DoorDash blocks LinkedIn connections

DoorDash told employees not to connect with Instacart staff on LinkedIn as part of its seventeen billion dollar deal to buy the grocery delivery service.

The ban is in writing

An internal question-and-answer document filed with the SEC on Thursday stated: "Not at this time. Please do not request any new connections with any Instacart employees on LinkedIn, even if you have a prior relationship."

“Not at this time. Please do not request any new connections with any Instacart employees on LinkedIn, even if you have a prior relationship.”

The deal timeline

DoorDash and Instacart must remain independent competitors until the purchase closes, which they expect either at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028.

Preventing gun-jumping

Companies planning mergers take steps to prevent gun-jumping, or behaving as if the deal is already done. This includes sharing sensitive information, coordinating on pricing, or discussing jobs without authorization.

“You're supposed to continue to act like independent competitors until the deal closes.”

Stopping brain drain

The restriction may also prevent brain drain. Since DoorDash and Instacart compete in the same industry, employee discussions could lead one company to hire staff from the other, bringing valuable customer contacts with them.

“That could blow up the whole agreement.”

Experts call it unprecedented

Several M&A experts told Business Insider they have never heard of employees at companies undergoing a deal being barred from connecting on LinkedIn or any other social media platform.