France buys nuclear supercomputing spinoff Bull from Atos for €404M
(2026/04/01)
- Reference: 1775049551
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/04/01/france_bull_purchase/
- Source link:
The French government has finally closed a deal to purchase the Advanced Computing assets of tech giant Atos, leading to the re-emergence of an old industry name: [1]Bull .
Atos says it completed the sale of Bull to the French State in a transaction valued at up to €404 million ($468 million).
This is less than the €410 million ($475 million) offered by Paris last year, as it now excludes Atos's zData, a leader in big data consulting and solutions. It is also much less than [2]the €625 million ($724 million) previously floated , owing to the decision by Atos to exclude the Vision AI unit from the transaction.
[3]
Atos acquired Bull for €620 million back in 2014, but the French government [4]decided to make an offer for those parts of the business when it appeared they might fall under the control of foreign-owned entities as part of a restructuring process.
[5]
[6]
The Advanced Computing assets thus comprise the High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Quantum units, as well as the Business Computing & Artificial Intelligence divisions. These are not only strategically important for the state, but generated revenue estimated at €700 million ($810 million) in fiscal year 2025, according to Atos, and were previously part of its Eviden subsidiary.
The supercomputing division, specifically, builds the [7]systems that help model France's nuclear defense capabilities.
[8]
The reborn Bull is sounding bullish on its prospects, saying that as an independent entity, it has greater agility and flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in the HPC, AI and infrastructure markets, while ensuring continuity for existing partners and ecosystems.
Bull is keen to point out that its activities cover the full value chain, from design and engineering to manufacturing at its facility in Angers in western France, where it operates what it says is the only supercomputer manufacturing plant in Europe and where a new production building is set to open soon.
But in reality, the French state is now the sole shareholder of Bull, forming part of its strategy to develop sovereign capabilities in supercomputing and AI.
[9]
"This sounds like the French have a plan to make tech more sovereign," says Omdia chief analyst Roy Illsley.
"While it will no doubt use US technology such as Nvidia, it will also probably use French LLM Mistral, so making France more self-reliant," he told The Register .
"The UK could learn from the French, in how to be less reliant on the US and other nations for critical industry. The French also have an AI plan that lays out how they are planning to develop, use, and become an AI powerhouse."
As Eviden, Bull built [10]Europe's first exascale system , Jupiter, and also landed a contract last year to build a second one for France, named for computer scientist [11]Alice Recoque .
[12]Eviden set to build France's first exascale supercomputer with AMD at the wheel
[13]Digital overhaul at UK's NS&I bank is £1.3B over budget and 4 years late
[14]UK waves £750M supercomputer contract at HPC builders
[15]Europe’s Jupiter supercomputer hits exascale threshold at inauguration
Bull says that the French state's ownership of it provides the company with a long‑term public shareholder, ensuring stability, strategic continuity and the preservation of critical expertise in support of a French and European excellence‑driven industrial sector.
"With the completion of this acquisition, the French State as shareholder reaches a decisive milestone for France's technological sovereignty," commented Roland Lescure, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty of France.
"The renewal of Bull, which we will actively support, will mark the beginning of a new era for the strategic sector of high‑performance computing and artificial intelligence. Together, we will build a competitive French and European offering that creates jobs, added value and excellence," he added.
For those focused on the UK business, the practical impact of this transaction is minimal, according to TechMarketView chief analyst Georgina O'Toole.
"The bulk of Atos' High Performance Computing and quantum contracts sit outside the UK, with some academic partnerships the most notable domestic exceptions," she says.
As for Atos itself, the company has been through a rough patch over the past several years, with several abortive restructuring plans along the way after it [16]racked up large debts , but O'Toole believes this latest development is positive.
"The proceeds from the Bull sale provide welcome financial headroom, reducing leverage and supporting the investment case for [17]Genesis . The company is in a more stable position than it has been for some time, with capital now available to be directed towards the higher-growth, higher-margin opportunities that the Genesis plan demands." ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.bull.com
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/25/france_atos_advanced_computing/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/29/france_buy_atos_assets/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.nextplatform.com/2022/02/16/atos-defends-its-supercomputing-turf-with-new-exascale-iron/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/17/europe_jupiter_supercomputer/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/eviden_france_exascale/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/eviden_france_exascale/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/nsandi_nao_report/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/13/edinburgh_supercomputer_procurement/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/05/jupiter_supercompute_exascale_threshold/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/10/atos_stumbles_announces_2nd_profit/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/16/atos_transformation_7/
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Atos says it completed the sale of Bull to the French State in a transaction valued at up to €404 million ($468 million).
This is less than the €410 million ($475 million) offered by Paris last year, as it now excludes Atos's zData, a leader in big data consulting and solutions. It is also much less than [2]the €625 million ($724 million) previously floated , owing to the decision by Atos to exclude the Vision AI unit from the transaction.
