Rygterne om en mulig fuld privatisering af EA har svirret i de seneste uger, og der har endda været spekulationer om, at Netflix kunne stå bag et muligt opkøb. Det er nu slået fast, at dette ikke er tilfældet.
En gruppe af virksomheder og investeringsselskaber bestående af PIF (der fastholder sin ejerandel på 9,9 %), Silver Lake og Affinity Partners har indgået en aftale om at opkøbe 100% af EA for omkring 210 dollars pr. aktie, hvilket svarer til en præmie på 25%. Transaktionen er gennemført kontant og værdisætter dermed EA til omkring 55 milliarder euro - den største kontante handel i verdenshistorien.
"Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences to hundreds of millions of fans, created some of the world's most iconic IPs and generated significant value for our company. This moment is a great recognition of their remarkable work," siger CEO Andrew Wilson. "Going forward, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports and technology, opening up new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I'm more excited than ever about the future we're building."
"PIF enjoys a unique position in the global video games and esports sectors, creating and supporting ecosystems that connect fans, developers and creators of intellectual property," siger Turqi Alnowaiser, PIF's Deputy Governor og Head of International Investments. "PIF has demonstrated a strong commitment to these sectors, and this partnership will help drive EA's long-term growth while driving innovation in the industry on a global scale."
Transaktionen er blevet godkendt af EA's bestyrelse og forventes at blive afsluttet i første kvartal af regnskabsåret 2027, når de nødvendige regulatoriske godkendelser og EAs aktionærgodkendelse er på plads. Når handlen er gennemført, vil EAs almindelige aktier ikke længere være noteret på noget offentligt marked, og selskabet vil dermed forlade NASDAQ.
"Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I admire their ability to create iconic and enduring experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their video games and now enjoys them with his children, I am excited about what the future holds," siger Jared Kushner, CEO for Affinity Partners.
"The Board carefully evaluated this opportunity and concluded that it offers attractive value for shareholders and benefits all stakeholders," siger Luis A. Ubiñas, Lead Independent Director af EA's Board of Directors. "We are pleased that this transaction will generate immediate and secure cash value for our shareholders, while strengthening EA's ability to continue to build the communities and experiences that define the future of entertainment."
Privatiseringsprocessen for EA vil derfor fortsat være underlagt konkurrencemyndighedernes gennemgang, præcis som det også var tilfældet ved Microsofts opkøb af Activision Blizzard King.
Hvordan tror du, at denne privatisering af Electronic Arts vil påvirke udviklingen af selskabets nuværende og fremtidige projekter?