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International Business Machines Corporation provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing. The Software segment offers hybrid cloud platform and software solutions, such as Red Hat, an enterprise open-source solutions; software for business automation, AIOps and management, integration, and application servers; data and artificial intelligence solutions; and security software and services for threat, data, and identity. This segment also provides transaction processing software that supports clients' mission-critical and on-premise workloads in banking, airlines, and retail industries. The Consulting segment offers business transformation services, including strategy, business process design and operations, data and analytics, and system integration services; technology consulting services; and application and cloud platform services. The Infrastructure segment provides on-premises and cloud-based server and storage solutions for its clients' mission-critical and regulated workloads; and support services and solutions for hybrid cloud infrastructure, as well as remanufacturing and remarketing services for used equipment. The Financing segment offers lease, installment payment, loan financing, and short-term working capital financing services. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. International Business Machines Corporation was incorporated in 1911 and is headquartered in Armonk, New York.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York
(State of Incorporation)
13-0871985
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
One New Orchard Road
Armonk
,
New York
(Address of principal executive offices)
10504
(Zip Code)
914
-
499-1900
(Registrant’s telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Capital stock, par value $.20 per share
IBM
New York Stock Exchange
NYSE Chicago
2.875% Notes due 2025
IBM 25A
New York Stock Exchange
0.950% Notes due 2025
IBM 25B
New York Stock Exchange
0.300% Notes due 2026
IBM 26B
New York Stock Exchange
1.250% Notes due 2027
IBM 27B
New York Stock Exchange
3.375% Notes due 2027
IBM 27F
New York Stock Exchange
0.300% Notes due 2028
IBM 28B
New York Stock Exchange
1.750% Notes due 2028
IBM 28A
New York Stock Exchange
1.500% Notes due 2029
IBM 29
New York Stock Exchange
0.875% Notes due 2030
IBM 30A
New York Stock Exchange
2.900% Notes due 2030
IBM 30C
New York Stock Exchange
1.750% Notes due 2031
IBM 31
New York Stock Exchange
3.625% Notes due 2031
IBM 31B
New York Stock Exchange
0.650% Notes due 2032
IBM 32A
New York Stock Exchange
3.150% Notes due 2033
IBM 33A
New York Stock exchange
1.250% Notes due 2034
IBM 34
New York Stock Exchange
3.750% Notes due 2035
IBM 35
New York Stock Exchange
3.450% Notes due 2037
IBM 37
New York Stock Exchange
4.875% Notes due 2038
IBM 38
New York Stock Exchange
1.200% Notes due 2040
IBM 40
New York Stock Exchange
4.000% Notes due 2043
IBM 43
New York Stock Exchange
3.800% Notes due 2045
IBM 45A
New York Stock Exchange
7.00% Debentures due 2025
IBM 25
New York Stock Exchange
6.22% Debentures due 2027
IBM 27
New York Stock Exchange
6.50% Debentures due 2028
IBM 28
New York Stock Exchange
5.875% Debentures due 2032
IBM 32D
New York Stock Exchange
7.00% Debentures due 2045
IBM 45
New York Stock Exchange
7.125% Debentures due 2096
IBM 96
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
No
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
☐
Accelerated filer
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b).☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes
☐
No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $
159.2
billion.
The registrant had
927,264,332
shares of common stock outstanding at February 10, 2025.
Documents incorporated by reference:
Portions of IBM’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 are incorporated by reference into Parts I, II and IV of this Form 10-K.
Portions of IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM or the company) was incorporated in the State of New York on June 16, 1911, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. (C-T-R), a consolidation of the Computing Scale Co. of America, the Tabulating Machine Co. and The International Time Recording Co. of New York. Since that time, IBM has focused on the intersection of business insight and technological innovation, and its operations and aims have been international in nature. This was signaled over 100 years ago, in 1924, when C-T-R changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation. And it continues today—we create sustained value for clients by helping them leverage the power of hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI). Our hybrid cloud platform and AI technology support clients’ digital transformations and helps them reimagine critical workflows, at scale, and modernize applications to increase agility, drive innovation and create operational efficiencies. Our offerings draw from leading IBM capabilities in software, consulting services capability to deliver business outcomes, and deep incumbency in mission-critical infrastructure, all bolstered by one of the world’s leading research organizations.
The following information is included in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders and is incorporated by reference:
IBM Strategy—pages 11 to 12.
Business Segments and Capabilities—pages 12 to 14.
Human Capital—pages 14 to 15.
Strategic Partnerships
We proactively partner with a broad variety of companies including hyperscalers, service providers, global system integrators, and software and hardware vendors. We work alongside our partners to deliver end-to-end solutions that address our clients’ complex business challenges while accelerating growth. Our strategic partners include: Adobe, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, Salesforce, Samsung Electronics and SAP, among others.
Companies with which we have strategic partnerships in some areas may be competitors in other areas.
Competition
IBM is a globally integrated enterprise that participates in a highly competitive environment. Our competitors vary by industry segment, and range from large multinational enterprises to smaller, more narrowly focused entities. Across our business segments, we recognize hundreds of competitors worldwide and as we execute our hybrid cloud and AI strategy, we are regularly exposed to new competitors.
Our principal methods of competition are: technology innovation; performance; price; quality; brand; our breadth of capabilities, products and services; talent; client relationships and trust; the ability to deliver business value to clients; and service and support. In order to maintain leadership, we optimize our portfolio with organic and inorganic innovations and effective resource allocation. These investments not only drive current performance but will extend our innovation leadership into the future.
Our breadth and depth of expertise enables us to take different technologies and bring them together to solve the most pressing business issues of our clients. We differentiate from other providers by bringing together incumbency with enterprises, deep expertise in technology, industries and business processes, a broad go-to-market reach including an ecosystem of partners and alliances, and a strong focus on innovation. All of these attributes position IBM for accelerated growth now and prepare us for the next set of business opportunities, such as quantum computing.
Overall, the company is the leader or among the leaders in each of our business segments. A summary of the competitive environment for each business segment is included below:
Software:
The depth, breadth, and innovation of our software offerings, coupled with our global reach, deep industry expertise and research capabilities help differentiate our offerings from our competitors. Our hybrid cloud and AI platforms allow clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. The principal competitors in this segment include: Alphabet (Google), Amazon, BMC, Broadcom, Informatica, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Splunk. We also compete with smaller, niche competitors in specific geographic regions or product segments.
