IBM plans to acquire cloud computing provider SoftLayer

Today, IBM, the world's largest computer services vendor, has agreed to acquire cloud computing infrastructure provider SoftLayer Technologies.

According to informed sources, IBM plans to acquire SoftLayer for nearly $2 billion. Since IBM does not plan to announce the financial terms of this transaction, the informed person is not willing to reveal his identity. IBM said in a statement that SoftLayer operates a large network of 13 data centers in the United States, Asia, and Europe, serving more than 21,000 corporate customers.

IBM plans to integrate SoftLayer with its own SmartCloud business unit to establish a new cloud services division. SoftLayer focuses on the public cloud, a data center network that helps enterprise users remotely manage computing services and software. IBM will integrate those features with its private cloud business.

In the statement, Erich Clementi, IBM’s senior vice president of technical services, said in a statement: “With the acquisition of SoftLayer, IBM will accelerate the construction of public cloud infrastructure and provide customers with more options for cloud computing services. To promote business innovation."

IBM expects the acquisition will be completed in the third quarter, and then proceed to form a new department. SoftLayer’s controlling shareholder is GI Partners, a private equity firm in Monroe Park, California.