CGI reports $1.6 billion in new contract bookings and strong EPS growth in
Q1-F2010

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

    Q1-F2010 year-over-year highlights from continuing operations:

    - Revenue of $913.0 million;
    - Bookings of $1.6 billion, up 105%;
    - Adjusted EBIT of $119.4 million, up 4.6%;
    - Net earnings of $111.2 million, up 38.9%;
    - Net earnings margin of 12.2%, up from 8.0%;
    - Diluted EPS of 37 cents, up 42.3%;
    - Cash from operating activities of $166.1 million, up 108.7%;
    - Backlog of $11.4 billion.

    Note: All figures are in Canadian dollars and from continuing operations.
    Q1 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.
    

MONTREAL , Jan. 27 /CNW Telbec/ - CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) reported fiscal 2010 first quarter revenue of $913.0 million . Foreign exchange fluctuations unfavourably impacted revenue by $50.3 million , or 5.0% compared with the same period last year. Sequentially, revenue was stable on a constant currency basis.

Adjusted EBIT was $119.4 million compared with $114.2 million in the same quarter last year. This represents an adjusted EBIT margin of 13.1% up from 11.4% in the first quarter of 2009.

The current quarter included favourable tax adjustments in the amount of $30.5 million compared with $8.6 million in Q1-2009.

Net earnings were $111.2 million or 12.2% of revenue compared with $80.1 million in the same quarter last year, representing an increase of 38.9% year-over-year.

Diluted earnings per share were 37 cents, up 42.3% compared with 26 cents in the same period last year.

On a comparable basis when excluding the tax adjustments, net earnings were $80.7 million or 8.8% of revenue in Q1-F2010, compared with $71.4 million in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share would have been 27 cents, up 17.4% compared with 23 cents in the first quarter of 2009.

The Company generated $166.1 million in cash from operating activities, or 18.2% of revenue for the first quarter, compared with $79.6 million or 8.0% of revenue in the same period last year. Over the last twelve months, CGI generated $716.8 million or $2.33 in cash per diluted share.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

The Company purchased and cancelled 11.4 million CGI shares during the quarter for $150.4 million . Over the last twelve months, 24,615,420 shares were purchased at an average price of $12.32 for a total investment of $303.3 million . On January 27, 2010 the Company's Board of Directors authorized the renewal of the Normal Course Issuer Bid and 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, subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange.

    
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    In millions of Canadian dollars from continuing
     operations except earnings per share and where
     noted
                                                      Q1 F2010     Q1 F2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Revenue                                              913.0      1,000.4
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adjusted EBIT                                        119.4        114.2
    Margin                                                13.1%        11.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before income taxes                         116.6        105.8
    Margin                                                12.8%        10.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net earnings                                         111.2         80.1
    Margin                                                12.2%         8.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings per share (diluted)                          0.37         0.26
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Weighted average number of outstanding
     shares (diluted)                              301,953,549  310,654,514
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Interest on long-term debt                             3.7          6.7
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net debt to capitalization ratio                       n/a          9.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Cash provided by operating activities                166.1         79.6
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Days of sales outstanding (DSO)                         30           52
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Return on invested capital                           15.4%         14.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bookings                                            1,591           775
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Backlog                                            11,410        11,400
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

During the quarter, the Company booked $1.6 billion in new contract wins, extensions and renewals, bringing the total bookings over the last twelve months to $4.9 billion . At the end of December 2009 , the Company's backlog of signed orders stood at $11.4 billion , up $517 million from the end of fiscal 2009. This represents 3.0x annual revenue.

"Increased client project activity and growing momentum in our sales funnel coupled with higher bookings reinforce our expectation of a gradual return to more traditional levels of top line growth during the remainder of our fiscal year," said Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our cash generation ability combined with the strength of our balance sheet allows us to execute our Build & Buy profitable growth strategy and return excess cash to shareholders through the extension of our share buyback program."

At the end of the fiscal first quarter, the Company had over $1.7 billion in available capital, including $346.4 million in cash and an unused $1.4 billion under its line of credit secured through 2012. The net cash position of the Company in excess of its total debt at the end of the quarter was $73.0 million .

First Quarter F2010 Results Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to discuss results at 9:30a.m. Eastern time this morning. Participants may access the call by dialing [phone] 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.

Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

This morning at 11:00a.m. , the Company will hold its Annual General Meeting of shareholders at the Omni Mount-Royal Hotel, 1050 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal . The meeting, being presided over by Serge Godin, Founder and Executive Chairman, will be broadcast live via www.cgi.com/investors. Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer will also address the meeting and a question and answer session will follow with the Executive team.

Note to the media: A press conference will be held immediately following the Annual General Meeting, at approximately 12 noon.

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 at December 31, 2009 , CGI's order backlog was $11.4 billion . CGI 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. 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.

For further information: Lorne Gorber, Vice-President, Global Communications and Investor Relations, [phone], [email protected]