Uber Technologies announced an offer to acquire German company Delivery Hero, which owns the HungerStation platform in Saudi Arabia, in a deal valued at approximately €13 billion. The acquisition aims to create one of the world's largest food delivery and local commerce companies.

A joint statement said the offer values each Delivery Hero share at €41.50 in cash, and has received preliminary support from the company's management and supervisory boards, with a recommendation for shareholders to accept it after reviewing formal offer documents.

Saudi Arabia at the Heart of the Deal The statement noted that Saudi Arabia is a key market in the deal, as Delivery Hero owns HungerStation, one of the leading food delivery and quick commerce apps in the kingdom. If the deal closes and receives regulatory approvals, HungerStation will join the global Uber group while continuing its normal operations in the Saudi market until legal and regulatory procedures are completed.

A New Global Entity Covering 99 Countries The statement added that the new entity will operate in 99 countries, with annual order value expected to reach about $236 billion based on 2025 data. The entity will include a number of the world's most popular delivery platforms, including: HungerStation in Saudi Arabia, Talabat in the Gulf and several Arab countries, foodpanda in Asia, Glovo in Europe and Africa, PedidosYa in Latin America, and Baedal Minjok in South Korea.

Steps to Avoid Monopoly Separately, Delivery Hero announced signing a separate agreement to sell its businesses in 14 markets to US investment firm SSW Partners for approximately €1.4 billion, aiming to address competition and monopoly concerns in some markets.

Implications of the Deal for the Saudi Market It is noted that if the deal is completed, ownership of HungerStation will transfer to Uber, giving the US company a direct presence in the largest delivery market in the Gulf region. The deal could enhance integration between Uber's services such as transport, delivery, and local commerce, while any future changes will remain subject to local regulations and regulatory requirements in the kingdom.

The deal is still under review, as it requires approval from shareholders and regulatory authorities in several countries before it takes effect.

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