Salesforce secures Informatica in $8 billion data play

In a decisive move towards data infrastructure dominance, Salesforce has confirmed the acquisition of enterprise data integration leader Informatica for approximately US$8 billion in cash, priced at US$25 per share.

The deal, which follows more than a year of strategic talks, marks a significant expansion of Salesforce’s data stack capabilities amid growing AI and cloud competition. Private equity firms Permira and CPP Investments, who hold voting control in Informatica, have backed the transaction—paving the way for a smooth closure by early FY2027.

The timing has sparked discussion. Bank of America’s Q1 increase in its Informatica stake has raised eyebrows, fuelling speculation of insider positioning and suggesting Salesforce’s intentions may have been in play well before the public reveal.

For Salesforce, the acquisition signals a deep investment in infrastructure-level data orchestration, positioning it to scale AI capabilities and defend its territory against rivals like Microsoft and Snowflake. It strengthens the company’s broader strategic push toward data interoperability and sovereignty—key battlegrounds in the evolving enterprise tech landscape.

For the industry, it could be a watershed moment. With consolidation accelerating across the SaaS, cloud and data ecosystems, this deal may trigger further M&A activity well into 2026, as platforms race to offer end-to-end AI-ready solutions.