Consulting:
Consulting focuses on integrating skills on strategy, experience, technology and operations by domain and industry. Consulting competes in a dynamic market including consulting, systems integration, application development, application management and business process outsourcing services. Our broad-based competitors include: Accenture, Capgemini, India-based service providers, management consulting firms, the consulting practices of public accounting firms, engineering service providers, and many companies that primarily focus on local markets or niche service areas.
Infrastructure:
IBM is well positioned in the growing hybrid cloud infrastructure market, providing on-premises and cloud-based server and storage solutions.
We gain advantage and differentiation through investments in higher-value capabilities, including security, scalability, and reliability, designed especially for mission-critical and AI workloads. In addition, we offer a portfolio of life-cycle services for hybrid cloud infrastructure
deployment. Our principal competitors include: Dell Technologies, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), Intel, NetApp and Pure Storage as well as original device manufacturers (ODMs) who provide systems that are re-branded. Further, cloud service providers are leveraging innovation in technology and service delivery to compete with traditional providers and to offer additional routes to market for server and storage systems.
Financing:
Financing provides client and commercial financing, facilitating IBM clients’ acquisition of hardware, software and services. Financing’s ability to manage credit and residual value risk generates a competitive advantage for the company. The key competitive factors include: interest rates charged, IT product experience, client service, contract flexibility, ease of doing business, global capabilities and residual values. In client and commercial financing, Financing primarily competes with non-captive financing entities and financial institutions.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
Certain statements contained in this Form 10-K may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Reform Act”). Forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. These statements by their nature address matters that are uncertain to different degrees. The company may also make forward-looking statements in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in materials delivered to stockholders and in press releases. In addition, the company’s representatives may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” and similar expressions, may identify such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this Form 10-K speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. In accordance with the Reform Act, set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” on pages
3
to
9
are cautionary statements that accompany those forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review such cautionary statements as they identify certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and from historical trends. Those cautionary statements are not exclusive and are in addition to other factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, in the company’s filings with the SEC or in materials incorporated therein by reference.
The following information is included in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference:
Segment information and revenue by classes of similar products or services—pages 69 to 74.
Financial information regarding environmental activities—pages 94 to 95.
The number of persons employed by the registrant—page 14.
The management discussion overview—pages 8 to 10.
Website information and company reporting—page 123.
Information About Our Executive Officers (at February 25, 2025):
Age
Officer since
Arvind Krishna, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
(1)
62
2020
Gary D. Cohn, Vice Chairman
64
2021
Nicolas A. Fehring, Vice President and Controller
46
2023
James J. Kavanaugh, Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations, and Chief Financial Officer
58
2008
Nickle J. LaMoreaux, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
45
2020
Anne Robinson, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
54
2024
Robert D. Thomas, Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer
50
2023
(1) Member of the Board of Directors.
All executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors annually as provided in the Company’s By-laws. Each executive officer named above, with the exception of Anne Robinson and Gary D. Cohn, has been an executive of IBM or its subsidiaries during the past five years. Ms. Robinson previously served as Managing Director, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Secretary of the Vanguard funds from August 2016 until June 2024. Mr. Cohn previously served as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council from January 2017 until April 2018. Before serving in the White House, Mr. Cohn was President and Chief Operating Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from 2006-2016.
Item 1A. Risk Factors:
Risks Related to Our Business
Downturn in Economic Environment and Client Spending Budgets Could Impact the Company’s Business:
If overall demand for IBM’s products and solutions decreases, whether due to general economic conditions, or a shift in client buying patterns, the company’s revenue and profit could be impacted.
Failure of Innovation Initiatives Could Impact the Long-Term Success of the Company:
IBM has moved into areas, including those that incorporate or utilize hybrid cloud, AI and generative AI, quantum and other disruptive technologies, in which it can differentiate itself through responsible innovation, by leveraging its investments in R&D and attracting a successful developer ecosystem. If IBM is unable to continue its cutting-edge innovation in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving environment or is unable to commercialize such innovations, expand and scale them with sufficient speed and versatility or is unable to attract a successful developer ecosystem, the company could fail in its ongoing efforts to maintain and increase its market share and its profit margins.
Damage to IBM’s Reputation Could Impact the Company’s Business:
IBM has one of the strongest brand names in the world, and its brand and overall reputation could be negatively impacted by many factors, including if the company does not continue to be recognized for its industry leading technology and solutions and as a hybrid cloud and AI leader. IBM’s reputation is potentially susceptible to damage by events such as significant disputes with clients, product defects, internal control deficiencies, delivery failures, cybersecurity incidents, government investigations or legal proceedings or actions of current or former clients, directors, employees, competitors, vendors, alliance partners or joint venture partners. If the
company’s brand image is tarnished by negative perceptions, its ability to attract and retain customers, talent and ecosystem partners could be impacted.
Risks from Investing in Growth Opportunities Could Impact the Company’s Business:
The company continues to invest significantly in key strategic areas, including AI and generative AI, to drive revenue growth and market share gains. Client adoption rates and viable economic models are less certain in the high-value, highly competitive, and rapidly-growing segments. Additionally, emerging business and delivery models may unfavorably impact demand and profitability for our other products or services. If the company does not adequately and timely anticipate and respond to changes in customer and market preferences, competitive actions, disruptive technologies, emerging business models and ecosystems, the client demand for our products or services may decline or IBM’s costs may increase.
IBM’s Intellectual Property Portfolio May Not Prevent Competitive Offerings, and IBM May Not Be Able to Obtain Necessary Licenses:
The company’s patents and other intellectual property may not prevent competitors from independently developing products and services similar to or duplicative to the company’s, nor can there be any assurance that the resources invested by the company to protect its intellectual property will be sufficient or that the company’s intellectual property portfolio will adequately deter misappropriation or improper use of the company’s technology. In addition, the company may be the target of aggressive and opportunistic enforcement of patents by third parties, including non-practicing entities. Also, there can be no assurances that IBM will be able to obtain from third parties the licenses it needs in the future. The company’s ability to protect its intellectual property could also be impacted by a lack of effective legal protections as well as changes to existing laws, legal principles and regulations governing intellectual property, including the ownership and protection of patents.
Certain of the company’s offerings incorporate or utilize open source and other third-party software licensed with limited or no warranties, indemnification, or other contractual protections for IBM. Further, if open source code that IBM utilizes is no longer maintained, developed or enhanced by the relevant community of independent open source software programmers, most of whom we do not employ, we may be unable to develop new technologies, adequately enhance our existing technologies or meet customer requirements for innovation, quality and price.
