CGI Board Authorizes the Renewal of its Normal Course Issuer Bid
Montreal (ots/PRNewswire)
Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE)
CGI Group Inc. (the "Company") announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the renewal of its Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB"), subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX").
The Company's management and Board of Directors believe that the repurchase of Class A subordinate voting shares ("Class A Shares") of the Company is a proper use of the Company's funds, and the NCIB will provide the Company with the flexibility to purchase Class A Shares from time to time as the Company considers it advisable, as part of its strategy to increase shareholder value.
At the close of business on January 23, 2015, there were 280,820,895 Class A Shares outstanding, of which approximately 68% were widely held (representing a public float of 190,522,071 Class A Shares for TSX purposes).
Under the terms of the NCIB, subject to TSX acceptance, the Company may purchase for cancellation on the open market through the facilities of the TSX and the New York Stock Exchange and through alternative trading systems, as well as outside the facilities of the TSX pursuant to exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities, up to 19,052,207 Class A Shares, representing approximately 10% of the Company's public float as of the close of business on January 23, 2015. The average daily trading volume (the "ADTV") of the Class A Shares on the TSX for the six month period ended December 31, 2014 was 722,439 Class A Shares. Consequently and in accordance with the requirements of the TSX, the daily purchase limit under the NCIB on the TSX will be 180,609 Class A Shares, representing 25% of the ADTV. All Class A Shares will be purchased at their market price at the time of acquisition, except for purchases effected outside the facilities of the TSX pursuant to exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities which will be at a discount to the market price as provided in such exemption orders. All shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.
Purchases of Class A Shares may commence on February 11, 2015 and will end on the earlier of February 10, 2016 or the date on which the Company has either acquired the maximum number of Class A Shares allowable under the NCIB or otherwise decided not to make any further repurchases under the NCIB.
The current NCIB commenced on February 11, 2014 and will end on February 10, 2015. As at January 23, 2015, no Class A Shares have been purchased under the current NCIB.
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, infrastructure management as well as a wide range of proprietary solutions. With annual revenue in excess of C$10 billion and an order backlog exceeding C$18 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). 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 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, in CGI's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov), and in 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 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 further information:
Investors and media: Lorne Gorber, Senior Vice-President, Global Communications and Investor Relations, lorne.gorber@cgi.com , +1-514-841-3355
(GIB.A. GIB)