Stripe, Advent offer to buy PayPal for more than $53 billion: Reuters

Stripe and Advent International have offered to acquire PayPal Holdings at $60.50 per share, valuing the deal at more than $53 billion, according to Reuters. PayPal shares jumped in Wednesday premarket trading following the report.

The joint bid pairs private equity firm Advent with payments processor Stripe in what would rank among the largest fintech acquisitions on record. At $60.50, the offer represents a premium to PayPal's recent trading levels, though the company traded above $300 per share during its 2021 peak before a prolonged selloff driven by slowing transaction growth and increased competition.

PayPal has struggled to regain momentum since splitting with eBay, facing pressure from both traditional payment networks and newer fintech competitors. The company reported 1.4 billion active accounts as of its most recent quarter but has seen revenue growth decelerate.

Stripe, last privately valued at $65 billion, would gain PayPal's massive merchant base and established infrastructure. Advent brings buyout capital and experience restructuring payments businesses. No timeline for due diligence or regulatory review has been disclosed.