Risks to the Company from Acquisitions, Alliances and Divestitures Include Integration Challenges, Failure to Achieve Objectives, the Assumption or Retention of Liabilities and Higher Debt Levels:
The company has made and expects to continue to make acquisitions, alliances and divestitures. Such transactions present significant challenges and risks and there can be no assurances that the company will manage such transactions successfully, that strategic objectives will be achieved or that strategic opportunities will be available to the company on acceptable terms or at all. With respect to acquisitions and alliances, the related risks include the company failing to achieve anticipated revenue improvements and cost savings, the failure to retain key personnel or strategic relationships of acquired companies, the assumption of liabilities related to litigation or other legal proceedings involving the businesses in such transactions, and delays in obtaining, or the failure to obtain, necessary governmental or regulatory approvals, as well as the failure to close planned transactions. Such transactions may require the company to secure financing and any significant disruption or turmoil in the capital markets could have an adverse effect on IBM’s ability to access the capital markets at favorable terms. From time to time, the company divests or attempts to divest assets that are no longer central to its strategic objectives. Any such transaction is subject to risks, including risks related to the terms and timing of such divestitures, risks related to retained liabilities not subject to the company’s control, and delays in obtaining, or failing to obtain, necessary governmental or regulatory approvals, as well as the failure to close planned transactions.
The Company’s Financial Results for Particular Periods Are Difficult to Predict:
IBM’s revenues and profitability are affected by such factors as the introduction of new products and services, the ability to compete effectively in increasingly competitive marketplaces, the length of the sales cycles and the seasonality of technology purchases. In addition, certain of the company’s growth areas involve new products, new customers, new and evolving competitors, and new markets, all of which contribute to the difficulty of predicting the company’s financial results. The company’s financial results may also be impacted by the structure of products and services contracts and the nature of its customers’ businesses; for example, certain of the company’s services contracts with commercial customers in regulated industries are subject to periodic review by regulators with respect to controls and processes. Further, general economic conditions, including sudden shifts in regional or global economic activity may impact the company’s financial results in any particular period. As a result of the above-mentioned factors, the company’s financial results are difficult to predict. Historically, the company has had lower revenue in the first quarter than in the immediately preceding fourth quarter. In addition, the high volume of products typically ordered at the end of each quarter, especially at the end of the fourth quarter, make financial results for a given period difficult to predict.
Due to the Company’s Global Presence, Its Business and Operations Could Be Impacted by Local Legal, Economic, Political, Health and Other Conditions:
The company is a globally integrated entity, doing business in over 175 countries worldwide and deriving about sixty percent of its revenues from sales outside the United States. Changes in the laws or policies of the countries in which the company operates, or inadequate development or enforcement of such laws or policies, could affect the company’s business and the company’s overall results of operations. Further, the company may be impacted directly or indirectly by the development and enforcement of laws and regulations in the U.S. and globally that are specifically targeted at the technology industry. The company’s results of operations also could be affected by economic and political changes in those countries and by macroeconomic changes, including recessions, inflation, currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. currencies, capital controls, and adverse changes in trade relationships amongst those countries. Further, as the company expands its customer base and the scope of its offerings, both within the U.S. and globally, it may be impacted by additional regulatory or other risks, including, compliance with U.S. and foreign data privacy requirements, outbound investment restrictions, AI and cloud regulations, data localization requirements, labor relations laws, enforcement of IP protection laws, laws relating to anti-corruption, anti-competition regulations, and import, export and trade restrictions. Further, international trade disputes could create uncertainty. Tariffs and international trade sanctions resulting from these disputes could affect the company’s ability to move goods and services across borders, or could impose added costs to those activities. Measures taken to date by the company to mitigate these impacts could be made less effective should trade sanctions or tariffs change. In addition, any widespread outbreak of an illness, pandemic or other local or global health issue, natural disasters, climate change impacts, or uncertain political climates, international hostilities, or any terrorist activities, could adversely affect customer demand, the company’s operations and supply chain, and its ability to source and deliver products and services to its customers.
The Company May Not Meet Its Growth and Productivity Objectives:
On an ongoing basis, IBM seeks to drive greater agility, productivity, flexibility and cost savings by continuously transforming with the use of automation, AI, agile processes and changes to the ways of working, while also enabling the scaling of resources, offerings and investments through the company’s globally integrated model across both emerging and more established markets. These various initiatives may not yield their intended gains in speed, quality, productivity and enablement of rapid scaling, which may impact the company’s competitiveness and its ability to meet its growth and productivity objectives.
Ineffective Internal Controls Could Impact the Company’s Business and Operating Results:
The company’s internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of its inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, failure or interruption of information technology systems, the circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. Even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If the company fails to maintain the adequacy of its internal controls, including any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or if the company experiences difficulties in their implementation, the company’s business and operating results could be harmed and the company could fail to meet its financial reporting obligations.
The Company’s Use of Accounting Estimates Involves Judgment and Could Impact the Company’s Financial Results:
The application of accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) requires the company to make estimates and assumptions about certain items and future events that directly affect its reported financial condition. The company’s most critical accounting estimates are described in the Management Discussion in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, under “Critical Accounting Estimates.” In addition, as discussed in note Q, “Commitments & Contingencies,” in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, the company makes certain estimates including decisions related to legal proceedings and reserves. These estimates and assumptions involve the use of judgment. As a result, actual financial results may differ.
The Company’s Goodwill or Amortizable Intangible Assets May Become Impaired:
The company acquires other companies, including the intangible assets of those companies. The company may not realize all the economic benefit from those acquisitions, which could cause an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets. If our goodwill or net intangible assets become impaired, we may be required to record a charge to the Consolidated Income Statement.
The Company Depends on Skilled Employees and Could Be Impacted by a Shortage of Critical Skills:
Much of the future success of the company depends on the continued service, availability and integrity of skilled employees, including technical, marketing and staff resources. Skilled and experienced personnel in the areas where the company competes are in high demand, and competition for their talents is intense. Changing demographics and labor work force trends may result in a shortage of or insufficient knowledge and skills. In addition, as global opportunities and industry demand shifts, realignment, training and scaling of skilled resources may not be sufficiently rapid or successful. Further, many of IBM’s key employees receive a total compensation package that includes equity awards. Any new regulations, volatility in the
stock market and other factors could diminish the company’s use or the value of the company’s equity awards, putting the company at a competitive disadvantage.
