Atos is running out of runway as one suitor after another turns its back on the troubled IT services company. Credit: Tobias Arhelger / Shutterstock Another attempt by Atos to solve its debt problems by selling off part of its business has ended in failure. Airbus, a potential acquirer of the IT services company’s big data and security business, has walked away from the deal after completing its “due diligence” investigation. As a result, Atos has postponed — again — the release of its audited financial statement for 2023 while it evaluates its options. It has already delayed publication of the results once to give its auditors additional time to examine an independent business review report and to complete their audit of non-cash goodwill impairment charges. Unlikely savior The aircraft manufacturer might have seemed an unlikely savior, but there could have been interesting synergies between its existing activities and the cybersecurity and data science businesses of Atos. Airbus already has a cybersecurity business of its own, and manages vast quantities of data generated by its earth observation satellites. However, on Tuesday Airbus dashed the hopes of Atos with a three-line communique: “After careful consideration of all aspects of a potential acquisition of ATOS’ BDS (Big Data and Security) business line, Airbus has decided it will no longer pursue discussions with ATOS about this potential transaction.” In February, Atos announced that talks with another potential buyer had fallen through. EP Equity Investment was lined up to buy the company’s infrastructure management business, Tech Foundations, but the two parties failed to agree on deal terms and pricing, Atos CEO Paul Saleh said in late February. He only took over the top role at the company in mid-January. The sale of the legacy Tech Foundations activities was supposed to free the more modern part of the business (its transformation acceleration, smart platforms, cloud, digital security, advanced computing, and net-zero transformation activities) from its crippling debt load, allowing the two to evolve in different directions. Another buyer? Now Atos faces the challenge of bringing the two halves back together with what Saleh calls a coordinated go-to-market strategy while it considers other strategic options. Saleh hasn’t ruled out looking for another buyer. Back in January Atos said that another company was interested in buying just part of its big data and security business, but it has said nothing more about that while a deal with Airbus was still on the table. For now, the company would only say: “Atos is analyzing the resulting situation and actively evaluating strategic alternatives that will take into consideration the sovereign imperatives of the French state.” That last remark is an allusion to criticism of its now-failed deal with EPEI, controlled by a Czech billionaire, on national security grounds. Atos holds numerous contracts with the French Ministry of Defense. All this uncertainty will be disturbing for CIOs at the healthcare, manufacturing, and defense companies that Atos currently supports, and will do little to help it grow its order book. Related content news ADNOC, G42 and Presight partner to accelerate AI solutions By Andrea Benito May 06, 2024 3 mins Artificial Intelligence brandpost Sponsored by Huawei Leading infrastructure to accelerate electric power intelligence By David Sun, Vice President of Huawei, CEO of Electric Power Digitalization Business Unit, Huawei May 06, 2024 7 mins Energy Efficiency Huawei brandpost Sponsored by Broadcom How to govern with people-centric planning To succeed with people-centric planning, leaders need to take a different approach to governance. Leaders must produce key metrics and offer the autonomy to determine the best way to achieve those metrics. By Laureen Knudsen, Chief Transformation Officer, AOD, Broadcom May 06, 2024 3 mins Digital Transformation IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by Avaya Staying agile in the contact center industry: The role of the connected agent A critical part of the “connected agent” strategy includes easy access to SMEs with a user experience that is simple…and AI is a core component. By Omar Javaid, Chief Product Officer, Avaya May 06, 2024 6 mins Digital Transformation PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe