CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) has been selected by Market Operator Services Ltd (MOSL) to design, build and operate a central market system to support the operation of the English water market when competition is introduced to non-household customers in April 2017. The five-year contract is valued at approximately £15 million.
CGI’s central market system will be adopted by MOSL as the underpinning solution for its central market operating system (CMOS). The CMOS will facilitate interaction among all participants (retailers and wholesalers) in the competitive non-household water market. CGI will also host and operate the CMOS system on its secure commercial cloud.
MOSL is working with the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and regulator Ofwat as part of the ‘Open Water’ programme to introduce competition in the non-household market in England. MOSL has been created to deliver the operational capabilities to support the programme. CGI will contribute its knowledge and experience in designing, building and operating central market systems for utility markets across the globe, including the world’s first competitive water market in Scotland.
CGI’s central market system is a proven solution that has been implemented for the Danish and Dutch central energy markets. For the English water market, it will be configured to meet specific processes defined by the requirements set out in the Market Architecture Plan (MAP). When the CMOS system is implemented, it will be supported by CGI’s SDI five star certified service desk, which will provide 24x7 assistance to all market participants.
As part of the contract, CGI has partnered with Bridgeall. CGI and Bridgeall have direct experience of developing and operating the central market system for the creation of the competitive water market that opened in Scotland in 2008. Bridgeall will use its water market expertise to deliver a sub-system that will calculate the primary charges for water and waste water services and allocate those charges to the relevant wholesalers and retailers.
“The introduction of competition for non-household customers in England by April 2017 is a major challenge, both in terms of timescales and complexity. The CMOS will be at the heart of the new market, so we are delighted to appoint the CGI team to work alongside us in this critical role. The team’s combined experience in the Scottish market and the wider energy industry will be invaluable in ensuring success in the English market,” said Ben Jeffs, Chief Executive of MOSL.
“This is a very exciting time for the water industry,” said Tara McGeehan, Vice-President, Energy & Utilities for CGI in the UK. “Competition for non-household customers will create new business opportunities for many operators. At the same time, water market competition will help to drive innovation, as well as offer customers improved service at lower cost. We are delighted to be working with MOSL to deliver its new central market operating system. We have a very tight timescale to design, build and implement the system, but by working in partnership with all the key stakeholders and leveraging our central market systems experience, we will develop a system that will make competition work for the water industry.”
Stephen Beer, Managing Director of Bridgeall, commented: “Bridgeall’s experience in the design, development and operation of central systems in the Scottish water market will be valuable in addressing the challenges faced by MOSL in the UK. We are uniquely positioned to make a very significant contribution to the success of the Core Market Operator System for the English market.”
More on the new water market opening in England
Water and sewerage services in England will be opened up to competition for non-household customers beginning in April 2017. The new water market will offer choices to customers in the retail market by allowing all business, charity and public sector customers in England to switch their water and sewerage supplier. The competitive water market aims to encourage innovation, efficiency, resilience and sustainability that will benefit both water operators and customers.
About Bridgeall
Bridgeall is a leading IT services company with over 12 years’ experience in delivering mission critical IT solutions to businesses in the UK. Bridgeall developed and continues to operate the central systems that underpin the competitive water market in Scotland. www.bridgeall.com
About MOSL
Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL) is working with DEFRA, Ofwat and water companies as part of the Open Water Programme. Open Water will offer non-household customers a choice of supplier and access to tailored packages that best suit their needs. MOSL's role is to deliver the operational capabilities needed to support the efficient operation of the new market when it opens in April 2017. It will deliver the IT systems that enable registration, customer switching and settlement between wholesalers and retailers. It will also design the market operator and support a range of market transition and business readiness activities. Organisations holding the relevant licences to participate in the proposed non-household retail market for water and sewerage services are entitled to apply for membership. www.mosl.co.uk
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 a wide range of proprietary solutions. With annual revenue in excess of C$10 billion and an order backlog of approximately C$20 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB).Website: 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 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 and quarterly Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”), in CGI’s Annual Report, and in the Company’s Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com), 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), 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.
For more information:
Investors and media
Lorne Gorber
Executive Vice-President, Global Communications and Investor Relations
lorne.gorber@cgi.com
+1 514-841-3355
Local Media
Janine Bailey
Vice-President, Marketing and Communications
Janine.bailey@cgi.com
+44 7766 420850
