The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) are supporting the Thales group, which specializes in aerospace, defence, security and land transport, in its plan to resume cybersecurity activities from Atos. The other competitors, Airbus and Orange, did not wish to advance in the file. The two companies are already working together on other topics, including big data and artificial intelligence.
Bercy supports Thales
While Atos’ cybersecurity activities have been in decline for ten days, Thales, the great contender for the pursuit of its business, is advancing its pawns, with major support: the French state. The manufacturer, in which the State owns 25.7% of the capital, received carte blanche from the Ministry of Economy and Finance in its maneuver “ to create a French champion in the sector “.
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The DGA formulated the same ambition by campaigning for “ the creation of French champion who is close to him “. The latter had sounded the alarm three months ago after observing the tensions between the CEO of Atos, Rodolphe Belmer, and its president, Bertrand Meunier.
The way is clear for Thales
The decadence of Atos began a few days ago with the flight of investors, and particularly the departure of Belmer. But it was the silence of the other suitors that put him at the mercy of Thales. Airbus and Orange have lined up on the side to eye the offensive of the defense group, which now has the favor of the state.
An executive of the aeronautical group declares: “ We want to develop in cybersecurity by partnership, but not by major acquisition […] It’s too far from our job as an aircraft manufacturer “. Orange played the waiting card. ” The group has just changed its two leaders and does not have the means to move today “, he says.
Atos has attempted several maneuvers to repel advances from Thales since 2019. A source close to Thales even mentioned a merger of the two protagonists for a 2.7 billion agreement.