EA Goes Private in Historic $55 Billion Deal

Electronic Arts (EA) has officially transitioned to a private company. The move follows an announcement last September that an investor group, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), along with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, would acquire the gaming giant in a deal valued at $55 billion. On Tuesday, EA confirmed that the transaction had been successfully completed. The PIF is expected to hold a 93.4% stake in the newly private entity. The acquisition includes $20 billion in debt financing, making it the largest leveraged buyout in history. This financial structure could prompt significant strategic shifts at EA as the company seeks to justify the deal. In recent times, EA has concentrated on its major franchises, such as Battlefield and its sports titles, and this new ownership may accelerate or alter those priorities.