Africa: Uber Agrees $15b Deal for Delivery Hero to Create Global Takeout Giant

Lead

Uber has agreed to acquire Germany's Delivery Hero in a deal valuing the food delivery company at $14.8 billion, according to reports from AllAfrica and The Guardian. The acquisition would create the world's largest food delivery platform outside China, operating in 99 markets. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

The U.S. company is offering €41.50 per share, a premium of about 34% to Delivery Hero's three-month average share price. Uber, already Delivery Hero's largest shareholder, said the transaction requires acceptance from holders of at least 50% plus one share.

The acquisition will almost double the number of countries where Uber operates both mobility and food delivery services. Together, the companies would have generated about $236 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025, as reported by multiple outlets.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the deal has focused on different aspects. AllAfrica's reporting, with a pan-African perspective, highlighted the expansion of Uber's presence in Kenya and other African markets, noting that the transaction would combine Uber's ride-hailing operations with Glovo's food delivery and on-demand retail services. The Guardian, with a UK focus, emphasized the global scale of the merger and its implications for the competitive landscape, referencing recent industry consolidation such as DoorDash's takeover of Deliveroo and Prosus's acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway.

AllAfrica also reported that Delivery Hero brings about $42 billion in annual gross bookings and around 60 million monthly active users, strengthening Uber's position against rivals DoorDash and Just Eat. The Guardian noted that Uber will pay $13.7 billion after accounting for its previous purchases of a quarter of Delivery Hero's shares, most recently in May.

Key Claims

The deal values Delivery Hero at $14.8 billion, with Uber offering €41.50 per share, a premium of about 34% to the three-month average share price. The combined company would operate in 99 markets, with a pro forma gross merchandise value of $236 billion based on 2025 figures. Delivery Hero also brings about $42 billion in annual gross bookings and around 60 million monthly active users.

To address competition concerns, Delivery Hero has agreed to sell its operations in 14 markets to SSW Partners, a New York-based investment firm, for approximately €1.4 billion. The Guardian reported the sale price as $1.6 billion. These operations include Glovo in countries such as Portugal and Spain, foodora in Norway and Sweden, and Yemeksepeti in Turkey. Uber will not acquire operations in these 14 markets.

Prosus, which recently agreed to acquire Just Eat Takeaway, will also sell its nearly 17% stake in Delivery Hero as part of commitments made to European regulators, as reported by AllAfrica.

Uber will maintain Delivery Hero's headquarters in Berlin, according to The Guardian, and will make no changes to its workforce until at least 2029, a claim carried by a single outlet and not yet independently verified.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and acceptance by Delivery Hero shareholders.

Perspectives

Uber's Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi framed the acquisition as a growth opportunity, stating: "By bringing our platforms together, Uber will extend affordable, reliable delivery to many millions more people in some of the world's most dynamic economies, while creating more opportunities for merchants and couriers." This sentiment was echoed in coverage from AllAfrica.

Delivery Hero's Management Board and Supervisory Board have endorsed the transaction, saying the move will strengthen the group's long-term competitiveness in a sector where scale has become increasingly important, as reported by AllAfrica.

The deal reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the food delivery industry. The Guardian noted that since the pandemic bubble burst, delivery companies have focused on achieving sufficient scale to cover significant operating costs, leading to a wave of takeovers. The U.S.'s DoorDash last year took over Britain's Deliveroo for £2.9bn, while the South African-owned investment group Prosus bought Just Eat Takeaway for €4 billion.

For Africa, the deal expands Uber's presence in markets where Delivery Hero operates through brands such as Glovo, Talabat and other regional platforms, according to AllAfrica. While Uber already has a strong position in ride-hailing and food delivery in countries including South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, the acquisition gives it greater exposure to North Africa and several French-speaking African markets where Delivery Hero has built a larger footprint.

In Kenya, the transaction is valued at Sh1.95 trillion (approximately $15 billion) and covers businesses operating under the Delivery Hero brand in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America. The portfolio includes foodpanda operations across Asia, HungerStation in Saudi Arabia, talabat across the Gulf region, Pedidos Ya in Latin America and Glovo operations in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco and several other markets, with combined gross merchandise value of $42 billion in 2025.

The transaction comes as Kenya's digital commerce market continues to grow, driven by rising smartphone penetration, urbanisation and increasing demand for online food delivery, grocery services and quick commerce.