Official: Electronic Arts to be sold to private investors in $55 billion deal

Electronic Arts announced the conclusion of a definitive agreement to acquire the company by a consortium of investors consisting of Silver Lake, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Affinity Partners for $55 billion.

Under the deal, the consortium will take 100% of the company, while PIF will retain its existing 9.9% stake. The company's shareholders will now receive $210 per share, a 25% premium to EA's market value as of the close of trading on September 25, 2025.

The transaction was approved by the Electronic Arts board of directors and is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. As with other similar transactions, the EA purchase is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining required regulatory approvals and approval by the company's shareholders.

According to the official press release, the deal is being financed with funds from PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, as well as a contribution from PIF's existing stake in EA. This represents approximately $36 billion in equity investment. Another $20 billion will be provided by debt financing from JPMorgan Chase Bank, of which $18 billion is planned to be provided upon closing.

PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners intend to fully fund the equity portion of the transaction with capital under their control. Following the closing of the transaction, EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California, and the company will continue to be led by CEO Andrew Wilson.

"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. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work," said Andrew Wilson, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts. "Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building."

As noted by renowned gaming journalist Jason Schreier, it is the $20 billion debt that is the main part of this deal, as it could lead to significant cost reductions, including new layoffs, as well as the introduction of new aggressive monetization tools.