1.jpg)
1.jpg) |
| This image was generated by AI. |
Uber is preparing to make a massive power play in the food delivery space. The ride-hailing and delivery giant is reportedly in advanced negotiations to take over German firm Delivery Hero in a deal valued at approximately €12.5 billion ($14.34 billion).
Following months of intense industry speculation, Delivery Hero officially confirmed on Tuesday that the two companies are in advanced talks. According to the Financial Times, an official announcement could arrive as early as Thursday, with Uber reportedly paying roughly €41 per share.
This represents a significant victory for Delivery Hero investors, who previously rejected a lower €38 per share offer from Uber back in May.
Expanding the Uber Eats Empire
Acquiring Delivery Hero—which currently holds a market value of roughly €11.6 billion—would be a transformative move for Uber's logistics division. The takeover would instantly and aggressively expand the Uber Eats network across highly lucrative markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.
While the terms and timing have not been entirely finalized and could still shift, this acquisition signals Uber's aggressive strategy to consolidate the fiercely competitive global food delivery market.
Dodging Antitrust Scrutiny
A merger of this magnitude immediately raises red flags for market monopolies, and both companies are keenly aware that the deal will attract intense scrutiny from international antitrust regulators.
To proactively address these regulatory hurdles, Delivery Hero is reportedly planning a strategic restructuring before the deal closes:
Selling Off Overlaps: Under the proposed deal, Delivery Hero will split off specific parts of its business to deliberately limit geographic overlap with existing Uber Eats markets.
The Yemeksepeti Sale: To reduce antitrust friction, Delivery Hero plans to sell its popular Turkish unit, Yemeksepeti, alongside several other European operations, directly to an investment firm.
By shedding these overlapping regional assets, Uber and Delivery Hero hope to smooth out the regulatory path and finalize one of the largest tech acquisitions of the year.