PayPal Board Says $53 B Stripe‑Advent Offer Undervalues Company

PayPal’s board has judged the $53 billion takeover proposal from Stripe and private‑equity firm Advent International to be insufficient, stating it does not fully reflect the value the company could create. The bid, presented on July 15, represents a 28% premium to PayPal’s pre‑announcement share price, but directors are also weighing financing certainty, regulatory approval and antitrust risk.

Stripe and Advent have arranged roughly $50 billion in financing with JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley as advisors, planning to split ownership equally and contribute $17 billion in equity. Advent’s payments experience could help address potential antitrust remedies, such as divesting PayPal’s Braintree unit. Earlier bidder Block withdrew before the current offer. PayPal CEO Enrique Lores has also pledged a technology‑focused turnaround as the board evaluates the proposal.

The deal would unite two of the world’s largest online‑payment platforms, which together process about $3.7 trillion annually, and could reshape the competitive landscape for merchants and consumers.