Workday shares surge 18% on Silver Lake takeover report
Workday shares surged nearly 18% on August 13, 2026, closing with a market value of approximately $51 billion after reports emerged that private equity firm Silver Lake is in talks to acquire the human resources software maker. The potential acquisition comes amid broader industry concerns that artificial intelligence tools will disrupt traditional software business models, which have weighed on Workday's stock despite a strong May 2026 earnings report and leadership transition back to co-founder Aneel Bhusri.
Silver Lake takeover discussions
▪The acquisition discussions between Silver Lake and Workday have been ongoing in recent months, according to sources cited by Reuters on August 13, 2026.
▪Reuters reported on August 13, 2026, that private equity firm Silver Lake is in talks to acquire human resources software maker Workday.
▪Neither Workday nor Silver Lake immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment regarding the reported acquisition talks on August 13, 2026.
AI disruption concerns in software
▪Analyst Brent Thill stated on August 13, 2026, that a potential Silver Lake acquisition of Workday makes sense given how badly the software sector has been hit.
▪Concerns that artificial intelligence tools will upend the business model of software companies have weighed on Workday's shares in the months leading up to August 2026.
Workday stock performance
▪Workday shares rose nearly 18% on August 13, 2026, marking the stock's best single-day performance since 2016, following reports of a potential Silver Lake takeover.
▪Despite a rebound from a recent selloff, Workday shares remained down 7% year over year as of August 13, 2026.
▪Workday raised its financial forecast in May 2026, citing positive tailwinds from artificial intelligence.
▪Workday posted better-than-expected financial results in May 2026.
▪Workday's market value closed at nearly $51 billion on August 13, 2026, after trading of the company's shares was halted multiple times in the late afternoon.
Workday CEO leadership change
▪Workday co-founder Aneel Bhusri was renamed chief executive officer in March 2026 after Carl Eschenbach stepped down from the role.
▪Workday chief executive officer Aneel Bhusri and Silver Lake's Egon Durban are well-connected and know each other well, according to analyst Brent Thill on August 13, 2026.
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