The French government said Tuesday it would provide a 50 million euro ($54 million) loan to Atos, the data and cybersecurity partner for the Paris Olympics, which is struggling with a mountain of debt.
Atos has been IT partner since 2002 and has insisted that financial difficulties will not disrupt operations during the Games.
This year, we have approximately 300 employees managing more than 300,000 certifications for events while also providing cybersecurity for our data and technology systems.
Organizers expect the Olympics, which run from July 26 to August 11, to be targeted by cyberattacks, with President Emmanuel Macron warning this month that Russia will seek to undermine the Paris Games through a disinformation campaign. He claimed that
The French loan to Atos is part of a €450 million emergency interim funding package announced on Tuesday to keep the company afloat as it seeks to raise €1.2 billion in new capital by July. It is for.
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In return, the Treasury would receive a “preferential share” that would allow it to oversee Atos' “big data” operations critical to the French state, including supercomputers that run nuclear deterrent weapons and other military contracts.
Atos has nearly 5 billion euros in debt, of which 3.65 billion euros are in bonds and loans that need to be repaid or refinanced by the end of next year.
The company's plight worsened in recent weeks after it failed to reach an agreement to sell two of its subsidiaries.
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This has fueled speculation that the group may be forced to dissolve unless an agreement is reached with its creditors.
Furthermore, since July last year, the decline in Atos' share price on the Paris stock market has also worsened.
But shares rose nearly 20% on Monday after Butler Industries Investment Fund announced it would support Atos' fundraising efforts with OnePoint, its largest shareholder.
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Atos has set an April 26 deadline for new funding proposals from existing shareholders and third parties, and aims to return to cash flow in 2026.
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