new contracts during Q3-2009

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 05:30 CDT

MONTREAL, July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) reported fiscal 2009 third quarter revenue today of $950.4 million compared with $950.5 million in Q3-2008 and $948.3 million in Q2-2009, representing sequential growth of 2.7% at constant currency. During the quarter, 43% of global revenue was generated outside of Canada, up from 37% in the same quarter last year, in line with the Company's business strategy.

Adjusted EBIT in the third quarter of 2009 was $113.1 million, or 11.9% of revenue, compared with $111.1 or 11.7% of revenue in the third quarter of 2008.

Earnings from continuing operations in Q3-2009 were $76.5 million or 8.1% of revenue generating diluted earnings per share of 25 cents. This compares with Q3-2008 earnings from continuing operations of $71.0 million or 7.5% of revenue, representing diluted earnings per share of 22 cents when excluding a $10.8 million one-time tax benefit.

The Company generated $170.9 million in cash from its continuing operating activities, or 18.0% of revenue. In the first nine months of fiscal 2009, CGI has generated $437.8 million in cash from continuing operating activities or 15.1% of revenue representing an improvement of $165.1 million from the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

At the end of the fiscal third quarter, the Company had access to liquidity of more than $1.6 billion, including $272.0 million in cash and an undrawn $1.35 billion under its line of credit secured through 2012. Debt repayments in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 totaled $271.2 million, leaving net debt at the end of the third quarter at $15.9 million for a net debt to capitalization ratio of 0.6%, significantly improved from 15.6% in Q3-2008.

Under its Normal Course Issuer Bid, the Company bought back 3.15 million shares during the quarter for a total investment of $32.1 million. Under the current program, running until February 2010, the Company is authorized to purchase an additional 23.6 million shares.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- In millions of Canadian dollars except EPS and when noted Q3 F2009 Q3 F2008 YTD F2009 YTD F2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 950.4 950.5 2,899.1 2,776.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBIT 113.1 111.1 334.6 325.2 Margin 11.9% 11.7% 11.5% 11.7% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Earnings 76.5 78.0 233.9 219.5 Margin 8.1% 8.2% 8.1% 7.9% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per share (diluted) 0.25 0.24 0.75 0.67 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash provided by continuing operating activities 170.9 105.9 437.8 272.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average number of outstanding shares (diluted) 311,500,173 320,745,197 311,223,342 325,850,193 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest on long-term debt 3.5 6.4 15.5 20.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net debt 15.9 368.7 15.9 368.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net debt to capitalization ratio 0.6% 15.6% 0.6% 15.6% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Days of sales outstanding (DSO) 41 48 41 48 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookings 1,059 986 3,510 3,163 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Backlog 11,772 11,638 11,772 11,638 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

During the quarter, the Company booked $1.06 billion in new contract wins or 111% of revenue, primarily in the government and healthcare as well as financial services verticals. This represents an improvement of 7.4% from Q3-2008 and brings the value of CGI's signed contracts over the last twelve months to $4.5 billion, or 117% of revenue. At the end of June 2009, the Company's order backlog stood at $11.8 billion or 3.1 times annual revenue.

"Our primary focus remains on helping clients through these challenging market conditions," said Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our growing sales funnel, strong contract bookings and a gradual increase in our systems integration and consulting business provide continued optimism with respect to increasing growth opportunities in future quarters."

"Our financial performance remains strong enabling us to reduce our net debt to $15.9 million and to increase our participation in our share purchase program at a time when IT services firms are trading at very attractive valuations," concluded Roach.

Third Quarter F2009 Results Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to discuss results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time this morning. Participants may access the call by dialing (866) 223-7781 or on the Web at www.cgi.com/investors. 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/investors.

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI 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 in over 100 offices across 16 countries. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States of America, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run rate is currently $3.8 billion and as at June 30, 2009, its order backlog was $11.8 billion. CGI's 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.

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.

In addition, cash per share is defined as cash provided by continuing operating activities over the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding at the end of a given period.

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 on 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, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information.

SOURCE CGI GROUP INC.

Source: PR Newswire

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