Toulouse-based airline Airbus and French IT, systems integration and business process automation leader Atos have entered the initial stages of negotiations for the airline giant to acquire the big data business and Atos cybersecurity.
For Airbus, this acquisition is an opportunity to achieve a new level of digital transformation and expand its security services portfolio. And for Atos, this is a source of funds against a backdrop of falling stocks and rising debt obligations, Bloomberg writes.
It is assumed that the operation could bring the IT giant up to 1.8 billion euros. At the same time, Atos highlights that the division is in demand and other buyers are also interested in it (Atos does not mention specific names, and the financial group The Times discovered that the deal is being studied, for example at Thales).
In such a situation, the company actively seeks funds. It has already gained the support of its banks, which are developing refinancing solutions. Atos is also continuing negotiations with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EPEI over the sale of the Tech Foundations division.
And the sale of the cybersecurity business is one more step to raise funds (experts suggest that this will not be the last sale of assets).
Negotiations with all potential buyers are still at an early stage and all due diligence is being carried out. And Airbus openly states that it does not trust that the companies will finally reach an agreement.
Author:
Ekaterina Alipova
Source: RB
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