Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of its business
- Electronic Arts has officially closed a $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners.
- This acquisition is the largest-ever buyout funded by private equity.
- EA's new owners plan to invest heavily in the company's growth and the use of artificial intelligence in game development.
- The deal involved $20 billion in debt financing, which may lead to layoffs and cost-cutting measures.
- EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash per share, and the company's stock is no longer trading on the public market.
Video game giant Electronic Arts has officially closed a $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners, and Affinity Partners, led by Jared Kushner. This acquisition marks the largest-ever buyout funded by private equity.
CEO Andrew Wilson stated that EA and its new owners plan to invest boldly and accelerate innovation in game development. The acquisition will allow EA to explore new opportunities outside the pressures of the public market.
However, the deal also involves $20 billion in debt financing, which raises concerns about potential layoffs and cost-cutting measures. Critics have expressed worries about the implications of the new ownership on EA's future games.
EA stockholders will receive $210 in cash per share as part of the deal, and the company's stock is no longer trading on the public market.
电子游戏巨头电子艺界完成550亿美元私有化交易
电子游戏巨头电子艺界已正式完成以550亿美元将其业务出售给沙特阿拉伯主权财富基金PIF、投资公司银湖合伙人和由贾里德·库什纳领导的Affinity Partners的交易。这次收购标志着私募股权历史上最大规模的收购案。
首席执行官安德鲁·威尔逊表示，EA及其新东家计划大力投资并加速游戏开发的创新。此次收购将使EA能够在没有公开市场压力的情况下探索新的机会。
然而，该交易还涉及200亿美元的债务融资，这引发了对潜在裁员和削减成本措施的担忧。批评者对新所有权对EA未来游戏的影响表示担忧。
EA的股东将根据交易获得每股210美元的现金，公司股票不再在公开市场交易。