Just Eat, Takeaway.com Finalize $6B Merger

Just Eat, Takeaway.com Merge To Take On Uber Eats, Deliveroo

In an attempt to compete with rivals like the Amazon-backed Deliveroo and Uber delivery offshoot Uber Eats, Amsterdam’s Takeaway.com and U.K. company Just Eat have merged to create a new company, one which will be the world’s largest outside of China, according to a report by Reuters.

The new company will be called Just Eat Takeaway, and it said it’s going to be a leader in the food delivery markets in Canada, U.K., the Netherlands and Germany. Just Eat shareholders will receive 0.09744 new shares from Takeaway.com, for each share they own.

Just Eat was valued at $5.7 billion according to the terms of the deal, and Takeaway.com’s shares dropped around 8 percent since the deal was revealed last week. On Monday, they were trading at 76.70 euros. Bloomberg reported that the two companies agreed on a $6 billion all-stock deal.

“The board believes that this is a compelling offer for Just Eat shareholders which will create a global leader in a dynamic and rapidly growing sector,” Just Eat Chairman Mike Evans said. “Together we will have the scale to address the huge opportunities in the delivery market, as ordering food moves to becoming an everyday convenience.”

The food delivery market is worth $100 billion all around the world, and rivals like Deliveroo and Uber Eats have some of the most name recognition and market share, so the new company wants to place itself in a position where it can compete. 

“There is unprecedented competition in this global market, with lots of new parties,” said Takeaway Founder and CEO Jitse Groen, who will lead the merged company. “Bringing these two together means we can pool the profits from both, to allocate capital efficiently to 23 countries.”

After four years, the merger should save $22.2 million for both companies. Around $10 million in savings are expected in the first year of the merger. 

The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of 2019. Just Eat Takeaway.com shares are going to be listed in London and Takeaway’s listing in Amsterdam will lapse after a year. 


45% of Non-Recurring Transactions Now Use Instant Payments

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The gig economy and gaming industries have driven a rise in ad hoc transactions, payments made outside of regular invoicing and payroll. Businesses are relying on instant payments to streamline these transactions, which involve contractors, consumers and small businesses.

According to a PYMNTS Intelligence report, “Gigs and Games: How Instant Payments Are Gaining Ground for Ad Hoc Transactions,” a collaboration with Ingo Payments, with increased demand for efficiency and speed, instant payment systems are becoming a preferred solution, though obstacles to wider adoption remain.

Instant Payments Comprise Nearly Half of Ad Hoc Transactions

Instant payments are gaining in popularity for ad hoc transactions, according to the report. With the demand for quicker and more efficient methods of payment, businesses are adopting real-time payment systems to facilitate faster transactions, reduce fraud risk and improve overall financial processes.

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PYMNTS found 45% of all ad hoc payments made in July 2024 were sent via instant methods, a notable increase from 36% earlier in the year. Industries that rely heavily on nonrecurring payments, such as gaming and the gig economy, have seen the most significant uptake.

Larger Enterprises Leading the Shift

Larger companies are leading the adoption of instant payments for ad hoc transactions. Businesses with more than $1 billion in revenue are sending half of their ad hoc payments via instant rails, revealing a preference for speed and efficiency. Smaller companies, however, are lagging in adoption, with those earning between $50 million and $100 million turning to instant methods for just 34% of ad hoc payments. The delay in adoption among smaller enterprises is often linked to the high costs of integrating instant payment systems into their existing processes.

Despite this, the trend toward adopting instant payment methods is gaining momentum across the board. Many large enterprises view instant payments as the future standard for ad hoc transactions, especially in business models that no longer rely on recurring payees, such as contractors or freelance workers. But challenges persist in scaling this technology across industries of all sizes.

Barriers to Broader Instant Payment Adoption

While instant payments offer considerable benefits, particularly in terms of speed, cost savings, and enhanced customer/vendor retention, the report shows businesses face obstacles in fully adopting them. For many enterprises, the cost of integrating real-time payment systems remains the primary barrier. According to the report, 35% of businesses cite integration costs as the biggest obstacle to adopting instant payments for ad hoc transactions.

Additionally, there is a digital divide, with industries like gaming and the gig economy leading the charge in adopting instant payment systems. But two-thirds of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), particularly those in industries with less digital momentum, are dealing with the costs and complexities of implementing these systems. Despite these challenges, businesses that do embrace instant payments could gain a competitive edge by securing customer and vendor loyalty, driving down transaction costs, and improving cash flow management.