CGI reports strong margin and EPS growth in Q3-F2010

    Q3-F2010 year-over-year highlights from continuing operations:

    -   Revenue of $901.6 million, up 0.7% on a constant currency basis;
    -   Bookings of $838 million;
    -   Adjusted EBIT of $124.5 million, up 10.0%;
    -   Adjusted EBIT margin of 13.8%, up from 11.9%
    -   Earnings of $85.9 million, up 12.0%;
    -   Earnings margin of 9.5%, up from 8.1%;
    -   Diluted EPS of 30 cents, up 20%;
    -   Cash from operating activities of $102.8 million;
    -   Backlog of $11.4 billion.

    Note: All figures are in Canadian dollars and from continuing operations.
    Q3 F2010 MD&A, financial statements and accompanying notes may be found
    at www.cgi.com/investors and have been filed with both SEDAR in Canada
    and EDGAR in the U.S.

    Stock Market Symbols
    GIB.A (TSX)
    GIB (NYSE)

MONTREAL, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) reported fiscal 2010 third quarter revenue of $901.6 million. Foreign exchange fluctuations unfavourably impacted revenue by $55.3 million, or 5.8% compared with the same period last year. Sequentially, and year-over-year, revenue was stable on a constant currency basis.

Adjusted EBIT was $124.5 million compared with $113.1 million in the same quarter last year, representing an increase of 10.0% year-over-year. This represents an adjusted EBIT margin of 13.8% up from 11.9% in the third quarter of 2009.

Net earnings were $85.9 million or 9.5% of revenue compared with $76.7 million in the same quarter last year, representing an increase of 12.0% year-over-year.

Diluted earnings per share were 30 cents, up 20.0% compared with 25 cents in the same period last year.

The Company generated $102.8 million in cash from operating activities, or 11.4% of revenue for the third quarter. On a last twelve months basis, CGI has generated $586.3 million or approximately $1.96 in cash per diluted share.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

The Company purchased 7.1 million CGI shares during the quarter for $111.8 million. Since the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1, 2009, 27,483,385 shares were purchased at an average price of $14.31 for a total investment of $393.3 million.

On January 27, 2010 the Company's Board of Directors authorized the renewal of the Normal Course Issuer Bid for the purchase of up to an additional 10% of the Company's public float of shares, or approximately 25 million shares during the next year. As at June 30, 2010 the Company has purchased 40% of its allowable amount.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In millions of Canadian dollars from continuing
     operations except earnings per share and where
     noted
                                                      Q3 F2010      Q3 F2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Revenue                                              901.6         950.4
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adjusted EBIT                                        124.5         113.1
    Margin                                                13.8%         11.9%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before income taxes                         120.2         111.1
    Margin                                                13.3%         11.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings                                              85.9          76.7
    Margin                                                 9.5%          8.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings per share (diluted)                          0.30          0.25
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Weighted average number of outstanding
     shares (diluted)                              290,226,120   311,500,173
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Interest on long-term debt                             4.4           3.5
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Days of sales outstanding (DSO)                         36            41
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Return on invested capital                            16.8%         13.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Return on equity                                      16.1%         14.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bookings                                               838         1,059
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Backlog                                             11,358        11,772
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

During the quarter, the Company booked $838 million in new contract wins, extensions and renewals, bringing the total bookings over the last twelve months to $4.1 billion, for a book-to-bill of 113%. At the end of June 2010, the Company's backlog of signed orders stood at $11.4 billion. This represents 3.1 times annual revenue.

"We continue to see a gradual return of discretionary spending on strategic IT initiatives," said Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The strength of our cash generation ability combined with the significant and consistent growth in earnings per share afford us the operating flexibility to expand and deepen our business relationships with both new and existing clients on a global basis."

"Our commitment to operational excellence and adherence to sound business fundamentals continue to surface shareholder value," added Mr. Roach.

At the end of the fiscal third quarter, the Company had over $1.7 billion in available capital, including $394.6 million in cash and an unused $1.3 billion under its line of credit secured through 2012.

Acquisition of Stanley, Inc.

On July 12, 2010, CGI announced the extension of its tender offer for shares of Stanley (NYSE: SXE) until August 2, 2010 because certain conditions to the Offer (including the review and approval by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States pursuant to the Exon-Florio Amendment to Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 and the approval by the Defense Security Service of the United States Department of Defense of a plan to operate Stanley's business pursuant to a "FOCI" (foreign ownership, control or influence) mitigation agreement that does not impose certain restrictions or conditions) were not yet satisfied before the expiration of the Offer. At the time of the extension, 84% of the shares had been tendered. These conditions have still not been met. The Company remains committed to disclosing further details as appropriate.

Third Quarter F2010 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 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 26,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. As of June 30, 2010, CGI's order backlog was $11.4 billion. CGI shares are listed on the NYSE (GIB) and the TSX (GIB.A) and are included in both, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the FTSE4Good Index. Website: www.cgi.com.

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 reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures with the GAAP financial statements are provided in the MD&A which is posted on CGI's website, and filed with SEDAR and EDGAR.

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 Canadian securities laws. These statements and this information represent CGI'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 or forward-looking information. These factors include but 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 IT industry; general economic and business conditions; foreign exchange and other risks identified in the press release, 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), the Company's 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. You will find more information about the risks that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations in the Risks and Uncertainties section.

SOURCE CGI GROUP INC.