Improving market conditions contribute to strong performance

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

    Q2-F2010 year-over-year highlights from continuing operations:

    - Revenue of $910.4 million, up 3.5% on a constant currency basis;
    - Bookings of $1.1 billion or 124% of revenue;
    - Adjusted EBIT of $124.0 million, up 15.6%;
    - Adjusted EBIT margin of 13.6%, up from 11.3%;
    - Earnings of $81.6 million, up 6.5%;
    - Earnings margin of 9.0%, up from 8.1%;
    - Diluted EPS of 28 cents, up 12%;
    - Cash from operating activities of $125.0 million or 13.7% of revenue;
    - Backlog of $11.4 billion.

    Note: All figures are in Canadian dollars and from continuing operations.
    Q2 F2010 MD&A, financial statements and accompanying notes may be found
    at cgi.com/investors and have been filed with both SEDAR in Canada and
    EDGAR in the U.S.

MONTREAL, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB) reported fiscal 2010 second quarter revenue of $910.4 million. Foreign exchange fluctuations unfavourably impacted revenue by $70.9 million, or 7.5% compared with the same period last year. Excluding this impact, revenue growth was 3.5%.

Adjusted EBIT was $124.0 million compared with $107.3 million in the same quarter last year, representing an increase of 15.6%. This represents an adjusted EBIT margin of 13.6% up from 11.3% in the second quarter of 2009.

Earnings from continuing operations were $81.6 million or 9.0% of revenue compared with $76.6 million in the same quarter last year, an increase of 6.5% year-over-year. On a comparable year-over-year basis, excluding a $7.3 million positive tax adjustment in the year ago period, the increase was $12.3 million or 17.8%.

Net earnings were $81.6 million in the quarter compared with $77.8 million in Q2-2009, for an improvement of 4.9%.

Diluted earnings per share were 28 cents, up 12.0% compared with 25 cents in the same period last year. Excluding the positive tax adjustment in Q2-2009, the improvement was 5 cents a share, or 21.7%.

The Company generated $125.0 million in cash from operating activities, or 13.7% of revenue for the second quarter. Over the last twelve months, CGI generated $654.5 million or $2.15 in cash per diluted share.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

On January 27, 2010 the Company's Board of Directors authorized the renewal of the Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) and the purchase of up to an additional 10% of the Company's public float, or approximately 25 million shares between February 9, 2010 and February 8, 2011. During the second quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company purchased 9.0 million CGI shares, of which 2.95 million were under the renewed NCIB, leaving 22.2 million shares available for purchase.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      In millions of Canadian dollars from continuing
       operations except earnings per share and where
       noted
                                                      Q2 F2010      Q2 F2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Revenue*                                           910.4         948.3
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adjusted EBIT                                        124.0         107.3
    Margin                                                13.6%         11.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before income taxes                         120.9         101.9
    Margin                                                13.3%         10.7%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings                                              81.6          76.6
    Margin                                                 9.0%          8.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings per share (diluted)                          0.28          0.25
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Weighted average number of outstanding
     shares (diluted)                              295,089,439   311,411,994
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Interest on long-term debt                             3.8           5.3
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Days of sales outstanding (DSO)                         35            42
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Return on invested capital                            16.0%         14.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Return on equity                                      15.5%         15.1%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bookings                                             1,131         1,676
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Backlog                                             11,420        12,019
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    * Revenue includes a negative currency impact of $70.9 million for
        Q2-2010 when compared to Q2-2009

During the quarter, the Company booked $1.1 billion in new contract wins, extensions and renewals, bringing the total bookings over the last twelve months to $4.3 billion or 117% of revenue. At the end of March 2010, the Company's backlog of signed orders stood at $11.4 billion. This represents 3.1x annual revenue.

"Increased client activity and a gradual improvement in our systems integrations and consulting business helped us return to revenue growth in Q2," said Michael E. Roach, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While the impact of currency fluctuations reduced our top line by more than $70 million, I'm pleased that we mitigated the negative impact on the bottom line, as evidenced by our increasing margins and earnings per share. As well, the strength of the Canadian dollar continues to be advantageous in our ongoing execution of our Build & Buy profitable growth strategy."

At the end of the fiscal second quarter, the Company had over $1.7 billion in available capital, including $419.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as well as an unused $1.3 billion under its line of credit secured through August of 2012. The net cash position of the Company in excess of its total debt at the end of the quarter was $35.3 million.

For the last twelve months, the Company's return on invested capital was 16.0% and its return on equity was 15.5%.

Second 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) 226-1792 or on the Web at 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 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 at March 31, 2010, 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 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.

Copyright l 28 PR Newswire

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