IBM escapes SEC action after cloud probe

SEC decides to take no action against Big Blue following investigation into way it reports cloud revenue

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has told IBM it will not face any action as it wraps up its investigation into the way Big Blue reports cloud sales.

Last summer IBM revealed that it was co-operating with the SEC after the US government agency decided to probe the way it reports its cloud revenue, but no further information about the nature of the investigation was released.

In a recent 8-K filing, IBM said the investigation has been wrapped up and it will not face further action.

"The Division of Enforcement (DoE) of the SEC informed IBM that it has concluded its investigation regarding how IBM reports cloud revenue," it said. "IBM was notified that based on the information to date, the DoE does not intend to recommend any enforcement action by the Commission against IBM."

Back in January, IBM bolstered its cloud business by pledging to invest $1.2bn (£734.2m) in the technology, with which it plans to build 15 datacentres around the world.

Last summer IBM splashed out another $2bn on hosted infrastructure firm SoftLayer in a move Reuters reported would add another 2,400 clients to its global base.