Saudi Arabia's PIF to acquire Electronic Arts in $55 billion deal

Electronic Arts has secured all required regulatory approvals, including from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the European Union competition authority. The transaction is slated to close after the market close on August 4, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) paying $210 per share – a 25% premium that values the company at about $55 billion.

The acquiring consortium, composed of the PIF, private‑equity firm Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, will own roughly 93% of EA. Financing combines roughly $36 billion of equity with $20 billion of debt arranged by JPMorgan. EA will be taken private, delist from Nasdaq, retain CEO Andrew Wilson and its Redwood City headquarters, but will assume a substantial debt load. The deal is the largest leveraged buyout in the gaming sector and has attracted criticism over Saudi Arabia’s human‑rights record.