SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Visa Inc. (V), the world's largest payment card processor, is in preliminary talks to buy former subsidiary Visa Europe Ltd in a deal that may be valued at as much as $20 billion, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter.
The reported noted that the talks, which began when Visa approached Visa Europe, are at an early stage and could fall apart if the two sides can't agree on a price.
The range being discussed is $15 billion to $20 billion. Both companies are working with advisers, the report said.
Visa and its European counterpart split in 2007 ahead of the U.S. firm's initial public offering. Analysts have been speculating for years that they could merge.
V closed Friday's trading at $69.47, up $2.89 or 4.34%. However, in after-hours trading, the stock declined $0.07 or 0.10% and ended at $69.40.
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