Electronic Arts has signed a definitive agreement to sell all of its assets to three investors in a US$55-billion cash deal.

A consortium consisting of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), US firm Silver Lake and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s firm Affinity Partners will acquire 100% ownership and take the company private. (PIF previously had a 9.9% stake.)

This is the largest take-private deal in history, according to both the companies involved and legal firm Kirkland & Ellis, which advised on the acquisition as PIF’s lead counsel. And it’s set to create new opportunities for California-based EA to “to blend physical and digital experiences, enhance fan engagement and create new growth opportunities,” according to a release issued by the new owners.

EA, which brought in net revenues of roughly US$7.5 billion in fiscal 2024, has built a catalogue of major gaming brands including FIFA (which has sold more than 300 million copies), The Sims, Plants vs. Zombies and licensed Star Wars titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (action-adventure), Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes (collectible role-playing game) and the upcoming Star Wars Zero Company (strategy).  

Subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals, the deal is expected to close in Q1 2027. EA will maintain its headquarters in Redwood City, California, and Andrew Wilson plans to stay on as CEO.

The new owners are putting up an equity investment of roughly US$36 billion and US$20 billion in debt financing. Under the agreement, EA stockholders will receive US$210 per share in cash. That’s a 25% premium on EA’s share price at market close on September 25 (US$168.32), and even better than the all-time highest share value of US$179.01 the company hit on August 14.

Execs from all three investment firms praised EA’s success and growth in the release, with Kushner noting the co-play potential of its games, which he has experienced first-hand. “I’ve admired their ​ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, ​and ​as ​someone ​who ​grew up playing their ​games—and now enjoys them with his ​kids—I couldn’t be ​more ​excited about ​what’s ​ahead.”