UPDATE 2-Capgemini eyes growth in challenging 2009

* Capgemini confident on 2009 sales growth

* Keeps 2008 financial goals

* Shares rise 5 percent

(adds CEO and CFO comments from call, share reaction)

By Dominique Vidalon

PARIS, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Capgemini (CAPP.PA), Europe's largest computer consultancy, said on Thursday it was confident it could achieve sales growth in 2009 despite an expected economic downturn.

The French company, which competes for IT budgets with U.S. giant Accenture (ACN.N) and France's Atos Origin (ATOS.PA), kept its financial goals for 2008, after third-quarter sales slightly beat expectations, and its shares rose 5 percent.

"Today we continue to see 2009 as a positive year though probably a challenging year...We envision growth for our group a little weaker than that of 2008 but a group that is still gaining market share in a slightly positive market," Chief Executive Paul Hermelin told a conference call.

Capgemini's comments came as sector analysts are bracing for a slowdown in IT spending starting with the fourth quarter 2008 as a result of a widening economic crisis.

Last month, rival Atos Origin predicted 2009 would be a tough year but said it was confident of achieving sales growth.

Capgemini's Hermelin would not make a detailed forecast for 2009 but said that revenue at the start of next year could grow at the 3-4 percent pace seen for the fourth quarter 2008.

For full year 2008, Capgemini still expects like-for-like sales growth of 4-5 percent, having achieved 6.1 percent in the third quarter.

The group also maintained a target to lift the 2008 operating margin to 8.5 percent of sales from 7.4 percent in 2007.

"With the good level of business achieved in the third quarter and in October, we are in a position to keep our guidance for the year," Hermelin said.

Bookings notably rose 3.4 percent in the third quarter, growing 6.6 percent in consulting, technology and local professsional services.