The Company’s Business Could Be Impacted by Its Relationships with Critical Suppliers:
IBM’s business employs a wide variety of components (hardware and software), supplies, services and raw materials from a substantial number of suppliers around the world. Certain of the company’s businesses rely on a single or a limited number of suppliers, including for server processor technology for certain semiconductors. Changes in the business condition (financial or otherwise) of these suppliers could subject the company to losses and affect its ability to bring products to market. Further, the failure of the company’s suppliers to deliver components, supplies, services and raw materials in sufficient quantities, in a timely or secure manner, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations could adversely affect the company’s business. In addition, any defective components, supplies or materials, or inadequate services received from suppliers could reduce the reliability of the company’s products and services and harm the company’s reputation.
Product and Service Quality Issues Could Impact the Company’s Business and Operating Results:
The company has rigorous quality control standards and governance processes intended to prevent, detect and correct errors, malfunctions and other defects in its products and services. If errors, malfunctions, defects or disruptions in service are experienced by customers or in the company’s operations there could be negative consequences that could impact customers’ business operations and harm the company’s business’s operating results.
The Development and Use of AI and Generative AI, including the Company’s Increased Offerings and Use of AI-based Technologies, Could Impact the Long-Term Success of the Company and its Reputation or Give Rise to Legal or Regulatory Action:
IBM is increasingly applying AI-based technologies, including generative AI, to its services and products, to how it delivers offerings to IBM clients, and to its own internal operations. Additionally, IBM is investing in and offering new products and services associated with AI development, deployment and management. As stated more comprehensively and in context of several risk factors throughout this
Item 1A., this increasing mix and application of AI-based technologies may impact IBM’s ongoing efforts to maintain and increase its market share and its profit margins or harm IBM’s reputation if the company does not continue to be recognized as an AI leader with strong governance processes. IBM’s drive for greater agility, productivity, flexibility and cost savings by continuously transforming with the use of AI may not yield intended gains in speed, quality, productivity and enablement of rapid scaling, which may impact the company’s competitiveness. The evolving global AI regulatory environment, including the enactment of the EU AI Act, may affect the company’s business and the company’s overall results of operations. Computer hackers and others routinely attack the security of technology products, services, systems and networks using a wide variety of methods, and the increased use of generative AI may introduce novel methods of attack. In the event of such actions, the company, its customers and other third parties could be exposed to liability, litigation, and regulatory or other government action, including debarment, as well as the loss of existing or potential customers, damage to brand and reputation, damage to IBM’s competitive position, and other financial loss.
The Company Could Be Impacted by Its Business with Government Clients:
The company’s customers include numerous governmental entities within and outside the U.S., including the U.S. Federal Government and state and local entities. Some of the company’s agreements with these customers may be subject to periodic funding approval. Funding reductions, delays or work stoppages could adversely impact public sector demand for our products and services. Also, some agreements may contain provisions allowing the customer to terminate without cause and providing for higher liability limits for certain losses. In addition, the company could be suspended or debarred as a governmental contractor and could incur civil and criminal fines and penalties, which could negatively impact the company’s results of operations, financial results and reputation.
The Company’s Reliance on Third-Party Distribution Channels and Ecosystems Could Impact Its Business:
The company offers its products directly and through a variety of third-party distributors, resellers, independent software vendors, independent service providers, and other ecosystem partners. Changes in the business condition (financial or otherwise) of these ecosystem partners could subject the company to losses and affect its ability to bring its products to market. As the company moves into new areas, ecosystem partners may be unable to keep up with changes in technology and offerings, and the company may be unable to recruit and enable appropriate partners to achieve anticipated ecosystem growth objectives. In addition, the failure of ecosystem partners to comply with all applicable laws and regulations may prevent the company from working with them and could subject the company to losses and affect its ability to bring products to market.
Cybersecurity, Privacy, and AI Considerations Could Impact the Company’s Business:
There are numerous and evolving risks to cybersecurity and privacy, including risks originating from intentional acts of individual and groups of criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored organizations, nation states and competitors; from intentional and unintentional acts or omissions of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties; and from errors in processes or technologies, as well as the risks associated with an increase in the number of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties working remotely. Computer hackers and others routinely attack the security of technology products, services, systems and networks, like those we offer, using a wide variety of methods, including ransomware or other malicious software and attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware, software, and infrastructure, and the increased use of generative AI may introduce novel methods of attack. Attacks also include social engineering and cyber extortion to induce customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties to disclose information, transfer funds, or unwittingly provide access to systems or data. The company is at risk of security breaches not only of our own products, services, systems and networks, but also those of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties, particularly as all parties increasingly digitize their operations. Cyber threats are increasing in number and sophistication, continually evolving, including with the increased use of AI, making it difficult to anticipate and defend against such threats and vulnerabilities that can persist undetected over extended periods of time.
The company’s products, services, systems and networks, including cloud-based systems and systems and technologies that the company maintains on behalf of its customers, are used in critical company, customer or third-party operations, and involve the storage, processing and transmission of sensitive data, including valuable intellectual property, other proprietary or confidential data, regulated data, and personal information of employees, customers and others. These products, services, systems and networks are also used by customers in heavily regulated industries, including those in the financial services, healthcare, critical infrastructure and government sectors.
As is common in our industry and for a company our size, we continue to face and prepare for cybersecurity threats. While the company continues to monitor for, identify, investigate, respond to and remediate a wide range of cybersecurity events, there have not been cybersecurity incidents or vulnerabilities that have had a material adverse effect on the company, though there is no assurance that there will not be cybersecurity incidents or vulnerabilities that will have a material adverse effect in the future.
The company regularly addresses cybersecurity attacks and vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity attacks or other security incidents, including industry-wide incidents such as MOVEit, have or could result in, for example, one or more of the following: unauthorized access to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, or destruction of company, customer, or other third-party data or systems; theft or import or export of sensitive, regulated, or confidential data including personal information and intellectual property, including key innovations in AI, quantum, or other disruptive technologies; the loss of access to critical data or systems through ransomware, crypto mining, destructive attacks or other means; and business delays, service or system disruptions or denials of service.
