The acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by a consortium comprising Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners has officially closed. Valued at $55 billion, with approximately $20 billion financed through debt, the deal takes EA private and marks the largest leveraged buyout in history.
With the transaction complete, PIF now holds a controlling stake in EA, giving the new consortium command over renowned game franchises including "The Sims," "Battlefield," "Mass Effect," and "Dragon Age."
EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated that this moment affirms the extraordinary talent whose creativity, ambition, and passion have made EA one of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies. He also emphasized that the company would boldly invest and accelerate innovation with its new partners.
However, EA recently shuttered its investor relations page, meaning it will no longer be required to publicly disclose quarterly financial reports and strategic documents, raising concerns about a potential decrease in corporate transparency.
Market observers are also concerned that the new ownership might lead to staff reductions, content censorship in some games, the abandonment of underperforming franchises, or even the sale or collateralization of intellectual properties for capital. U.S. senators previously warned that the deal could involve foreign influence and national security risks. In response, EA had assured employees that creative freedom and player-first values would remain unchanged.
via： GamesRadar+