security news
Joseph F. Kovar
Airbus and rival European defense and cybersecurity giant Thales have expressed interest in the past in acquiring Atos’ cybersecurity business, which it intends to spin out into a new company called Evidian. This is the first time we have expressed interest in investing in Evidian. itself.
Airbus may be considering acquiring a minority stake in Evidian, an identity and access management software subsidiary that is in the process of being spun out of global systems integrator and solutions provider Atos.
French-based business magazine Les Echos reported on January 1 that Airbus is considering a minority stake in Evidian. It’s the latest in a potential battle with rival defense and cybersecurity giant Thales, in which the two companies are eyeing his Evidian stake.
Atos, a global systems integrator focused on cloud and digital transformation and practicing managed security services at scale, has announced plans to split into two companies, likely in the second half of 2023. announced in May.
[Related: Atos May Split Into Two Companies: 5 Things To Know]
The decision to explore the creation of two companies, Atos, which will focus on managed infrastructure services, digital workplace and professional services, and Evidian, which will focus on digital transformation, big data and cybersecurity, will be based in Paris. Brought by Atos while trying to unlock it. What is called the best value for stakeholders.
Atos is ranked #28 on CRN’s 2022 Solution Provider 500 list.
Investors have seen good news in a potential investment move in Evidian by Airbus. Athos’ share price on the Euronext Paris stock market has fallen steadily from its last peak of nearly €77 in November 2020 to around €9 in December, but fell by one share in the two days following the Les Echos scandal. Jumped close to 11 euros per person. Report.
Airbus’ move to invest in Evidian would be the latest in what is becoming a potential battle between two competing European defense and cybersecurity giants.
Paris-based Thales and its adviser, Centerview Partners, reached out to investors last February, including Bain Capital, to hand over the portion of Atos Thales had no interest in owning to a private equity firm. reportedly discussed a deal to
At the time, Thales said it had no ongoing discussions about acquiring Atos, but said it was interested in acquiring new cybersecurity assets while handing over investments in markets it did not yet serve.
Airbus, based in Leiden, the Netherlands, also expressed interest in Atos’ security business in March, but not in Atos’ entire business. Atos told CRN at the time that its big data and cybersecurity (BDS) division was not for sale.
At least one major solution provider has also expressed interest in Evidian.
In September, Atos acquired British private equity fund ICG from Paris-based digital transformation service provider Group Onepoint in connection with its potential acquisition of Evidian for an enterprise value of €4.2 billion (approximately $4 billion). I have received the relevant unilateral consent form. “The board of directors has convened and has unanimously concluded that it is not in the interest of the company and its stakeholders,” Atos said in a statement.
In response to CRN’s request for more information, Airbus said in an email: As a global company, we are in constant dialogue with partners, customers and suppliers across our industry, but these conversations remain private in nature. “
In response to a request for more information from CRN, Atos issued a statement by email following rumors in the French press that it had “held preliminary discussions with a potential future minority shareholder” in relation to Evidian. He confirmed the announcement, but said those discussions hadn’t progressed far enough. Allow further comments.
“Atos has announced that the strategic plan communicated to the market on June 14, 2022 will ensure that Atos will hold up to 30% of Evidian Scope’s capital and that the sale of this stake will ensure the financing of its own transformation plan. …Today, Atos and his team are fully committed to progressing the Separation Plan according to the planned schedule, which is a priority for the Group,” the company said in a statement. increase.
Joseph F. Kovar