In the event of such actions, the company, its customers and other third parties could be exposed to liability, litigation, and regulatory or other government action, including debarment, as well as the loss of existing or potential customers, damage to brand and reputation, damage to our competitive position, and other financial loss. In addition, the cost and operational consequences of responding to cybersecurity incidents and implementing remediation measures could be significant. In the company’s industry, security vulnerabilities are increasingly discovered, publicized and exploited across a broad range of hardware, software or other infrastructure, including in our own products, services, systems and networks, or third-party data and systems upon which we rely, elevating the risk of attacks and the potential cost of response and remediation for the company and its customers. In addition, the fast-paced, evolving, pervasive, and sophisticated nature of certain cyber threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the scale and complexity of the business and infrastructure, make it possible that certain threats or vulnerabilities will be undetected or unmitigated in time to prevent or minimize the impact of an attack on the company or its customers.
Cybersecurity risk to the company and its customers also depends on factors such as the actions, practices and investments of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, the open source community and other third parties, including, for example, providing and implementing patches to address vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity attacks or other catastrophic events resulting in disruptions to or failures in power, information technology, communication systems or other critical infrastructure could result in interruptions or delays to company, customer, or other third-party operations or services, financial loss, injury or death to persons or property, potential liability, and damage to brand and reputation.
Although the company continuously takes significant steps to mitigate cybersecurity risk across a range of functions, such measures can never eliminate the risk entirely or provide absolute security.
As a global enterprise, the regulatory environment with regard to cybersecurity, privacy, AI and data protection issues is increasingly complex and will continue to impact the company’s business, including through increased risk, increased costs, and expanded or otherwise altered compliance obligations, including with respect to the increased regulatory activity around the security of critical infrastructure, IoT devices, customer industries (e.g., financial services) and various customer and government supply chain security programs. As the reliance on data grows for the company and our clients, the potential impact of regulations on the company’s business, risks, and reputation will grow accordingly. The enactment and expansion of cybersecurity, AI, data protection and privacy laws, regulations and standards around the globe will continue to result in increased compliance costs, including due to an increased focus on international data transfer mechanisms and data location; increased cybersecurity requirements and reporting obligations; the lack of harmonization of such laws and regulations; the increase in associated litigation and enforcement activity by governments and private parties; the potential for damages, fines and penalties and debarment; and the potential regulation of new and emerging technologies. Any additional costs and penalties associated with increased compliance, enforcement, and risk reduction could make certain offerings less profitable or increase the difficulty of bringing certain offerings to market or maintaining certain offerings.
Risks Related to Laws and Regulations
The Company Could Incur Substantial Costs Related to Climate Change and Other Environmental Matters:
IBM, like other companies, is subject to potential climate-related risks and costs such as those resulting from increased severe weather events, prolonged changes in temperature, new regulations affecting hardware products and data centers, carbon taxes, and increased environmental disclosures requested or required by clients, regulators and others. The company is also subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations concerning the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise related to environmental protection, including the U.S. Superfund law. The company could incur substantial costs, including cleanup costs, fines and civil or criminal sanctions, as well as third-party claims for property damage or personal injury, if it were to violate or become liable under environmental laws and regulations. We do not expect climate change or compliance with environmental laws and regulations focused on climate change to have a disproportionate effect on the company or its financial position, results of operations and competitive position.
Tax Matters Could Impact the Company’s Results of Operations and Financial Condition:
The company is subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. IBM’s provision for income taxes and cash tax liability in the future could be adversely affected by numerous factors including, but not limited to, income before taxes being lower than anticipated in countries with lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries with higher statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles or interpretations thereof, which could adversely impact the company’s results of operations and financial condition in future periods. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has issued model rules for a new global minimum tax. Local country adoption of these rules may increase tax uncertainty and may adversely impact the company’s income taxes. Furthermore, local country, state, provincial or municipal taxation may also be subject to review and potential override by regional, federal, national or similar forms of government. In addition, IBM is subject to the continuous examination of its income tax returns by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other tax authorities around the world. The company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these examinations will not have an adverse effect on the company’s provision for income taxes and cash tax liability.
The Company Is Subject to Legal Proceedings and Investigatory Risks:
As a company with a substantial employee population and with clients in more than 175 countries, IBM is or may become involved as a party and/or may be subject to a variety of claims, demands, suits, investigations, tax matters and other proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. The risks associated with such legal proceedings are described in more detail in note Q, “Commitments & Contingencies,” in IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders. The company believes it has adopted appropriate risk management and compliance programs. Legal and compliance risks, however, will continue to exist and additional legal proceedings and other contingencies, the outcome of which cannot be predicted with certainty, may arise from time to time.
Risks Related to Financing and Capital Markets Activities
The Company’s Results of Operations and Financial Condition Could Be Negatively Impacted by Its U.S. and non-U.S. Pension Plans:
Adverse financial market conditions and volatility in the credit markets may have an unfavorable impact on the value of the company’s pension trust assets and its future estimated pension liabilities. As a result, the company’s financial results in any period could be negatively impacted. In addition, in a period of an extended financial market downturn, the company could be required to provide incremental pension plan funding with resulting liquidity risk which could negatively impact the company’s financial flexibility. Further, the company’s results could be negatively impacted by premiums for mandatory pension insolvency insurance coverage outside the United States. Premium increases could be significant due to the level of insolvencies of unrelated companies in the country at issue. IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders includes information about potential impacts from pension funding and the use of certain assumptions regarding pension matters.
The Company Is Exposed to Currency and Financing Risks That Could Impact Its Revenue and Business:
The company derives a significant percentage of its revenues and costs from its affiliates operating in local currency environments, and those results are affected by changes in the relative values of non-U.S. currencies and the U.S. dollar, as well as sudden shifts in regional or global economic activity. Further, inherent in the company’s financing business are risks related to the concentration of credit, client creditworthiness, interest rate and currency fluctuations on the associated debt and liabilities and the determination of residual values. The company employs a number of strategies to manage these risks, including the use of derivative financial instruments, which involve the risk of non-performance by the counterparty. In addition, there can be no assurance that the company’s efforts to manage its currency and financing risks will be successful.
