29/09/2025

BIZ & FINANCE MONDAY | SEPT 29, 2025

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Electronic Arts in advanced talks to go private o Deal valuing video game maker at US$50 billion will be largest ever leveraged buyout

Regulators permit Boeing to resume certifications on some planes NEW YORK: US regulators will permit Boeing to certify the airworthiness of some new planes, air safety officials announced, in a sign of authorities’ increased confidence in the aviation giant’s operations. The move by the Federal Aviation Administration means Boeing will issue airworthiness certificates on newly produced 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner planes on alternating weeks, with the agency still doing the checks in the off weeks, an FAA press release said. The US-based airplane manufacturer had previously been granted authority for the certificates, but the FAA removed the power following deadly crashes as well as production and safety problems involving Boeing jets. “Safety drives everything we do, and the FAA will only allow this step forward because we are confident it can be done safely,” the FAA said. “The FAA will continue to maintain direct and rigorous oversight of Boeing’s production processes.” Granting this authority back to Boeing will allow FAA inspectors “to focus additional surveillance in the production process”, the agency said. The FAA announcement marks a sign of progress in Boeing’s turnaround following deadly MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. These led to a lengthy grounding of the jet and congressional probes in which the FAA was also criticised for an overly cozy relationship with the company. The FAA permitted the MAX to resume service in November 2020 but the aircraft again came under scrutiny following a January 2024 flight in which an Alaska Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing after a window panel blew out. In 2019, the FAA stopped letting Boeing issue airworthiness certificates for the 737 MAX. The agency removed the authority for the 787 in 2022 due to production quality issues. – AFP SAN FRANCISCO: The US labour board has withdrawn its allegations that Apple CEO Tim Cook violated federal labour law and several other claims, Bloomberg News reported. The office of the general counsel of the National Labour Relations Board said it was withdrawing many of the claims in a complaint it had issued against Apple in January, the report said, citing a letter. The dismissed allegations include claims that Cook violated workers’rights when he sent an e-mail in 2021 saying Apple was doing whatever it could to track down those who leaked information from a confidential meeting, Bloomberg said. The e-mail came after media reports about an internal meeting during which management fielded questions about topics such as pay equity and Apple’s response to a Texas anti-abortion law. The labor board is also retracting allegations that the iPhone maker broke the law by imposing confidentiality rules, firing Janneke Parrish and surveilling workers or making them think they were under surveillance, the report said. – Reuters US labour board withdraws claims against Apple CEO

Donald Trump’s son-in-law Kushner, has investments from funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Silver Lake has long been known for major technology buyouts and is one of the largest tech-focused private equity firms. The Wall Street Journal had first reported on the deal talks earlier on Friday. PIF is Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund and has bought or made major investments in videogame firms through its gaming arm, Savvy Games Group, in a bid to increase its influence in the largest entertainment industry in the world. The investments are also a part of Saudi’s “Vision 2030” strategy to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil. Analysts believe PIF’s interest in EA stems from its highly recognisable sports portfolio which includes the widely popular soccer franchise FC , which has a strong appeal worldwide and carries robust revenue potential. “For Saudi Arabia’s PIF, the deal would cement games as cultural infrastructure – assets as critical to global influence as sports or film,” said Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU Stern School of Business. Along with videogames, the kingdom has invested heavily in esports and competitive gaming, with its esports foundation having announced a new nation-focused tournament next year, of which EA is a partner. – Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Electronic Arts, the video game publisher behind titles such as FC and Battlefield , is in advanced talks to go private at a valuation of roughly US$50 billion (RM211 billion), according to sources familiar with the matter. A group of investors including private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners could unveil a deal for the publisher as soon as this week, the sources said. If it goes through, the deal would mark the largest ever leveraged buyout in history. The take-private offer comes at a crucial time for EA, which is banking heavily on its core sports portfolio and action shooter intellectual property to weather a sluggish video game industry as gamers get picky with spending. EA’s hopes rest heavy on Battlefield 6 , the latest installation in the popular shooter game franchise that has been lauded by fans for its detailed visuals and intense combat and which many analysts expect will sell millions of copies, as well as on its soccer title FC 26 . The deal to take EA private would also mark further consolidation within the

industry, after titans such as Activision Blizzard and Zynga were swooped up by even larger firms, further reducing the number of publicly listed videogame companies. “EA does make sense as an acquisition target – the cash flows are fairly consistent and EA’s annualised titles make for predictable revenue/profitability,” D.A. Davidson & Co analyst Wyatt Swanson said. Shares of EA closed around 15% higher on Friday. Large-cap M&A is also rebounding in 2025 as boardroom confidence, consolidation logic and cheaper capital are finally lining up again. Goldman Sachs president John Waldron had said earlier in the week CEOs and boards were “stepping out” after a two-year lull, with US megadeals leading the charge and expected Fed rate cuts easing the cost of capital, conditions that make it easier to pursue scale, synergies, and strategic repositioning through mergers rather than organic investment alone. EA, Affinity Partners and PIF did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Silver Lake declined to comment. Affinity Partners, founded by US President

Trump and Kai attending the 45th Ryder Cup golf competition at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. – AFPPIC

Trump’s granddaughter launches clothing brand from White House WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s granddaughter has unveiled a clothing brand bearing her name, with promotional photos taken at the White House featuring the teen in a US$130 sweatshirt. “This is Kai, by the way,” he told the Washington press corps, introducing his 18-year-old granddaughter who had given a short speech at last year’s Republican National Convention. grandchildren, who is expected to join the golf team at the University of Miami next year, announced the launch of her clothing brand on social media last Thursday.

Kai’s parents are divorced, and her mother is reportedly dating golf legend Tiger Woods. Unlike previous officeholders, the current president of the United States is known for selling a wide variety of self-branded merchandise. The billionaire is regularly accused of using his position to promote the Trump family’s financial interests, particularly in real estate or cryptocurrencies. – AFP

A website selling the brand’s US$130 sweatshirts – plain crew necks with her initials on the chest and her signature at the cuff – features photos of her wearing them while posing on the White House grounds.

The pair, both keen golfers, then boarded a helicopter as they headed off to attend the sport’s Ryder Cup competition. The eldest of the US president’s

Don Jr.’s daughter stood near the 79-year-old Republican last week wearing one of her brand’s pullovers, as he answered reporters’ questions outside the White House.