Video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) announced on Monday that it has agreed to be acquired in an all-cash deal worth $55 billion. The buyers are a consortium led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
The transaction will take the gaming giant private, with shareholders set to receive $210 per share in cash. Following the announcement, trading of EA stock was temporarily halted, with shares rising about 6% in premarket trading. The stock had already seen a jump of about 15% on Friday after reports surfaced that the company was nearing a deal to go private.
The acquisition marks what is reportedly the largest leveraged takeover in U.S. history, a type of deal heavily funded by debt secured against the acquired company.
Backing the ‘Bold Vision’
Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, expressed enthusiasm for the deal. In a statement, Kushner touted EA’s “bold vision for the future,” adding that he “couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead” for the company he grew up playing and now enjoys with his children.
A Powerhouse of Sports and Gaming
EA is a dominant force in the gaming industry, particularly through its EA Sports division, which reported US$7.35 billion in revenues during the prior fiscal year (2025). This was boosted by the successful relaunch of its College Football series and strong performances from major franchises like EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) and Madden.
The company holds key partnerships across major global leagues and organizations, including:
- UEFA and the Premier League (soccer)
- National Football League (NFL)
- National Hockey League (NHL)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
- Formula One
Beyond sports, EA also publishes popular titles in other genres, such as the life-simulation game The Sims and the first-person shooter series Battlefield. The move to private ownership is expected to give EA the resources and flexibility to pursue its long-term strategy for content development and network expansion.
