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PayPal shares plunge 14.6% pre-market after Advent-Stripe consortium abandons acquisition plan
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PayPal shares fell 14.6% in pre-market trading to $52.49 after Bloomberg reported that a consortium comprising Advent International and Stripe abandoned plans to acquire the digital payments company. The consortium had offered $60.50 per share, valuing PayPal at over $53 billion, but PayPal's board deemed the price inadequate and raised concerns about regulatory and financing hurdles. Negotiations stalled, leading to the withdrawal. The takeover speculation had previously supported investor interest amid PayPal's decline from a pandemic-era peak of $360 billion market cap. Separately, PayPal is undergoing restructuring under CEO Enrique Lores, who took over in March 2026, reorganizing into three business units focused on checkout, Venmo, and payments/cryptocurrencies. The broader U.S. equity market showed mixed signals, with Nasdaq futures under modest pressure and S&P 500 futures unchanged.
Source report
Fiona Craig Fri, August 28, 2026 at 3:09 AM PDT 2 min read
- PYPL (NASDAQ:PYPL)
- STRI.PVT
PayPal shares fell 14.6% in pre-market trading to $52.49 after Bloomberg reported that a consortium comprising Advent International and Stripe had abandoned plans to acquire the digital payments company.
The prospective transaction had attracted attention within the fintech sector after reports of takeover discussions emerged in recent months.
Consortium Reportedly Offered $60.50 per Share
According to the source material, the consortium had submitted an offer of $60.50 per PayPal share, valuing the company at more than $53 billion.
PayPal's board considered the proposed price inadequate and raised concerns relating to regulatory and financing hurdles, according to the report.
Negotiations subsequently stalled before Advent International and Stripe ultimately withdrew their acquisition plan.
Takeover Speculation Had Supported Investor Interest
Reports of a potential acquisition had contributed to investor interest in PayPal in recent months.
The company's market capitalisation had already declined substantially from its pandemic-era peak of approximately $360 billion in 2021.
With the reported acquisition plan no longer proceeding, investors are assessing PayPal without the potential transaction described in the source material.
PayPal Continues Restructuring Under Enrique Lores
PayPal is also undergoing a restructuring under Chief Executive Enrique Lores, who took over the role in March 2026.
The company is being reorganised into three business units focused respectively on checkout, Venmo, and payments and cryptocurrencies, according to the source material.
The restructuring represents part of the company's ongoing operational changes under its current leadership.
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed
The broader U.S. equity market presented a mixed backdrop ahead of Friday's session.
- Nasdaq futures were under modest pressure.
- S&P 500 futures were broadly unchanged.
PayPal's 14.6% pre-market decline followed the reported withdrawal of the acquisition plan, with shares trading at $52.49 at the time referenced in the source material.
PayPal stock price
Source
Yahoo FinanceWestern
Part of this Story
Stripe and Advent International in Talks to Acquire PayPal