The Company’s Financial Performance Could Be Impacted by Changes in Market Liquidity Conditions and by Customer Credit Risk on Receivables:
The company’s financial performance is exposed to a wide variety of industry sector dynamics worldwide, including sudden shifts in regional or global economic activity. The company’s earnings and cash flows, as well as its access to funding, could be negatively impacted by changes in market liquidity conditions. IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders includes information about the company’s liquidity position. The company’s client base includes many enterprises worldwide, from small and medium businesses to the world’s largest organizations and governments, with a significant portion of the company’s revenue coming from global clients across many sectors. Most of the company’s sales are on an open credit basis, and the company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its clients’ financial conditions. If the company becomes aware of information related to the creditworthiness of a major customer, or if future actual default rates on receivables in general differ from those currently anticipated, the company may have to adjust its allowance for credit losses, which could affect the company’s consolidated net income in the period the adjustments are made.
Risks Related to Ownership of IBM Securities
Risk Factors Related to IBM Securities:
The company and its subsidiaries issue debt securities in the worldwide capital markets from time to time, with a variety of different maturities and in different currencies. The value of the company’s debt securities fluctuates based on many factors, including the methods employed for calculating principal and interest, the maturity of the securities, the aggregate principal amount of securities outstanding, the redemption features for the securities, the level, direction and volatility of interest rates, changes in exchange rates, exchange controls, governmental and stock exchange regulations and other factors over which the company has little or no control. The company’s ability to pay interest and repay the principal for its debt securities is dependent upon its ability to manage its business operations, as well as the other risks described under this Item 1A. entitled “Risk Factors.” There can be no assurance that the company will be able to manage any of these risks successfully.
The company also issues its common stock from time to time in connection with various compensation plans, contributions to its pension plan and certain acquisitions. The market price of IBM common stock is subject to significant volatility, due to other factors described under this Item 1A. entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as economic and geopolitical conditions generally, trading volumes, speculation by the press or investment community about the company’s financial condition, and other factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control. Since the market price of IBM’s common stock fluctuates significantly, stockholders may not be able to sell the company’s stock at attractive prices.
In addition, changes by any rating agency to the company’s outlook or credit ratings can negatively impact the value and liquidity of both the company’s debt and equity securities. The company does not make a market in either its debt or equity securities and cannot provide any assurances with respect to the liquidity or value of such
securities.
Cybersecurity is a critical part of risk management at IBM and is integrated with the company’s overall enterprise risk management framework.
The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board are responsible for overseeing management’s execution of cybersecurity risk management and for assessing IBM’s approach to risk management. Senior management is responsible for assessing and managing IBM’s exposure to cybersecurity risks on an ongoing basis.
From an enterprise perspective, we implement a multi-faceted risk management approach based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework. We have established policies and procedures that provide the foundation upon which IBM’s infrastructure and data are managed. We regularly assess and adjust our technical controls and methods to identify and mitigate emerging cybersecurity risks. We use a layered approach with overlapping controls to defend against cybersecurity attacks and threats on IBM networks, end-user devices, servers, applications, data, and cloud solutions.
We draw heavily on our own commercial security solutions and services to manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks. IBM maintains a Security Operations Center (“SOC”) that monitors for threats to IBM’s networks and systems, utilizing threat intelligence provided by a range of sources, including the IBM Security X-Force Exchange platform, which maintains one of the largest compilations of threat intelligence in the world.
We also rely on tools licensed from third party security vendors to monitor and manage cybersecurity risks.
We periodically engage third parties to supplement and review our cybersecurity practices and provide relevant certifications.
We have a global incident response process, managed by IBM’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (“CSIRT”), that relies primarily on internal expertise to respond to cybersecurity threats and attacks. We utilize a combination of online training, educational tools, videos and other awareness initiatives to foster a culture of security awareness and responsibility among our workforce, including responsibility for reporting suspicious activity.
IBM has a third party supplier risk management program to oversee and identify risks from cybersecurity threats associated with its use of third party service providers and vendors. Risks are assessed and prioritized based, among other things, on the type of offering/engagement, supplier assessments, threat intelligence, and industry practices.
As discussed in greater detail in Item 1A., "Risk Factors," the company faces numerous and evolving cybersecurity threats, including risks originating from the increased use of AI, intentional acts of individual and groups of criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored organizations, nation states and competitors; from intentional and unintentional acts or omissions of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties; and from errors in processes or technologies, as well as the risks associated with the number of customers, contractors, business partners, vendors, employees and other third parties working remotely.
While the company continues to monitor for, identify, investigate, respond to and remediate cybersecurity risks, including incidents and vulnerabilities, there have not been any that have had a material adverse effect on the company, though there is no assurance that there will not be cybersecurity risks that will have a material adverse effect in the future.
Governance
IBM’s Enterprise & Technology Security (“E&TS”) organization has oversight responsibility for the security of both IBM’s internal systems and external offerings and works across all of the organizations within the company to protect IBM, its brand, and its clients against cybersecurity risks. E&TS also addresses cybersecurity risks associated with third party suppliers. For these purposes, E&TS includes a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) whose team is responsible for leading enterprise-wide information security strategy, policy, standards, architecture, and processes for IBM’s internal systems. The CISO manages the CSIRT. The CISO also manages the Product Security Incident Response Team (“PSIRT”), which focuses on product vulnerabilities potentially affecting the security of offerings sold to customers. IBM also has Business Information Security Officers (“BISO”) who are coordinated by the Office of the CISO on security issues specific to particular business segments.
The CSIRT team, together with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), Cyber Legal, Corporate Security, and BISOs, engages in on-going reviews of incidents, threat intelligence, detections, and vulnerabilities, including to assess client and regulatory impact. Events of interest are promptly reported to the Senior Vice President (“SVP”) and Chief Legal Officer ("CLO"), and the SVP overseeing cybersecurity (“SVP Sponsor”).
Incidents are delegated to an appropriate incident response team for assessment, investigation, and remediation. Depending on the nature of the matter, the incident response team may include individuals from E&TS, the Office of the CISO, the Office of the CIO, Cyber Legal, Business Units, the Office of Privacy and Responsible Technology, Human Resources, Procurement, Finance and Operations, and Corporate Security. The incident response teams advise and consult with the CLO and the SVP Sponsor, as appropriate.
The
Cybersecurity Advisory Committee (“CAC”)
meets regularly and is responsible for overseeing management of the Company’s cybersecurity risk. The CAC is composed of, among others, SVPs from the major business units, the SVP Sponsor, and the CLO. The CAC is responsible for, among other things, setting the Company’s governance structure for managing cybersecurity risk and reviewing noteworthy cybersecurity incidents and strategies to prevent recurrence.
