Fiscal Year 2002 Highlights

• Revenue of $2,169.6 million was 39.0% higher than in fiscal 2001.
• Net earnings for the year increased 51.0% to $135.8 million, from comparable cash net earnings of $89.9 million reported for fiscal 2001.
• Basic net earnings per share of $0.36 for fiscal 2002 were up over comparable cash net earnings per share of $0.30 reported for fiscal 2001, after giving effect to a 26.0% increase in the weighted average number of shares outstanding.
• EBITDA, EBIT and net earnings margins all improved from last year, reflecting improved synergies realized from acquisitions and new outsourcing contracts.
• Cash flow from operating activities was $177.4 million.
• The current backlog of signed contracts stands at $10.4 billion with a weighted average remaining contract term of 7.7 years.
• The current pipeline of bids for large outsourcing contracts being reviewed by potential clients remains robust at $5 billion.
  
  

In millions of CDN$ except per share amounts	12 months ended September 30
	2002	2001
Revenue	$2,169.6	$1,560.4
Earnings before amortization of goodwill (cash net earnings)	$135.8	$89.9
Net earnings	$135.8	$62.8
Cash net earnings per share	$0.36	$0.30
Net earnings per share	$0.36	$0.21
Order backlog	$10,400	$9,300
Note – In accordance with CICA recommendations, CGI stopped recording amortization of goodwill on October 1, 2001, rendering earnings before amortization of goodwill (cash net earnings) and net earnings equivalent starting FY02. Numbers reflect modified presentation based on EITF 01-9 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. CDN$/ 1.57 =1 US$

“CGI delivered a very strong year of growth, despite a challenging operating environment,” said Serge Godin, chairman and CEO. “In Canada, where market conditions remain stable, our position as the leading provider of end-to-end IT services and our deep client partnerships helped us win new contracts, add-on projects, renewals and extensions for outsourcing, systems integration and consulting services.”

Mr. Godin added, “The systems integration and consulting business in the US and in France is still difficult and a return to solid spending levels is not expected before 2004. In the meantime, we are leveraging our existing client relationships in these geographies and becoming even more aggressive in the US IT and business process outsourcing markets, where demand is strong and expected to remain strong.”

In fiscal 2002, CGI made five acquisitions, invested in one joint venture company and booked over $3.5 billion in contract wins, renewals and extensions. As at September 30, 2002, CGI and its affiliated companies employed 14,600 people in 60 offices around the world.

Fourth Quarter Results (See also: Q4 MD&A filed with Sedar & Edgar and available at www.cgi.com)
Revenue for the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2002 increased 23.8% to $571.9 million, from $461.9 million in the same quarter last year, and was up 3.3% sequentially over third quarter revenue of $553.4 million. The year-over-year organic growth of 20.6% was driven by a combination of new client wins, renewals, and add-on projects from existing clients.

In the fourth quarter, revenue from long-term outsourcing contracts represented 75% of the Company’s total revenue, including 16% from business processing services, while project oriented consulting and systems integration work represented 25%. Geographically, clients in Canada represented 76% of revenue; clients in the US represented 18%; and all other regions, 6%. Revenue from clients in the financial services sector remained strong, representing 40% of revenue; while telecom represented 25%; manufacturing, retail and distribution clients, 14%; government clients, 13%; utilities and services, 6%; and healthcare, 2%. The changes in revenue mix, when compared to the third quarter, were primarily a result of revenue recognized by Innovapost, a joint-venture with Canada Post, for IT outsourcing contracts.

Earnings before depreciation and amortization of fixed assets, amortization of contract costs and other long-term assets, interest and income taxes (“EBITDA”) for the fourth quarter increased 21.2% to $82.4 million, compared with $68.0 million in the same quarter a year ago, and increased 1.5% on a sequential basis compared with $81.2 million reported in the third quarter. The EBITDA margin was 14.4% in the fourth quarter, compared with 14.7% in last year’s fourth quarter and 14.7% at the end of the third quarter.

Earnings before interest and income taxes (“EBIT”), was $60.1 million in the fourth quarter, up 19.1% over last year’s fourth quarter EBIT of $50.5 million, but down 3.7% over third quarter EBIT of $62.4 million. The EBIT margin was 10.5% for the quarter, compared with 10.9% in last year’s fourth quarter and 11.3% in the third quarter. The decrease in EBIT compared to last quarter is related to higher amortization of contract costs and other long-term assets, specifically the ramp-up of Innovapost, as well as certain enterprise license agreements purchased in the third and fourth quarters.

Net earnings in the fourth quarter were $35.5 million, up 30.3% against comparable earnings before amortization of goodwill (cash net earnings) of $27.3 million in the same quarter a year ago, but down slightly from $36.5 million reported in the third quarter. Net earnings per share were $0.09 for the quarter, compared with cash net earnings per share of $0.08 reported in last year’s fourth quarter, and $0.10 reported in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. The net margin was 6.2%, compared with 6.6% in the third quarter and cash net margin of 5.9% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. The sequential decrease is reflective of the EBIT decrease explained above. Earnings per share were calculated on 380.3 million weighted average shares outstanding, an increase of 10.7% more shares outstanding year-over-year.

CGI continues to maintain a strong balance sheet and cash position, which together with bank lines are sufficient to support the Company’s growth strategy and represent a competitive strength when proposing on outsourcing contracts. At September 30, 2002, the total credit facility available amounted to $249.1 million. Additionally, as of September 30, 2002, CGI had cash and cash equivalents of $104.2 million, compared with $122.9 million as of June 30, 2002. The decrease in cash is primarily a result of the reimbursement of the Libor advance debt for US$20 million and the purchase of an enterprise license agreement.

1. EBITDA is equal to earnings before depreciation and amortization, interest and income taxes. EBITDA is presented because it is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company’s ability to service and incur debt. EBITDA should not be considered by an investor as an alternative to operating income or net earnings, as an indicator of operating performance or of cash flows or as a measure of liquidity. Because EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with Canadian GAAP, EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
   
   
2. In accordance with recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA), effective October 1, 2001 CGI stopped recording the amortization of goodwill. As such, net earnings and earnings before amortization of goodwill (cash net earnings) are equivalent. For purposes of clarity and ease of comparison, CGI compares net earnings results to cash net earnings figures provided in year-over-year comparisons.
   
   

Fourth Quarter Operating Highlights
CGI’s growth prospects and solid backlog were improved during the quarter as a result of investments and operational initiatives. In the quarter, CGI:

• Announced $521.1 million in new contract bookings, renewals and extensions.
• Closed the acquisition of privately-held IMPLETECH International Inc. with revenue valued at $5 million. Twenty professionals, located mostly in Toronto, joined CGI with a focus on enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation to clients within the automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and industrial/electronic sectors.
• Signed its first finance and accounting business process services outsourcing contract with GrafTech International Ltd (formerly UCAR International Inc.) (NYSE: GTI), a 10-year contract valued at US$36 million. CGI will deploy best practices to optimize transactional activities, including accounts payable and accounts receivable as well as perform certain analytical functions such general accounting, cost accounting and analysis activities.

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For more information:

CGI Investor Relations
Julie Creed
Vice-president, investor relations
(312) 201-4803 or (514) 841-3200

Ronald White
Director, investor relations
(514) 841-3230

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Eileen Murphy
Director, Media Relations
(514) 841-3430