Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world's leading game developers, has come under the control of an investment consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) following the completion of the approximately $55 billion acquisition.
Under the deal, PIF acquired approximately 93.4% of the company's shares, while investment firm Silver Lake took a 5.5% stake and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, took a 1.1% stake. With the completion of the acquisition, EA delisted from the stock exchange and became a private company.
The transaction, financed with approximately $20 billion in debt, is considered one of the largest leveraged buyouts in corporate history. Analysts note that the high debt burden could impact the company's cost policies, new game investments, and studio structure in the coming period.
EA's current CEO Andrew Wilson will continue in his role. The company's headquarters will remain in Redwood City, California. In a message to employees, Wilson stated that EA will continue its investments in game development and player communities.
Electronic Arts owns some of the world's most popular game franchises, including EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, and Madden NFL. The acquisition is seen as one of Saudi Arabia's largest investments in the gaming and esports sector in recent years.