Khaberni - "Electronic Arts" (EA) has announced its approval to sell itself in a massive acquisition deal led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and investment companies "Silver Lake" and "Affinity Partners", for about 55 billion dollars, in the largest debt-financed acquisition operation in history.
The deal includes a cash payment of $210 per share, which is a 25% increase over the share price before the negotiation leak. Part of the deal will be financed through $20 billion in debt, while the Saudi fund will convert its current 9.9% stake into an investment in the deal.
This move comes amid a slowdown in the global gaming sector's growth and underscores the increasing role of sovereign wealth funds in major deals of this size.
