Electronic Arts completed its $55 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on August 4, 2026, marking the largest all-cash take-private deal in history. The transaction, announced in September 2025, ended EA’s 37 years as a publicly traded company after the company went public in 1989.
Shareholders received $210 per share in cash. The deal brings together PIF, which takes 93.4 percent ownership; Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm, with 5.5 percent; and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner, with 1.1 percent. The consortium structured the transaction with approximately $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt financing.
Andrew Wilson, who has served as CEO since 2013, continues as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer under the new ownership. In a statement to employees, Wilson said the company was entering “this next chapter from a position of strength with partners who share our vision and ambition.” He emphasized the consortium’s commitment to “invest boldly, accelerate innovation, and build the next generation of games and experiences.”
PIF, a sovereign wealth fund, has held a minority stake in EA for more than five years before leading this acquisition. Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF, noted that “entertainment and sports are key areas of strategic focus for PIF, and are among the fastest growing and evolving sectors around the world.” The fund positioned the deal as enabling long-term partnership with EA’s management team to drive sustained growth and innovation.
Silver Lake’s involvement underscores the technology sector’s confidence in EA’s platform. Egon Durban, CEO and Managing Partner of Silver Lake, highlighted how “EA’s innovation fuels imagination and human connection,” citing the company’s intention to invest heavily in AI applications for game development and player experience. The firm manages approximately $114 billion in combined assets under management and committed capital.
The acquisition of EA represents a significant moment for the video game industry. Founded in 1982 by former Apple employee Trip Hawkins, EA grew into one of the world’s largest interactive entertainment companies, generating approximately $7.5 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2026. The company’s portfolio includes major franchises such as EA Sports FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, and Madden NFL. Going private removes EA from public market pressures and provides the new owners long-term capital to pursue strategic initiatives without quarterly earnings cycles.
The transaction received approval from EA stockholders at a special meeting held in December 2025 and cleared all required regulatory approvals by late July 2026. EA’s common stock ceased trading and was delisted from NASDAQ following the August 4 closing.
Sources
- Electronic Arts official press release — completion announcement with quotes from Wilson, PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners leadership; deal structure and shareholder consideration details
- The Verge — confirmed deal closure on August 4, 2026, and consortium composition
- Variety — timeline and regulatory approval status
- Reuters — deal valuation, per-share consideration, and consortium details
- Wikipedia (Leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts) — deal history, financing structure, and ownership percentages
- TechPowerUp — EA’s tenure as public company (nearly 36 years) and founder information
