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EA’s said it’s entering its “next chapter from a position of strength” as it completes its controversial $55 billion leveraged buyout.
The deal, first announced last year, sees the company go private, led by a consortium of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
As part of the deal, $20 billion has been financed through debt, organised by JP Morgan. It’s the largest deal of its kind in history.
Andrew Wilson, who’s staying on as CEO and will no doubt be rewarded handsomely as a result, believes this is all in the company’s best interests.
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He said as part of a press release:
“This moment recognises the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition, and passion have made EA one of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies. We're entering this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition. Together, we'll invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences for the hundreds of millions of players and fans who inspire us every day.”
I’d expect fewer bets from EA moving forwards, as it depends on its most bankable brands, like Battlefield, Madden, and EA Sports FC.
It’ll be interesting to see how hard it monetises these games moving forwards, and what this all means for its sizeable workforce.
With the ink on the deal still to dry, it’ll likely be a little while before we really feel the consequences of this transition. But personally, I have a hard time feeling optimistic about it all.