Electronic Arts Inc. has agreed to be acquired and taken private in a $55 billion transaction led by Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
Monday’s deal, which would rank among the largest buyouts of a publicly traded company, is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, pending regulatory approval and EA stockholder consent. Upon completion, EA’s common stock would be delisted from public markets.
The transaction will be financed through approximately $36 billion in equity: cash from PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, plus a rollover of PIF’s existing EA stake, and about $20 billion in debt financing committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
PIF already holds nearly 10% of EA and has made investments in Affinity Partners as well as other gaming companies including Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, and Capcom.
Following the transaction’s completion, EA will maintain its headquarters in Silicon Valley and continue under the leadership of CEO Andrew Wilson.
The announcement comes days before EA’s planned Oct. 10 launch of “Battlefield 6.” Like other major publishers, EA has faced recent challenges, including workforce reductions and the cancellation of upcoming “Titanfall” and “Black Panther” titles. The company also disclosed in January that “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” fell short of expectations.
“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business,” Wilson said in a statement. “This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work.”
The deal’s board approval has been secured, though it remains subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory review.
Silver Lake, the private equity firm led by co-CEOs Egon Durban and Greg Mondre, is also a key investor in Trump’s effort to bring TikTok under U.S. control.
