Reuters reported on July 17 that insiders said Stripe and Advent International have made an offer to acquire PayPal shares for about $53 billion, valuing the offer at $60.50 per share. The PayPal board preliminarily believes that while the offer represents a premium to the company’s recent share price, it undervalues PayPal and faces dual hurdles related to both regulation and financing.
PayPal Board’s stance on the $53 billion acquisition bid
Insiders said the PayPal board preliminarily believes the approximately $53 billion acquisition offer submitted by the Stripe–Advent consortium may be undervaluing PayPal. Although the $60.50-per-share offer represents a premium to the recent share price, the board believes it does not sufficiently reflect the company’s future potential.
At present, the board is weighing the trade-off between accepting this offer and continuing to pursue management’s turnaround strategy. Insiders said PayPal has not yet issued an official response to the proposal and declined to comment on other parties involved in the deal.
Deal structure of the Stripe–Advent consortium
According to insiders, the key terms of the proposed Stripe–Advent acquisition of PayPal are as follows:
Equity contribution: Stripe and Advent together contribute about $17 billion in equity
Debt financing: JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley provide about $50 billion in financing, and both banks serve as advisors to the consortium at the same time
Total acquisition price: about $53 billion ($60.50 per share)
Equity structure: Stripe and Advent each hold equal stakes; PayPal will not pursue a business split
Antitrust remedies: Options include divesting Braintree and drawing on Advent’s payment-industry investment background
Based on the proposal, if the acquisition were to violate antitrust regulations, the Stripe–Advent consortium has considered divesting PayPal’s Braintree business and transferring it to Advent as a remedy. Insiders said Advent already has a track record of investments in the payments space, including Worldpay, Vantiv, and Nuvei, and that Advent’s involvement may provide greater flexibility in addressing regulatory issues.
Block’s exit record and July 28 earnings schedule
Block (formerly Square) initially approached PayPal as a consortium member, but exited the consortium before the latest bid was submitted. According to insiders, PayPal has not issued an official response to the acquisition proposal and has not commented on any parties involved in the deal.
The next timing milestone investors are watching is July 28, 2026, when PayPal will release its quarterly earnings. The market will assess the growth of its core payments business.
FAQ
How much per-share acquisition bid did Stripe–Advent make for PayPal shares?
According to Reuters’ July 17, 2026 report, the Stripe–Advent consortium’s acquisition offer is $60.50 per share, for a total value of about $53 billion; the PayPal board preliminarily believes the offer, while at a premium to the recent share price, undervalues the company.
What is the financing structure for this acquisition?
According to insiders, Stripe and Advent together contribute about $17 billion in equity, while JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley each provide financing support totaling about $50 billion; both banks serve as the consortium’s financial advisors.
When will PayPal’s next quarterly earnings report be released?
PayPal’s quarterly earnings are scheduled to be released on July 28, 2026. Investors’ focus will be on whether growth in PayPal’s core payments business remains consistently steady, as well as the latest explanations from management regarding its turnaround strategy.
