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# Instacart Tells Staff Its $17 Billion DoorDash Deal Won't Close Until 2027 Or 2028
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/instacart-tells-staff-its-17-billion-doordash-deal-wont-close-until-2027-or-2028-35e120f2/
- Published: 2026-10-30T10:41:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T10:41:00.000Z
- Description: Employees get cash retention bonuses, and the brand and app are expected to survive, in scripts Maplebear filed with the SEC.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: Deals, CART, Industry: Technology

[Instacart](https://www.bullished.co/tag/cart/)'s pending sale to DoorDash will not close until the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028, the company told employees, retailers and shoppers in [communications filed with the SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001579091/000119312526439149/d346005d425.htm?ref=bullished.co) on Friday. Instacart, formally Maplebear, which makes the technology behind online grocery ordering for delivery and pickup, said in the same package that DoorDash is expected to keep its brand and app.

## Retention bonuses for full-timers

Michael, Instacart's VP of People, told staff in an email that the company agreed with DoorDash that every active full-time employee will be eligible for a cash retention program, sized as a percentage of base salary. Amounts and payment dates are due by Monday, November 2, on an internal deal page.

The company's FAQ says vested equity awards will be cashed out at the $65 deal price when the deal closes, net of any exercise price and withholding taxes. Unvested awards will roll into DoorDash awards.

Decisions on org structure, roles and reporting lines after closing "haven't been made," the VP wrote. The FAQ says DoorDash is expected to keep Instacart's brand, enterprise technology products and app, and the two companies stay separate until closing.

## Termination fees on both sides

Stockholders will get $65 per share, and the FAQ says they can elect all cash or up to 25% of the total consideration in DoorDash stock. The FAQ puts the equity value at [approximately $17 billion](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029560802/en/DoorDash-to-Acquire-Instacart-to-Help-Local-Stores-Win?ref=bullished.co) and the price at a 26% premium to the October 22 close, the last trading day before media reports of a possible deal.

DoorDash has agreed to pay Instacart a [$1.25 billion reverse](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001579091/000119312526439149/d346005d425.htm?ref=bullished.co) termination fee in certain circumstances tied to regulatory approvals. Instacart would owe DoorDash $650 million if it signed a deal with a competing bidder. The agreement has a customary no-shop clause and no go-shop period.

The FAQ argues the deal is pro-competitive, saying major global online retailers capture about half of every dollar Americans spend on online groceries. It describes DoorDash's restaurant-focused Commerce Platform and Instacart's grocery Enterprise Platform as complementary.

## The business being sold

Instacart's products are the Instacart Marketplace app, the Enterprise platform that powers retailers' own storefronts, and Instacart Ads. As of December 31, 2025, it enabled more than 2,200 retail banners and about 600,000 shoppers picked and delivered orders.

CEO Chris Rogers told employees the company reported its [third-quarter results](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-announces-third-quarter-2026-financial-results-302923609.html?ref=bullished.co) alongside the deal, calling it its "best quarter ever as a public company." Its market value was $13.5 billion in Friday pre-market reporting.

DoorDash plans to file a Form S-4 registration statement that will carry the proxy statement Instacart shareholders vote on.

### Sources

- [425 — Maplebear Inc. re: Maplebear Inc. (CART)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001579091/000119312526439149/d346005d425.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR
- [Maplebear (CART) Agreed To A $16 Billion Cash Stock Deal](https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/maplebear-cart-agreed-16-billion-011750466.html?ref=bullished.co) — Yahoo Finance
- [DoorDash Is Said to Near $17 Billion Takeover of Instacart](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/mergers-and-acquisitions/doordash-is-said-to-near-17-billion-takeover-of-instacart?ref=bullished.co) — news.bloomberglaw.com
- [DoorDash to Acquire Instacart to Help Local Stores Win](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029560802/en/DoorDash-to-Acquire-Instacart-to-Help-Local-Stores-Win?ref=bullished.co) — businesswire.com
- [Instacart Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-announces-third-quarter-2026-financial-results-302923609.html?ref=bullished.co) — prnewswire.com

### More on Instacart (Maplebear)

- [Instacart Owes DoorDash $650 Million If It Takes A Better Bid; DoorDash Owes $1.25 Billion If Regulators Block The Deal](https://www.bullished.co/instacart-owes-doordash-650-million-if-it-takes-a-better-bid-doordash-owes-1-25-billion-if-9adb638a/)
- [DoorDash Agrees To Buy Instacart For About $17 Billion, With A $1.25 Billion Regulatory Breakup Fee](https://www.bullished.co/doordash-agrees-to-buy-instacart-for-about-17-billion-with-a-1-25-billion-regulatory-99ea829e/)
- [Instacart Agrees To $17 Billion DoorDash Takeover, Scraps Earnings Call And Suspends Guidance](https://www.bullished.co/instacart-agrees-to-17-billion-doordash-takeover-scraps-earnings-call-and-suspends-c127bf05/)

[All Instacart (Maplebear) (CART) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/cart/)