Stripe, Advent bid over $53bn for PayPal

Stripe and Advent International have submitted a joint offer to acquire PayPal Holdings at a price of $60.50 per share. At that level, the proposed transaction values PayPal at more than $53 billion, positioning it among the larger recent deals in the global payments industry. The bid was formally put forward earlier in July after an initial approach in early April.

The offer price represents roughly a 28% premium to PayPal’s recent closing share price. This premium signals that the bidders are prepared to pay significantly above the market level to secure control of the digital payments company. The premium and headline valuation are central features of the proposal now under consideration.

The acquisition proposal is supported by about $50 billion in committed financing from banks, according to people familiar with the matter. This large financing package is intended to underpin the cash component of the offer and demonstrate transaction certainty to PayPal’s board. The scale of the commitments reflects the size and complexity of a potential change of control at PayPal.

Under the terms of the proposal, Stripe and Advent would jointly own PayPal and each would hold an equal stake in the company. The plan does not contemplate breaking up PayPal, but rather maintaining the business as a unified entity under shared ownership. This structure would combine a major payments technology company with a large private equity investor as co-owners.

The joint offer submitted earlier in July follows an initial approach to PayPal in early April, indicating an ongoing dialogue over several months. As of the time of reporting, PayPal had not yet responded to the latest proposal. The bidders aim to advance discussions with PayPal by the end of the month, seeking clarity on whether formal negotiations will commence.

The discussions have been described as confidential, and there is no certainty that the proposal will result in a completed transaction. PayPal’s response, potential negotiation over price or terms, and regulatory considerations would all influence whether the deal proceeds. For now, the bid establishes a clear valuation marker and a defined ownership and financing plan, but the outcome remains unresolved.