Saudi-Backed $55B Buyout Led by Jared Kushner Targets Electronic Arts Privatization

Electronic Arts (EA), a leading video game company known for titles like Madden NFL and Battlefield, is set to be taken private in a $55 billion buyout led by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, and private equity firm Silver Lake. This acquisition, the largest all-cash sponsor take-private deal in history, values EA at $52.5 billion with shareholders receiving $210 per share, a 25% premium. Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and CEO of Affinity Partners, praised EA's iconic gaming legacy and expressed enthusiasm for the company's future under this new ownership structure. The PIF, already EA's largest shareholder with a 9.9% stake, will become the majority investor, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to expand its footprint in the global gaming industry. EA's CEO Andrew Wilson will remain in his position post-acquisition, and the company plans to continue pushing innovation in entertainment and sports technology. The deal is expected to close in early 2027, and includes $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan Chase.