June 7, 2013

IBM agrees to acquire cloud computing company

IBM is a multinational tech and consulting giant, but even larger companies must make changes to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital world. As proof of this, IBM announced this week that it is making an effort to become stronger in terms of its cloud computing offerings through its plan to acquire SoftLayer, which is a provider of cloud computing infrastructure.

According to a press release, the acquisition will help IBM's clients around the world easily and quickly incorporate the cloud into their daily operations.

Erich Clementi, senior vice president of IBM Global Technology Services, explained in the press release that SoftLayer's technology will help customers in terms of public and hybrid cloud offerings, as well as software-as-a-service (SaaS) business solutions. Clients will have a wide variety of cloud computing options available to them, which will be sure to give them the necessary tools to push their companies forward, he said.

SoftLayer CEO Lance Crosby said in the press release that being acquired by IBM will help his company expand its global footprint and move deeper into the large enterprise market.

"The compelling opportunity is connecting IBM's geographic reach, industry expertise and IBM's SmartCloud breadth with our innovative technology," he said. "Together SoftLayer and IBM expand their reach to new clients – both born-on-the-cloud and born-in-the-enterprise."

Smaller technology companies, or even firms that specialize in a unique or highly sought-after product or service, should not completely dismiss the idea of a merger or acquisition. As this situation shows, a technology acquisition gives both businesses a chance to strengthen their bottom line and offer clients strong solutions.

With the right planning and assistance from an M&A advisor, an opportunity can be found that will benefit all parties involved.