CGI pursues growth strategy in Europe with acquisition of Plaut Consulting SAS
May 30 2006 - 3:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) PARIS, France, May 30
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CGI Group Inc. (CGI) announced today the
acquisition of Plaut Consulting SAS, a French management and
technology consulting firm. Founded in 1998, the company, which is
headquartered in Paris, is privately owned and has annual revenues
of approximately 14 million euros (CAN$20 million). The
acquisition, expected to close on June 1st 2006, will allow CGI to
significantly increase its footprint in France. Recognized for its
expertise in implementing SAP solutions, Plaut Consulting SAS
guides its worldwide clients through organizational and information
systems transformation projects. Plaut Consulting SAS consists of
120 professionals in the manufacturing, retail and distribution,
financial services and telecommunications markets. "Our two
companies are focused on achieving results and developing long-
term partnerships that create value for our clients," affirmed
Didier Moscatelli, President of Plaut Consulting SAS. "By coming
together with CGI, we will be well positioned to increase our
service offering, and our professionals will have access to rich
and stimulating career opportunities within a global end-to-end IT
and BPS provider." In addition to specializing in SAP integration,
Plaut Consulting SAS is also recognized for its expertise in
business intelligence (BI), customer relationship management (CRM)
and integrated technologies. "This acquisition is ideally aligned
with our strategic plan to profitably triple our operations in
Europe by 2010," stated Jacques Leray, Vice-President, General
Manager of CGI France. "We have chosen Plaut Consulting SAS,
because it has all of the key factors to allow us to increase our
results over both the short and long term. Plaut Consulting SAS is
a business that complements our own in terms of its professionals,
activities and sectors of expertise. By joining forces, we will be
capable of enhancing our response to the growing needs of our
European and international clients, particularly with respect to
the integration of SAP solutions. We are delighted to welcome our
new colleagues to CGI." About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc.
("CGI") is the eighth largest independent information technology
and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its
affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000 professionals. CGI
provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients
worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States of America
("US"), Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence
in Canada, the US, Europe and India. CGI's annualized revenue run
rate is currently $3.5 billion (US$3.0 billion) and at March 31,
2006, CGI's order backlog was $13.7 billion (US$11.7 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.
Website: http://www.cgi.com/. 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 may be "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act. 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
MD&A, in CGI's Annual Report or Form 40-F filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at
http://www.sec.gov/), the Company's Annual Information Form filed
with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at
http://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. 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 or
forward-looking information. You will find more information about
the risks that could cause our actual results to significantly
differ from our current expectations in the Risks and Uncertainties
section. DATASOURCE: CGI GROUP INC. CONTACT: Investors: Lorne
Gorber, Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Investor
Relations, (514) 841-3355, ; Media: Philippe Beauregard, Director,
Public Affairs, (514) 841-3218, ; CGI France: Herve Dusart,
Communications and Marketing, +33 1 53 45 67 47, ; Archived images
on this organization are searchable through CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca/. Images are free to
accredited members
Copyright