EA’s $55 billion deal to go private will finally close next week. Electronic Arts confirmed in a new SEC filing that it has received every regulatory approval needed to complete its buyout by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. The merger is expected to close on or about August 4, 2026, ending EA’s 35-year run as a publicly traded company. Andrew Wilson stays on as CEO, and EA’s headquarters remain in Redwood City, California.
Here’s what the deal covers, who owns EA now, and why it took longer than planned.
EA $55 Billion Deal: Closing Date and Filing Details
Electronic Arts filed an 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission confirming that all regulatory approvals for the merger have been obtained as of July 30, 2026. The company said it expects the deal to close on or about the close of trading on August 4, 2026, a Tuesday.
The buyout was first agreed in September 2025, when EA’s board accepted an all-cash offer of $210 per share from a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, along with private equity firm Silver Lake and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. The transaction values EA’s equity at roughly $52.5 billion and its total enterprise, including assumed debt, at $55 billion.
Once the merger closes, EA will delist from the stock market and operate as a private company for the first time in 35 years. This ranks as the largest leveraged buyout ever recorded, ahead of the TXU Energy deal that had held the record since 2007.
Why the Deal Took Longer Than Expected
EA originally targeted a close by June 30, 2026, the end of the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year. The deal slipped by about a month while regulators reviewed the transaction. One of the final hurdles was clearance from the European Commission, which was granted in late July 2026.
Who Owns EA Now?
The PIF is set to hold approximately 93.4% of the newly private EA, according to a filing with Brazil’s antitrust regulator reported by the Wall Street Journal. Silver Lake will hold about 5.5%, and Affinity Partners will hold roughly 1.1%. The PIF is rolling over its existing 9.9% stake in EA, which was worth around $5.2 billion at the deal price, and is contributing fresh cash to reach its final ownership share.
The transaction is being financed through roughly $36 billion in equity from the consortium and $20 billion in debt fully committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, of which about $18 billion is expected to be funded at closing.
Andrew Wilson will continue to lead EA as CEO after the deal closes, and the company will remain headquartered in Redwood City. EA’s franchise lineup, including EA Sports FC, Madden NFL, The Sims, Battlefield, Apex Legends, and multiple Star Wars titles, stays under the company. EA’s FIFA branding ended in 2023, when the series was renamed EA Sports FC.
Once the merger closes on August 4, EA will operate under private ownership for the first time since 1991, with the PIF-led consortium in control of one of gaming’s largest franchise portfolios.
