Uber has reached a deal to acquire ride-hailing competitor Careem for $3.1 billion U.S.
Dubai-based Careem, founded in 2012, claims more than 30 million registered users and sells car-hailing services in 120 cities across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, from Morocco to Pakistan.
The companies characterized the deal as the biggest-ever technology industry transaction in the greater Middle East. You can read CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's email to staff explaining the decision to buy Careem here.
The announcement comes as Uber approaches a much-anticipated initial public offering that reports have said could value the firm at as much as $120 billion. It is expected to be one of the biggest tech IPOs in history.
The acquisition, which remains subject to regulatory approval, consists of $1.7 billion in convertible notes and $1.4 billion in cash. The companies expect to close in the first quarter of 2020.
Careem has "played a key role in shaping the future of urban mobility across the Middle East, becoming one of the most successful startups in the region," Khosrowshahi said in a statement.
He added that the combined company will "deliver exceptional outcomes for riders, drivers, and cities, in this fast-moving part of the world."
Uber is unprofitable, booking a $1.8-billion loss in 2018. Ahead of its blockbuster IPO, the company is pitching itself as a one-stop shop for transportation and logistics, not just taxi-hailing. The firm's last big acquisition deal saw it buy U.S. bike-sharing firm Jump.
