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Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), the California-based publisher of popular video game franchises including FIFA, Madden, The Sims, BioWare titles, and Battlefield, has agreed to be acquired in an all-cash transaction worth about $55 billion by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), U.S. technology investment firm Silver Lake, and private equity company Affinity Partners, whose chief executive Jared Kushner is the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Under the agreement, which represents the largest all-cash sponsor-led take-private investment in history, EA shareholders will receive $210 per share in cash, a 25% premium over the company’s unaffected share price of $168.32 on September 25, 2025, and above the previous all-time high of $179.01 in August.
After reports of the deal surfaced before the official announcement last week, EA’s shares on Nasdaq rose by more than 17%.
According to an official statement from EA released on Monday, the consortium will acquire 100% of EA, with PIF rolling over its existing 9.9% stake. The deal will be financed through roughly $36 billion in equity from the investors and $20 billion in debt financing led by U.S. investment bank JPMorgan Chase. Once completed, EA’s shares will be delisted, ending its status as a publicly traded company.
EA Chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his role. He said the agreement recognizes the company’s creative achievements and will allow it to "push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology" with new backing.
The transaction has been approved by EA’s board and is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF has steadily expanded in global gaming, as it increased its EA stake in 2023, now set to roll over into the new ownership.
The fund also holds shares in companies such as Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, Capcom, and Embracer Group. Ubisoft has also received funding from PIF.
The PIF, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has also taken part in major international commitments. During President Trump’s Gulf Tour in May, the United States announced more than $2 trillion in pledged investments from regional partners, with Saudi Arabia making one of the largest contributions through an agreement to channel $600 billion over the coming years.
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