Electronic Arts Set to Close $55 Billion Go-Private Deal

Electronic Arts is poised to become a private company next week after securing all required regulatory approvals for its $55 billion sale to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The deal, the largest leveraged buyout in corporate history, is expected to close on or about August 4, 2026, at the close of trading, ending the publisher's decades-long tenure as a publicly traded entity on the NASDAQ.

The acquiring consortium is composed of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which will hold a controlling stake of over 93%, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. The all-cash transaction, first announced in September 2025, will pay EA shareholders $210 per share, representing a 25% premium over the share price when the deal was signed.

CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his position, and the company will keep its headquarters in Redwood City, California. The company has stated that its studios will maintain creative control. For players, the immediate impact is expected to be minimal, with games, services, and ongoing projects continuing as usual.

However, the transition carries significant financial and...