IBM management responsible for managing cybersecurity risk reflects a cross-section of functions from across the organization with significant experience in managing such risk as well as the technologies underlying these risks. They also hold leadership positions outside of IBM in the field of cybersecurity, serving on governing and advisory boards of public and private institutions at the forefront of issues related to cybersecurity, including technology development, cybersecurity policy, and national security.
The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee oversee the cyber governance process.
Leadership from E&TS, including the CISO, make regular presentations to the Audit Committee and the full Board on identification, management, and remediation of cybersecurity risks, both internal and external, as well as threat intelligence, emerging global policies and regulations, cybersecurity technologies, and best practices.
In addition, senior management provides briefings as needed to the Audit Committee Chair, the Audit Committee, and, as appropriate, the full Board, on cybersecurity issues and incidents of potential interest.
Item 2. Properties:
IBM
’s corporate headquarters are located at an owned site in Armonk, New York. As of December 31, 2024, in aggregate, we owned or leased facilities for current use consisting of approximat
ely 41 million square feet worldwide.
At December 31, 2024, IBM’s facilities in the U.S. had aggregate floor space of approximately 17 million square feet, of which approximately 9 million was owned and 8 million was leased. Outside the U.S., facilities totaled approximately 24 million square feet, of which 3 million was owned and 21 million
was leased. This space is primarily used for sales and distribution, manufacturing and development, data processing services including the company’s cloud centers, research and other administrative and general support purposes. Our facilities are utilized for current operations of all business segments.
Continuous optimization, maintenance and upgrading of facilities are essential to
maintain our technological leadership,
improve productivity and meet customer demand. We believe that in all material respects our properties have been satisfactorily maintained, are in good condition and are suitable for our operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings:
Refer to note Q, “Commitments & Contingencies,” on pages 95 to 97 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities:
Refer to page 123 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference solely as it relates to this item.
IBM common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the NYSE Chicago under the symbol “IBM.” There were 348,544 common stockholders of record at February 10, 2025.
The following table provides information relating to the company’s repurchase of common stock for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
Average
Price Paid
per Share
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced
Program
Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under
the Program
(1)
October 1, 2024—October 31, 2024
—
$
—
—
$
2,007,611,768
November 1, 2024—November 30, 2024
—
$
—
—
$
2,007,611,768
December 1, 2024—December 31, 2024
—
$
—
—
$
2,007,611,768
Total
—
$
—
—
(1)
On October 30, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized $4.0 billion in funds for use in the company’s common stock repurchase program. The company stated that it would repurchase shares on the open market or in private transactions depending on market conditions. The common stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date. This table does not include shares tendered to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercises of employee stock options or shares tendered to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with employee equity awards. The company suspended its share repurchase program at the time of the Red Hat closing in 2019.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:
Refer to pages 6 through 42 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk:
Refer to the section titled “Market Risk” on page 40 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
Refer to pages 46 through 121 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are incorporated herein by reference. Also refer to the Financial Statement Schedule on page S-1 of this Form 10-K.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure:
Not applicable.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures:
The company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this
report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Refer to “Report of Management” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on pages 43 through 45 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, which are incorporated herein by reference. There has been no change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information:
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections:
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance:
Refer to the information under the captions “Election of Directors for a Term of One Year,” “Governance and the Board—Committees of the Board,” “Governance and the Board—Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports: None,” “Governance and the Board—Corporate Governance” and “Frequently Asked Questions—How do I submit an item of business for the 2026 Annual Meeting?” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference. Also refer to Item 1 of this Form 10-K under the caption “Information About Our Executive Officers (at February 25, 2025)” on page
3
for additional information on the company’s executive officers.
Item 11. Executive Compensation:
Refer to the information under the captions “2024 Summary Compensation Table and Related Narrative,” “2024 Summary Compensation Table,” “2024 Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “2024 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table,” “2024 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table,” “2024 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table,” “2024 Retention Plan Table,” “2024 Pension Benefits Narrative,” “2024 Pension Benefits Table,” “2024 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Narrative,” “2024 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table,” “2024 Potential Payments Upon Termination Narrative,” “2024 Potential Payments Upon Termination Table,” “2024 Director Compensation Table,” “Director Compensation under the IBM Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan (DCEAP),” “Governance and the Board—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation: None,” “Compensation Program as It Relates to Risk,” “2024 Executive Compensation—Report of the Executive Compensation and Management Resources Committee of the Board of Directors,” “Pay Ratio, ” "Pay Versus Performance," and "Equity Award Grant Practices" in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters:
Refer to the information under the captions “Ownership of Securities—Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Ownership of Securities—Common Stock and Stock-based Holdings of Directors and Executive Officers” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
Options
9,268,766
$
144.65
—
RSUs
20,308,848
N/A
—
PSUs
(2)
5,047,739
N/A
—
Subtotal
34,625,353
$
144.65
27,351,972
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
Options
736,630
$
146.86
—
RSUs
754,697
N/A
—
PSUs
(2)
578,779
N/A
—
DCEAP shares
211,144
N/A
—
Subtotal
2,281,250
$
146.86
12,946,498
Total
36,906,603
$
144.81
40,298,470
N/A is not applicable
RSUs = Restricted Stock Units, including Retention Restricted Stock Units
PSUs = Performance Share Units
DCEAP Shares = Promised Fee Shares under the DCEAP (refer to plan description below)
(1)
In connection with 15 acquisition transactions, 205,078 additional share based awards, consisting of stock options, were outstanding at December 31, 2024 as a result of the Company’s assumption of awards granted by the acquired entities. The weighted-average exercise price of these awards was $23.47. The Company has not made, and will not make, any further grants or awards of equity securities under the plans of these acquired companies.
(2)
The numbers included for PSUs in column (a) above reflect the maximum number payout. Assuming target number payout, the number of securities to be issued upon exercise of PSUs for equity compensation plans approved by security holders is 2,969,258 and for equity compensation plans not approved by security holders is 332,292. For additional information about PSUs, including payout calculations, refer to the information under
“
2024 Summary Compensation Table and Related Narrative
”
in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025.
The material features of each equity compensation plan under which equity securities are authorized for issuance that was adopted without stockholder approval are described below:
2001 Long-Term Performance Plan (the “2001 Plan”)
The 2001 Plan has been used to fund awards for employees other than senior executives of the Company. Awards for senior executives of the Company have been and will continue to be funded from the stockholder-approved 1999 Long-Term Performance Plan (the “1999 Plan”); the 1999 Plan is also used to fund awards for employees other than senior executives, otherwise, the provisions of the 2001 Plan are identical to the 1999 Plan, including the type of awards that may be granted under the plan (stock options, restricted stock and unit awards and long-term performance incentive awards).
