EU poised to approve Saudi-led $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts
Aleksandr Manin
Reuters says the European Commission is not planning to block Electronic Arts' 55 billion acquisition by a Saudi-led consortium under the EU rules on foreign subsidies, and the deal is reportedly on track to clear without conditions. An official decision is due on July 30, 2026.
The consortium behind the purchase includes Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake. The preliminary review under the foreign-subsidies rules is expected to wrap up on July 22, and that stage is also expected to end with approval. The transaction is then expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2027.
The deal was first announced in September 2025, when the group said it intended to acquire the company behind EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, and Need for Speed. After the acquisition closes, EA shares will no longer trade on public markets.
EA CEO Andrew Wilson is expected to stay in his role after the takeover. Commenting on the agreement, he said:
"This is powerful recognition of the outstanding work EA teams have done for many years. The company will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology."
What does it say about the scale of this deal if the world's largest leveraged buyout is expected to clear with no conditions?
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