DoorDash agrees to buy Instacart for $65 per share, valuing the company at about $17 billion. The terms are laid out in a press release attached to an 8-K filing, announced on October 29, 2026.
The premium is 26% over Instacart's October 22 closing price, the last trading day before reports of a possible deal surfaced. Instacart shareholders can choose between cash, DoorDash shares or a mix of both, with stock limited to 25% of the total consideration.
For retail media, the bigger news is elsewhere. The companies say more grocery chains will be able to run Instacart's technology and their own ad networks on their websites. Advertisers will get access to the ad tools of both platforms, including apps and store sites.
The deal won't close before late 2027 or the first half of 2028. It needs an Instacart shareholder vote, the expiration of the waiting period under the U.S. Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and approvals in Canada and Israel.
Separately from the merger, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on October 28 sent requests to nine companies, including DoorDash and Instacart, asking whether they use personal data to set prices and pay couriers. This is a study, not an accusation, and the companies have 45 days to respond.
Until the deal closes, the companies remain independent, so advertisers will work with two separate networks in the coming months. The next steps are the Instacart shareholder vote and antitrust review.
