Electronic Arts shareholders have formally approved the company’s acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, confirming a deal that had been widely anticipated by markets and industry observers. According to voting results first reported by Bloomberg and later detailed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the approval margin was decisive. More than 201 million shares were voted in favor of the transaction, while just under two million votes were cast against it and around 90,000 shares abstained. The shareholder vote represents a key milestone in the process of taking one of the world’s largest video game publishers private, although regulatory clearances are still required before the transaction can be completed.
In a separate vote concerning compensation arrangements for Electronic Arts executives following completion of the deal, shareholders again delivered a strong endorsement. SEC filings show that approximately 1.278 billion votes supported the proposed compensation packages, compared with around 25 million votes against and roughly 254,000 abstentions. While the margin in this vote was narrower than the acquisition approval itself, it remained overwhelmingly in favor, effectively removing internal shareholder hurdles related to executive remuneration once the buyout is finalized. EA CEO Andrew Wilson is expected to remain in his position following the transaction, continuing to lead the company under its new ownership structure.
The buyout will see Electronic Arts taken private in a transaction valued at $55 billion, with existing shareholders receiving $210 per share in cash. This represents a premium of about 25 percent over EA’s closing share price on September 25, 2025. The deal has been described as the largest leveraged buyout ever completed, reflecting both the scale of the acquisition and the financing structure behind it. A significant portion of the purchase is being funded through approximately $20 billion in loans, a level of leverage that analysts say places substantial financial pressure on the company. Observers note that the ability to sustain such debt depends heavily on long term backing from the Saudi led investment group.
Saudi Arabia, through PIF and its gaming focused subsidiary Savvy Games Group, has steadily expanded its footprint in the global games and entertainment industry in recent years. Investments have been made in a range of publishers, developers, and esports organizations, including Capcom, Embracer Group, ESL, Nexon, Nintendo, and Take Two. Beyond gaming, Saudi backed entities have also invested in international sports assets such as Newcastle United FC and the LIV Golf tour, reflecting a broader strategy of increasing global presence through high profile entertainment and sports ventures. In the Electronic Arts transaction, Affinity Partners is participating as a minority stakeholder. The firm is owned by Jared Kushner, adding another prominent international investor to the consortium.
While shareholder approval clears a major internal step, the acquisition remains subject to regulatory review in multiple jurisdictions. Industry analysts expect those approvals to proceed without major obstacles, given the nature of the transaction and the existing global investments held by PIF. In public statements made earlier, Andrew Wilson said Electronic Arts’ corporate values and creative direction would remain unchanged following the ownership transition. The deal, once finalized, will mark a significant shift in the structure of one of the most influential companies in the video game industry, placing it under private ownership for the first time in decades while maintaining its global development and publishing operations.
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