EA Goes Private After $55B Buyout Led by Saudi PIF

Electronic Arts was removed from Nasdaq on Aug. 4, 2026, after a $55 billion cash buyout led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund with participation from Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Shareholders received $210 in cash per share and the company filed paperwork to deregister with U.S. regulators.

The transaction was announced in September 2025 and approved by shareholders at a special meeting in December. Regulatory reviews, including by the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the European Commission, were completed by July 30, 2026. The deal formally closed in early August and EA stock stopped trading on Nasdaq on Aug. 4.

After the close, ownership is concentrated with the Public Investment Fund holding about 93.4% of the company, Silver Lake about 5.5% and Affinity Partners about 1.1%. The PIF had held roughly a 9.9% stake in EA prior to the deal and rolled that stake into the new ownership structure.

Shareholders were paid $210 per share, roughly a 25% premium to the approximately $168 the stock traded at before deal speculation began. The consideration was paid in cash to all remaining public shareholders.

The regulatory reviews addressed national security and competition concerns raised when the transaction was proposed. Both CFIUS and the European Commission cleared the deal before the transaction closed.

As a private company, EA will no longer file quarterly or annual reports with U.S. regulators and its shares will not be available on public markets. Oversight and reporting responsibilities will rest with the private ownership group led by PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.

The Public Investment Fund has expanded investments in gaming and esports as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Its holdings include stakes through Savvy Games Group in companies such as MOONTON Games and ESL FACEIT Group, and investments connected to Qiddiya and tournament organisers involved with the Evolution Championship Series.

The $55 billion transaction is one of the largest in the video game industry, ranking behind Microsoft’s roughly $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. With the close, EA’s era as a publicly traded company has ended.