EA Goes Private In $55 Billion Deal From Saudi Arabia, Jared Kushner's Company, And Others

Electronic Arts (EA), the prominent video game publisher, has announced a $55 billion deal to be acquired by an investor consortium comprising Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and the private equity firm Silver Lake. This all-cash transaction will result in EA going private, with the company's shareholders receiving $210 per share, a significant premium over the previous trading price. The deal positions EA to accelerate innovation and growth, with the company's CEO, Andrew Wilson, remaining in his role. The PIF, which already held a 9.9% stake in EA, sees the partnership as an opportunity to further drive the company's long-term growth and fuel innovation within the industry globally. Affinity Partners and Kushner have expressed enthusiasm for the deal, highlighting their plans to invest heavily in the business and support EA's vision. However, the PIF's involvement has attracted controversy due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record. The fund has been active in the gaming industry, acquiring or investing in various companies, including Niantic's gaming division and mobile/social gaming giant Scopely. Overall, the $55 billion acquisition of EA is the second-largest deal in gaming history, behind Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and one of the largest business transactions in any sector.