IBM will acquire Confluent for $9.3 billion to expand its artificial intelligence services

IBM will acquire data streaming platform Confluent Inc. for approximately $9.3 billion, one of its largest acquisitions to date and a major bet on enterprise software needed for artificial intelligence tools to perform tasks in real time. According to a statement released Monday, IBM will acquire the company for $31 per share. The statement said the enterprise, including debt, is valued at $11 billion. The two companies expect the deal to close by mid-2026. According to accompanying regulatory filings, IBM will pay Confluent a $453.6 million termination fee if the deal falls through or is terminated.