PARIS (Reuters) – The shareholders of Atos gathered in general assembly rejected on Wednesday by 67.38% a resolution demanding the departure of the chairman of the board of directors Bertrand Meunier, carried by the asset manager Sycomore, which has denounced for months the poor management of the IT group.

Motions by Sycamore seeking the departure of two other directors were also denied.

In a statement released after the vote, Sycomore estimated that even defeats, its resolutions had been approved by 32 to 35% of the votes cast, a “strong signal sent by the long-term shareholders of Atos to its board of directors “.

“The latter cannot remain on his positions, it is his duty to listen to the distrust of shareholders by appointing directors who know the sector perfectly and who will be able to calmly assess future strategic decisions for the company”, he said. added.

After a difficult period marked by a governance crisis and heavy losses, Atos last year unveiled a plan to split its digital and cybersecurity activities into a new entity renamed Eviden and consolidate its historical activities into Tech. Foundations.

Wednesday during the general assembly, Bertrand Meunier made it known that the board of directors had rejected several indicative offers for Tech Foundations.

The division has in particular aroused the interest of the Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky, according to information from Le Monde confirmed by the deputy general manager of Atos Nourdine Bihmane to BFM Business last March.

Bertrand Meunier, who did not comment on Daniel Kretinsky before the general meeting, declared that the abandonment in the spring by Airbus of its plan to buy back a 29.9% stake in Eviden (ex-Evidian ) would have no impact on the proposed split, which he said should be implemented in the second half of 2023.

Discussions with Airbus are continuing over a “long-term technology partnership”, he added.

(Report Mathieu Rosemain, Jean-Stéphane Brosse)

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