CGI reports strong Q1 results

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) reported fiscal 2017 first quarter revenue of $2.7 billion, stable compared with last year as foreign exchange fluctuations negatively impacted revenue by $107.0 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue grew by 3.7%.

Adjusted EBIT increased to $396.7 million, representing a margin of 14.8%, compared with $384.1 million, or 14.3% in Q1-F2016. 

Net earnings increased to $275.7 million in Q1-F2017, compared with $237.7 million in the year ago period. Earnings per diluted share were 89 cents, an increase of 18.7% compared with 75 cents last year.

Net earnings excluding specific items were $277.6 million or 10.4% of revenue, compared with $264.9 million last year. When excluding specific items, earnings per diluted share were 90 cents, an improvement from 84 cents last year.

Bookings amounted to $3.0 billion in contract awards or 110.7% of revenue. On a trailing twelve month basis, total awards were $11.5 billion, or 107.7% of revenue. At the end of December, the Company's backlog stood at $21.0 billion.

Cash generated from operating activities was $349.7 million or 13.1% of revenue, compared with $328.2 million in the year ago period. Over the last twelve months, the Company has generated $1.4 billion or $4.36 in cash per diluted share.

"We are off to a great start in 2017, delivering strong Q1 results driven by the rapid shift to digital that is taking place," said George D. Schindler, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our full breadth of offerings and end-to-end capabilities are bringing the innovation, expertise and scale required to enable our clients to advance their operations."

At the end of December 2016, the Company had approximately $1.8 billion in available cash and unused credit facilities. Net debt was $1.5 billion, representing a year-over-year reduction of $82 million. As a result, the net debt to capitalization ratio was stable at 18.2%.

Normal Course Issuer Bid
On February 1, 2017 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 21.19 million shares during the next year, subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Q1-F2017 results conference call
Management will host a conference call this morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss results. Participants may access the call by dialing 866-223-7781 or via cgi.com/investors. 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.

Fiscal 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
This morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, the Company will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montreal. The meeting, as well as the question and answer session that follows will be broadcast live via cgi.com/investors.

About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world. Approximately 68,000 professionals serve thousands of global clients from offices and delivery centers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, leveraging a comprehensive portfolio of services, including high-end business and IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance and infrastructure management, as well as 150 IP-based services and solutions. With annual revenue in excess of C$10 billion and an order backlog exceeding C$20 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Website: cgi.com.

Non-GAAP financial metrics used in this release: Constant currency growth, adjusted EBIT, net debt, net debt to capitalization ratio, bookings, book-to-bill ratio, backlog, DSO, ROIC, ROE and net earnings and diluted EPS excluding specific items.
CGI reports its financial results in accordance with IFRS. However, management believes that these 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. Additional details for these non-GAAP measures can be found on page 2 and 3 of our 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 Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 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 employees; market competition in the rapidly evolving information technology industry; general economic and business conditions; foreign exchange and other risks identified or incorporated by reference in this press release, in CGI's annual and/or quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other public disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities (on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (on EDGAR at www.sec.gov), 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.

SOURCE CGI Group Inc.