Exclusive negotiations launched with the objective to create a benchmark prime contractor in digital services and critical systems for the defence & security, space and energy sectors
Sopra Steria, a European tech leader, renowned for its consulting, digital services and software development, has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with a view to acquiring, at the price of €11.50 per share, all the CS GROUP shares held by the company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Yazid Sabeg, Chief Executive Officer Eric Blanc-Garin, and their joint holding company Duna & Cie, representing around 29.73% of the share capital of CS GROUP (“main block”). In parallel with this, CIRA Holding and founders of Novidy’s have granted Sopra Steria a commitment to sell all of the shares of CS GROUP that they own, i.e. approximately 29.15% and 6.38%, respectively, in the company’s share capital (“other blocks”), representing a total, including the acquisition of the “main block”, of 65.26% of the share capital of CS GROUP. This operation would bring the entire share capital held by Sopra Steria, when taking into account the 9.80% already owned, to 75.06% of the capital of CS GROUP.
AI and ML News: AI: Continuing the Chase for Brain-Level Efficiency
The acquisition of these shares would lead to Sopra Steria filing a proposed simplified public tender offer (OPA simplifiée) with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers in Q1 2023. The transaction, for 100% of the share capital, would amount to €282.5 million2, without taking into account €3.2 million in net debt3. This tie-up would boost earnings per share by 1.0% in the first year (2023). In 2024, taking into account 70% of the commercial, operational and tax synergies, earnings enhancement would be 4.0%.
The Boards of Directors of Sopra Steria Group and CS GROUP, which have already been consulted, have each reacted unanimously in favour of this transaction, without prejudice to a review of the documentation of the public offer when it becomes available, and to the reasoned opinion to be formulated by the Board of Directors on the public tender offer after receiving the independent expert’s opinion in the event that the acquisition of the “main block” and the “other blocks” is completed. To this end, the Board of Directors of CS GROUP has set up a committee comprising Ms. Edwige Avice, Ms. Catherine Euvrard, Mr. Jean-Marc Georgin and Mr. Blaise Jaeger, which intends to propose the nomination of Finexsi as independent expert to attest to the fairness of the public offer.
Information and consultation procedures with the employee representative bodies of Sopra Steria and CS GROUP will be initiated.
Cyril Malargé, Chief Executive Officer of Sopra Steria Group, commented:
“The tie-up between Sopra Steria and CS GROUP would create a benchmark player in digital services and engineering, a prime contractor for critical systems in the fields of defence & security, space, and nuclear energy. It would also strengthen our position in aeronautics and cybersecurity. Furthermore, it would confirm our positioning in digital sovereignty and trust supporting our major European public- and private-sector clients. Lastly, it would position us well in verticals which, in light of the geopolitical and energy situation, offer a very strong growth outlook over the coming years. With defence and aeronautics already among our top-performing businesses, CS GROUP’s skills and expertise would act as a powerful driver to accelerate the Group’s development. I’m delighted by this planned tie-up, which would help us offer our clients even more value, and am looking forward to welcoming CS GROUP’s employees to Sopra Steria Group, where I hope they will find attractive prospects if the transaction is completed.”
AI ML in Marketing: AI and Big Data Analysis Used to Find Brands’ Emotional Connection
Eric Blanc-Garin, Chief Executive Officer of CS GROUP, commented:
“CS GROUP supports its customers in highly sensitive sectors in the design and implementation of their critical systems, aiding them in conducting operations in the context of their most demanding missions in terms of availability and security. To this end, CS GROUP implements innovative and sovereign solutions. Our core business revolves around information and communication systems, focused on the operational challenges of our customers in the Defense & Security, Space, Aeronautics and Energy sectors, with high constraints in terms of cybersecurity and data recovery. This merger with Sopra Steria would be a formidable lever for accelerating our development strategy and would enable us to amplify the objectives of our Vision 2024 plan thanks to the synergies identified.”
Creation of a benchmark player in the sensitive fields of defence & security, space and energy
For many years, Sopra Steria’s technological solutions and specific business lines have supported the armed forces and the administrations in charge of homeland security in many European countries. In 2021, the Group generated more than €500 million in revenue in this field. The tie-up between Sopra Steria and CS GROUP would substantially increase the Group’s presence and would create a powerful player with strategic connections to major manufacturers and with recognised expertise in systems of command and control, secure communications, logistics information and cyber defence. CS GROUP would also contribute its own high-tech solutions: counter-drone solutions, combat training systems, tactical data management, maritime surveillance and perimeter security, geo-information and image processing, data intelligence and AI, hardened operating systems and embedded secure systems, among others. These solutions are backed by cutting-edge R&D expertise, a vast network of connections to universities and research centres, and renowned industrial partners.
The acquisition of CS GROUP would also help forge in-depth expertise in space-related systems and applications, based in Europe. For over 40 years, CS GROUP, which is among the top European players in spatial computing, has taken an end-to-end approach to all the business lines involved in space systems, throughout their entire life cycle.
The tie-up between Sopra Steria and CS GROUP would also bring together key expertise in the energy field, particularly with regard to nuclear power. Sopra Steria’s capacity in consulting, digital transformation and PLM would be combined with CS GROUP’s expertise in technical and industrial computing as well as digital simulation and modelling.
With this tie-up, Sopra Steria confirms its robust positioning in digital sovereignty and trust for its European clients.
Bolstering the Group’s solutions in cybersecurity and the aeronautics market
The acquisition of CS GROUP would also boost the Sopra Steria’s expansion in the critical and promising field of cybersecurity, based on a range of end-to-end, sovereign solutions. With the addition of more than 200 experts, the Group would bolster its position as one of France’s leading players in cybersecurity.
It would also bolster aeronautics, one of the Group’s most powerful verticals.
Expanded presence in high-growth vertical markets
Renewed international geopolitical tensions and the increased risk of conflict will lead many states, particularly in Europe, to scale up their investments in defence and security, not only on land, sea and air but also in space and the cybersphere. There will be a rapid surge of growth in these new global security priorities, particularly in light of the new communication capabilities that will be provided by upcoming satellite constellations. The interoperability and security of critical operational systems for exchanging vital real-time information will become increasingly essential.
In the current geopolitical context, energy independence is also becoming a growing priority. Combined with the need to transition to more sustainable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, these priorities will boost investment in nuclear power. In France, for example, the new government would like to relaunch the country’s nuclear programme with the construction of 6 new EPRs.
Immediately earnings-enhancing transaction
Sopra Steria expects the transaction to boost earnings per share4 from the very first year (by 1.0% in 2023).
In 2024, taking into account 70% of the commercial, operational and tax synergies identified, the Group expects the transaction to boost earnings per share by 4.0%. These synergies are expected to take full effect in 2025 (20% in 2023, 70% in 2024 and 100% in 2025).
Commercial and operational synergies are estimated at more than €13 million on an annual basis. In addition, the tie-up between the two entities would make it possible to gradually use a significant portion of CS GROUP’s €364 million5 in tax losses carried forward.
Read More About ML News : How Machine Learning and First-party Data Work in Harmony for Performance Marketers
[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]
Comments are closed.