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A new filing reveals that the Saudi Public Investment Fund will hold roughly 93.4% of all outstanding EA shares. This comes after it backed a $55 billion deal for EA in September, but the level of ownership tied to that deal was not known until now.
This level of ownership would make the Public Investment Fund the overwhelming controlling entity. The figure is based on the equity structure used to finance the transaction, although the filing does not disclose how that 93.4% was calculated.
The same filing also indicates the fund needs to provide about $29 billion of its own capital to complete the deal. If the deal closes as outlined, a 93.4% stake would give the Public Investment Fund effective control over EA’s corporate decisions. However, it’s important to remember that EA has claimed it will maintain creative control.
Will this buyout mean anything for fans?
Well, with a total ownership of 93.4%, the Public Investment Fund will have a massive influence over the future direction of EA. This could shift how EA operates long term, as it would place the company under a single investor’s wider strategy rather than the usual quarterly market pressure that comes with being publicly traded.
It also gives the Public Investment Fund potential influence over where EA chooses to invest next. With effective control, it could encourage expansion into regions or markets that align with its broader investment goals. The Public Investment Fund has already made several high-profile moves across entertainment and sports, and gaming has become a major focus of its wider strategy.
In gaming specifically, they hold smaller minority stakes in companies such as Nintendo, Capcom, Nexon, and Embracer Group, but these positions do not give them control.
As for what it will mean for us, gamers and fans of EA’s work, we won’t truly know. EA just had a very strong launch with Battlefield 6, and it is still releasing its annual sports games, which I doubt will change. Yes, I still hate sports games. Looking ahead, EA is also working on a new Mass Effect, but the timeframe for that release is unknown. It is a major project, and one EA cannot afford to get wrong.
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