Advent International and Stripe stop pursuing a proposed deal for PayPal, according to people familiar with the matter cited by multiple outlets. The break in talks prompts a sharp selloff in PayPal shares, with reports saying the stock drops as much as around 13% to 16% in premarket trading on Friday. Some coverage also describes the move as the end of months of speculation about a potential record-size transaction.
The reports say the consortium previously discussed an offer above $50 billion, placing the possible acquisition among the largest leveraged buyouts of its kind. Bloomberg and others describe the decision to discontinue the pursuit, while PayPal had reportedly rejected the offer earlier in the process, apparently expecting the bidders to return with a higher price. Coverage also places the deal in the context of PayPal’s ongoing turnaround efforts.
While most outlets focus on the abrupt end of the $50B-plus pursuit and the market reaction, some differ on precise figures (for example, $50 billion versus $53 billion) and on framing—whether the failure is “abandonment” or a collapse after revived negotiations. Several outlets also point to prior reporting timeline: interest emerging earlier in the year and an offer being reported mid-July.
