Video game maker Electronic Arts to be acquired and taken private for $55 billion

"Business Electronic Arts, maker of video games like "Madden NFL," "Battlefield," and "The Sims," has been run by its current CEO, Andrew Wilson, since 2013. Electronic Arts, maker of video games like "Madden NFL," "Battlefield," and "The Sims," is being acquired for $55 billion, the biggest leveraged buyout attempt in history. Under the terms of the deal announced Monday, the private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF and Affinity Partners will pay EA's stockholders $210 per share."

"Affinity Partners is a private equity firm run by President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Electronic Arts would be taken private. The total value of the deal eclipses the $32 billion price paid to take Texas utility TXU private in 2007. If the transaction closes as anticipated, it will end EA's 36-year history as a publicly traded company that began with its shares ending its first day of trading at a split-adjusted 52 cents."

"Silver Lake is also part of a newly formed joint venture spearheaded by Oracle involved in a deal t o take over the U.S. oversight of TikTok's social video platform, although all the details of that complex transaction haven't been divulged yet. Silver Lake has also previously bought out two other well-known technology companies, the now-defunct video calling service Skype in a $1.9 billion deal completed in 2009, and a $24.9 billion buyout of personal computer maker Dell in 2013."

Electronic Arts, maker of franchises including Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims, is being acquired in a $55 billion leveraged buyout. Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Affinity Partners will pay $210 per share to take EA private. Affinity Partners is run by Jared Kushner. The transaction would surpass the $32 billion TXU buyout and end EA's 36-year run as a public company; EA's IPO shares had closed at a split-adjusted 52 cents. EA was founded by William 'Trip' Hawkins and has been led by CEO Andrew Wilson since 2013. Silver Lake previously participated in buyouts of Skype and Dell and in an Oracle-led TikTok oversight deal.

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