---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-25-119081"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: null
cik: "0001699838"
company_name: "Confluent, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-12-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T13:59:12.925808+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.95
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.95
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# IBM to acquire Confluent for $31.00 per share in cash; expected close mid-2026

## Summary
- Confluent stockholders will receive $31.00 per share in cash for each share of common stock.
- Stockholders representing ~62% of voting power agreed via Voting Agreement to vote in favor.
- Closing expected by mid-2026; requires stockholder adoption, antitrust clearances, and no material adverse effect.
- CEO Jay Kreps entered into an offer letter for post-closing employment, including retention RSU and accelerated vesting.
- Confluent may owe IBM a $453.6M termination fee under specified conditions, including a superior proposal.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-25-119081
- form_type: 8-K
- cik: 0001699838
- company_name: Confluent, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-12-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.95
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.95
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1699838/000110465925119081/0001104659-25-119081-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1699838/000110465925119081/tm2532777d2_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-119081
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-119081.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-25-119081.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  Confluent, Inc. entered into Agreement and Plan of Merger with International Business Machines Corporation and Corvo Merger Sub, Inc. valued at $31.00 in cash (effective 2025-12-07).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: merger
  - Counterparty: International Business Machines Corporation and Corvo Merger Sub, Inc.
  - Value: $31.00 in cash
  - Effective: 2025-12-07
  source text: On December 7, 2025, Confluent, Inc. (“Confluent”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) and Corvo Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM (“Merger Sub”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1699838/000110465925119081/0001104659-25-119081-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.