IBM’s $6.4 billion acquisition of HashiCorp has cleared a major hurdle, with the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) granting its approval. But while the British watchdog has stepped aside, the deal remains under scrutiny in the U.S., where regulators are keeping a close eye on tech industry mergers—especially those with implications for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
UK Regulator Finds No Threat to Competition
The CMA, which launched its review in December, concluded that IBM’s purchase of HashiCorp would not significantly harm competition in the UK’s cloud services market. With this clearance, a more extensive second-phase investigation was deemed unnecessary, removing one roadblock for the tech giant.
HashiCorp, an infrastructure automation company, plays a crucial role in cloud computing, providing tools that help businesses streamline their cloud operations. IBM, betting big on hybrid cloud and AI, announced the acquisition in April 2024, touting the move as a way to build a next-generation platform that integrates both companies’ strengths.
