Saudi PIF completes $55 billion Electronic Arts acquisition Aug 4
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund completed its $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts on 4 August 2026. The publisher delisted from NASDAQ and became private, placing EA Sports FC and other studios under the new owner. JPMorgan Chase provided $20 billion in debt financing alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund led a consortium that closed a $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts on 4 August 2026.
- JPMorgan Chase supplied $20 billion in debt financing for the transaction.
- Electronic Arts delisted from NASDAQ and became a private company, taking EA Sports FC and its other franchises under the new owner.
- Savvy Games Group, created by PIF in 2021, had previously acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion and Moonton for $6 billion.
- PIF is the second-largest shareholder in Nintendo and holds 6% of Take-Two Interactive.
The Leveraged Buyout
The transaction was structured as a leveraged buyout led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners joining as co-investors. Affinity Partners is headed by Jared Kushner, a son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. JPMorgan Chase provided $20 billion in debt financing for the deal. After closing, Electronic Arts delisted from NASDAQ and ceased trading as a public company. The publisher is no longer bound by quarterly earnings expectations of public investors.
Savvy Games Group Portfolio
PIF created Savvy Games Group in 2021 to manage its gaming investments. Savvy acquired Scopely, owner of Monopoly GO, for $4.9 billion. Through Scopely, Savvy also bought Niantic for $3.5 billion along with rights to Pokémon GO, Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom. Savvy purchased Moonton, developer of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, for $6 billion. The Saudi structures also took control of esports brands ESL and FACEIT.
EGDC and Other Stakes
Electronic Gaming Development Company, linked to Misk and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, acquired SNK and promoted Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. That fighting game added guest characters Cristiano Ronaldo and DJ Salvatore Ganacci. PIF is the second-largest shareholder in Nintendo and holds a 6% stake in Take-Two Interactive. PIF also owns stakes in Capcom, Embracer Group and Nexon through various structures. The fund previously held an Activision Blizzard stake, which it sold after Microsoft acquired the publisher in 2023.
3 sources
Saudi PIF completes $55 billion Electronic Arts acquisition Aug 4
