|
|
|
CONTACT INFORMATION
CGI Group Inc.
www.cgi.com
Eileen Murphy
(514) 841-3430 |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mets Power Plant Selects CGI to Upgrade
Its Customer Information System
Agreement reached between the two companies includes joint
marketing of the future solution to other energy producers and distributors
PARIS, FRANCE, March 6, 2003 - CGI Group Inc.
(CGI) (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), and the Usine d'Electricité
de Metz (UEM), France’s leading independent electric authority,
today announced they have signed a 30-month contract valued at US$9
million (CDN$ 14 million) for the upgrading of UEM’s customer
relations management (CRM) statement and billing system.
The contract also includes a partnership whereby CGI and UEM will
jointly market the future solution. Designed for energy distributors
and suppliers to the European market, the information system will
provide multi-fluid (electricity, gas, district heating, etc.) and
multi-activity (cable television, service contracts, Internet) management
capabilities.
In collaboration with UEM, CGI will be responsible for the complete
delivery of the system, from its design to implementation and for
all of the solution’s functional areas, from meter reading
to collection.
“The European directive of 1999 opened the energy market
to competition,” explained Francis Grosmangin, UEM’s
director of information and organization systems and project leader
for the company. “As an electricity producer and distributor,
we must adapt to this new situation in order to remain competitive.
We are very pleased that CGI has joined us in this challenge, thus
allowing us to benefit from its recognized expertise in the utilities
sector.”
“The CGI teams and those of UEM will focus on developing
a unique, innovative and state-of-the-art solution,” stated
Denis Marchesnay, director, utilities consulting services for CGI
in France. “The tool, which will be fully adapted to a sector
that is obliged to follow a new set of rules, will become a benchmark
for the entire market.”
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$6.8 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. www.cgi.com.
About UEM
UEM is the 1st French independent energy company, created at the
beginning of the century by the Town of Metz for the production
and the distribution of electricity. UEM is present in 4 activities:
electricity (150 000 customers, 3500 km of network, 1,6 TWh energy
distributed per annum), district heating, cable television and public
lightning. www.uem-metz.fr
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.
# # #
|
|