EA Goes Private: $55B Buyout, Largest LBO Ever [2026] - tech-insider.org

Electronic Arts announced a definitive acquisition agreement on September 29, 2025, to be taken private by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with co-investors Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The all-cash transaction values EA at $55 billion in enterprise value, with shareholders receiving $210 per share—representing approximately 25% premium to the company's unaffected closing price of $168.32 on September 25, 2025. EA shareholders approved the take-private at a virtual meeting on December 22, 2025, clearing a critical regulatory and governance hurdle.

This deal stands as the largest leveraged buyout in corporate history, surpassing all private-equity megadeals executed during the 2000s era. The transaction is structured entirely in cash, distinguishing it from typical LBO arrangements and underscoring the financial capacity of the consortium. JPMorgan is providing over $20 billion in debt financing to support the acquisition, demonstrating confidence from major institutional lenders. The transaction is expected to close by June 30, 2026, with final completion anticipated in EA's fiscal Q1 2027, contingent on satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Upon closing and delisting from Nasdaq, the consortium will control one of America's most recognizable entertainment companies and the creator of dominant gaming franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, and Apex Legends. The acquisition places majority ownership of these strategic intellectual properties under foreign sovereign wealth control, representing a landmark consolidation in the gaming and entertainment sectors. According to company statements shared with employees, EA management has committed to "maintain creative control" and adopt a "thoughtful, steady approach to AI" as the buyout moves forward, suggesting continuity in operational strategy despite change-of-control.