Saudi-Led Consortium to Buy Electronic Arts for $55B

A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners agreed to take Electronic Arts private in a $55 billion all-cash deal that will pay shareholders $210 per share, about a 25% premium, and is expected to close in Q1 of EA’s 2027 fiscal year. The financing comprises roughly $36 billion of cash and equity plus about $20 billion of new debt arranged by JPMorgan, making the transaction likely the largest leveraged buyout in history. EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City and CEO Andrew Wilson is expected to stay on; the company says gamers should expect no immediate gameplay changes until closing. Reuters reports the PIF may not fold EA into its domestic Savvy Games vehicle, suggesting limited operational integration with the sovereign fund. Analysts say private ownership could let EA restructure and pursue acquisitions away from public-market pressures but warn of significant risks from heavy leverage, potential regulatory and political scrutiny over PIF and Affinity’s involvement, and EA’s recent product setbacks that depressed its market value.