CD&R pursues $40bn buyout of Global Payments in major deal bid

The Financial Times reported on October 30 that private-equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is pursuing a buyout of US card processor Global Payments at a reported $40bn valuation. A transaction of that size would rank among the largest buyouts in history, although the report describes an effort to pursue the deal rather than a completed agreement.

Global Payments generated $7.7B of revenue in fiscal 2025, down 0.4% year over year, with an 18.2% net margin and $5.78 in diluted EPS. Those figures predate the reported approach and provide the operating base against which any acquisition price and financing structure would be assessed.

The named parties are CD&R and Global Payments. The mechanism is a potential change in ownership of a payments processor: Global Payments’ revenue and profitability would support the target’s valuation, while CD&R would need to structure financing for a transaction reported at $40bn.

The outcome remains uncertain because the reporting describes a pursuit, not a completed deal. The key open issues are whether CD&R reaches an agreement with Global Payments, whether other bidders emerge and what final terms would be attached to any transaction.

The next concrete markers are a formal announcement, any approach or merger filing, and Global Payments’ next financial update. Those events would clarify the valuation, financing burden and whether the reported $40bn figure becomes a binding transaction value.