PayPal attracts takeover interest after stock slump

PayPal Holdings, the digital payments pioneer, is attracting takeover interest from potential buyers after a stock slide wiped out almost half of its value, according to people familiar with the matter.

The San Jose, California-based company has fielded meetings with banks amid unsolicited interest from suitors, the people said. At least one large rival is looking at the whole company, while some other suitors are only interested in certain PayPal assets, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Buyer interest in PayPal is still at a preliminary stage and may not lead to a transaction, the people cautioned. A representative for PayPal declined to comment.


Founded in the late 1990s, PayPal was an early mover in the world of digital payments. But the company now finds itself in a rut with its customers increasingly turning to alternative ways to pay for things.

PayPal’s shares have fallen around 46% in New York trading over the last 12 months, giving the company a market value of about $38.4 billion.

Current board chair Enrique Lores is due to take up the role as president and CEO of PayPal on March 1. He will be tasked with getting to grips with a company that’s lost market share to rivals such as Apple Pay and Google Pay and failed to modernize its payments technologies.

Former CEO Alex Chriss was ousted earlier this month after his turnaround plan fell short. The company’s fourth-quarter profit and revenue missed analysts’ estimates, according to results for the period that also showed a continued slowdown in payment volume.