US EditionGaming Giant EA Agrees to $55 Billion Sale in Largest Leveraged Buyout on Record
The $55 billion all-cash deal is the largest sponsor take-private investment ever and will let EA accelerate growth amid a consolidating videogame industry.
- Electronic Arts has agreed to be acquired and taken private in a $55 billion transaction announced Monday, led by a group of investors that includes a major private equity firm, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and Affinity Partners.
- The deal follows a recovery in large-cap mergers and acquisitions, driven by easing capital costs and boardroom confidence, with reports of discussions leaking last week.
- The $55 billion deal marks the most expensive leveraged buyout ever, with EA shareholders set to receive $210 per share, reflecting a 25% premium over the company’s closing price on September 25.
- Analysts highlight EA's consistent cash flow and popular franchises like Battlefield and EA Sports FC, which support predictable revenue and strategic value for the investors.
- The transaction is anticipated to finalize in the initial quarter of 2027, maintaining EA’s headquarters in Redwood City with Andrew Wilson remaining as CEO, and is intended to support sustained growth and drive innovation over the long term.
155 Articles
155 Articles
game giant EA going private in $55B deal — in biggest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history
game maker Electronic Arts said Monday it is going private in an all-cash deal worth $55 billion that will pay shareholders $210 a share – the largest leveraged buyout in Wall Street history.
Computer game company Electronic Arts (EA), known for games like "EA Sports FC" (formerly "FIFA") and "The Sims," is being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange by a group of investors. The deal carries a price tag of $55 billion, equivalent to approximately €47 billion. It's the largest buyout ever, according to Bloomberg news agency calculations.
The Mercury news
siliconvalley.comElectronic Arts to be acquired for $52.5 billion; headquarters to remain in Redwood Shores
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AND MICHELLE CHAPMAN, Associated Press Electronic Arts, maker of video games like “Madden NFL,” “Battlefield,” and “The Sims,” is being acquired for $52.5 billion in what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private-equity firms. Related Articles H-1B visa: Trump’s changes spark bipartisan attack on Silicon Valley tech giants Apple buys Sunnyvale campus as recent shopping spree tops $80…
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