Overview

• Shareholders are set to receive $210 per share in an all-cash leveraged deal that is pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
• If completed, the transaction would be the largest private equity–funded buyout on record, according to financial reporting.
• Human Rights Watch cites the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s links to rights abuses, raising ethical concerns about state influence over the publisher.
• Morningstar and other analysts foresee minimal regulatory pushback and a near-term focus on cash-generating sports, mobile, and microtransaction-driven titles.
• The consortium includes Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, and PIF presents the move as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification strategy.