SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of December 2001.
CGI Group Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)
1130 Sherbrooke Street West
5th Floor
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H3A 2M8
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F Form 40-F |X|
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)
Yes No |X|
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-___.
Enclosure: Press Release dated December 17, 2001
This Form 6-K shall be deemed incorporated by reference in the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-8, Reg. Nos. 333-13350 and 333-66044.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
University of Waterloo partners with CGI bonding education with
business to create e-commerce initiative
Waterloo, Ontario, December 17, 2001 - The University of Waterloo in partnership
with CGI Group Inc. (CGI) (NYSE: GIB; TSE: GIB.A), today announced the decision
to create an R&D Chair at the University of Waterloo to advance research in
e-commerce.
"This initiative will act as a catalyst in providing deeper understanding of
which concepts of future e-business solutions are most likely to provide
competitive advantages in key sectors including financial services,
telecommunications and government," said Michael Roach, president, Canada and
Europe, CGI. "It enables the creation of targeted, high quality e-commerce
solutions, while solidifying CGI's growth commitment to the Kitchener-Waterloo
region where it is active in the insurance market serving such clients as
Economical."
As a complement to this initiative, CGI will seek a major client in each key
sector to participate in the development of a world-class research centre of
excellence with an emphasis on real business issues. The financial services
research centre of excellence will be in the insurance field, one of CGI's
strong and well-recognized areas of expertise.
As part of the partnership, the University of Waterloo and CGI signed a protocol
for a human resources stream that will facilitate academic exchanges including
access to graduates and increased participation in the University of Waterloo's
highly successful co-op programs. In Ontario alone, CGI employs over 3,500
professionals with an additional 9,500 worldwide.
As part of the e-commerce initiative, a research lab will also be established at
the Universitie de Montreal to capitalize upon their top-notch expertise to then
develop prototypes to test the practical results of the research and advanced
concepts of e-business architecture. The plan calls for CGI to invest CDN$1.5
million in the creation of this Chair and lab which is scheduled to be up and
running in the spring of 2002.
"This project is based on the concept that research in e-business cannot be done
well in discrete pieces, but requires a team approach with complementary
expertise over a wide range of interest," said David Johnston, president,
University of Waterloo. "This is a model case of a university working
hand-in-hand with a renowned business leader to create a win-win outcome."
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E-commerce is evolving and rapidly moving from a pure technology-driven focus to
a user-need driven focus. The goals of this important initiative are to
understand which concepts of future e-business solutions are most likely to
provide competitive advantages in key sectors namely financial services,
telecommunications and government and the commonalities of these concepts. As
well, it will help develop fundamental understanding of design spaces,
architectures, integration methodologies for such e-business solutions, and
assist the development and testing of such breakthrough methods and systems.
"CGI is very pleased to be at the core of this vital initiative as we see how
e-commerce is rapidly changing the way our clients do business. As Canada's
global IT services firm, CGI recognizes its role and responsibility to establish
strong links with universities in their ongoing research efforts and in doing so
fuel CGI's efforts to accelerate our growth and position as a world-class IT
partner," said Roach.
About the University of Waterloo
From its founding in 1957, the University of Waterloo has been an
outward-looking university, aware of and responsive to the needs of society.
Waterloo (22,000 students) was the first university in Canada to offer the co-op
system of study, which balances theoretical learning with practical experience
in the workplace. It was also the first university in the world to establish a
faculty of mathematics and the first university in North America to make
computers available to undergraduates. Today, advanced technology is an integral
component of everything the university does. Waterloo has ranked "best overall"
university by reputation in Canada for the past decade in Maclean's, and this
year is also rated the #1 "comprehensive university." But educating the leaders
of tomorrow is not Waterloo's only mission. With over $80 million in research
annually, Waterloo is also a research-intensive university, committed to
discovering new knowledge and finding ways to use that knowledge for the benefit
of society. Well known for its entrepreneurial spirit, Waterloo is a leader in
the transfer of technology and ideas, and is credited with creating over 22% of
all technology-based spin-offs in Canada (PricewaterhouseCoopers study, Sept.
2001).
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is the fourth largest independent information technology
services firm in North America, based on its headcount of more than 13,000
professionals. CGI's annualized revenue run-rate totals US$1.3 billion (CDN$2.0
billion). CGI's order backlog currently totals US$6 billion (CDN$9.3 billion).
CGI provides end-to-end IT services and business solutions to more than 3,000
clients in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, India, Japan,
and Australia from more than 60 offices in more than 20 countries. CGI's shares
are listed on the NYSE (GIB) and the TSE (GIB.A). They are included in the TSE
100 Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSE Canadian Information Technology and
Canadian MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.ca.
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 the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
represent CGI Group Inc.'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.
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These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of
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 in the Management's Discussion and
Analysis (MD&A) in CGI Group Inc.'s Annual Report or Form 40-F filed with the
SEC, the Company's Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities
commissions, on the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC in
connection with the acquisition of IMRglobal and with the Forms 10-K and 10-Q of
IMRglobal filed with the SEC for the periods ended December 31, 2000 and March
31, 2001 respectively. All of the risk factors included in these filed documents
are included here by reference. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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For more information:
University of Waterloo
Martin Van Nierop
Director of information and public affairs
(519) 888-4881
CGI:
Investor relations
Julie Creed
Vice-president, investor relations
(312) 201-1911
Ronald White
Director, investor relations
(514) 841-3230
Media relations
Eileen Murphy
Director, media relations
(514) 841-3430
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CGI GROUP INC.
(Registrant)
Date: December 17, 2001 By /s/ Paule Dore
Name: Paule Dore
Title: Executive Vice President
and Chief Corporate Officer
and Secretary