Burdened with almost €5 billion price of debt, the corporate was nonetheless picked as the principle cybersecurity supplier to the 2024 Olympics beginning finish of July in Paris. The occasion will deliver roughly 15 million guests to the French capital, which has safety officers on edge given the dangers of terror assaults and disruption. The pinnacle of France’s cybersecurity company ANSSI advised POLITICO that Atos’ monetary woes had been a “main concern” for the Video games.
Final month, Economic system Minister Bruno Le Maire stated he was engaged on “a nationwide resolution” to protect Atos’ strategic belongings.
To date Atos has struggled to discover a non-public sector rescuer. Hopes that European champion Airbus might save the agency fell by final month, when the Franco-German aerospace group deserted the thought of shopping for Atos’ huge knowledge and safety department, thought of as its most delicate department. Czech entrepreneur Daniel Křetínský additionally deserted talks to purchase Atos’ outsourcing data actions earlier this yr.
Le Maire beforehand excluded nationalizing the corporate, an choice floated by lawmakers from each the right-wing and the left-wing opposition teams.
The French Economic system Ministry declined to touch upon talks with different potential patrons. The federal government determined to assist Atos proceed its search, with a €50 million mortgage. In change, it’s going to have a particular shareholder proper giving it the facility to resolve on how Atos’ strategic belongings are dealt with.
“With just some months to go earlier than the Olympic Video games in France, for which Atos is an official accomplice, how can we settle for the corporate coming below overseas management, or worse, going bankrupt?” stated Sébastien Jumel, a French MP from the left-wing opposition who final yr suggest to quickly nationalize Atos.
