Waitr Holdings Inc. to Acquire Bite Squad
Waitr Holdings Inc. (“Waitr”), a fast growing restaurant platform for online ordering and on-demand food delivery, announced that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Bite Squad, an online restaurant food delivery service, for an aggregate amount of approximately $321.3 million, subject to adjustments, based on the closing price of Waitr’s common stock on December 11, 2018. The purchase price consists of a combination of cash and shares of Waitr common stock.
Founded in 2012 and based in Minneapolis, Bite Squad operates a three-sided marketplace, consistent with Waitr’s business model, which connects more than 11,000 active restaurants with approximately 6,300 W-2 drivers and approximately 889,000 active diners. Bite Squad’s strategy is to be a market leader in nearly all of the markets in which they operate.
Bite Squad has a high growth business model, with 85% year-over-year gross food sales growth and 98% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 2018.
Strategic Rationale
- The combination will significantly expand Waitr’s scale and footprint across the U.S., serving a total of over 86 markets in more than 500 cities and 22 states;
- Shared strategy to establish a market leadership position in the cities which the Company operates;
- Leverage respective strengths to create a best-in-class organization; and
- Opportunity to realize cost synergies.
Transaction Overview
Waitr has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Bite Squad, subject to customary closing conditions, for an aggregate amount of approximately $321.3 million, subject to certain adjustments, based on the closing price of Waitr’s common stock on December 11, 2018. The purchase price consists of approximately $202.1 million in cash and 10.6 million shares of Waitr’s common stock.
In connection with the acquisition, Waitr entered into a debt commitment letter with Luxor Capital Group, LP, on behalf of Lugard Road Capital Master Fund, LP, and one or more of its funds and/or affiliates (“Luxor”), pursuant to which Luxor will provide senior secured first priority term loans in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $42.1 million at the closing. The proceeds of the term loans will be used to finance a portion of the consideration for the acquisition and for general corporate purposes.
Winston & Strawn LLP is serving as legal counsel and Jefferies LLC is serving as financial advisor to Waitr in connection with the acquisition. Gray, Plant, Mooty & Bennett, P.A. is serving as legal counsel and RBC Capital Markets is serving as financial advisor to Bite Squad. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of January 2019.
Conference Call
Waitr will host a conference call to discuss the Bite Squad acquisition today at 10:30 Eastern Time. The conference call and accompanying materials can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 705-6003, or for international callers (201) 493-6725. A replay will be available one hour after the call concludes and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921, or for international callers (412) 317-6671. The replay will be available until December 17, 2018. The call will be webcast live from the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.waitrapp.com/.