Akamai Technologies Announces Intent to Acquire LayerX, Advancing Its Workforce Security Strategy with AI Usage Control

Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM) entered a definitive agreement to acquire LayerX, a browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser provider, for about US$205 million.

Rhea-AI Summary

Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM) entered a definitive agreement to acquire LayerX, a browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser provider, for about US$205 million. The deal enhances Akamai’s Zero Trust and AI usage control capabilities across users, applications, and infrastructure.

The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2026, be dilutive to 2026 non-GAAP EPS by about US$0.12, and bring expected year-end annual recurring revenue of roughly US$10 million from the LayerX business.

Positive

• Acquisition of LayerX for approximately US$205 million to expand AI security
• LayerX business expected ARR of about US$10 million at 2026 year-end
• Strengthens Akamai Zero Trust portfolio with browser-native AI usage controls
• Adds Tel Aviv cybersecurity talent, including LayerX co-founders, to Zero Trust team

Negative

• Deal expected to dilute 2026 non-GAAP EPS by approximately US$0.12
• US$205 million acquisition cost may impact near-term cash allocation

Argus May 14 session

-3.39% close to close 0.7x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – AKAM

On May 14, the day this news came out, AKAM closed 3.39% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the May 14 session.

Key Figures

Acquisition price: US$205 million EPS impact 2026: US$0.12 dilutive LayerX ARR: US$10 million

Acquisition price

US$205 million

Purchase of all outstanding equity of LayerX, subject to adjustments

EPS impact 2026

US$0.12 dilutive

Anticipated impact on non-GAAP EPS for fiscal year 2026

LayerX ARR

US$10 million

Expected annual recurring revenue at year-end 2026

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 07

5 events

1. May 07

   Q1 2026 earnings

   24h Move

   +26.6%

   Strong security and cloud growth with major AI infrastructure commitment.

2. May 05

   Security product launch

   24h Move

   +11.5%

   New API Security Posture Center and code-to-runtime mapping unveiled.

3. Apr 30

   Customer award recognition

   24h Move

   +3.2%

   Gartner Customers’ Choice designation for API protection products.

4. Apr 28

   AI risk survey

   24h Move

   -0.5%

   Survey highlighting rising API and AI-related security incidents and costs.

5. Apr 17

   Partner program expansion

   24h Move

   -0.9%

   MediaMelon joins compute partner program for real-time streaming analytics.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

zero trust, secure enterprise browser, ai agents, annual recurring revenue, +4 more

8 terms

zero trust technical

"Uniting browser-native controls with Akamai’s Zero Trust and application security portfolio"

Zero trust is a security approach that assumes no one, whether inside or outside an organization, should be automatically trusted. Instead, every access request is carefully verified before being granted, much like checking ID at every door rather than trusting someone just because they are known. For investors, it emphasizes the importance of protecting digital assets and data from potential breaches, reducing overall risk.

secure enterprise browser technical

"browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser (SEB) technology"

A secure enterprise browser is a web browser built and managed specifically for businesses that adds layers of protection, control and monitoring on top of a standard browser so employees can use web apps safely. Think of it like a guarded entrance for corporate internet use: it isolates work sites from personal browsing, enforces company rules, and reduces the risk of data leaks or malware, which matters to investors because it helps protect a company’s operations, regulatory compliance and bottom line.

ai agents technical

"generative AI applications, SaaS AI solutions, and AI agents"

AI agents are computer programs designed to perform tasks or make decisions automatically, often by learning from data and adapting to new information. They act like virtual assistants or robots that can handle complex activities without human intervention, which can help businesses and individuals save time and improve efficiency. For investors, AI agents matter because they can enhance decision-making and automate processes that influence markets and financial outcomes.

annual recurring revenue financial

"LayerX business is expected to have annual recurring revenue at year end of approximately US$10 million"

Annual recurring revenue is the predictable amount of money a company expects to earn each year from ongoing customer subscriptions or contracts. It helps businesses understand how much steady income they can count on, much like a subscription service that charges customers every month or year. This figure is important because it shows the company's stability and growth potential.

non-gaap eps financial

"dilutive to Akamai’s non-GAAP EPS by approximately US$0.12 for fiscal year 2026"

Non-GAAP EPS is a measure of a company's profit per share that excludes certain expenses or income items that are included in standard accounting reports. It is used by investors to get a clearer picture of the company's core performance, much like removing one-time costs from a personal budget to see regular spending habits. This adjusted figure helps investors compare companies more consistently and understand their ongoing profitability.

equity financial

"acquire all of the outstanding equity of LayerX for approximately US$205 million"

Equity is an ownership stake in a company, usually represented by shares, that gives the owner a claim on the company’s profits and on its assets after debts are paid. For investors, equity matters because its value rises and falls with the company’s performance, determines potential dividend income and voting influence, and represents both the upside (growth) and the risk (loss) of owning a slice of the business, like owning a piece of a pie whose size can change.

