Electronic Arts (EA) has made an official announcement confirming the acquisition by a diversified investor group that includes the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The total value of this monumental deal is approximately $55 billion, designating it as the most substantial all-cash sponsor buyout in history.
Under the stipulations of the agreement, full ownership of EA will be transferred to the consortium, with the Saudi PIF maintaining its existing 9.9% stake. EA shareholders are set to receive $210 per share, in cash. This amount per segment signifies a 25% premium over EA’s unaffected share price of $168.32 at market closure on September 25, 2025. It also exceeds EA’s unsullied all-time high of $179.01 at market conclusion on August 14, 2025.
EA’s common shares will cease trading on public markets upon the completion of the transaction. Current CEO and Chairman, Andrew Wilson, will continue to steer the company’s operations. Wilson’s stewardship of EA has seen its evolution into a prominent gaming enterprise, boasting popular IPs and reaching hundreds of millions of passionate gamers.
“With the progression of this journey, the creative and passionate team at EA aims to drive the peripheries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking unprecedented opportunities,” quoted Wilson. “I am more invigorated than ever about the future we are constructing.”
EA will persist under Wilson’s leadership with its headquarters in Redwood City, California. Pending regulatory and stockholder approval, the transaction should close in Q1 FY27.
The funding process involves contributions from PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. Affinity Partners, an American investment firm established in Miami, Florida, have a notable founding member in Jared Kushner, son-in-law to former President Donald Trump.
The deal consists of an equity investment of about $36 billion coupled with a fully committed debt financing amount of $20 billion by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Paying the equity portion completely from under their management stands as a mutual commitment of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
This historic sale is announced just before the launch of the much-anticipated Battlefield 6, marking another significant milestone in EA’s timeline. This move follows the release of FC 26 and Skate, while other developing EA games include Mass Effect at BioWare, Star Wars Jedi 3 at Respawn, and Iron Man at Motive.
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