Update: Amsterdam, Netherlands-based delivery service Just Eat Takeaway announced this afternoon it has entered into an all-stock deal with Grubhub. Just Eat Takeaway will acquire 100 percent of Grubhub’s shares, and the merging of the two companies will create one of the largest food delivery services in the world. The news puts Uber, which had previously been in talks with Grubhub, out of the running.
Previously:
It seems that the bidding war for Grubhub is coming to an end before it ever really got started. Multiple news outlets today have reported that Uber Is ready to pull out of its proposed deal to buy Grubhub while Just Eat Takeaway is in advanced discussions to buy the latter.
CNBC reported today that Uber will likely to pull out the proposed deal with Grubhub because of antitrust concerns that have been raised over it by multiple Democratic lawmakers. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., summed up the concerns in the following statement (reported by CNBC):
“I have repeatedly raised concerns and advocated against a potential merger between Uber and GrubHub. During this pandemic, when millions are out of work and many small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, our country does not need another merger that could squelch competition. News that the Uber/Grubhub deal may not materialize would be good for both consumers and restaurants.”
Meanwhile, at the start of this week, Grubhub looked to have two suitors from Europe, Delivery Hero and the newly formed Just Eat Takeaway. According to a press release from today, Just Eat Takeaway is in “advanced discussions with Grubhub regarding an all-share combination of Just Eat Takeaway.com with Grubhub.”
A deal with a European company would raise fewer regulatory flags because it would still mean four major third-party delivery players operated in the U.S. market: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Postmates, and Grubhub-Just Eat Takeaway. Uber buying Grubhub would have knocked that number down to three, eradicating some competition.
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