**Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion to Strengthen AI Position
The software editor specializing in customer relationship management (in SaaS mode) Salesforce announced today the acquisition of Informatica, a company specializing in cloud data management, as part of an $8 billion transaction. The goal is to reinforce the giant's position in the enterprise software market in the field of artificial intelligence. This project is not new, with initial discussions having occurred over a year ago, but disagreements arose regarding Informatica's valuation, with shareholders demanding $10 billion.
Truly autonomous and reliable AI agents require a very comprehensive understanding of their data. To address this, the merger will associate the advanced capabilities in cataloging and metadata with Salesforce's Agentforce AI solution. The software editor continues to invest in AI and acquire new companies. In 2021, it acquired Slack, a professional collaboration platform, for $28 billion.
According to the terms of the agreement, holders of Informatica's ordinary Class A and Class B-1 shares will receive $25 in cash per share, a 30% premium over the company's closing price last week. The operation will be financed by a combination of Salesforce's balance sheet liquidity and new debt. The completion of the operation will take time, pending the required regulatory approvals. It is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2027.
