CD&R explores $40 billion buyout of Global Payments

Global Payments shares jumped 12 percent on Friday after the Financial Times reported that Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is exploring a buyout of the payments processor at a reported enterprise value of $40 billion, teaming with GTCR, the company's largest outside shareholder.

Why it matters: At $40 billion of enterprise value the deal would rank among the largest leveraged buyouts on record, and it would unwind, barely a year later, the ownership structure created when Global Payments bought Worldpay from GTCR for more than $24 billion.

Data as of Financial Times report of October 30, 2026, as reported by Reuters the same day and read in full in this run via syndication; the Investing.com version in the feed pool could not be fetched in this run. Single origin: the FT cited people familiar with the matter, CD&R declined to comment, Global Payments and GTCR did not immediately respond, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the report, so the item is carried at evidence grade C.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is exploring a buyout of Global Payments and is working with GTCR, the payments processor’s largest outside shareholder, on a potential joint bid, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The reported enterprise value is $40 billion, against an equity market value of about $23 billion on Friday afternoon and net debt above $17 billion, and the shares jumped 12 percent on the report. No purchase price or financing details have emerged, any transaction would likely include a premium of unknown size, and the discussions may not result in a deal.

The structure traces back to 2025, when Global Payments agreed to acquire Worldpay from GTCR for more than $24 billion in cash and stock; GTCR received more than $14 billion in cash and about $10 billion in Global Payments shares, making it the largest outside shareholder, and the stock lost significant ground afterwards as investors questioned the added debt, dilution and strategic direction. CD&R declined to comment and the other parties did not immediately respond, according to the FT, and Reuters could not independently verify the report.

CD&R explores $40 billion buyout of Global Payments

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