NEW YORK — In what could become the largest-ever buyout funded by private equity, video game maker Electronic Arts has agreed to be acquired in a deal valued at $55 billion.
kAmq6J@?5 E96 A@E6?E:2==J C64@C5\3C62<:?8 AC:46 E28[ E96 562= 4@F=5 3C:?8 H:56C D9:7ED :? E96 82>:?8 H@C=5] t=64EC@?:4 pCED WtpX @H?D A@AF=2C E:E=6D =:<6 |2556? }u{[ q2EE=67:6=5 2?5 %96 $:>D — 2?5 8@:?8 AC:G2E6 4@F=5 A@E6?E:2==J 8C2?E E96 4@>A2?J >@C6 7C665@> :? 56G6=@A:?8 2?5 5:DEC:3FE:?8 7FEFC6 82>6D] $E:==[ H92E :ED 7FEFC6 F?56C ?6H @H?6CD9:A 4@F=5 =@@< =:<6 92D J6E E@ 36 D66?]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 3FJ@FE 2=D@ >2C<D E96 =2E6DE >@G6 7C@> $2F5: pC23:2VD D@G6C6:8? H62=E9 7F?5 !xu E@ :?G6DE :? 82>:?8] x7 E96 EC2?D24E:@? 86ED E96 8C66? =:89E[ !xu H@F=5 ;@:? $:=G6C {2<6 !2CE?6CD 2?5 p77:?:EJ !2CE?6CD[ CF? 3J &]$] !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>AVD D@?\:?\=2H y2C65 zFD9?6C[ 2D tpVD ?6H @H?6CD] %96 4@>A2?:6D 2:> E@ 4=@D6 E96 2==\42D9 24BF:D:E:@? 3J E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C @7 a_af]k^Am
The EA Sports logo is seen on a soccer pitch at the Electronic Arts office and studio complex, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Sept. 29, as the maker of video games like Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims, is being acquired for $55 billion in what could become the largest private equity-funded buyout in history.
Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press
kAmw6C6VD H92E H6 <?@H]k^Am
k9am(9J :D tp 2? 2EEC24E:G6 E2<6@G6C E2C86Enk^9am
kAm%96 D:K6 @7 E96 G:56@ 82>6 >2C<6E 92D 2EEC24E65 D:8?:7:42?E :?G6DE>6?E 7C@> =2C86 :?G6DE@CD :? C646?E J62CD] p?5 2?2=JDED ?@E6 E92E #65H@@5 r:EJ[ r2=:7@C?:2\32D65 tp 3C2?5 2?5 =:?6FA @7 E:E=6D >2<6 :E 2 A@AF=2C 24BF:D:E:@? E2C86E]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 24BF:D:E:@? 2=D@ 2CC:G6D 2D 4@>A6E:E:@? 8C@HD] ~?6 @7 tpVD 3:886DE C:G2=D[ p4E:G:D:@? q=:KK2C5[ H2D D?2AA65 FA 3J E649?@=@8J A@H6C9@FD6 |:4C@D@7E 7@C ?62C=J Seh 3:==:@? :? a_ab[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ H9:=6 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? 7C@> >@3:=6 G:56@ 82>6 >2<6CD DF49 2D tA:4 v2>6D 92D :?E6?D:7:65]k^Am
kAm!xu[ $:=G6C {2<6 2?5 p77:?:EJVD 4@>3:?65 @776C E@ 24BF:C6 tp 72C 6I4665D E96 Sba 3:==:@? AC:46 E28 E@ E2<6 %6I2D FE:=:EJ %)& AC:G2E6 :? a__f[ H9:49 925 AC6G:@FD=J D92EE6C65 C64@C5D 7@C =6G6C2865 3FJ@FED] p =6G6C2865 3FJ@FE >62?D 2 4@>A2?J :D AFC492D65 =2C86=J FD:?8 3@CC@H65 7F?5D[ 2?5 C6BF:C6D E96 24BF:C65 4@>A2?J E@ C6A2J E96 563E E2<6? @? E@ 7:?2?46 E96 562=]k^Am
k9amr@F=5 8@:?8 AC:G2E6 8:G6 tp >@C6 3FD:?6DD 25G2?E286Dnk^9am
The EA Sports logo is seen on a soccer pitch at the Electronic Arts office and studio complex, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Sept. 29, as the maker of video games like Madden NFL, Battlefield and The Sims, is being acquired for $55 billion in what could become the largest private equity-funded buyout in history.
Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press
kAmxEVD A@DD:3=6 E92E E96 562= 4@F=5 8:G6 tp >@C6 7C665@> :? 7FEFC6 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 5:DEC:3FE:@? @7 :ED 82>6D]k^Am
kAmqJ 8@:?8 AC:G2E6[ tp H:== 36 23=6 E@ C6E@@= @A6C2E:@?D H:E9@FE H@CCJ:?8 23@FE D92C69@=56C :?E6C6DE @C @E96C >2C<6E D4CFE:?J] pD 2 C6DF=E[ tp 4@F=5 86E Q2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6 3C62E9:?8 C@@> E@ 5@ H92E E96J 5@[Q 6IA=2:?D y@@DE G2? sC6F?6?[ 2 =@?8E:>6 82>6D :?5FDECJ C6D62C496C 2?5 25;F?4E 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C 2E }6H *@C< &?:G6CD:EJVD $E6C? $49@@= @7 qFD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm%96@C6E:42==J[ E92E 4@F=5 QC6DF=E :? >@C6 @C 36EE6C 82>6D[Q 255D q6? $49?6:56C[ 2 AC@76DD@C @7 AC24E:46 :? E96 x?E6C24E:G6 |65:2 2?5 v2>6 s6G6=@A>6?E AC@8C2> 2E (@C46DE6C !@=JE649?:4 x?DE:EFE6] qFE 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 96 ?@E6D[ Q82>6CD 2C6 86?6C2==J ?@E 6?E9C2==65 H:E9 4@CA@C2E6 @H?6CD :?7=F6?4:?8 9@H 82>6 >2<6CD >2<6 E96:C 82>6D[ E@ D2J E96 =62DE]Qk^Am
kAmtp 92D C646?E=J 72465 4C:E:4:D> 7@C >@G6D E@H2C5 =:G6\D6CG:46 82>:?8 — H9:49 762EFC6D 2 4@?E:?F@FD DEC62> @7 ?6H 4@?E6?E @7E6? 2:>65 E@ <66A A=2J6CD @?=:?6 =@?86C — 2?5 @E96C >@?6E:K2E:@? 677@CED E92E 92G6 366? D66? 2D 288C6DD:G6 2>@?8 D@>6 82>6CD]k^Am
kAmtIA6CED =:<6 G2? sC6F?6?[ H9@ :D 2=D@ rt~ @7 >2C<6E C6D62C49 7:C> p=5@C2[ D2J 2 9@A6 :D E92E E96 6IEC2 42A:E2= 7C@> AC:G2E:K2E:@? >:89E 2==@H tp QE@ E2<6 E9:D 7@@E @77 E96 82D 7C@> 288C6DD:G6 >:4C@EC2?D24E:@? DEC2E68:6D]Qk^Am
kAm$E:==[ E:>6 H:== E6==] tpVD AC@A@D65 3FJ6CD 92G6?VE :?5:42E65 2?J A=2?D E@ A2CE 7C@> E9@D6 >@56=D] x? |@?52JVD 2??@F?46>6?E[ 4@>A2?J 6I64FE:G6D ;FDE A@:?E65 3C@25=J E@ 4@>:?8 8C@HE9]k^Am
kAmQ{@@<:?8 29625[ H6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ AFD9 E96 3@F?52C:6D @7 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ DA@CED[ 2?5 E649?@=@8J[ F?=@4<:?8 ?6H @AA@CEF?:E:6D[Q p?5C6H (:=D@?[ rt~ @7 tp[ H9@ H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ DE2J :? E96 E@A D62E :7 E96 8@\AC:G2E6 562= 8@6D E9C@F89]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ D@>6 2?2=JDED 2C6 D<6AE:42= 23@FE H96E96C 2 3FJ@FE :D E96 36DE E9:?8 7@C tp C:89E ?@H — A2CE:4F=2C=J 29625 @7 :ED Qq2EE=67:6=5 eQ =2F?49 D=2E65 7@C ~4E] `_]k^Am
