EA Goes Private as $55 Billion Buyout Closes
Electronic Arts has completed its acquisition by PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, ending its Nasdaq listing while reported ownership and debt details remain distinct from the official closing record.
The 60-second version
EA completed its approximately $55 billion sale to PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners and is now a private company.
Key points
- EA says shareholders receive $210 in cash per share, trading has ceased and the stock will be delisted from Nasdaq.
- The agreement was announced on September 29, 2025, approved by shareholders on December 22 and closed on August 4, 2026.
- The Verge reports that PIF owns 93.4% and that the transaction includes $20 billion of debt financing; those details require attribution.
- EA reports approximately $7.5 billion in fiscal 2026 GAAP net revenue, which is revenue rather than profit or deal value.
- The cited sources do not establish future layoffs, studio closures or changes in creative strategy.
Verdict. The change to private ownership is final, but the financing terms and their operating consequences require more disclosure before firm conclusions are justified.
Electronic Arts completed its approximately $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners on August 4, 2026. EA is now privately held, its shares have stopped trading, and the company says they will be delisted from Nasdaq.
Closing recordWhat EA officially confirmed
EA says shareholders are entitled to $210 in cash for each share of common stock. The company describes the transaction as carrying an enterprise value of approximately $55 billion and identifies PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners as the acquiring consortium.
| Agreement announced | September 29, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Shareholder approval | December 22, 2025 |
| Transaction closed | August 4, 2026 |
| Public-market status | Trading ceased; EA says the shares will be delisted from Nasdaq |
EA also reports approximately $7.5 billion in fiscal 2026 GAAP net revenue. Revenue helps show the scale of the operating company, but it is not profit, cash flow or the purchase price, so it should not be used as a direct measure of the buyer group's return.
Capital structureWhat is reported rather than officially detailed
The Verge reports that PIF owns 93.4% of EA following completion. The publication also reports $20 billion in debt financing and describes the transaction as the largest leveraged buyout.
The distinction is material. Transaction value describes the scale of the acquisition; debt financing describes part of the funding mix. Without the underlying financing terms, it would be premature to state how much debt sits directly on EA's balance sheet or what constraints it may place on individual studios.
GovernancePrivate ownership changes the reporting framework
Delisting removes EA from daily public-market pricing and ends public shareholders' ownership. The company will operate under a concentrated private owner group, with fewer of the routine disclosures associated with a Nasdaq-listed issuer, although legal and contractual reporting obligations still remain.
Chief executive Andrew Wilson's note presents the closing as EA's next chapter and signals leadership continuity. It does not announce a new game strategy, staffing plan or studio structure. The available sources therefore do not support predictions of layoffs, closures or changes to creative control as established facts.
The closing is confirmed; the precise post-deal ownership and debt architecture should retain its reported attribution.
Practical meaningWhat to watch after the closing
- Financing disclosures: terms that show where the reported debt sits and how it is serviced.
- Governance decisions: any formal changes to the board, executive authority or reporting cadence.
- Operating evidence: budgets, staffing and release decisions announced by EA, rather than inferred from the buyout structure.
- Financial performance: revenue, cash generation and investment after the company leaves public markets.
Primary sourcesThe Verge·EA completion announcement·EA CEO note