DoorDash instructed its employees not to add Instacart personnel on LinkedIn, a measure implemented amid the announced multi-billion-dollar acquisition by the food delivery giant. The instructions are part of an internal question-and-answer document filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 29, the day of the official public announcement of the deal. [1]
According to the internal guide, DoorDash employees should not send new connection requests to Instacart staff nor accept such requests, “even if they have a prior relationship.” Existing connections may remain active. If an Instacart employee does send a request, the company provides a standardized response: “Congratulations! We look forward to connecting after the deal closes.” Any interaction beyond this message requires approval from the legal department. [1]
The measure is intended to prevent what antitrust experts term “jumping the gun,” meaning premature operational coordination between companies that are slated to merge. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that entities undergoing an acquisition must protect sensitive information, such as pricing strategies and costs, until the official closing of the transaction. The partnership is expected to close toward the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, subject to shareholder approval at Instacart and antitrust reviews in the United States, Canada, and Israel. The estimated waiting period could reach up to 20 months, keeping the restriction in effect. [1]
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