DoorDash bars employees from adding Instacart staff on LinkedIn during $17 billion deal

DoorDash is acquiring Instacart for $17 billion, and an internal Q&A it filed with the SEC on Oct. 29 bars employees from sending or accepting LinkedIn connection requests with Instacart workers until the deal closes. DoorDash expects the close at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, pending Instacart shareholder approval and antitrust review in the U.S., Canada and Israel, so the freeze could last up to 20 months. The restriction is meant to prevent gun-jumping, which the FTC warns can violate antitrust law.