Core Viewpoint - EA is in advanced negotiations for a potential privatization deal worth up to $50 billion, which could become the largest leveraged buyout in history and significantly alter the global gaming industry landscape [1][6]. Group 1: Deal Details - The deal is expected to be announced as early as next week and could surpass the previous record for leveraged buyouts set in 2007 with the TXU acquisition at approximately $32 billion [1][6]. - The acquisition consortium is led by Silver Lake Partners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, with JPMorgan responsible for arranging the financing [1][4]. Group 2: Financial Impact - Following the news of the potential deal, EA's stock surged nearly 15% to a record high of $193.35, raising the company's market capitalization to approximately $48 billion [1]. - The deal is positioned to be one of the largest transactions announced in 2025, indicating strong investor interest in the gaming sector [6]. Group 3: Consortium Strength - Silver Lake Partners manages around $110 billion in assets and has existing investments in the gaming sector, including a stake in Unity Software, a major client of EA [4]. - The Saudi PIF holds about 10% of EA and has been active in the gaming industry, including a recent $5 billion acquisition of Scopely and a 6.5% stake in Take-Two Interactive [4]. - Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, has garnered support from investors including the PIF [4]. Group 4: Industry Context - The gaming industry is currently experiencing a slowdown after a period of explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant job cuts across the sector [9]. - EA has faced performance fluctuations, with its latest football game underperforming, but recent reports indicate better-than-expected results from its overall product lineup [10].
特朗普女婿参与,游戏巨头EA将“私有化”,500亿美元估值创杠杆收购记录
Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-09-27 00:47