On May 27, 2025, Salesforce, a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) software, announced its agreement to acquire Informatica, a prominent enterprise AI-powered cloud data management company, for approximately $8 billion in equity value, net of Salesforce’s existing stake in Informatica. This deal marks Salesforce’s largest acquisition since its $28 billion purchase of Slack in 2021 and underscores its strategic focus on enhancing its AI and data infrastructure to meet the growing demands of the enterprise data market, valued at over $150 billion. The acquisition is poised to strengthen Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, positioning it as a formidable player in delivering AI-driven, data-centric solutions for businesses worldwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Informatica shareholders will receive $25 per share in cash, representing a 30% premium over the company’s closing stock price on May 22, 2025, before reports of renewed acquisition talks surfaced. The transaction, unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in the first half of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027, which begins in February 2026. Salesforce plans to finance the acquisition using a combination of cash reserves and new debt, leveraging its strong financial position to execute this strategic move. The announcement sent Informatica’s shares up by 5.8% to $23.86 and boosted Salesforce’s stock by 1.78% on the same day, reflecting investor confidence in the deal’s potential.
Informatica, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a pioneer in enterprise data management, offering solutions in data integration, governance, quality, privacy, and Master Data Management (MDM). Its platform enables organizations to manage, integrate, and analyze vast amounts of data across cloud and on-premises environments, a capability that has become increasingly critical in the AI era. Informatica’s AI-powered Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform supports over 5,000 customers, including major enterprises in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and the public sector. This acquisition aligns with Salesforce’s vision to create what CEO Marc Benioff described as “the most complete, agent-ready data platform in the industry,” combining Informatica’s robust data management tools with Salesforce’s CRM and AI capabilities.
The strategic rationale for the acquisition is rooted in the growing importance of data in powering AI-driven business solutions. Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, which leverages AI to automate customer interactions and business processes, relies heavily on high-quality, well-governed data. Informatica’s expertise in data cataloging, integration, and governance will enhance Salesforce’s ability to deliver seamless, AI-powered experiences to its customers. For instance, Informatica’s MDM capabilities ensure consistent and accurate data across systems, which is critical for AI models to generate reliable insights. Additionally, Informatica’s data privacy and quality tools will help Salesforce address regulatory compliance challenges, particularly in industries like healthcare and financial services, where data security is paramount.
The acquisition comes after a period of intense competition and negotiation. In April 2024, Salesforce and Informatica were reportedly in advanced talks, but the deal fell through due to disagreements over valuation and terms. Renewed interest in Informatica emerged as private equity firm Thoma Bravo and Cloud Software Group, the parent company of Citrix, expressed interest in acquiring the company. The competitive pressure likely prompted Salesforce to re-engage, securing Informatica at a valuation that reflects its strategic importance in the rapidly evolving AI and data management landscape. However, some analysts have raised concerns about potential regulatory scrutiny, given the overlap between Informatica’s data integration capabilities and Salesforce’s MuleSoft unit, which also focuses on integration and API management. Despite these concerns, the complementary nature of Informatica’s offerings is expected to outweigh any regulatory hurdles.
Salesforce’s acquisition of Informatica is part of a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies are investing heavily in AI and data infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge. The deal follows Microsoft’s recent announcements at Build 2025, which emphasized AI agent frameworks, and Google’s advancements in its Gemini AI model at I/O 2025. By integrating Informatica’s technology, Salesforce aims to accelerate innovation in key verticals such as life sciences, financial services, and the public sector, where data-driven decision-making is critical. Informatica’s CEO, Amit Walia, highlighted the shared vision of both companies to empower organizations to “fully utilize their data in the AI era,” underscoring the transformative potential of this partnership.
The acquisition is expected to have a significant impact on Salesforce’s product roadmap. The company plans to rapidly integrate Informatica’s technology into its ecosystem, enabling customers to leverage advanced data management capabilities within Salesforce’s CRM platform. This move will likely enhance Agentforce’s ability to deliver personalized, AI-driven customer experiences, a key differentiator in the competitive CRM market. For Informatica, the acquisition provides access to Salesforce’s vast customer base and global reach, potentially accelerating adoption of its data management solutions.
While the deal has been well-received by investors, some challenges remain. Integrating Informatica’s technology with Salesforce’s existing portfolio, including MuleSoft and Tableau, will require careful execution to avoid redundancies and ensure a seamless customer experience. Additionally, the tech industry’s ongoing layoffs—over 61,000 jobs cut in 2025—highlight the economic pressures companies face, even as they invest in strategic acquisitions. Salesforce’s ability to navigate these challenges while delivering on the promise of this acquisition will be critical to its success.
In conclusion, Salesforce’s $8 billion acquisition of Informatica is a bold step toward redefining enterprise data management in the AI era. By combining Informatica’s industry-leading data capabilities with Salesforce’s CRM and AI expertise, the deal positions Salesforce to capture a larger share of the enterprise data market and deliver unparalleled value to its customers. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, this acquisition signals Salesforce’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation.
