Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the world’s largest and most trusted cloud delivery platform, today announced value creation initiatives to drive operating improvement, while continuing the Company’s focus on operational excellence and growth. Akamai has worked collaboratively with Elliott Management on these initiatives, which include the addition of two independent directors, Tom Killalea and a second director to be named at a later date, to the Board of Directors.
As part of these initiatives, the Board will be forming a Financial Operating Committee. The Committee will be tasked with reviewing the Company’s operations with the goal of identifying efficiencies to enable Akamai to increase margins while continuing its focus on growth. A nationally-recognized consulting firm is being retained to work with the Committee. The Company said that it had been targeting operating margins* for its existing operations in the high 20s for 2020, and the Committee will work with management and the consultants to identify a path to achieving operating margins of 30% in 2020.
Frederic Salerno, Akamai’s Lead Independent Director, said, “The Akamai Board is excited about today’s announcements. In particular, we are very pleased to welcome Tom Killalea to our Board. He brings valuable security experience, as well as a new perspective, and will complement the diverse skillsets and backgrounds of our current Board members.”
Dr. Tom Leighton, Akamai’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to announce these initiatives and are committed to continuing our focus on innovation, efficiency of operations, and investing for growth. With our leadership in online delivery, performance and security, we believe Akamai is well positioned to build on our strong momentum in security and capitalize on the significant market opportunities we see ahead.”
Jim Benson, Akamai’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “We look forward to working with the Financial Operating Committee and outside consulting firm to continue to improve efficiency. Through this exercise, we are confident that we will maintain our commitment to investing for revenue growth by focusing on our highest-potential opportunities.”
The Company also announced that its Board has increased its share repurchase authorization by approximately $417 million, raising the amount that is authorized and available to $750 million, which the Company plans to fully utilize by the end of this year. The Company also intends to continue to return to shareholders a substantial percentage of free cash flow in future years.
Jesse Cohn, Partner at Elliott Management, said, “Akamai is an outstanding company with significant potential for future growth, and we are pleased to have worked together with the Board and management team on today’s announcements. Tom, Jim and the rest of the Akamai team are committed to these initiatives and we are confident that the Board, including the addition of two new independent directors, will oversee their successful execution. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Board and management team to create further value for all Akamai shareholders.”
The Company plans to hold its Investor Summit around mid-year and expects to provide an update on progress on its operating initiatives at that time.
Pursuant to the cooperation agreement with Elliott, Elliott has agreed to certain customary standstill provisions, including voting in favor of the Company’s proposed slate of directors at Akamai’s 2018 Annual Meeting this Spring. The full cooperation agreement with Elliott will be filed by Akamai on a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
