Bertrand Meunier, chairman of the board of directors of Atos, resigned after criticism of the plan for a partial sale to Daniel Kretinsky, the IT group announced in a press release. Bertrand Meunier is replaced by Jean-Pierre Mustier. The sale to the Czech billionaire is postponed to the second quarter of 2024, specifies Atos. In response, Atos shares jumped 20% on the stock market this Monday morning.
In recent months, Bertrand Meunier, who saved his position during the June general meeting in the face of attacks from a minority shareholder, was the target of heavy criticism. At issue is the proposed sale of the group’s historic outsourcing activities (maintenance of IT assets) to Daniel Kretinsky.
Announced in August, this project must be submitted to a vote by shareholders before the end of the year during an extraordinary general meeting of the group of 110,000 employees around the world. No date has yet been set. Two minority shareholders, the Alix AM and CIAM funds, even filed a complaint with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), the first for active and passive corruption and the second for “false or misleading information”.
Other minority shareholders opposed to the sale, united in the association Union of Constructive Atos Shareholders (Udaac, which says it represents around 2% to 2.5% of the capital), are preparing an “alternative strategic plan” without a sale. Udaac had recently indicated that it wanted to take legal action to have a general meeting convened as quickly as possible, with the aim of the resignation of Bertrand Meunier and the renewal of the board of directors.
The protest also took a political turn: in August, 82 LR parliamentarians called for Atos to be kept “under French control”, particularly because its branch specializing in supercomputers is essential for nuclear test simulations and French deterrence. “Even if the operation were completed, it would have no impact in terms of control or blocking rights over sensitive activities,” replied Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne at the end of September.