The 2001 Plan is administered by the Executive Compensation and Management Resources Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”), and that Committee may delegate to officers of the company certain of its duties, powers and authority. Payment of awards may be made in the form of cash, stock or combinations thereof and may be deferred with Committee approval. Awards are not transferable or assignable except (i) by law, will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) as a result of the disability of the recipient, or (iii) with the approval of the Committee.
If the employment of a participant terminates, other than as a result of the death or disability of a participant, all unexercised, deferred and unpaid awards shall be canceled immediately, unless the award agreement provides otherwise. In
the event of the death of a participant or in the event a participant is deemed by the company to be disabled and eligible for benefits under the terms of the IBM Long-Term Disability Plan (or any successor plan or similar plan of another employer), the participant’s estate, beneficiaries or representative, as the case may be, shall have the rights and duties of the participant under the applicable award agreement. In addition, unless the award agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred award at any time if the participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of the awards agreement and the 2001 Plan. In addition, awards may be cancelled if the participant engages in any conduct or act determined to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any interest of the company.
PWCC Acquisition Long-Term Performance Plan (the “PWCC Plan”)
The PWCC Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in connection with the company’s acquisition of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting (“PwCC”) from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as announced on October 1, 2002. The PWCC Plan has been and will continue to be used solely to fund awards for employees of PwCC who have become employed by the company as a result of the acquisition. Awards for senior executives of the company will not be funded from the PWCC Plan. The terms and conditions of the PWCC Plan are substantively identical to the terms and conditions of the 2001 Plan, described above.
IBM Red Hat Acquisition Long-Term Performance Plan (the “Red Hat Plan”)
The Red Hat Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in connection with the company’s acquisition of Red Hat, Inc. on July 9, 2019. The Red Hat Plan was used solely to fund awards for employees who were not employed by IBM immediately prior to the closing of the acquisition. Awards for senior executives of the company will not be funded from the Red Hat Plan. The terms and conditions of the Red Hat Plan are substantively identical to the terms and conditions of the 2001 Plan, described above.
Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan (the “DCEAP”)
The DCEAP was adopted in 1993 and amended and restated effective January 1, 2014. Under the Amended and Restated DCEAP, non-management directors receive Promised Fee Shares in connection with deferred annual retainer payments. Each Promised Fee Share is equal in value to one share of the company’s common stock. Upon a director’s retirement or other completion of service as a director, amounts deferred into Promised Fee Shares are payable in either cash and/or shares of the company’s stock either as lump sum or installments pursuant to the director’s distribution election. For additional information about the DCEAP, refer to “Director Compensation under the IBM Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan (DCEAP)” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence:
Refer to the information under the captions “IBM Board of Directors,” “Governance and the Board—Committees of the Board,” “Governance and the Board—Certain Transactions and Relationships” and “Governance and the Board—Corporate Governance—Independent Board” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services:
Refer to the information under the captions “Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors” and “Audit and Non-Audit Fees” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.
All other schedules are omitted as the required matter is not present, the amounts are not significant or the information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto.
Board of Directors compensatory plans, as described under the caption “Governance of the Board—Director Compensation” in IBM’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 29, 2025, are hereby incorporated by reference.
(1)
XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear on the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
104
(1) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(2) The Performance Graphs, set forth on page 122 of IBM’s 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders, are deemed to be furnished but not filed.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By:
/s/ NICOLÁS A. FEHRING
Nicolás A. Fehring
Vice President and Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)
Date: February 25, 2025
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ ARVIND KRISHNA
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
February 25, 2025
Arvind Krishna
/s/ JAMES J. KAVANAUGH
Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations, and Chief Financial Officer
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
International Business Machines Corporation:
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our report dated February 25, 2025 appearing in the 2024 Annual Report to Stockholders of International Business Machines Corporation (which report and consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K) also included an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15(a)(2) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
For the Years Ended December 31:
(Dollars in Millions)
Description
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
Additions/
(Deductions)
Write-offs
Foreign
Currency
and Other
Balance at
End of
Period
Allowance For Credit Losses
(1) (2)
2024
–Current
$
431
$
(
11
)
$
(
146
)
$
(
20
)
$
254
–Noncurrent
$
27
$
(
7
)
$
0
$
(
1
)
$
19
2023
–Current
$
467
$
13
$
(
97
)
$
48
$
431
–Noncurrent
$
28
$
(
2
)
$
—
$
0
$
27
2022
–Current
$
418
$
59
$
(
55
)
$
45
$
467
–Noncurrent
$
25
$
6
$
0
$
(
2
)
$
28
Allowance For Inventory Losses
2024
$
658
$
122
$
(
199
)
$
(
4
)
$
577
2023
$
631
$
201
$
(
183
)
$
9
$
658
2022
$
633
$
162
$
(
148
)
$
(
15
)
$
631
Revenue Based Provisions
2024
$
480
$
348
$
(
480
)
$
(
51
)
$
298
2023
$
424
$
500
$
(
456
)
$
12
$
480
2022
$
435
$
620
$
(
629
)
$
(
2
)
$
424
(1) The majority of the write-offs during the period related to receivables which had been previously reserved.
(2) Other includes reserves related to discontinued operations.
Additions/(Deductions) to the allowances represent changes in estimates of unrecoverable amounts in receivables and inventory and are recorded to expense and cost accounts, respectively. Amounts are written-off when they are deemed unrecoverable by the company. Additions/(Deductions) to Revenue Based Provisions represent changes in estimated reductions to revenue, primarily as a result of revenue-related programs, including customer and business partner rebates. Write-offs for Revenue Based Provisions represent reductions in the provision due to amounts remitted to customers and business partners.
S-1
No information found
* THE VALUE IS THE MARKET VALUE AS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER FOR
WHICH
THE 13F WAS FILED.
FUND
NUMBER OF SHARES
VALUE ($)
PUT OR CALL
Directors of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP - as per the
latest proxy Beta
Insider Ownership of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
company Beta
Owner
Position
Direct Shares
Indirect Shares
AI Insights
Summary Financials of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
Beta
(We are using algorithms to extract and display detailed data. This is a hard problem and we are working continuously to classify data in an accurate and useful manner.)
