At Euronaval 2024, the French nuclear industry giant Framatome officially announced that it had bought the French company Allentis, which specialises in cyber security. This means that Framatome can now compete with American IT giants such as Microsoft and Amazon in the fast-growing cybersecurity market. Here is an explanation and analysis from the experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
By buying Allentis, Framatome is tapping into a market that is growing quickly and where it can make a big profit. The company was founded in 2011 and offers solutions for monitoring IT and industrial networks and designing secure systems. These are ANSSI (Agence Nationale pour la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information) qualified. This means that the French government has officially approved Allentis products and services, saying they meet the necessary technical, regulatory and security standards. This ANSSI qualification provides reassurance for the group’s customers, who are impressed by the robustness of Allentis solutions.
Competing against industry giants
The acquisition of Allentis by Framatone is poised to establish a significant French presence in the cybersecurity sector. While France boasts a wealth of innovative companies in this field, none have yet matched the scale and expertise of their American counterparts. This strategic move by Framatone underscores its commitment to expand its portfolio of cybersecurity services, particularly in the domain of industrial security. Allentis’s solutions will provide Framatome with additional expertise in anticipating and managing potential threats, specifically in highly sensitive sectors such as nuclear and defence. Overall, Framatome is involved in two-thirds of the world’s nuclear power plants, in 20 countries. The group, which employs some 18,000 people in 64 countries, delivered a turnover of €4 billion in 2023.
A very high-potential market
For Framatone, this acquisition represents a significant opportunity to enhance its internal capabilities. By integrating Allentis, Framatone is strategically expanding its presence into other developing sectors, such as energy, defence and transport infrastructure, where data security has become a paramount concern. This strategic move will enable the group to expand its customer base and respond to public tenders in the cyber sector, where digital sovereignty is a top priority. In 2024, the global cybersecurity market reached US$203 billion. According to Mordor Intelligence, this figure is projected to rise to US$350 billion by 2029.
Our experts at your service
This strategic acquisition represents a significant milestone in Framatone’s evolution, positioning the company as a key player in safeguarding France’s industrial heritage. To this end, the group has acquired a small and medium-sized business, recognised and qualified by ANSSI. Although Allentis is below the scale and size of Framatone, it is well-recognised and qualified by ANSSI. This transaction underscores the ongoing focus of major corporations on innovative smaller entities that operate within high-growth potential markets. The AURIS Finance team is comprised of sector specialists. We provide comprehensive support to SMEs in developing their growth strategies. From setting up a development strategy via the search for financing to identifying potential buyers, our experts are at your side.
