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(Sharecast News) - Shares in Delivery Hero raced ahead on Wednesday, after the online takeaway food company said it was assessing a range of options aimed at reversing the stock's long-term underperformance.
In an open letter to shareholders, chair Kristin Skogen Lund and chief executive Niklas Ostberg acknowledged both the share price and valuation of the Berlin-based business was "disappointing for all of us".
Delivery Hero debuted on the Frankfurt stock exchange amid much fanfare in 2017, raising 1bn.
But the stock has consistently underperformed in recent years, losing 81% over the last five years and 21% in the year to date.
Lund and Ostberg wrote: "We want to reassure our shareholders that the company remains fully committed to addressing this matter.
"Together, the management and supervisory boards will continue to make the required efforts to drive long-term shareholder value.
"With this objective in mind, Delivery Hero has retained financial and legal advisors, who have been supporting us in recent months in proactively assessing various strategic options...with the aim of making Delivery Hero an even stronger company and unlocking shareholder value."
Options being considered include the potential sale of selected assets and country operations; assessing certain strategic partnerships; evaluating capital market transactions; and reviewing value-enhancing capital structure and allocation.
As at 1030 GMT, the stock had put on 8%.
Delivery Hero has faced a number of headwinds recently, including intensifying competition in some regions, including Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, high costs and regulatory challenges.
In the summer, it and fellow delivery firm Glovo were fined 329m by the European Commission following a lengthy probe, for taking part in an "online food delivery cartel".
However, Lund and Ostberg said the company was now operationally "in a much stronger position today than ever before", including pivoting to a profitable growth strategy and streamlining its cost structure.