The French State has just entered into exclusive negotiations with Atos to buy its Advanced Computing business, which includes artificial intelligence and supercomputers, for an amount of between 500 and 625 million euros. Let’s take stock of this matter.
Why is the State taking out the checkbook?
The government apparently did not want to let these important technologies escape for the French army, its intelligence services, or even for nuclear deterrence. The State Participation Agency will therefore discuss with the French company to find an agreement on this subsidiary of the company which hires 2,500 people and achieves 570 million euros in annual turnover, specifies The Echoes.
We are moving towards a deal that seems to satisfy both parties. On the Atos side, the idea is to bring in cash and regain room for maneuver in a fairly delicate financial context. This activity required investments which harmed the competitiveness of the company.
On the government side, the Minister of the Economy, Antoine Armand, estimated that these negotiations “constitute a crucial first step, not only for the recovery and restructuring of the group, but also for securing the strategic supercomputer activity. It is the role of the State to guarantee, as a shareholder when justified, the sustainability and development of the most strategic industrial activities for our sovereignty..
Another big file on fire
We will have to see if these discussions materialize. But Atos and the public authorities also have to manage another burning issue. The Mission Critical Systems (MCS) and cybersecurity (Cybersecurity Products) activities are also up for sale.
The Ministry of the Economy is also keeping an eye on things and will be able to choose the candidates. It will therefore reserve these essential activities for large private French groups. Among the candidates mentioned, we find in particular Dassault and Thalès. The group had also expressed interest in the past, but has not yet made its intentions a reality. Airbus could also come forward, although nothing is certain at this stage.
What to remember:
- Atos enters into exclusive negotiations with the French State for the purchase of its Advanced Computing activity, which includes the artificial intelligence activity and supercomputers
- The government is assuming this investment which could reach 625 million euros, because it is a question of securing a strategic area
- Other company assets could soon be resold to French private groups
