WilmerHale Advises Blue Apron in Acquisition by Wonder Group

• 9.29.2023

On September 29, 2023, Blue Apron (Nasdaq: APRN), the pioneer of the meal kit industry in the United States, announced that it entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Wonder Group (“Wonder”), a company founded by entrepreneur Marc Lore that is redefining at-home dining and food delivery. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Blue Apron stockholders will be entitled to receive $13.00 in cash per share through a tender offer, representing an equity value of approximately $103 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions. 
 
Wonder’s acquisition of Blue Apron is expected to create a leading platform for mealtime, enhancing mealtime with choice, flexibility and convenience through two exceptional brands. The combination is expected to enhance both companies’ abilities to deliver chef-curated meals with high-quality ingredients to more customers across the country, solving for additional meal moments throughout the week. Following the close of this transaction, Wonder plans to continue Blue Apron’s current operations serving customers nationwide under the Blue Apron brand, with expected new synergies between consumer-facing apps and delivery logistics.
 
WilmerHale is representing Blue Apron in the transaction, with a team led by partners Chris Barnstable-Brown and Mark Nylen, which also included: senior associates Rylee Wells and Victoria Peluso and associates Michaela Rosen and Connor McRory on M&A and corporate matters; partner Ariel Soiffer and counsel Elese Hanson on intellectual property and outsourcing matters; partner David Westenberg on securities law matters; partners Kim Wethly, Amy Null, Ariella Feingold, Julie Hogan Rodgers and counsels Meghan Walsh, Atul Jain on equity compensation, employee benefits, employment and tax matters; partners George Shuster and Nathan Moore on financing matters; and counsels Benjamin Unger and Brett Jackson on real estate matters.