Uber Buys Delivery Hero for €13 Billion in Major Global Food-Delivery Deal
Uber buys Delivery Hero for €13 billion, offering €41.50 per share; the deal keeps the Berlin headquarters and staff intact through at least 2029, calming investors.
Uber buys Delivery Hero, striking a deal valued at roughly €13 billion that will bring the Berlin-based delivery group under the US company’s control. The offer of €41.50 per share was confirmed by Delivery Hero, and Uber has committed to retaining the company’s headquarters in Berlin and to no workforce reductions there until at least 2029. The announcement marks a significant consolidation in the global food-delivery market and sent Delivery Hero’s stock higher in early trading.
Deal terms and valuation
Uber’s proposal values Delivery Hero at just under €13 billion, with a cash offer fixed at €41.50 a share. The price reflects a premium to recent trading levels and follows weeks of speculation about Uber’s intentions toward the Berlin company. Company statements show the two firms have reached agreement on the headline terms while noting that the transaction will be completed subject to customary conditions.
The purchase price consolidates Uber’s existing financial exposure in Delivery Hero through shareholdings and derivatives, turning minority positions into full ownership. For Uber, the move accelerates ambitions to scale its Eats division internationally by combining global networks and logistics capabilities. For Delivery Hero, the buyout transfers control to an operator with a large existing footprint in food delivery.
Shareholder movements and Prosus exit
The takeover follows a pattern of escalating ownership: Uber had already built a substantial stake in Delivery Hero prior to the offer. Reports indicate Uber’s direct stake approached 25 percent, with additional financial instruments representing about another 12 percent of the company. Those positions reduced the incremental share transfer necessary to secure control.
A key element of the transaction was the sale of a roughly 17 percent stake by major shareholder Prosus, which agreed to divest its holding as part of the deal. That block clearance helped unlock a path to a controlling offer and provided momentum for the bid. Investors responded quickly when the talks became public, lifting the share price in pre-market trading.
Berlin headquarters and workforce assurances
As part of the agreement, Uber has pledged to keep Delivery Hero’s main office in Berlin and to refrain from making changes to the city-based workforce until at least 2029. The commitment addresses political and public concerns in Germany about the fate of a high-profile tech employer and is likely intended to ease regulatory and stakeholder scrutiny. Berlin will remain a named operational center for the company’s global activities under the proposed ownership.
Delivery Hero historically scaled operations outside Germany and now concentrates its business across Asia, southern Europe, the Gulf region and Africa. While Delivery Hero no longer operates food deliveries in Germany following an earlier sale of its domestic operations, its Berlin headquarters has remained the company’s strategic nerve center.
Strategic rationale for Uber Eats
The acquisition strengthens Uber Eats’ global footprint by adding Delivery Hero’s geographic reach and local market expertise. Delivery Hero’s strong presence in parts of Asia, southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa complements Uber Eats’ existing operations and logistics infrastructure. Industry analysts expect Uber to pursue integration efficiencies and deeper restaurant partnerships to enhance revenue-per-order.
Uber’s logistics, technology platform and capital resources could be deployed to scale Delivery Hero’s operations further, while Delivery Hero’s regional leadership teams may provide local market advantages. The combined entity would face the strategic task of harmonizing technology platforms, merchant relationships and delivery fleets across many regulatory environments.
Market reaction, regulatory outlook and next steps
The market reaction to the announcement was immediate, with Delivery Hero shares rising on confirmation that talks were advanced. The move follows an extended period of volatility in the sector as ride-hailing and delivery players reposition through stakes, partnerships and M&A. Shareholders and market participants will now watch the deal timetable closely for formal filings, approval votes and regulatory review processes.
The transaction is expected to be subject to customary closing conditions and competition review in jurisdictions where both companies operate. Regulators will likely examine potential market-concentration effects in specific countries and across overlapping service areas. Both firms have indicated the intention to proceed through the standard approval channels before closing the transaction.
This acquisition marks a significant consolidation in online food delivery, combining two of the sector’s largest operators and reshaping competitive dynamics across multiple regions.
