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IBM Acquisitions by CEO by Year: 2001 through 2024

Date Published: July 28, 2021
Date Modified: October 11, 2025

A high-quality, black-and-white image of a man watching an airplane pulling a banner with the tagline:

This is a list of IBM acquisitions since 2001 through and including 2024. These acquisitions are listed by year for each Chief Executive Officer and include (1) a list of the acquisitions by year from 2001 to 2024, (2) total number of acquisitions by year during the chief executive officer's tenure, and (3) total amount spent each year on that year's acquisitions

Until IBM's 2024 Annual report, the corporation listed individually the yearly acquisitions as shown in the chart provided here from its 2023 Annual Report. It no longer provides this information in a detailed, transparent matter.

This is why the chart documenting the IBM 2024 acquisitions has the following disclaimer: "Unlike previous years, these acquisitions were not itemized in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report and as such there may be errors in or future updates coming to this list." Because of this lack of transparency on IBM's part it was necessary to attempt to pull together the actual 2024 acquisitions from press activities announcing these events.

Updates to IBM"s 2024 acquisitions may be provided as more information is found.

Image from IBM's 2023 Annual report that shows the detail that was not provided in its 2024 Annual Report: A breakdown of IBM acquisitions by quarter throughout the year.

IBM 2023 acquisitions by quarter

This does not affect the following information provided on this page as this information is still provided within all the annual reports: (1) the total number of yearly acquisitions, (2) the total amount spent yearly for acquisitions, (3) the overall total amount spent and the overall total number of acquisitions by chief executive during their tenure in the corner office, and (4) the amount of yearly and total goodwill amounts. Starting in 2024, it is just the individual details behind these acquisitions that is provided "as is" from deeper research.

Unfortunately, the failure to provide these details follows IBM's pattern of providing less and less transparency in documenting all its activities such as providing information on the number of employees actively employed broken out by country or this detailed information on its acquisitions.

Peter E. Greulich, October 11, 2025

The following goodwill accounting change was made in 2001 and adopted by IBM this same year:

"SFAS No. 142 eliminates the amortization of goodwill, requires annual impairment testing of goodwill and introduces the concept of indefinite life intangible assets. It was adopted on January 1, 2002. The new rules also prohibits the amortization of goodwill associated with business combinations that close after June 30, 2001."

To understand how IBM's usage of a 2001 goodwill accounting change for its 235 acquisitions from 2001 through 2024 listed here at a total cost of more than $100 billion has been increasing IBM's shareholder risk read this article: [Shareholder Risk]

Arvind Krishna Acquisitions
Total Acquisitions: 50 acquisitions
Total Outlay: $15.4 Billion
List of Acquisitions: 2020 to 2024

A high-quality, black-and-white image listing IBM's eleven acquisitions in 2024, along with the total amount paid for these acquisitions and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's nine acquisitions in 2023, along with the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's eight acquisitions in 2022, the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's fifteen acquisitions in 2021, the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's seven acquisitions in 2020, the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

Virginia M. Rometty Acquisitions
Total Acquisitions: 64 acquisitions
Total Outlay: $52.5 Billion
List of Acquisitions: 2012 to 2019

An image listing IBM's one acquisition (Red Hat) in 2019, the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's two acquisitions in 2018, the total amount paid, and total percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's five acquisitions in 2017, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's fifteen acquisitions in 2016, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's fourteen acquisitions in 2015, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's six acquisitions in 2014, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's ten acquisitions in 2013, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's eleven acquisitions in 2012, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

Samuel J. Palmisano Acquisitions
Total Acquisitions: 119 Acquisitions
Total Outlay: $33.7 Billion
List of Acquisitions: 2002 to 2011

An image listing IBM's five acquisitions in 2011, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's seventeen acquisitions in 2010, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's six acquisitions in 2009, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's fifteen acquisitions in 2008, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's twelve acquisitions in 2007, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's thirteen acquisitions in 2006, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's sixteen acquisitions in 2005, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's fourteen acquisitions in 2004, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's nine acquisitions in 2003, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

An image listing IBM's twelve acquisitions in 2002, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

Louis V. Gerstner Acquisitions
Total Acquisitions: 2 Acquisitions
Total Outlay: $1.1 Billion
List of Acquisitions: 2001

An image listing IBM's two acquisitions in 2001, the total amount paid and percentage of goodwill.

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