IBM acquiring Raleigh-based Red Hat

In a blockbuster $34 billion deal, IBM will acquire Red Hat, a Raleigh-based provider of open-source and enterprise IT solutions. Red Hat employs 12,600 people, with 2,000 being housed at its Raleigh headquarters.

Ginni Rometty, IBM’s chairman, president and CEO described the deal as a “game-changer,” while Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst was quick to point out that, “Red Hat will remain Red Hat.”

“They are committed to allowing us to remain Red Hat while scaling and accelerating all that makes us great with their resources,” he said in an email to employees.

– Mike Trainor, S&A Communications