[3]
Atos acquired Bull for €620 million back in 2014, but the French government [4]decided to make an offer for those parts of the business when it appeared they might fall under the control of foreign-owned entities as part of a restructuring process.
[5]
[6]
The Advanced Computing assets thus comprise the High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Quantum units, as well as the Business Computing & Artificial Intelligence divisions. These are not only strategically important for the state, but generated revenue estimated at €700 million ($810 million) in fiscal year 2025, according to Atos, and were previously part of its Eviden subsidiary.
The supercomputing division, specifically, builds the [7]systems that help model France's nuclear defense capabilities.
[8]
The reborn Bull is sounding bullish on its prospects, saying that as an independent entity, it has greater agility and flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in the HPC, AI and infrastructure markets, while ensuring continuity for existing partners and ecosystems.
Bull is keen to point out that its activities cover the full value chain, from design and engineering to manufacturing at its facility in Angers in western France, where it operates what it says is the only supercomputer manufacturing plant in Europe and where a new production building is set to open soon.
But in reality, the French state is now the sole shareholder of Bull, forming part of its strategy to develop sovereign capabilities in supercomputing and AI.
[9]
"This sounds like the French have a plan to make tech more sovereign," says Omdia chief analyst Roy Illsley.
"While it will no doubt use US technology such as Nvidia, it will also probably use French LLM Mistral, so making France more self-reliant," he told The Register .
"The UK could learn from the French, in how to be less reliant on the US and other nations for critical industry. The French also have an AI plan that lays out how they are planning to develop, use, and become an AI powerhouse."
As Eviden, Bull built [10]Europe's first exascale system , Jupiter, and also landed a contract last year to build a second one for France, named for computer scientist [11]Alice Recoque .
[12]Eviden set to build France's first exascale supercomputer with AMD at the wheel
[13]Digital overhaul at UK's NS&I bank is £1.3B over budget and 4 years late
[14]UK waves £750M supercomputer contract at HPC builders
[15]Europe’s Jupiter supercomputer hits exascale threshold at inauguration
Bull says that the French state's ownership of it provides the company with a long‑term public shareholder, ensuring stability, strategic continuity and the preservation of critical expertise in support of a French and European excellence‑driven industrial sector.
"With the completion of this acquisition, the French State as shareholder reaches a decisive milestone for France's technological sovereignty," commented Roland Lescure, Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty of France.
"The renewal of Bull, which we will actively support, will mark the beginning of a new era for the strategic sector of high‑performance computing and artificial intelligence. Together, we will build a competitive French and European offering that creates jobs, added value and excellence," he added.
For those focused on the UK business, the practical impact of this transaction is minimal, according to TechMarketView chief analyst Georgina O'Toole.
"The bulk of Atos' High Performance Computing and quantum contracts sit outside the UK, with some academic partnerships the most notable domestic exceptions," she says.
As for Atos itself, the company has been through a rough patch over the past several years, with several abortive restructuring plans along the way after it [16]racked up large debts , but O'Toole believes this latest development is positive.
"The proceeds from the Bull sale provide welcome financial headroom, reducing leverage and supporting the investment case for [17]Genesis . The company is in a more stable position than it has been for some time, with capital now available to be directed towards the higher-growth, higher-margin opportunities that the Genesis plan demands." ®
Get our [18]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.bull.com
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/25/france_atos_advanced_computing/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/29/france_buy_atos_assets/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.nextplatform.com/2022/02/16/atos-defends-its-supercomputing-turf-with-new-exascale-iron/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/hpc&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ac1BIkrMd6C9uvnCO6TeiAAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/17/europe_jupiter_supercomputer/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/eviden_france_exascale/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/eviden_france_exascale/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/14/nsandi_nao_report/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/13/edinburgh_supercomputer_procurement/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/05/jupiter_supercompute_exascale_threshold/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/10/atos_stumbles_announces_2nd_profit/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/16/atos_transformation_7/
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Bull….
BlokeInTejas
No, it would not be good for the UK government to own high tech (or other) companies.
Government is **political ** driven purely by political agendas; it is not driven by commercial success nor any other goal. And governments change, and along with the change generally comes a change of goals - so your secure well thought out strategy falls apart in days.
Also, there’s a great temptation for such a government owned company to call up its owner and say stuff like “ unexpected turbulence in the market means we need another billion or two to keep going; could you send it over?” whenever times get hard, so the company doesn’t learn how to survive….
All in all, nationalized companies are shit shows.
Re: Bull….
elsergiovolador
Exactly, the British tax payer should own nothing and instead should pay contributions to foreign tax-shy corporations. That will do.
This is why contracting usual suspects to deliver on the needs of tax payer was so successful. We have spent billions extremely well, nurtured local talent and helped local businesses grow. Oh wait.
wouldn't it be nice if the Gov.UK could show the same kind of strategic vision.......I won't be holding my breath though