Atos exits South America following sale of regional business to Semantix

Global IT services company Atos has divested its South American business to Brazilian company Semantix, marking its exit from the regional market.

The deal sees around 2,800 employees in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Peru transfer to Semantix, which now becomes one of the largest players in South America in the field of digital transformation and IT services.

Founded in 2010, Semantix specializes in data driven solutions, including big data, analytics, and artificial intelligence. The transaction significantly diversifies its portfolio into other technology domains and adds scale as well as several new markets.

Nelson Campelo, currently Head of South America at Atos, will following closing become the CEO of Semantix, while Leonardo Santos Poça D’água, the founder and current CEO of Semantix, will become the Executive Chairman of the group.

“Atos has over the past few years built a solid and highly regarded operation in the region, delivering complex and innovative projects. By joining forces with Semantix, a leader in data and artificial intelligence, we are entering in a new phase of expansion with enhanced capabilities to create even more value for clients, partners, employees and society,” said Campelo.

“This agreement represents a milestone for the company” said Santos Poça D’água. “We are a 100% Brazilian company taking on a leading regional role. With Atos’s broader geographical presence and strong operational backbone, we accelerate our ability to deliver artificial intelligence with full governance to regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, utilities and telecommunications.”

“Additionally, we will immediately strengthen our presence in strategic areas such as agribusiness, industry, government and automotive. Our commitment and purpose are to use technology to generate a real positive impact in millions of lives.“

Operation Genesis

For Atos, the sale is part of its broader restructuring plan called ‘Operation Genesis’, which is intended to return the company to profitability after years of losses. The French group aims to focus on a smaller geographic footprint and build a more focused services portfolio. Earlier this month, Atos also sold Ideal GRP, a Finnish system integrator and Siemens partner, to the MAIT Group.