Stripe and Advent Abandon $53 Billion PayPal Takeover Bid

On August 28, 2026, Bloomberg reported that Advent International and Stripe withdrew from a proposed acquisition of PayPal Holdings Inc. valued at more than $53 billion, or roughly $60.50 per share. The withdrawal sent PayPal’s shares down as much as 16 % in pre-market trading, erasing the premium that had lifted the stock earlier in the quarter.

PayPal stock plunges as Stripe, Advent abandon $53B takeover bid PayPal stock tumbles as Advent and Stripe drop $53 billion bid Forbes

PayPal, founded in the late 1990s, has seen slowing growth as rivals such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Stripe captured market share. In March 2026 the company installed new CEO Enrique Lores, who set clearer financial targets for its checkout, Venmo and payments-crypto units. Strong second-quarter earnings and a 40 % share-price rise this quarter restored its market value to roughly $52.6 billion, prompting the bid.

Advent, Stripe abandon US$50 billion pursuit of PayPal: sources

• July 15 – Stripe and Advent announced a joint offer of $60.50 per share, a 28 % premium to PayPal’s trading price.

Private equity firm Advent and payment processor Stripe abandon over $50 billion acquisition of PayPal

• August 27, 2026 – Reports indicated PayPal’s board had rejected the offer as insufficient.

PayPal stock plunges as Stripe, Advent abandon $53B takeover bid

• August 28, 2026 – The consortium announced it was no longer pursuing the transaction, and PayPal’s stock fell sharply.

PayPal stock tumbles as Advent and Stripe drop $53 billion bid

• Proposed valuation: >$53 billion (?$60.50 per share).

Private equity firm Advent and payment processor Stripe abandon over $50 billion acquisition of PayPal

• PayPal market capitalization at withdrawal: about $52.5–$52.6 billion.

PayPal Stock Crashes 18% After Stripe and Advent Abandon $50 Billion Buyout

• Q2 2026 results: non-GAAP EPS $1.38, revenue $8.68 billion, total payment volume $486.45 billion, up 10 % YoY.

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• Share-price reaction: pre-market decline of 12–16 % (sources vary).

Private equity firm Advent and payment processor Stripe abandon over $50 billion acquisition of PayPal

Representatives for Advent, Stripe and PayPal declined to comment. Bloomberg noted the consortium “decided to abandon its pursuit” after the board deemed the initial bid insufficient. The Wall Street Journal reported that PayPal’s board was negotiating a higher price before the deal fell apart.

PayPal stock plunges as Stripe, Advent abandon $53B takeover bid

• “In a research note, Troy Hooper, co-head of ECM Americas for Mergermarket, said: "With Stripe and Advent out of the picture, PayPal's turnaround now rests squarely on [PayPal CEO] Enrique Lores and his leadership team.” — Troy Hooper, co-head of ECM Americas, Mergermarket

Stripe, Advent suspend their pursuit of PayPal

• “PayPal will likely not be interested in another buyer immediately but go back to the drawing board and reposition the organization to demonstrate that $53 billion price tag,” — Ben Danner, Senior Analyst, Debit, Javelin Strategy & Research

Stripe, PayPal Move On After Purchase Talks Collapse

Sources differ on the exact magnitude of the share-price drop: PYMNTS cited a 16 % pre-market fall, 247WallSt reported an 18 % plunge, while ad-hoc-news noted a 12.2 % after-hours decline. Valuation figures also vary, with some outlets describing the bid as “over $50 billion” and others specifying $53 billion or $60.50 per share. No public filing confirms the final terms of the withdrawn offer.

Private equity firm Advent and payment processor Stripe abandon over $50 billion acquisition of PayPal

Bloomberg indicated Advent and Stripe could revisit a bid if circumstances change, but no formal timeline has been provided. PayPal’s board is expected to continue its standalone turnaround plan, with investors watching upcoming quarterly results and any guidance on revenue growth, margin trends, or potential smaller-scale acquisitions.

PayPal stock tumbles as Advent and Stripe drop $53 billion bid