Getir founders sue investor Mubadala for $700m

2026-02-16 · Source: Sifted · Field: Legal & Regulatory — Corporate Law & Business Legal Services, Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Getir founders Nazim Salur and Serkan Borançılı are suing Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala for $700 million, alleging the firm failed to transfer promised assets after taking control of the Turkish food delivery startup in 2024. The lawsuit, filed in London on February 14, 2026, follows Getir's sale to Uber. Mubadala, which first invested in Getir in 2021 and led its $768 million Series E round in 2022 at an $11.8 billion valuation, took control during a market downturn, injecting $250 million for its Turkish food and grocery business. The founders claim only unprofitable assets like FreshDirect and n11 were transferred, while valuable assets such as Getir Finance, valued at $510 million, were withheld. This dispute follows a rejected appeal by the founders in a Dutch court last year regarding restructuring terms.

Key takeaway

For investors considering distressed asset acquisitions, ensure all terms regarding asset transfers and founder stakes are meticulously documented and legally sound. Your due diligence must extend beyond immediate cash injections to encompass the full scope of asset allocation, especially when taking control of a company. Failing to clarify these details can lead to costly litigation and reputational damage, as seen in the Getir-Mubadala dispute.

Key insights

A founder-investor dispute can arise from alleged breaches in asset transfer agreements during company restructuring.

Principles

• Investment agreements must clearly define asset transfers.
• Sovereign wealth funds can exert significant control during distress.

In practice

• Scrutinize asset transfer clauses in investment deals.
• Document all agreements related to company control changes.

Topics

• Corporate Lawsuit
• Venture Capital Investment
• Food Delivery Industry
• Asset Transfer Dispute
• Startup Acquisition

Best for: Entrepreneur, Investor, Legal Professional

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Sifted.