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Atos is planning a major reorganization and Thales is set to take over some crucial activities of the company. Through this maneuver, Thales could play a strategic role to ensure the continuity and growth of the most sensitive areas of the Atos group. The prospect of this acquisition perfectly illustrates the current upheavals in the French technology sector.
Reconfiguration of activities
Since announcing a possible split into two entities in 2022, Atos has embarked on a significant transformation process. However, this restructuring generated notable challenges:
- An operational loss of 1.7 billion euros in the first half of 2024
- A drop in turnover of 2.7%, reaching almost 5 billion euros
This financial pressure pushed Atos to explore consolidation solutions to maintain its competitiveness in the market.
Thales’ intentions
In this context, Thales seems to be an ideal partner to take over Atos’ security activities, valued at around 1.5 billion euros in terms of turnover. This operation would allow Thales to strengthen its position in the sector by integrating essential skills in cybersecurity and big data. The conversion into capital of 2.9 billion euros of receivables, added to this potential agreement, could offer a breath of financial oxygen to Atos.
It is estimated that Thales could take over activities generating a turnover of around 300 million euros. This strategic decision would not just be a simple acquisition, but a way to guarantee the continuity of Atos’ critical services while strengthening Thales’ technological capabilities.
Strategic and financial impact
For Atos, selling its most critical activities to a player like Thales would allow a reorientation towards more stable sectors and less dependent on market fluctuations. However, this operation involves complex prospects and substantial financial adjustments.
Atos will thus be able to focus on its various more traditional digital transformation systems, leaving high-security sectors in the hands of Thales. The planned distribution of activities values Atos’ “Big data & Cybersecurity” segments between 700 million and one billion euros, depending on market expertise.
Upcoming projects and prospects
This reorganization also involves a reconfiguration of priorities and resources:
- Valorization and consolidation of the most promising segments
- Improving overall profitability despite a complex transition period
From a strategic point of view, alignment with Thales gives Atos a powerful lever to restore its position of strength while benefiting from Thales’ advanced technological expertise. The potential of this collaboration will not only overcome current challenges, but also capture new innovative opportunities in the European technology market.
By integrating activities at the cutting edge of cybersecurity, Thales is enriching its capabilities and positioning itself as an undisputed leader in a sensitive and rapidly expanding sector. This acquisition could also allow Thales to exploit increased technological synergy between IT security and advanced technological solutionsan area where demand continues to grow.
The evolution of corporate strategies like Atos and Thales shows a trend towards increased specialization and enhanced interconnectivity, enabling faster and more efficient technological advancements. This movement is perceived as a response to growing digital security needs and the ever-increasing demand for advanced big data solutions.
