IBM has undergone a large number of mergers and acquisitions during a corporate history lasting over a century; the company has also produced a number of spinoffs during that time.
The acquisition date listed is the date of the agreement between IBM and the subject of the acquisition. The value of each acquisition is listed in USD because IBM is based in the United States. If the value of an acquisition is not listed, then it is undisclosed.
Precursors 1889–1910
Herman Hollerith initially did business under his own name, as The Hollerith Electric Tabulating System, specialising in punched card data processing equipment.[1] In 1896 he incorporated as the Tabulating Machine Company.
- 1889 Bundy Manufacturing Company incorporated.
- 1891 Computing Scale Company incorporated.
- 1893 Dey Patents Company (soon renamed the Dey Time Register Company) incorporated.
- 1894 Willard & Frick Manufacturing Company (Rochester, New York) incorporated.
- 1896
- Detroit Automatic Scale Company incorporated.
- Hollerith incorporates the Tabulating Machine Company. Will be reincorporated in 1905.
- 1899 Standard Time Stamp Company acquired by Bundy Manufacturing Company.
- 1900
Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, 1911
Since the 1960s or earlier, IBM has described its formation as a merger of three companies: The Tabulating Machine Company (1880s origin in Washington, DC), the International Time Recording Company (ITR; 1900, Endicott), and the Computing Scale Company of America (1901, Dayton, Ohio).[3][4][5] However, there was no merger, it was an amalgamation, and an amalgamation of four, not three, companies.[6] The 1911 CTR stock prospectus states that the Bundy Manufacturing Company was also included.[7] While ITR had acquired its time recording business in 1900 Bundy had remained a separate entity producing an adding machine and other wares.
CTR owned the stock of the four companies; CTR neither produced nor sold any product; the four companies continued to operate, as before, under their own names.
Acquisitions during 1912–1999
1912–1929
- 1917
- American Automatic Scale Company acquired as International Scale Company.
- CTR consolidates three already-existing Canadian companies: The Canadian Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd, the International Time Recording Co. of Canada, Ltd., and the Computing Scale Co. of Canada, Ltd., in a new holding company, International Business Machines Co., Ltd.[8]
- 1921
- Pierce Accounting Machine Company (asset purchase).
- Ticketograph Company (of Chicago).
- 1923
- Dehomag[9]
Acquisitions from 2000 - 2019
Number of acquisitions per year according to table below:
- In 2019 IBM acquired 1 company
- In 2018 IBM acquired 3 companies
- In 2017 IBM acquired 3 companies
- In 2016 IBM acquired 12 companies
- In 2015 IBM acquired 13 companies
- In 2014 IBM acquired 4 companies
- In 2013 IBM acquired 9 companies
- In 2012 IBM acquired 9 companies
- In 2011 IBM acquired 8 companies
Acquisitions since 2020
Number of acquisitions per year according to table below:
- In 2020 IBM acquired 6 companies
- In 2021 IBM acquired 7 companies
- In 2022 IBM acquired 3 companies
- In 2023 IBM acquired 3 companies
- In 2024 IBM acquired 2 companies
- In 2025 IBM acquired 4 companies
Spin-offs
- 1934 – Dayton Scale Division is sold to the Hobart Manufacturing Company.
- 1942 – Ticketograph Division is sold to the National Postal Meter Company.
- 1958 – Time Equipment Division is sold to the Simplex Time Recorder Company.
- 1974 – Service Bureau Corporation sold to Control Data Corporation
- 1984 – Prodigy, formerly a joint venture with Sears, Roebuck and Company.
- 1985 – Satellite Business Systems sold to MCI Communications
- 1988 – Copier/Duplicator business, including service and support contracts, sold to Eastman Kodak.[225][226]
See also
- List of largest mergers and acquisitions
- Lists of corporate acquisitions and mergers