Catenaa, Wednesday, June 17, 2026- Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and a group of investors have sought EU antitrust approval for its $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts.
The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, set a July 22 deadline for its decision. It can either clear the deal with or without remedies or open a full-scale investigation if it has serious concerns.
The group, which includes Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and private equity firm Silver Lake, announced the deal for the maker of “Battlefield” and “Madden NFL” in September last year.
The PIF, Saudi Arabia’s $1 trillion wealth fund, is betting on the enduring value of blockbuster game franchises as the industry recovers and the kingdom strives to become a global hub for games and sports.
The deal, which is expected to secure EU antitrust approval, will also need approval under EU rules aimed at preventing unfair foreign subsidies granted to companies to acquire rivals.
On May 5, EA said it was still working through a limited number of remaining regulatory reviews tied to its acquisition by a consortium including The Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
The all-cash deal values EA at about $55 billion and would pay shareholders $210 per share if completed, after which EA’s common stock would no longer trade on public markets.
The operating backdrop also gives the transaction more weight. EA reported record fiscal 2026 net bookings of $8.026 billion, up 9% year over year, and operating cash flow of $2.553 billion, up 23%.
The year was supported by Battlefield 6, which EA called the best-performing Battlefield title in a fiscal year, while Global Football net bookings rose mid-single digits, and Apex Legends finished the year with double-digit net bookings growth.
Electronic Arts develops and delivers games, content, and online services for internet-connected consoles, mobile devices, and personal computers.
