Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Gets Green Light to Buy EA for $55B

The $55 billion acquisition was approved by shareholders on Monday, but the deal still requires regulatory approval to be finalized.

If completed, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) would hold 93.4% of the shares in the publisher behind EA Sports, Battlefield, and The Sims, while Silver Lake Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm, would retain 5.5%.

The deal would represent the largest leveraged buyout in history and a significant financial wager for Saudi Arabia, whose finances are reportedly showing signs of strain.

However, some U.S. senators have raised concerns, citing potential national security risks and foreign influence. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, two senators urged “thorough scrutiny of this unprecedented proposed foreign privatization of a major American technology and entertainment company,” requesting details on how the Committee plans to mitigate any security risks.

The senators also suggested that the PIF’s investments in sports, video games, and cultural institutions may be motivated more by long-term influence on public opinion than by financial returns.

Additionally, they questioned the PIF’s partnership with Affinity Partners, the U.S. investment firm founded in 2021 by Jared Kushner, alleging that its involvement is intended to smooth the approval process with the U.S. government.