Electronic Arts has completed its transition to private ownership following the finalization of a $55 billion acquisition deal. The investor consortium, which includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, announced the closure of the transaction on Tuesday. The Saudi fund will control approximately 93.4 percent of the newly private company.
The acquisition represents the largest leveraged buyout on record, incorporating $20 billion in debt financing. This substantial financial structure suggests significant operational changes may be forthcoming as the company works to justify the investment. EA has recently concentrated its efforts on major franchises including Battlefield, sports titles like EA Sports FC and Madden NFL, and The Sims, a strategy that aligns with broader industry trends toward prioritizing established, profitable properties.
The company’s leadership expressed optimism about the transition. Chief Executive Andrew Wilson stated in communications to staff that the organization is prepared to advance ambitious creative projects under its new ownership structure. The deal joins a series of major gaming industry consolidations in recent years, including Microsoft’s significant acquisitions and Take-Two’s purchase of Zynga.
Originally reported by Theverge →
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