Deal done! Atos has accepted the government’s offer to acquire its “Advanced Computing” unit, which bundles key assets such as high-performance computing (HPC), quantum technology, business computing, and AI capabilities. The unit is expected to generate around €800 million in revenue in 2025.
The transaction, valued at €410 million, is planned in two steps: €300 million at closing, with the potential for an additional €110 million contingent on profitability milestones for 2025 (€50 million payable at closing) and 2026 (€60 million).
The initial offer ranged between €500 million and €625 million, but the value was trimmed due to the exclusion of Vision AI activities from the scope.
This withdrawal is not incidental. Vision AI, notably through Ipsotek (acquired in 2021), represented more than a third of the operating margin of the “Advanced Computing” activity. It will be repositioned within Eviden in a new division focused on AI, data, and cybersecurity.
The signing of the deal is expected in the coming weeks, with a closing slated for 2026, subject to social consultations and regulatory approvals.
Genesis Plan Execution
Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, stated: “I am pleased that Atos has accepted this firm offer, which represents a significant step toward securing the strategic supercomputing activity.”
The sale is part of the Genesis plan unveiled by Philippe Salle, Atos’s CEO since February, which aims to streamline the group’s portfolio around six business lines, including a new Data and AI unit expected to grow from about 2,000 to 10,000 employees by 2028, making artificial intelligence a central driver of the company’s transformation. The other service lines encompass Cloud & Modern Infrastructure, Cyber Services, Digital Applications, Smart Platforms (SAP, ServiceNow), and the Digital Workplace. On the product side, the Eviden division is to focus on four strategic areas: cybersecurity, supercomputers, critical systems, and AI-based computer vision.
In a geopolitically tense environment, Atos indicated it had paused the sale of its sensitive activities related to critical systems (MCS) and cybersecurity. These units work notably on the Army’s Scorpion command system and the security of the Rafale F4 aircraft.
With debt peaking at €4.8 billion, Atos has fallen behind Europe’s leading IT services players. The 2024 restructuring, backed by an agreement with its creditors, has helped stabilize its financial structure.
“Atos stands at a decisive inflection point. Now it has to deliver, quarter by quarter. No one will wait for us. 2025 and 2026 will be two crucial years on this plan,” Salle said during the presentation of the revival plan.
