Video game giant Electronic Arts, commonly known as EA, is reportedly nearing a massive deal to go private. Founded in 1982, EA has been public since 1990. In the decades since, the publisher has acquired a long list of major studios and helmed major franchises like The Sims, Battlefield, and FIFA.
Now, EA is allegedly on the verge of a $50 billion deal that would take the company private, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The offer comes from a group of investors that includes Silver Lake, one of the world's largest private equity firms, and Saudi Arabia's controversial Public Investment Fund. WSJ reports that a deal could be unveiled "as soon as next week."
A $50 billion deal to go private would be record-breaking, and WSJ states that it would "likely be the largest leveraged buyout of all time." Previous record-setters include major buyouts like RJR Nabisco and TXU Energy, but without accounting for inflation, a $50 billion deal would outdo them.
This follows recent discussions surrounding Ubisoft potentially going private, although the company's restructuring ultimately took a different approach. Saudi Arabia's PIF has also appeared in Ubisoft conversations, as it recently funded a new Assassin's...