kAmQxE :D DE:== F?4=62C E@ FD H9J tp H@F=5 28C66 E@ 36 24BF:C65 C:89E 367@C6 2 G6CJ AC@>:D:?8 que =2F?49[Q %s r@H6? 2?2=JDED s@F8 rC6FEK 2?5 |6: {F? "F249 HC@E6 :? 2 |@?52J ?@E6] %96 2?2=JDED 925 AC6G:@FD=J A@:?E65 E@ E96 A@D:E:G6 C6DA@?D6D Qq2EE=67:6=5 eQ C646:G65 7C@> A=2J6CD :? :ED E6DE:?8 A6C:@5 — ?@E:?8 E92E 6IA64E65 C6G6?F6 4@F=5 AFD9 FA tpVD D92C6 AC:46 6G6? 7FCE96C]k^Am
kAm~E96CD 92G6 D:>:=2C=J 2C8F65 E92E E96 AC@A@D65 24BF:D:E:@? AC:46 — H9:49 5:GG:6D FA E@ Sa`_ A6C D92C6 — F?56CG2=F6D H92E tp 92D E@ @776C] qFE }:4< |4z2J @7 uC665@> r2A:E2= |2C<6ED E9:?<D 2? :?4C62D6 :? D92C6 AC:46 :D =:<6=J =:>:E65[ 8:G6? E96 DF446DD @7 tpVD DA@CED @776C:?8D 36:?8 32<65 :?E@ E96 AC:46[ 2?5 E92E E96 AC:4:?8 >2<6D D6?D6]k^Am
The EA Sports logo is seen on a soccer pitch at the Electronic Arts' office and studio complex, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Sept. 29.
Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press
k9amxD 2 E2<6@G6C 6IA64E65 E@ D9FE 5@H? >@C6 82>6 DEF5:@D 2?5 =625 E@ =2J@77Dnk^9am
kAmp7E6C 36:?8 E2<6? AC:G2E6[ 7@C>6C=J AF3=:4 4@>A2?:6D @7E6? F?56C8@ 6IE6?D:G6 4@DE\4FEE:?8]k^Am
kAmtp 92D?VE :?5:42E65 2?J 6IA64E65 4FED DA2??:?8 7C@> :ED AC@A@D65 3FJ@FE 2E E9:D E:>6[ 2=E9@F89 E96 4@>A2?J 92D 8@?6 E9C@F89 D6G6C2= =2J@77 C@F?5D C646?E=J] p7E6C ;6EE:D@?:?8 23@FE dT @7 :ED H@C<7@C46 :? a_ac[ tp 6?565 |2C49 H:E9 `c[d__ 6>A=@J66D 2?5 E96? =2:5 @77 D6G6C2= 9F?5C65 A6@A=6 :? |2J]k^Am
kAmtIA6CED =:<6 $49?6:56C 2=D@ A@:?E E@ E96 D:K623=6 563E 7:?2?4:?8 E96 562= E2<6D @?i 2>@F?E:?8 E@ 23@FE Sa_ 3:==:@? A6C |@?52JVD 2??@F?46>6?E] w6 ?@E6D E92EVD 4@?46C?:?8 ?6HD 7@C G:56@ 82>6 56G6=@A6CD[ 2D :E 4@F=5 C6DF=E :? >@C6 4FED]k^Am
kAmQ%96D6 492?86D :? @H?6CD9:A 2C6 2 G6CJ 72C 5:DE2?46 7C@> E96 A6@A=6 2?5 DEF5:@D H9@ 24EF2==J >2<6 82>6D[Q $49?6:56C D2:5] Qp?J 5:C64E :>A24E H:== 4@>6 :? E96 7@C> @7 H92E 3F586ED 2C6 8:G6? E@ E9@D6 DEF5:@D 2?5[ 5@H?DEC62>[ H9:49 AC@;64ED 86E 42?46==65 @C 8C66?=:E]Qk^Am
kAmtp 92D 2=D@ 2=C625J D9FEE6C65 >2?J 82>6 DEF5:@D @G6C E96 J62CD] yFDE E9:D A2DE |2J[ E96 4@>A2?J C6A@CE65=J 42?46=65 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 2 G:56@ 82>6 32D65 @? |2CG6=VD Qq=24< !2?E96C[Q 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 2D A2CE @7 E96 4=@DFC6 @7 r=:7792?86C v2>6D]k^Am
k9am$2F5:VD !xu 7F?5 92D >2?J 92?5D :? E96 G:56@ 82>6 :?5FDECJ ?@H] (9Jnk^9am
