Uber has announced an agreement to acquire German food delivery company Delivery Hero in a deal valued at approximately $14.8 billion, marking the largest acquisition in the ride-hailing company’s history and one of the biggest transactions the global food delivery industry has seen. The takeover is expected to significantly expand Uber’s international reach, creating the world’s largest food delivery platform outside China and intensifying competition with rivals including DoorDash.
According to Reuters, Uber has launched a public takeover offer valuing Delivery Hero at around €41.50 per share, representing a substantial premium over the company’s recent average share price. Uber already owns roughly a quarter of Delivery Hero following a series of share purchases earlier this year, meaning the cash cost of completing the acquisition will be lower than the headline value of the deal. The transaction remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance, with completion expected during the second half of 2027.
The Guardian reported that the acquisition will combine Uber Eats with Delivery Hero’s extensive portfolio of brands operating across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Those brands include foodpanda, talabat, PedidosYa and several other regional platforms that have built strong market positions over the past decade. Together, the combined businesses are expected to operate in 99 countries, giving Uber one of the broadest international footprints in the online food delivery industry.
According to the Straits Times, the takeover comes as competition in the global delivery market continues to intensify. The publication reported that Uber believes acquiring Delivery Hero will strengthen its ability to compete with DoorDash and other regional rivals by increasing scale, improving operational efficiency and expanding its customer base across multiple continents. The enlarged business is also expected to generate significantly higher gross merchandise value than any competitor outside China.
Reuters reported that Uber has agreed to several measures designed to ease potential regulatory concerns. Delivery Hero will divest operations in 14 markets where there is significant overlap between the two businesses, with those assets being sold to US investment firm SSW Partners for approximately €1.4 billion. The divestments are intended to reduce competition concerns that could otherwise delay or complicate approval of the transaction.
According to The Guardian, Uber has also committed to maintaining Delivery Hero’s Berlin headquarters and preserving its workforce there until at least 2029. The company has additionally pledged to invest €2 billion in Germany over the coming years, reflecting the strategic importance of the country to the enlarged business and helping secure support for the deal from stakeholders and policymakers.
The Straits Times reported that Delivery Hero’s largest shareholder, Prosus, has agreed to sell its stake as part of the transaction, removing one of the key hurdles to completing the acquisition. Uber has made the offer conditional on obtaining more than half of Delivery Hero’s outstanding shares, allowing it to move forward with integrating the business once all regulatory approvals have been secured.
According to Reuters, Uber views the acquisition as a major step in its strategy of combining mobility and delivery services on a single platform. Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi has repeatedly argued that customers who use both ride-hailing and food delivery services spend considerably more than those using only one product. Expanding into dozens of additional markets where Delivery Hero already has an established presence is expected to strengthen those cross-platform opportunities while improving customer engagement.
The Guardian noted that the global food delivery industry has experienced rapid consolidation since the surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. As growth rates have moderated and profitability has become a greater priority for investors, many companies have sought mergers, acquisitions or market exits to achieve greater scale and reduce operating costs. Uber’s latest move is widely viewed as one of the most significant examples of that trend.
According to the Straits Times, the combined company is expected to benefit from greater purchasing power, broader technological capabilities and a more diversified geographical presence. Uber believes these advantages will allow it to invest further in product innovation, logistics and customer experience while improving financial performance over the long term.
Reuters reported that analysts nevertheless expect regulatory scrutiny to remain intense given the scale of the acquisition. Competition authorities across multiple jurisdictions are expected to review the transaction closely, particularly in markets where both companies already operate. The agreed sale of overlapping businesses is intended to address many of those concerns, although approval could still take more than a year.
The Guardian added that despite the size of the takeover, Uber intends to continue operating many of Delivery Hero’s established consumer brands rather than immediately replacing them with Uber Eats. Those brands have built significant customer loyalty in their respective markets, making them valuable assets within the combined business.
As reported by Reuters, The Guardian and the Straits Times, Uber believes the acquisition will transform its global delivery operations by dramatically increasing its international scale while creating new opportunities to combine transportation, grocery and food delivery services within a single ecosystem. If approved, the deal will reshape the competitive landscape of the online delivery industry and establish Uber as the dominant global player outside China, marking a defining moment in the ongoing consolidation of one of the world’s fastest-evolving technology sectors.