Business
Just Eat Takeaway to acquire Grubhub for US$7.3 billion – BNNBloomberg.ca
Europe’s Just Eat Takeaway.com NV agreed to acquire U.S.-based Grubhub Inc. for US$7.3 billion, in a deal that creates one of the world’s largest meal-delivery companies as the coronavirus pandemic drives a surge in orders.
Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway said it will pay US$75.15 per share for Grubhub in an all-stock deal with an equity value of US$7.3 billion.
The deal sidelines Uber Technologies Inc., which had been in acquisition talks with Grubhub for at least a month. Political pressure raised questions about whether U.S. regulators would approve such a deal. The two companies had nearly aligned on a price but remained at odds over other issues, including terms of a breakup fee for Grubhub if the deal couldn’t be completed, people familiar with the matter said last month.
Grubhub will launch Just Eat Takeaway into the U.S. market, broadening its already-global reach that includes Australia, Brazil and Canada, in addition to its home base in Europe. Jitse Groen, the Dutch billionaire who created Takeaway in 2000 in his university dorm room, has been looking to expand aggressively over the last year. Less than two months ago, Takeaway received antitrust clearance from the U.K. for its US$8-billion acquisition of Just Eat.
Matt Maloney, Grubhub’s chief executive officer, helped start the company in 2004 and led a merger with a competitor, Seamless, in 2013 to create what was then a dominant food delivery website. But Grubhub has fallen far since then. DoorDash Inc., the current leader in the U.S., and Uber have eaten up market share, leaving Grubhub with 23 per cent as of the end of April, according to market research firm Second Measure.
Even as the pandemic has led to a surge in demand for food delivery as people spend more time at home, the industry has been defined by fierce competition. Profit margins are tight or nonexistent due to the stiff competition to sign the most popular restaurants and add customers. Gross food sales for Grubhub rose eight per cent to US$1.6 billion in the first quarter, and the company reported a net loss of about US$33 million. Uber’s gross bookings for food delivery increased 52 per cent to US$4.68 billion in the same period, but the division’s loss also rose.
Analysts have long said the unprofitable model in food delivery is unsustainable and expected consolidation. For Uber, losing the deal is a blow to the company’s plan to increase revenue and eventually turn a profit from food delivery. That strategy was especially urgent with the pandemic lifting food delivery while decimating Uber’s main business of ride hailing. The company has cut jobs and side businesses as a result. It was relying on deals to achieve a top position in the markets where it operates.
In an emailed statement, a spokesman for Uber said the company believes the industry needs consolidation but that it’s not interested in “doing any deal, at any price, with any player.”
Business
Gas prices expected to rise 14 cents on Thursday
|
Drivers are bracing for a double-digit spike at the gas pumps on Thursday, as the price is expected to rise 14 cents at midnight.
Roger McKnight, chief petroleum analyst withEn-Pro International Inc., tells CityNews the price at gas pumps is set to rise to 178.9 cents/litre at local stations. The price as of Wednesday is 164.9 cents/litre.
The last time gas prices were this high was back in August 2022.
McKnight says the spike is due to price increases for wholesale gas and only applies to gasoline. He adds the price for diesel will increase by 0.4 cents.
Earlier this month, the price rose to its highest levels in six months following the implementation of the federal carbon price, also referred to as the carbon tax.
That saw the carbon tax on gasoline go up by 3.3 cents per litre, while diesel increased by 4.1 cents per litre.
Business
Rupture on TC Energy's NGTL gas pipeline sparks wildfire in Alberta – The Globe and Mail
A section of TC Energy’s TRP-T NGTL gas pipeline system in Alberta ruptured and caught fire on Tuesday, sparking a wildfire in a remote area, the company said.
“An initial ignition of natural gas at the rupture site is now extinguished. We are working to support Alberta Wildfire in their response to contain a secondary fire,” the company said in a statement on its website.
TC said there were no injuries and it was working closely with first responders in the region.
How fire broke out at the TC gas pipeline near Edson, Alberta
The fire broke out about 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Edson, Alberta, in Yellowhead County. Canadian broadcaster Global News said there was a plume of flames and smoke visible from many kilometres away.
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said initial investigations indicated a rupture in a gas pipeline caused the fire, which was under control.
TC Energy said it has isolated and shut down the affected section of the NGTL system, and the remainder of the system is operating normally with no commercial impact.
The CER said it is sending inspectors to the area to monitor and oversee the company’s response and determine the impact of the incident.
NGTL is TC Energy’s natural gas gathering and transportation system that transports gas produced in Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to markets in Canada and United States.
Business
Gas prices in GTA expected to rise 14 cents on Thursday – CityNews Toronto
Drivers in the GTA are bracing for a double-digit spike at the gas pumps on Thursday, as the price is expected to rise 14 cents at midnight.
Roger McKnight, chief petroleum analyst with En-Pro International Inc., tells CityNews the price at gas pumps is set to rise to 178.9 cents/litre at local stations. The price as of Wednesday is 164.9 cents/litre.
The last time gas prices were this high was back in August 2022.
McKnight says the spike is due to price increases for wholesale gas and only applies to gasoline. He adds the price for diesel will increase by 0.4 cents.
Earlier this month, the price rose to its highest levels in six months following the implementation of the federal carbon price, also referred to as the carbon tax.
That saw the carbon tax on gasoline go up by 3.3 cents per litre, while diesel increased by 4.1 cents per litre.
With files from John Marchesan of CityNews
-
Sports17 hours ago
Team Canada’s Olympics looks designed by Lululemon
-
Tech24 hours ago
Motorola's Edge 50 Phone Line Has Moto AI, 125-Watt Charging – CNET
-
Politics21 hours ago
Political interference in Canada’s pension funds is wrong
-
Sports22 hours ago
‘BOTTCHER BOMBSHELL:’ Alberta curling foursome set to move forward without skip
-
Business16 hours ago
Firefighters battle wildfire near Edson, Alta., after natural gas line rupture – CBC.ca
-
News22 hours ago
Freeland tables her fourth federal budget — this time with a tight focus on housing
-
News18 hours ago
Richard Chevolleau Short Film “Marvelous Marvin” Set to go to Camera
-
Investment18 hours ago
Stephen Poloz will lead push to boost domestic investment by Canadian pension funds