IBM Pays $11bn Cash for Data Streaming Firm Confluent

Global tech consulting, cloud and AI provider IBM is to acquire data streaming firm Confluent, for $31 cash per share, valuing the business at around $11 billion.

Confluent's cloud-native offering serves as 'the intelligent connective tissue' enabling real-time data from multiple sources, to constantly stream across organizations. Clients can deliver rich, digital front-end customer experiences and build sophisticated, real-time, software-driven backend operations, according to the firm.

IBM says the merged business will offer clients end-to-end integration of applications, analytics, data systems and AI agents to drive intelligence and resilience in hybrid cloud environments. Chairman, President and CEO Arvind Krishna says the combination 'will enable enterprises to deploy generative and agentic AI better and faster by providing trusted communication and data flow between environments, applications and APIs.'

Jay Kreps (pictured), CEO and co-founder of Confluent, comments: 'We are extremely proud of the work we've done in providing clients with a real-time data streaming platform for the next era of technology, including generative and agentic AI. We are excited by the potential to join IBM and to accelerate our strategy with IBM's go-to-market expertise, global scale and extensive portfolio. I look forward to the future we will build together as Confluent becomes part of IBM.'

The board of directors of IBM and the board of directors and independent special committee of Confluent have each approved the cash transaction - expected to close by the middle of 2026 - as have Confluent's largest shareholders and investors, in possession of around 62% of its voting power. After the deal is concluded, Confluent will continue to operate as a distinct brand and business within IBM.

Web sites: www.ibm.com and www.confluent.io .