kAmp>@?8 tpVD AC@A@D65 3FJ6CD :D $2F5: pC23:2VD D@G6C6:8? H62=E9 7F?5 !xu — H9:49 92D :?4C62D:?8=J FAA65 :ED 82>:?8 :?G6DE>6?ED] xE 2=C625J 9@=5D 2 h]hT DE2<6 :? tp[ 2?5 :D 2=D@ 2 >:?@C:EJ :?G6DE@C :? 76==@H 82>:?8 8:2?E }:?E6?5@]k^Am
kAm'2? sC6F?6? 6IA=2:?D E92E 82>:?8 :? A@AF=2C H:E9 J@F?86C 2F5:6?46D 2?5 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 A6@A=6 =:G:?8 :? E96 4@F?ECJ 2C6 F?56C b_ J62CD @=5 W244@F?E:?8 7@C ebT @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? 2D @7 E96 <:?85@>VD a_aa 46?DFDX] %92E 96=AD 5C:G6 56>2?5 :? 2 E649\7@CH2C5 :?5FDECJ E92E 42? 2=D@ 36 Q62D:=J EC2?DA@CE65 :?E@ 2 ?6H =@42E:@?[Q 96 255D]k^Am
kAmp>2?52 r@E6[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 E96 D6C:@FD 82>6D 46CE:7:42E6 2E |:49:82? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ ?@E6D E92E E96 2EE6>AE65 tp 24BF:D:E:@? :D A2CE:4F=2C=J :? =:?6 H:E9 !xuVD C646?E >@G6D :? 6DA@CED[ H:E9 4@>A6E:E:G6 82>:?8 A=2E7@C>D =:<6 t${ uprtx% 2=D@ 2>@?8 :ED A@CE7@=:@ E@52J]k^Am
kAmQtpVD 82>6 A@CE7@=:@ D:>F=E2?6@FD=J 2=:8?D H:E9 $2F5: pC23:2VD 6IA2?D:@?D :?E@ DA@CED[ 82>:?8[ 2?5 6DA@CED[Q r@E6 D2:5[ 2==F5:?8 E@ tpVD 6DA@CED 2?5 DA@CED AC@A6CE:6D =:<6 |2556? u@@E32== 2?5 tp $A@CED ur W7@C>6C=J uxupX]k^Am
kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ D96 2=D@ ?@E65 9F>2? C:89ED @C82?:K2E:@?D[ DF49 2D p>?6DEJ x?E6C?2E:@?2=[ 92G6 366? 9:89=J 4C:E:42= @7 $2F5: pC23:2VD @G6C2== :?G6DE>6?ED :? DA@CED 2?5 6DA@CED — H:E9 D@>6 244FD:?8 E96 ?2E:@? @7 QDA@CEDH2D9:?8Q E@ 5:DEC24E :?E6C?2E:@?2= 2EE6?E:@?] Q%9:D AC@A@D65 562= :D =:<6=J E@ 7246 D:>:=2C 4C:E:4:D>[Q r@E6 25565]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 @E96C ?@E23=6 ?2>6D :? E96 AC@A@D65 3FJ@FE :D zFD9?6C]k^Am
kAm%96 562= DE:== ?665D D92C69@=56C 2?5 C68F=2E@CJ 2AAC@G2=] tIA6CED =:<6 G2? sC6F?6? 6IA64E E96C6 >:89E 36 D@>6 C68F=2E@CJ AFD9324< — A6C92AD ?@E :? E96 &]$][ 3FE 7C@> @E96C 4@?DF>6C H2E495@8D 8=@32==J]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ q2:C5 tBF:EJ #6D62C49 2?2=JDED ?@E65 |@?52J E92E E96 Q4@??64E:@?D E@ 3@E9 E96 $2F5: 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?Q >2J 36 Q2 DEC2E68:4 2DD6E 7@C tp :? ?2G:82E:?8 2?J C68F=2E@CJ DA665\3F>AD]Qk^Am
AP Business Writers Michael Liedtke and Michelle Chapman contributed to this report.
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
