French State completes acquisition of Atos' AI, HPC, and quantum subsidiary Bull

The French State completed its €404 million ($469 million) acquisition of Bull, the artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and quantum subsidiary of Atos, on April 1, 2026. A share purchase agreement was initially signed between Atos and the French State on July 31, 2025. Atos relaunched the group as Bull in January 2026, ahead of its carve-out as a private, independent company. This acquisition is part of an ambitious strategy for high-performance computing in Europe, particularly in France, aiming to strengthen digital sovereignty. Bull employs approximately 2,500 employees and operates the only supercomputer manufacturing plant in Europe, located in Angers.

Counterparts (3)

Buyer

F

French State

company

The French State directly owns and controls a vast portfolio of critical national infrastructure assets across energy, transport, and digital sectors within France. It acts as a major investor, developer, and regulator for infrastructure projects, leveraging significant budgetary capacity and state-owned enterprises.

Seller

Atos

company

French IT services and consulting multinational specializing in digital transformation, sovereign cloud, and AI-powered services for public sector and energy industries. Operates globally with 50,000+ employees and strong European presence.

Bull

company

French high-performance computing and AI technology company specializing in exascale computing, quantum emulation, and sovereign AI platforms. Operates Europe's largest HPC manufacturing facility in Angers with 7,500 employees. Focuses on end-to-end solutions for government and enterprise clients requiring sovereign, energy-efficient computing infrastructure.