Salesforce is returning to high-stakes dealmaking with a bold move to acquire data management leader Informatica in a deal valued at approximately $8 billion, signaling its most significant acquisition since purchasing Slack in 2021. As the artificial intelligence (AI) arms race accelerates in the enterprise tech sector, this acquisition positions Salesforce to become a dominant force in AI-powered data infrastructure.
The transaction, expected to close early in Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027, marks a strategic turning point for the company, which had previously stepped back from major M&A activity following pressure from activist investors to focus on profitability. Now, Salesforce is doubling down on its vision of integrating agentic AI into every layer of business operations — and Informatica offers the robust data backbone needed to power that transformation.
Under the agreement, Informatica shareholders will receive $25 per share in cash, representing a 30% premium to the company’s pre-deal market value. The deal will be funded through a mix of cash on hand and new debt, and it is expected to begin boosting Salesforce’s operating margin and free cash flow starting in its second year post-close.
Unlocking Enterprise-Grade AI with Trusted Data
The real value of this acquisition lies in the fusion of Informatica’s powerful data capabilities with Salesforce’s AI and cloud platforms. Informatica, widely respected for its enterprise-grade data cataloging, metadata management, master data management (MDM), and governance tools, will be integrated directly into Salesforce’s stack, particularly its AI agent platform Agentforce, Data Cloud, and CRM solutions.
“Together, Salesforce and Informatica will create the most complete, agent-ready data platform in the industry,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce. “This is a major leap toward building intelligent systems that not only process data but truly understand it in context.”
Enterprise AI isn’t just about having vast amounts of data — it’s about having the right data, governed properly, transparent in its lineage, and meaningful in its structure. Informatica’s suite of services ensures that data can be traced, audited, and cleaned before it reaches the decision layer, allowing AI agents to operate more responsibly and accurately.
Salesforce aims to build what it calls a “system of understanding” — where data not only feeds AI but enables agents to make decisions with confidence and context. By combining Informatica’s deep metadata with Salesforce’s unified customer data model, the acquisition sets the stage for next-generation AI use cases across healthcare, financial services, public sector, and life sciences.
Strengthening Salesforce’s Data Stack
This deal also represents a significant enhancement to Salesforce’s already impressive data and analytics portfolio. Informatica’s capabilities will complement:
- Data Cloud: Enriching customer data platforms with more accurate and trusted data for better personalization and targeting.
- MuleSoft: Ensuring connected systems receive clean, governed, and actionable data through robust integration and API management.
- Tableau: Delivering deeper insights with cleaner, context-rich datasets, improving decision-making through enhanced visualization.
The result? An AI-first Salesforce ecosystem where every product — from CRM to integration to analytics — is powered by trusted, well-governed data.
A Timely Bet on AI Dominance
Salesforce’s move comes at a critical time. The enterprise AI market is projected to exceed $150 billion, and the battle is heating up between major software vendors to define the future of AI at scale. With the acquisition of Informatica, Salesforce is betting that data trustworthiness and governance will become key differentiators in that race.
Salesforce has already seen rapid adoption of its Agentforce platform, which helps businesses build autonomous digital agents. The company has closed over 1,000 paid deals on Agentforce, and with Informatica’s robust data infrastructure now in the mix, Salesforce expects to supercharge that momentum.
“This is about building AI systems that don’t just automate tasks, but truly understand context, data quality, and business logic,” said Steve Fisher, Salesforce CTO. “Informatica gives us that foundation.”
Integration and Strategic Execution
Upon closing the deal, Salesforce plans to rapidly integrate Informatica’s tools into its existing platforms. While Informatica will continue developing its standalone solutions, the unified architecture will give customers a seamless experience — one that spans cloud, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
Additionally, Salesforce has committed to supporting Informatica’s broader ecosystem of partners, using its powerful distribution channels to grow Informatica’s customer base even further.
Salesforce President and CFO Robin Washington noted, “This acquisition fits squarely within our M&A strategy — focused, disciplined, and designed to unlock long-term value for customers and shareholders alike.”
As AI transforms how enterprises operate, Salesforce is positioning itself at the forefront, not just with smart agents, but with the most complete, trusted, and scalable data platform to power them.
