Electronic Arts Acquired for $55 Billion in Historic Leveraged Buyout by Saudi-Backed Consortium
Electronic Arts is being acquired for $55 billion by a consortium including Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's PIF, and Affinity Partners. This historic leveraged buyout takes the gaming giant private, offering stockholders $210 per share.
World News GroupVideo game giant EA goes private in $55B Saudi-backed buyout
ABC NewsHow Electronic Arts' $55 billion go-private deal could impact the video game industry
Epoch TimesElectronic Arts to Receive $55 Billion in Largest All-Cash Private Buyout in History
USA TODAYJared Kushner, Saudi Arabia, more backers to buy EA in $55B deal. What this means for gamers.
Overview
Electronic Arts (EA) is being acquired for $55 billion in the largest leveraged buyout in history, surpassing the 2007 record set by TXU.
The acquiring consortium includes private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, largely funded by Saudi investors.
Under the deal, EA stockholders will receive $210 per share in cash, representing a 25% premium over the previous market price, taking the company private.
The transaction will end EA's 36-year history as a publicly traded company, though its headquarters in Redwood City, California, and CEO Andrew Wilson will remain.
The acquisition, expected to close in early fiscal year 2027, reflects a growing trend of large investments in the video game market, despite EA's recent layoffs.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting the facts of the acquisition without loaded language or overt bias. They focus on detailing the parties involved, the financial terms, and the stated strategic reasons for the investment, allowing readers to form their own conclusions based on the reported information.