Video game giant Electronic Arts (EA), the studio behind titles like Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims, is set to be acquired for $52.5 billion in what would be the largest-ever private equity buyout.
The deal is being led by Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners, the investment firm headed by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Shareholders will receive $210 per share. Including debt, the transaction is valued at about $55 billion—well above the previous record set by the $32 billion takeover of Texas utility TXU in 2007.
PIF, already EA’s biggest insider shareholder with a 9.9% stake, will roll its investment into the deal. Analysts note the move aligns with PIF’s strategy to expand its gaming arm, Savvy Gaming Group, which has already bought companies such as ESL, FACEIT and Scopely.
If approved, the deal will end EA’s 36 years as a publicly traded company. Founded in 1982 by former Apple employee William “Trip” Hawkins, EA went public in 1989 with its stock debuting at a split-adjusted 52 cents.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who has led the company since 2013, will stay in his role. Headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California.
The buyout comes as global competition in gaming intensifies. Microsoft acquired rival Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion in 2023, while mobile game makers such as Epic Games continue to challenge traditional publishers.
For now, the deal cements EA as the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s biggest gaming bet yet—and the largest private equity buyout in history.
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed...
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Mark Wiseman, a former global investment banker and head of Canada’s largest pe...
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles....
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to construct a new class of battleships, which he described as larger, faster and significantly more po...
It would be smart for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power, and the United States could keep or sell the oil it had seized off the coas...
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed at bolstering the Scandinavian nation’s air defence capabilities, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Mark Wiseman, a former global investment banker and head of Canada’s largest pension fund, as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to construct a new class of battleships, which he described as larger, faster and significantly more powerful than any previous U.S. warship.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
The U.S. State Department has authorised a potential Foreign Military Sale of Advanced Medium Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Denmark, aimed at bolstering the Scandinavian nation’s air defence capabilities, the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Mark Wiseman, a former global investment banker and head of Canada’s largest pension fund, as the country’s next ambassador to the United States.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died after a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to construct a new class of battleships, which he described as larger, faster and significantly more powerful than any previous U.S. warship.
It would be smart for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power, and the United States could keep or sell the oil it had seized off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment