EA has confirmed it has agreed to be acquired by an investor group composed of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Companions in a transaction valued at roughly $55 billion. It is the biggest all-cash sponsor take-private funding in historical past.
Underneath the phrases of the settlement, the group will purchase 100% of EA, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) rolling over its present 9.9% stake within the firm. EA stockholders will obtain $210 per share in money. The per share buy value represents a 25% premium to EA’s unaffected share value of $168.32 at market shut on September 25, 2025, and a premium to EA’s unaffected all-time excessive of $179.01 at market shut on August 14, 2025.
Following the shut of the transaction, EA’s frequent inventory will now not be listed on any public market.
Andrew Wilson, EA Chairman and CEO, commented:
“Our inventive and passionate groups at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for tons of of thousands and thousands of followers, constructed a few of the world’s most iconic IP, and created important worth for our enterprise. This second is a strong recognition of their outstanding work.
“Wanting forward, we’ll proceed to push the boundaries of leisure, sports activities, and expertise, unlocking new alternatives. Along with our companions, we’ll create transformative experiences to encourage generations to come back. I’m extra energized than ever in regards to the future we’re constructing.”
EA will proceed to be led by Wilson and can stay headquartered in Redwood Metropolis, California. The transaction is predicted to shut in Q1 FY27, topic to regulatory and stockholder approvals.
The transaction can be funded by a mixture of money from every of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Companions, the latter of which is an American funding agency based mostly in Miami, Florida, and fashioned in 2021 by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Mixed, the deal is for an fairness funding of roughly $36 billion, and $20 billion of debt financing totally and solely dedicated by JPMorgan Chase Financial institution, N.A., $18 billion of which is predicted to be funded at shut. Every of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Companions plan to fund the fairness part of the financing fully from capital underneath their respective management, the businesses mentioned.
The large sale comes simply days earlier than EA releases Battlefield 6, an important launch for the corporate, and scorching on the heels of FC 26 and Skate. EA video games in growth embody Mass Impact at BioWare, Star Wars Jedi 3 at Respawn, and Iron Man at Motive.
Picture by Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg through Getty Photographs.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
