Billionaire Kretinsky in talks to buy Atos unit in $2.2 billion deal

FILE PHOTO-The logo of Atos is seen on a company building in Nantes, France, March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is in talks to buy Atos's loss-making legacy operations in a 2 billion-euro ($2.20 billion) deal that will refocus the struggling French company on its cybersecurity and cloud assets, and cut its debt.

Kretinsky, who made his fortune in the energy sector, is expanding his vast empire in Europe and has been on a buying spree in France, setting his eyes on assets ranging from French retailer Casino to Vivendi's publishing group Editis.