Paris Office Represents Pardus in Successful Negotiations for Atos Origin Board Seats

On May 28, after six months of heated negotiations and a protracted legal battle, Willkie client Pardus Capital Management, together with Centaurus Capital, successfully negotiated their slate of candidates for the Supervisory Board of Atos Origin, the French international information technology services company.   Pardus, a U.S.-based hedge fund, and Centaurus, a UK-based hedge fund, are the two largest shareholders in Atos Origin, with an aggregate 23% stake.  Acting on behalf of Pardus, the firm’s Paris office successfully obtained four replacements on Atos Origin’s Supervisory Board, including one seat to be filled by a representative of Pardus and one by a representative of Centaurus.  Additionally, the company agreed, per the request of Pardus and Centaurus, to replace the Chairman of the Supervisory Board with an independent, prominent figure of the European business community: Jean-Philippe Thierry, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of French insurance group AGF and a member of the Allianz Management Board.   The matter, which was initiated after the premature adjournment of a shareholders meeting, has received widespread coverage in the international press.  The matter was handled by partner Laurent Faugérolas, special European counsel Etienne Boursican and associate Ha-Jin Shin.