Atos has been struggling for some time. Due to a series of setbacks and shrinking profits, the company's market value has plummeted from €8.2 billion at the end of 2020 to around €1.1 billion at Monday's close.

As part of the proposed transaction, which involves the demerger of the group, Křetínský plans to invest more than EUR 1 billion in the takeover, which includes EUR 100 million in cash to support operations, a further EUR 800 million to recapitalise the business and more than EUR 200 million to acquire a 7.5% stake in the remaining listed unit of Atos, which would be renamed Eviden.

Atos' IT unit includes a "legacy IT" infrastructure with data centres and business process outsourcing. It employs more than 52,000 people and last year achieved a turnover of EUR 4.5 billion. In the coming days, Křetínský will also start negotiations with the investment group Fimalac, backed by French investor Marc Ladreit Lacharrière, on the possibility of taking a minority stake in the transaction.

Křetínský, who studied in France, has already invested in the energy sector in the country several times. In addition, his company Czech Media Invest (CMI) revealed in April its plans to acquire French publisher Editis from media company Vivendi. Last month, it also tentatively agreed to take over the debt-laden retail chain Casino.