Stripe and Advent International Said to Table $53B Offer for PayPal

Stripe and private equity firm Advent International have reportedly submitted a joint proposal to acquire PayPal Holdings in a transaction valued at more than $53 billion. People familiar with the matter said the consortium offered $60.50 per share, about a 28% premium to PayPal's recent close. The bid, filed earlier this month, is backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing. The latest approach follows an initial proposal made in early April. Sources said Stripe and Advent are awaiting a response from PayPal's board and aim to advance talks in the coming weeks. Under the reported structure, Stripe and Advent would each hold a 50% stake in PayPal, with no plan to break up the business. The reported interest comes as PayPal has posted solid performance. In the first quarter, the company reported revenue of $8.35 billion, above analysts' $8.05 billion estimate. Total payment volume rose 8% year over year on a currency-neutral basis to about $464 billion. PayPal has also been pursuing AI-driven operating improvements. Management has said it plans to streamline operations and reduce duplication, targeting about $1.5 billion in cost savings over the next two to three years, with the savings earmarked for reinvestment in growth initiatives. Stripe remains one of the most valuable privately held fintech firms. It was valued at about $159 billion in a February tender offer, reflecting a sharp rise in investor confidence over the past year. PayPal shares dipped in Monday's regular session, falling 0.59% to close at $47.37, according to Google Finance, before edging up about 0.06% in after-hours trading to $47.40. With the takeover price not yet reflected in trading, investors are expected to watch the next session closely for signs of a move toward the reported offer level.