Regulator Blocks Grab's Purchase of Delivery Hero's Taiwan Business

By Sherry Qin

Taiwan's market regulator blocked Grab Holdings' acquisition of Delivery Hero's business in Taiwan, citing competition concerns.

The Fair Trade Commission said Wednesday that the harm of the proposed deal to Taiwan's food-delivery industry outweighed its ​overall economic benefits.

Taiwan's food-delivery market is dominated by two major players, Foodpanda and Uber Eats. Uber, the parent company of Uber Eats, holds 13.5% of Grab's shares, and its chief executive had previously served on Grab's board for a long time before stepping down in July.

"The Fair Trade Commission believes that the equity connection, board member appointments, and business cooperation history between Grab and Uber will reduce Grab's incentive and ability to compete with Uber Eats in the Taiwanese market in the future, resulting in a restrictive competition effect," the regulator said.

Although Grab has made commitments including diluting shareholdings, restricting Uber personnel from serving as Grab directors, and limiting the exchange of competition-sensitive information, the FTC said it concluded that the measures might not be sufficient to eliminate competition concerns.

Delivery Hero in March agreed to sell its delivery-platform business in Taiwan to Grab for $600 million as the German company slims down its portfolio to bolster its balance sheet.

Delivery Hero confirmed the decision in a statement.

A Grab spokesperson said the company was "disappointed by this outcome," adding that the core business across Southeast Asia remains robust.

Write to Sherry Qin at sherry.qin@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 21, 2026 05:22 ET (09:22 GMT)