Electronic Arts Inc. announced on August 4, 2026 that its acquisition by a consortium of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners has successfully closed. The deal, first announced on September 29, 2025 and approved by EA stockholders at a special meeting held December 22, 2025, values the company at roughly $55 billion and stands as the largest all-cash sponsor take-private transaction in history. With the transaction complete, EA stockholders received $210 in cash for each share of common stock they held, and EA’s stock has ceased trading and been delisted from NASDAQ.
Leadership Reaction
Andrew Wilson, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts, framed the closing as a new phase for the company rather than a change in creative direction. Executives from all three Consortium members also weighed in on the deal’s completion.
- Andrew Wilson (Chairman & CEO, Electronic Arts): Said the moment recognizes “the extraordinary people whose creativity, ambition and passion have made EA one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies,” and committed to investing boldly and accelerating innovation for EA’s player base.
- Turqi Alnowaiser (Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments, PIF): Noted PIF has been a minority investor in EA for more than five years and called entertainment and sports key areas of strategic focus for the fund.
- Egon Durban (CEO and Managing Partner, Silver Lake): Said Silver Lake plans to invest heavily in EA’s growth, including applications of AI in game development and player experience.
- Jared Kushner (CEO, Affinity Partners): Said Affinity is excited to support EA as it reaches new audiences and expands how people connect through play.
Advisors on the Transaction
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as EA’s financial advisor, with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as EA’s legal advisor. On the Consortium side, Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as overall legal counsel and lead counsel to PIF, with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and White & Case LLP providing specialized counsel to PIF. Latham & Watkins LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as Silver Lake’s legal counsel, and Sidley Austin LLP served as Affinity Partners’ legal counsel. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as the Consortium’s financial advisor.
Who’s Behind the Consortium
- PIF (Public Investment Fund): Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which lists gaming and esports as a priority investment sector. PIF rolled its existing 9.9% stake in EA into the new ownership structure.
- Silver Lake: A global technology investment firm with approximately $114 billion in combined assets under management and committed capital; its portfolio companies collectively generate more than $307 billion in annual revenue and employ roughly 433,000 people worldwide.
- Affinity Partners: A Miami-based investment firm founded in 2021 by Jared Kushner, managing more than $6 billion with a 30-plus person team focused on growth equity and technology investments.
Transaction Details
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Deal Value | Approximately $55 billion |
| Price Per Share | $210 in cash |
| Original Announcement | September 29, 2025 |
| Stockholder Approval | December 22, 2025 |
| Deal Close | August 4, 2026 |
| Financing Structure | ~$36 billion equity + $20 billion debt (JPMorgan) |
| Stock Status | Delisted from NASDAQ |
What This Means for EA
EA reported GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion for fiscal year 2026. The company, headquartered in Redwood City, California, will remain led by Andrew Wilson and continue operating its portfolio of franchises, including EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, EA SPORTS College Football, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, Plants vs. Zombies, and EA SPORTS F1.
