Electronic Arts shareholders approve $55 billion acquisition

Shareholders of US-based gaming company Electronic Arts have approved its acquisition by a group featuring the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).

According to a report by Bloomberg, the $55 billion transaction will result in investors receiving $210 per share. Previously, EA shares were priced at $174.04, closing at $203.79 following the proposal announcement.

The acquisition, revealed in September, is led by a group composed of the PIF, Silver Lake Capital, and Affinity Partners, and is the largest privatization deal to date. The deal is expected to finalize by June 30, 2026, marking the end of EA's 2027 fiscal year's first quarter.

At the time of the announcement, EA CEO Andrew Wilson expressed enthusiasm for the company's direction, highlighting the outstanding experiences curated by EA's teams for a global audience. He emphasized EA's commitment to exploring new entertainment, sports, and technology avenues alongside partners, aiming to offer groundbreaking experiences to future generations.

Post-approval by shareholders, regulatory consent is still necessary. The involvement of Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, linked to former President Donald Trump, could potentially streamline this procedure in the US.

Upon completion, the PIF is set to acquire 93.4% ownership of EA. Given PIF's significant shares in Silver Lake and Affinity, it will effectively have full control of the company.

Andrew Wilson will remain at the helm of EA as CEO and has assured that the company's principles will stay constant despite new ownership. In a memo, he reassured EA employees that their "mission, values, and devotion to players globally are unaltered," pledging that EA will continue to prioritize creative autonomy and a player-centric ethos.