Electronic Arts Acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, Affinity Partners In $55B Transaction

Electronic Arts (EA) has agreed to be acquired in an all-cash take-private transaction valued at about $55 billion by an investor consortium comprising Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.

Upon closing of the deal, EA will become a private company, remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, and continue to be led by current CEO Andrew Wilson.

The deal, announced on Monday, will see EA stockholders receive $210 per share in cash, representing a 25% premium over the unaffected share price of $168.32 as of September 25, 2025. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 (Q1 FY27), is subject to approval by EA stockholders and necessary regulatory clearances, including those from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and antitrust authorities.

The acquiring consortium includes PIF, private investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake, and private investment funds affiliated with Affinity Partners  PIF, an existing shareholder with a 9.9% stake, will roll over its shares into the new holding entity.

The financing structure consists of approximately $36 billion in equity from the consortium and $20 billion in fully committed debt financing from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., with $18 billion expected to be funded at closing; the deal is not subject to a financing condition.

The transaction represents the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history and is intended to accelerate EA’s strategic vision, enabling the company to innovate faster and expand globally.

The deal follows a period of significant market speculation, with EA’s stock rising 15% on Friday, September 26, 2025, after reports of a potential private acquisition emerged.

The consortium’s partners bring deep expertise in gaming, entertainment, and sports, with PIF highlighting its commitment to the global gaming and esports sectors, Silver Lake emphasizing EA’s strong growth trajectory under CEO Andrew Wilson, and Affinity Partners’ CEO Jared Kushner (President Trump's son-in-law) expressing personal enthusiasm for EA’s legacy and future.