(CercleFinance.com) – Atos rose on the Paris Stock Exchange on Monday after the announcement by David Layani, the boss of Onepoint, of his intention to come to the aid of the French technology group in difficulty.
In an interview with Le Figaro, the founder of OnePoint – who is today the largest shareholder of Atos with more than 11% of the capital – indicates that he wants to break with the current strategy by preserving the integrity of the current scope of the company.
The businessman indeed considers that BDS, the group’s data management and cybersecurity branch, represents a ‘nugget’ and that it is not at the moment when Atos must reinvent itself that it is necessary to sell the ‘ family jewels’.
In the interview, Layani declared himself ready to participate in the recapitalization of the company with the support of employees, while specifying that creditors will also have to make an effort by converting their debts or rescheduling them.
The article discusses the scenario of an influx of new money of around two billion euros.
According to David Layani, we must act quickly, ‘before the Olympics and before the summer’.
The Figaro article also mentions the fact that Atos top management has been establishing, for three weeks, a new strategic plan in order to reassure the financial markets.
In a press release, Atos emphasizes that the comments made by David Layani ‘do not commit the company’, stressing that Onepoint’s plan has not yet been presented to its board of directors.
The group plans to communicate its 2023 results and the next strategic steps tomorrow morning.
In the meantime, the stock rose almost 1.5% on Monday in early trading.