Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, announced that it has received an indicative offer from Airbus to enter into a long-term strategic and technological agreement and to acquire a minority stake of 29.9% in Evidian.
This proposal is consistent with Atos’ separation plan announced during the June 14, 2022, Capital Markets Day.
Atos’ Board of Directors has decided to further engage with Airbus, conduct a due-diligence process and negotiate on mutually satisfactory terms on both a long-term strategic and technological partnership and the disposal of the 29.9% stake in Evidian.
Atos does not intend to grant any exclusivity to Airbus, and no assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive set of agreements. Atos remains committed to examining received indications of interest from partners that can support a major financial and industrial project.
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A potential long-term strategic and technological agreement with significant sustainable value creation
Evidian is a leading digital transformation partner and a leading European player in the big data, cybersecurity and high-performance computing sectors with established and emerging offerings centered around deep expertise and proprietary technology. With Airbus as a potential anchor shareholder and with a long-term strategic and technological agreement, Evidian would strengthen its European leadership and global reach in cloud, advanced computing, digital security and digitalization.
The proposed agreement would enable both companies to leverage each of their world-class talents, expertise and customer base to generate cross-selling opportunities and enter into new attractive markets by providing unique sovereign digital solutions from secure cloud to data management and security. In addition, combining Airbus’ capabilities with Evidian’s global leading position in managed security services and supercomputing would create a unique European actor in cybersecurity solutions and in the digitalization of the defense sector, public safety and critical national infrastructure.
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Bertrand Meunier, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Atos, stated: “Airbus’ interest in becoming an anchor shareholder is an acknowledgement of Evidian’s unique capabilities in an increasingly complex digital environment with heightened security challenges. Through this proposed large-scale partnership, we would accelerate Evidian’s industrial project and future growth while ensuring technological sovereignty in France and in Europe in the critical fields of cloud, advanced computing, cybersecurity and digitalization. Atos, including Evidian’s teams, and Airbus have a long history of collaboration and share common values, and, going forward, they would continue to foster innovation and excellence.”
Atos confirms that the Group is on track with its strategic transformation project as announced during its Capital Markets Day.
Atos will publish its results for the fiscal year 2022 on February 28, 2023.
