DoorDash agrees to buy Instacart at $65 a share

In brief

Developing. Last updated 29 October 2026, 15:56 Dubai time (UTC+4).

DoorDash has agreed to acquire Maplebear, Instacart's parent, for $65.00 a share, an equity value of approximately $17 billion, according to DoorDash's Q3 2026 results release, filed with the SEC on 29 October as a Form 425. The price is a 26% premium to Instacart's 22 October close, the last trading day before media reports of a possible deal. Instacart's board approved the agreement unanimously, the filing says.

Deal terms

Per the 425, Instacart holders can elect, for each share, $65.00 in cash, 0.3372 DoorDash shares, or $48.75 in cash plus 0.0843 DoorDash shares. Stock is capped at 25% of the aggregate consideration and prorated if oversubscribed, so at least 75% is paid in cash. DoorDash plans to fund the cash with cash on hand and new debt. JPMorgan Chase has committed a 364-day senior unsecured bridge loan, and the deal has no financing condition. DoorDash says it sees a multi-year path to $500 million or more in annual net synergies.

In its shareholder letter, DoorDash says grocery delivery "still isn't there", and that consumers "are still asked to pay a premium for imperfect delivery".

How it came together

Reuters reported on 26 October, citing a source, that DoorDash was in advanced talks at a value of about $17 billion, that Instacart's talks with Uber were "no longer active", and that The Wall Street Journal first reported the talks. Reuters also cited an earlier report by The Information that Instacart had held preliminary talks with buyers including Uber and DoorDash.

Antitrust review

The companies expect the deal to close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. According to the 425, closing requires an Instacart stockholder vote, expiry or termination of the US Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period, and other approvals, including under Canada's Competition Act and Israel's Economic Competition Law. Holders of about 19% of Instacart's shares have agreed to vote for the deal. CNBC reported that analysts have noted the deal could attract antitrust scrutiny because the companies' markets overlap. It also noted stiffer competition for Instacart from Amazon and Walmart.

What changes for shoppers and retailers

Nothing changes yet. Instacart says in its Q3 release that it works with more than 2,200 retail banners, representing nearly 100,000 stores. DoorDash expects the combined network to bring greater density, faster delivery, lower fulfilment costs and more earning opportunities for Instacart's shoppers after closing. It plans to pair Instacart's Enterprise software for grocers with its own fulfilment services. Instacart has cancelled its 5 November earnings call and suspended its guidance.

DoorDash's Q3 revenue rose 34% to $4.6 billion, on 993 million orders.

Why it matters

The companies' timeline points to a review lasting more than a year. Until then, grocers that use both platforms should plan for two separate partners. They should watch the S-4 and proxy filings for any remedies or commitments that would affect their contracts.

Sources and scope

Official sources come first. All deal terms, conditions and timing come from DoorDash's Form 425 and its EX-99.1 release.

• DoorDash Form 425, filed 29 October 2026
• DoorDash Form 8-K and EX-99.1 Q3 2026 release, 29 October 2026
• Maplebear (Instacart) Form 8-K EX-99.1 Q3 2026 release, 29 October 2026
• Reuters via StreetInsider: DoorDash in talks to buy Instacart in roughly $17 billion deal, source says (26 October 2026)
• CNBC: DoorDash to acquire Instacart for $17 billion (28 October 2026, updated 29 October)

The background is secondary reporting, attributed to each outlet. The "Why it matters" section is ByteNib editorial analysis.

Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the editor before publication.

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