IBM to Acquire Confluent for $9.3 Billion to Boost AI Capabilities
IBM is acquiring Confluent for $9.3 billion to strengthen its AI and real-time data capabilities. The $31-per-share deal, valued at $11 billion including debt, is expected to close by mid-2026.
IBM headquarters in Foster City, California, as the tech giant announces a $9.3 billion acquisition of Confluent to expand its AI and data-streaming services.
In a major enhancement of its artificial intelligence ecosystem, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) announced on Thursday that it had bought Confluent Inc., among the leading data-streaming platforms, for $9.3 billion. The deed illustrated IBM's aggressive move to include enterprise real-time data solutions, which are essential for running AI applications on an advanced level.
IBM announced, in a press release circulated just today, that it will pay $31 per share, for a higher number compared to the market closing on Tuesday, which has valued the target enterprise at $11 billion, with the inclusion of the debt. The target completion date set for now is mid-2026.
The addition of Confluent's real-time data infrastructure is anticipated to enhance IBM's existing AI offerings greatly, in order to enable large corporations to use standalone and generative AI models effectively in dealing with data-heavy computation tasks.
Originally founded by the developers of Apache Kafka, Confluent provides technology used by businesses to digest streaming data. The acquisition by IBM positions the company to deliver AI-enabled solutions much more fluently, adaptively, and profitably.
It's the biggest transaction IBM has made in years as it continues to develop its strategy around cloud, automation, and AI-driven software.
