Advent, Stripe abandon $63.5b pursuit of fintech pioneer PayPal

Advent and payment processor Stripe have dropped their pursuit of fintech giant PayPal Holdings, a potential transaction that could have been one of the largest leveraged buyouts ever, according to sources familiar with the situation. The consortium had been offering over $50 billion for the company, but has now decided against proceeding with the acquisition.

PayPal, founded in the late 1990s, has been a pioneer in digital payments, but has faced challenges in modernizing its payment technologies as competitors like Apple and Alphabet have gained market share. Stripe considered acquiring a portion or all of PayPal after a stock decline significantly reduced the company's value. The acquisition interest, combined with strong second-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, contributed to PayPal's rise in value, with shares jumping more than 40% this quarter, giving the company a market worth of around $52.6 billion.

In March, PayPal replaced its CEO with Enrique Lores, who plans to set specific financial targets for the company, change its earnings reporting, and assign revenue goals to each of its business segments to provide investors with clearer insights into their potential. PayPal had reportedly deemed Advent and Stripe's original offer insufficient, leading to ongoing negotiations for a higher price. The companies approached for comment declined to provide further information.