On May 27, 2025, Salesforce, a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) software, announced its agreement to acquire Informatica, a prominent enterprise AI-powered cloud data management company, for approximately $8 billion in equity value, net of Salesforce’s existing stake in Informatica. This deal marks Salesforce’s largest acquisition since its $28 billion purchase of Slack in 2021 and underscores its strategic focus on enhancing its AI and data infrastructure to meet the growing demands of the enterprise data market, valued at over $150 billion. The acquisition is poised to strengthen Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, positioning it as a formidable player in delivering AI-driven, data-centric solutions for businesses worldwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Informatica shareholders will receive $25 per share in cash, representing a 30% premium over the company’s closing stock price on May 22, 2025, before reports of renewed acquisition talks surfaced. The transaction, unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in the first half of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027, which begins in February 2026. Salesforce plans to finance the acquisition using a combination of cash reserves and new debt, leveraging its strong financial position to execute this strategic move. The announcement sent Informatica’s shares up by 5.8% to $23.86 and boosted Salesforce’s stock by 1.78% on the same day, reflecting investor confidence in the deal’s potential.
Informatica, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a pioneer in enterprise data management, offering solutions in data integration, governance, quality, privacy, and Master Data Management (MDM). Its platform enables organizations to manage, integrate, and analyze vast amounts of data across cloud and on-premises environments, a capability that has become increasingly critical in the AI era. Informatica’s AI-powered Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform supports over 5,000 customers, including major enterprises in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and the public sector. This acquisition aligns with Salesforce’s vision to create what CEO Marc Benioff described as “the most complete, agent-ready data platform in the industry,” combining Informatica’s robust data management tools with Salesforce’s CRM and AI capabilities.
The strategic rationale for the acquisition is rooted in the growing importance of data in powering AI-driven business solutions. Salesforce’s Agentforce platform, which leverages AI to automate customer interactions and business processes, relies heavily on high-quality, well-governed data. Informatica’s expertise in data cataloging, integration, and governance will enhance Salesforce’s ability to deliver seamless, AI-powered experiences to its customers. For instance, Informatica’s MDM capabilities ensure consistent and accurate data across systems, which is critical for AI models to generate reliable insights. Additionally, Informatica’s data privacy and quality tools will help Salesforce address regulatory compliance challenges, particularly in industries like healthcare and financial services, where data security is paramount.
The acquisition comes after a period of intense competition and negotiation. In April 2024, Salesforce and Informatica were reportedly in advanced talks, but the deal fell through due to disagreements over valuation and terms. Renewed interest in Informatica emerged as private equity firm Thoma Bravo and Cloud Software Group, the parent company of Citrix, expressed interest in acquiring the company. The competitive pressure likely prompted Salesforce to re-engage, securing Informatica at a valuation that reflects its strategic importance in the rapidly evolving AI and data management landscape. However, some analysts have raised concerns about potential regulatory scrutiny, given the overlap between Informatica’s data integration capabilities and Salesforce’s MuleSoft unit, which also focuses on integration and API management. Despite these concerns, the complementary nature of Informatica’s offerings is expected to outweigh any regulatory hurdles.
Salesforce’s acquisition of Informatica is part of a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies are investing heavily in AI and data infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge. The deal follows Microsoft’s recent announcements at Build 2025, which emphasized AI agent frameworks, and Google’s advancements in its Gemini AI model at I/O 2025. By integrating Informatica’s technology, Salesforce aims to accelerate innovation in key verticals such as life sciences, financial services, and the public sector, where data-driven decision-making is critical. Informatica’s CEO, Amit Walia, highlighted the shared vision of both companies to empower organizations to “fully utilize their data in the AI era,” underscoring the transformative potential of this partnership.
The acquisition is expected to have a significant impact on Salesforce’s product roadmap. The company plans to rapidly integrate Informatica’s technology into its ecosystem, enabling customers to leverage advanced data management capabilities within Salesforce’s CRM platform. This move will likely enhance Agentforce’s ability to deliver personalized, AI-driven customer experiences, a key differentiator in the competitive CRM market. For Informatica, the acquisition provides access to Salesforce’s vast customer base and global reach, potentially accelerating adoption of its data management solutions.
While the deal has been well-received by investors, some challenges remain. Integrating Informatica’s technology with Salesforce’s existing portfolio, including MuleSoft and Tableau, will require careful execution to avoid redundancies and ensure a seamless customer experience. Additionally, the tech industry’s ongoing layoffs—over 61,000 jobs cut in 2025—highlight the economic pressures companies face, even as they invest in strategic acquisitions. Salesforce’s ability to navigate these challenges while delivering on the promise of this acquisition will be critical to its success.
In conclusion, Salesforce’s $8 billion acquisition of Informatica is a bold step toward redefining enterprise data management in the AI era. By combining Informatica’s industry-leading data capabilities with Salesforce’s CRM and AI expertise, the deal positions Salesforce to capture a larger share of the enterprise data market and deliver unparalleled value to its customers. As the tech landscape continues to evolve, this acquisition signals Salesforce’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation.
