Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Fund Set to Hold 93.4 % of Electronic Arts Under Massive Buyout
New filings reveal the Public Investment Fund will effectively control the video game giant if the $55 billion privatization is approved
New regulatory filings have clarified the ownership structure of the proposed $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts, revealing that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is set to acquire a dominant 93.4 percent stake in the company should the transaction receive regulatory and shareholder approval.
The filing, submitted to Brazil’s antitrust regulator, details how the sovereign wealth fund will hold the vast majority of EA’s shares, leaving much smaller stakes for the deal’s other investors, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, at 5.5 percent and 1.1 percent respectively.
The arrangement underscores the scale of the Saudi fund’s commitment to the acquisition and effectively places control of one of the world’s largest video game publishers under its umbrella.
The proposed buyout, first announced in September, would take Electronic Arts private, removing it from public markets and enabling its new owners to pursue long-term strategic goals away from quarterly market scrutiny.
Of the total transaction value, approximately $36.4 billion is expected to be funded through equity contributions, with the remaining $20 billion financed through debt.
The PIF’s outsized stake reflects both its sizable capital injection and its role as a driving force behind the bid, which forms part of broader efforts by the fund to expand its global footprint in entertainment, sports and digital media.
If completed, this leveraged buyout would rank among the largest in corporate history and significantly reshape the global games industry’s ownership landscape.
EA, known for its flagship franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield and The Sims, would continue to operate privately under its existing leadership, though analysts say the transition to near-sovereign ownership carries implications for strategic direction, cultural autonomy and market positioning.
The deal remains subject to comprehensive regulatory reviews in multiple jurisdictions, and observers are watching closely for how governments balance economic interests with national security and data protection considerations as part of the approval process.
The filing, submitted to Brazil’s antitrust regulator, details how the sovereign wealth fund will hold the vast majority of EA’s shares, leaving much smaller stakes for the deal’s other investors, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, at 5.5 percent and 1.1 percent respectively.
The arrangement underscores the scale of the Saudi fund’s commitment to the acquisition and effectively places control of one of the world’s largest video game publishers under its umbrella.
The proposed buyout, first announced in September, would take Electronic Arts private, removing it from public markets and enabling its new owners to pursue long-term strategic goals away from quarterly market scrutiny.
Of the total transaction value, approximately $36.4 billion is expected to be funded through equity contributions, with the remaining $20 billion financed through debt.
The PIF’s outsized stake reflects both its sizable capital injection and its role as a driving force behind the bid, which forms part of broader efforts by the fund to expand its global footprint in entertainment, sports and digital media.
If completed, this leveraged buyout would rank among the largest in corporate history and significantly reshape the global games industry’s ownership landscape.
EA, known for its flagship franchises including EA Sports FC, Battlefield and The Sims, would continue to operate privately under its existing leadership, though analysts say the transition to near-sovereign ownership carries implications for strategic direction, cultural autonomy and market positioning.
The deal remains subject to comprehensive regulatory reviews in multiple jurisdictions, and observers are watching closely for how governments balance economic interests with national security and data protection considerations as part of the approval process.
