Uber begins regulatory review for potential acquisition of Delivery Hero

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has launched a preliminary review of the proposed business combination between Uber Technologies and Delivery Hero (DH). Uber intends to acquire DH through a tender offer, which would grant Uber control over Woowa Brothers, the operator of South Korea’s leading food delivery platform, Baedal Minjok.

The KFTC classifies this as a “mixed combination” because it merges Uber’s taxi-hailing platform business with DH’s food delivery platform business. The regulatory body will examine how this merger affects the competitive structure of the domestic taxi-hailing and delivery app markets, the activities of competitors, and the choices available to both consumers and merchants.

If the deal proceeds, Uber expects to expand cross-use between mobility and delivery services, including integrated memberships and expanded advertising and promotion services for merchants. Uber aims to complete the tender offer by November and finalize the stock acquisition by the second half of 2027, following approvals from relevant competition authorities in multiple countries.