Airbus in ‘Advanced’ Talks with Atos Regarding Cybersecurity Division BDS Unit

Airbus is reportedly in ‘advanced’ discussions with Atos regarding the cybersecurity division BDS, as per a report in the French newspaper Le Figaro on Thursday. This news led to a surge in Atos’ shares.

According to Le Figaro, Airbus and Atos’ board of directors are engaged in ‘bilateral talks,’ citing insider sources.

Back in late March, Airbus had announced its decision not to pursue a 29.9% stake in Atos’ Evidian division, now known as Eviden. BDS is a part of Eviden.

Airbus refrained from commenting on market speculations, while Atos declined to provide any comments.

Even after stepping away from the Eviden deal in March, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury expressed openness to establishing a strategic partnership with Atos. Faury had previously emphasized the strategic significance of such a partnership, given the growing influence of big data, connectivity, and high-power computing in the aerospace industry.

Reportedly, Airbus’ concerns about Atos are one of the driving factors behind its reorganization plans starting from 2024. This restructuring will allow Faury to concentrate on defense and space strategy, with Christian Scherer taking the reins of the planemaking division.

Airbus is apprehensive that its standing in the software-focused defense industry could be compromised if Atos’ activities were to be acquired by a competitor like Thales, according to insiders. However, Thales has publicly denied any interest in acquiring a stake in Eviden.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com