Electronic Arts Delists From Nasdaq as PIF-Led Consortium Closes $55B Buyout

Electronic Arts has officially transitioned to a private company following the completion of a $55 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside partners Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The transaction, which concluded in August 2026, resulted in the delisting of Electronic Arts from the Nasdaq stock exchange. Shareholders received $210 per share in cash, representing a 24.8% premium over the company’s closing price prior to initial market speculation regarding the sale.

The acquisition is characterized as the largest take-private investment in history. Financing for the deal included $20 billion in debt, with the company issuing secured and unsecured notes earlier in 2026. While the publisher reported GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion for fiscal year 2026, the transition marks a significant shift in corporate governance, as seven directors resigned upon the closing of the deal and the company prepares to terminate its SEC reporting obligations.

This consolidation places Electronic Arts under the same ownership umbrella as the Esports World Cup Foundation and Savvy Games Group, which operates the ESL FACEIT Group. By controlling both the publisher of major esports titles—such as Apex Legends and EA Sports FC—and the entities that manage the tournaments and foundations surrounding them, the PIF has achieved vertical integration across the esports value chain. Industry analysts note that this shift raises strategic questions regarding how the publisher will govern its licensing and competitive budgets while operating under the significant debt load incurred by the acquisition.