Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) said it has agreed to be acquired by a consortium of investors in a transaction valued at $55 billion. Because Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) already owns a stake in EA, the cash purchase price totals $52.5 billion.
Deal overview
- Buyer group: Silver Lake (U.S. private equity), PIF, and Affinity Partners (the firm led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump).
- Consideration: $210 per share, a 25% premium to EA’s closing price on September 25.
- Timeline: expected close in Q1 2027, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
- Financing: a mix of private equity capital and debt; described by The Wall Street Journal as the largest private-equity–backed deal in the games industry.
EA shares surged 15% on initial reports and rose another 6% after the announcement.
Strategic context
EA’s portfolio includes EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), The Sims, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and a broad live-services business. The deal underscores PIF’s accelerating push into gaming, following investments in Nintendo, Embracer Group, and the acquisition of Niantic’s operations.
What leadership says
CEO Andrew Wilson framed the sale as recognition of EA’s performance and a springboard for growth: the new ownership, he said, will help amplify creativity, accelerate innovation, and pursue “transformative opportunities” to shape the future of interactive entertainment.
