Saudi Arabia’s PIF leads $55B buyout of US gaming giant Electronic Arts
Record leveraged deal will see EA delist from Nasdaq as consortium eyes global expansion
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is spearheading a record $55 billion acquisition of U.S. video game developer Electronic Arts, in what would become the largest leveraged buyout in history.
Electronic Arts, best known for titles such as Battlefield, The Sims, and FIFA, confirmed on Tuesday that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be purchased by an investor consortium.
The group includes PIF, UAE-based private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, an asset management company led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Under the deal, the consortium will acquire 100 percent of EA’s shares, with PIF rolling over its existing 9.9 percent stake. Shareholders will receive $210 per share in cash—a 25 percent premium over the company’s September 25 closing price of $168.32 on the Nasdaq.
The transaction will be funded through $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt financing fully committed by JPMorgan Chase, of which $18 billion will be provided at closing.
Once finalized, EA will delist from Nasdaq but remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, under the leadership of CEO Andrew Wilson.
“PIF has demonstrated a strong commitment to the global gaming and esports sectors,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, deputy governor and head of international investments at PIF. “This partnership will help further drive Electronic Arts’ long-term growth, while fueling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”
The acquisition, expected to close in the first quarter of 2027 pending regulatory approvals, is positioned to accelerate EA’s expansion and open new opportunities in international markets.
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