View in glossary

definitive agreement regulatory

"announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LayerX"

A definitive agreement is a formal, legally binding document that outlines the final terms and conditions of a deal or transaction, such as a sale or partnership. It acts like a detailed contract that confirms all parties have agreed on the key details, making the deal official. For investors, it signals that the agreement is settled and moving toward completion, providing clarity and security about the transaction.

runtime protection technical

"Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), runtime protection of AI applications"

Runtime protection is a set of security measures that monitor and block malicious activity while software or devices are actively running, much like a security guard watching a building in real time and stopping intruders as they appear. For investors, it matters because effective runtime protection reduces the risk of data breaches, service outages and regulatory fines, helping preserve a company's revenue, reputation and ongoing product reliability.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Uniting browser-native controls with Akamai’s Zero Trust and application security portfolio to secure the AI-era workforce

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LayerX, a leading provider of browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser (SEB) technology. LayerX’s solutions will extend Akamai’s protection into the browser, where the majority of enterprise tasks now occur and where today’s workforce engages with generative AI applications, SaaS AI solutions, and AI agents. With this acquisition, Akamai is taking a critical step in the evolution of its Zero Trust security portfolio and addressing one of the most urgent priorities for security leaders in 2026: AI usage control.

LayerX supports the most popular browsers, unlike proprietary enterprise browsers that require organizations to switch browsers and disrupt their users. This allows the users to securely continue with their preferred browser without disruption, as well as leverage the new generation of agentic browsers including Atlas, Comet, and others. By accommodating existing browsers, security teams benefit from greater real-time visibility and control over uninhibited use, including when users interact with web content, prompts, file uploads, and SaaS applications. LayerX enables this without infrastructure changes or creating new workforce friction.

“Our customers are adopting AI at record speed, and they’re telling us the same thing: Their existing controls cannot see how employees are interacting with AI tools and sharing with large language models,” said Mani Sundaram, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Security Technology Group, Akamai. “The acquisition of LayerX helps close that gap, providing Akamai with a control layer that governs AI at the point of use so enterprises can move at AI speed without compromising safety and compliance.”

Combined with Akamai’s existing Zero Trust portfolio capabilities, which include Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), runtime protection of AI applications, and workload-level segmentation of AI inference, Akamai is delivering AI usage control that spans the user, the application, and the infrastructure. Together, these deliver the high-performance, scalable security that customers around the world have relied on for nearly three decades.

“Securing human and agentic AI usage has become one of the defining challenges in enterprise security,” said Or Eshed, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, LayerX. “We’re giving enterprises the foundation to deploy AI safely at a global scale by bringing LayerX’s technology together with Akamai’s Zero Trust portfolio and the world’s most distributed edge platform. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to accelerate our security vision through this deal.”

LayerX employees, including Co-Founders Or Eshed and David Vaisbrud, will join Akamai’s Zero Trust organization. As Akamai’s fourth Tel Aviv–based cybersecurity acquisition in the past five years, LayerX will further the technical depth and expertise of its growing cybersecurity innovation hub in the region.

Under terms of the agreement, Akamai has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding equity of LayerX for approximately US$205 million, after giving effect to expected purchase price adjustments. The closing of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2026. The acquisition is anticipated to be dilutive to Akamai’s non-GAAP EPS by approximately US$0.12 for fiscal year 2026, and the LayerX business is expected to have annual recurring revenue at year end of approximately US$10 million.

For more information, visit the Akamai Zero Trust solutions page.

About Akamai

Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense in depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai’s full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world’s most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn.

Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

This press release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about potential synergies and other benefits of the transaction to Akamai. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change as a result of various important factors, many of which are beyond Akamai’s control, including, but not limited to: Akamai’s inability to achieve the expected benefits of the transaction; challenges integrating LayerX’s business, employees, and technology; and effects of competition. The forward-looking statements contained herein are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, Akamai disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contacts
Johanna Schmitt
Akamai Media Relations
akamaipr@akamai.com

Akamai Investor Relations
invrel@akamai.com

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) announce about acquiring LayerX on May 14, 2026?

Akamai announced a definitive agreement to acquire LayerX, a browser-based AI usage control provider, for about US$205 million. According to Akamai, the deal aims to extend its Zero Trust security portfolio into the browser and enhance AI usage control for enterprise workforces.

How much is Akamai (AKAM) paying to acquire LayerX and when will it close?

Akamai agreed to acquire all outstanding equity of LayerX for approximately US$205 million. According to Akamai, the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending completion of those requirements.

How will the LayerX acquisition affect Akamai’s (AKAM) 2026 non-GAAP EPS?

The LayerX acquisition is expected to be dilutive to Akamai’s non-GAAP EPS by about US$0.12 in fiscal 2026. According to Akamai, this reflects integration and investment costs as it expands browser-native AI usage control within its broader Zero Trust security portfolio.

What revenue impact is expected from LayerX for Akamai (AKAM) after the acquisition?

Akamai expects the LayerX business to generate about US$10 million in annual recurring revenue by year-end 2026. According to Akamai, this ARR will come from LayerX’s browser-based AI usage control and secure enterprise browser solutions once integrated into its security portfolio.

How does acquiring LayerX support Akamai’s Zero Trust and AI security strategy?

The acquisition adds browser-native controls that govern how employees and agents use AI tools directly in their browsers. According to Akamai, combining LayerX with its Zero Trust Network Access, AI runtime protection, and segmentation offers AI usage control across users, applications, and infrastructure.

What happens to LayerX employees after Akamai (AKAM) completes the acquisition?

LayerX employees, including co-founders Or Eshed and David Vaisbrud, will join Akamai’s Zero Trust organization. According to Akamai, this will deepen its cybersecurity expertise and further develop its Tel Aviv–based innovation hub focused on Zero Trust and AI-era workforce security.