Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Specialty Retail / GrubHub Inc

GrubHub Inc

grub · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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Ticker grub
Exchange NYSE
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Specialty Retail
Employees 501-1000
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FY2018 Annual Report · GrubHub Inc
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2018

ANNUAL REPORT

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One) 
 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT 

OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 
OR

 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 

ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                     TO                     

Commission File Number 1-36389 

GRUBHUB INC. 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

111 W. Washington Street, Suite 2100
Chicago, Illinois
(Address of principal executive offices)

46-2908664
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

60602
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (877) 585-7878 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 
None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES      NO   

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    YES      NO   

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the 
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 
90 days.    YES      NO   

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T 
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).    YES      NO   

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the 
best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-
K.   

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging 
growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the 
Exchange Act: 

Large accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer



 

Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company





If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised 
financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES      NO   

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of the shares of common 
stock on The New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2018, was $7,262,685,665. 

The number of shares of Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2019 was 90,999,369. 

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, scheduled to be held on May 21, 2019, are incorporated by 
reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Form 10-K
Item No.

Name of Item

Part I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Business

Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.

Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Item 5.

Market for Grubhub Inc.’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Repurchases of 

Equity Securities
Selected Financial Data
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9B. Other Information

Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

SIGNATURES

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The following should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included 

elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless otherwise stated, the discussion below primarily reflects the historical 
condition and results of operations for Grubhub Inc. for the periods presented and the results of acquired businesses from the relevant 
acquisition dates. In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking 
statements that reflect the plans, estimates, and beliefs of the Company (as defined below). Actual results could differ materially from 
those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed 
below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking 
statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are made as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the Company 
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring 
after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below for 
additional information. 

PART I. 

Item 1.

Business 

Company Overview 

Grubhub Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company,” “Grubhub,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) 
is the nation’s leading online and mobile platform for restaurant pick-up and delivery orders, which the Company refers to as takeout. 
The Company connects more than 105,000 local restaurants with hungry diners in thousands of cities across the United States and is 
focused on transforming the takeout experience. For restaurants, Grubhub generates higher margin takeout orders at full menu prices. 
The Grubhub platform empowers diners with a “direct line” into the kitchen, avoiding the inefficiencies, inaccuracies and frustrations 
associated with paper menus and phone orders. The Company has a powerful takeout marketplace that creates additional value for 
both restaurants and diners as it grows. The Company’s takeout marketplace, and related platforms where the Company provides 
marketing services to generate orders, are collectively referred to as the “Platform”.

For restaurants, takeout enables them to grow their business without adding seating capacity or wait staff. Advertising for 

takeout, typically done through the distribution of menus to local households or advertisements in local publications, is often 
inefficient and requires upfront payment with no certainty of success. In contrast, Grubhub provides restaurants on its Platform with 
an efficient way to generate more takeout orders. Grubhub enables restaurants to access local diners at the moment when those diners 
are hungry and ready to purchase takeout. In addition, the Company does not charge the restaurants on its Platform any upfront or 
subscription fees, does not require any discounts from their full price menus and only gets paid for the orders the Company generates 
for them, providing restaurants with a low-risk, high-return solution. The Company charges restaurants on the Platform a per-order 
commission that is primarily percentage-based. In many markets, the Company also provides delivery services to restaurants on its 
Platform that do not have their own delivery operations. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was providing delivery services in 
more than 300 of the largest core-based statistical areas across the country. 

For diners, the traditional takeout ordering process is often a frustrating experience—from using paper menus to communicating 
an order by phone to a busy restaurant employee. In contrast, ordering on Grubhub is enjoyable and a dramatic improvement over the 
“menu drawer.” The Company provides diners on the platform with an easy-to-use, intuitive and personalized interface that helps 
them search for and discover local restaurants and then accurately and efficiently place an order from any Internet-connected device. 
Grubhub also provides diners with information and transparency about their orders and status and solves problems that may arise. In 
addition, the Company makes re-ordering convenient by storing previous orders, preferences and payment information, helping to 
promote diner frequency and drive strong repeat business.

The Company generates revenues primarily when diners place an order on its Platform. Restaurants pay a commission, typically 

a percentage of the transaction, on orders that are processed through the Company’s Platform. Most of the restaurants on the 
Company’s Platform can choose their level of commission rate, at or above the base rate. A restaurant can choose to pay a higher rate, 
which affects its prominence and exposure to diners on the Platform. Additionally, restaurants that use the Company’s delivery 
services pay an additional commission on the transaction for the use of those services. The Company also recognizes as revenue any 
fees charged to the diner for delivery services it provides. 

For most orders, diners use a credit card to pay the Company for their meal when the order is placed. For these transactions, the 
Company collects the total amount of the diner’s order net of payment processing fees from the payment processor and remits the net 
proceeds to the restaurant less commission. The Company generally accumulates funds and remits the net proceeds to the restaurants 
on at least a monthly basis. The Company also deducts commissions for other transactions that go through its platform, such as cash 
transactions for restaurants partners, from the aggregate proceeds received. Additionally, the Company provides consolidated 
invoicing for its corporate and campus program customers generally on a monthly basis.

3

Organization 

Grubhub was founded in 2004 and Seamless was founded in 1999. Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, 

references to “Seamless” mean the operations for Seamless Holdings Corporation and Seamless North America, LLC through August 
8, 2013, when the merger of Grubhub Holdings Inc. and Seamless was completed (the “Merger”). The Merger enabled the Company 
to expand its two-sided network, connecting customers in the geographies it serves with more restaurants. The Merger also enabled 
the Company to eliminate duplicative expenses and take advantage of a complementary geographic footprint. 

On April 4, 2014, the Company completed an initial public offering (the “IPO”) and its common stock is listed on The New 

York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “GRUB”.

Acquisitions of Business and Other Intangible Assets

On November 7, 2018, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Tapingo Ltd. (“Tapingo”), a leading 

platform for campus food ordering.

On September 13, 2018, the Company acquired SCVNGR, Inc. d/b/a LevelUp (“LevelUp”), a leading provider of mobile diner 

engagement and payment solutions for national and regional restaurant brands.

On October 10, 2017, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Eat24, LLC (“Eat24”), a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of Yelp Inc. and provider of online and mobile food-ordering services for restaurants across the United 
States.

On August 23, 2017, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and certain expressly specified liabilities of A&D 

Network Solutions, Inc. and Dashed, Inc. (collectively, “Foodler”), a food-ordering company headquartered in Boston.

On May 5, 2016, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of KMLEE Investments Inc. and 

LABite.com, Inc. (collectively, “LABite”), a restaurant delivery service.

For a description of the Company’s acquisitions, see Note 4, Acquisitions, to the accompanying notes to the consolidated 

financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

On October 30, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the restaurant and diner network assets of 

OrderUp, Inc. (“OrderUp”), an online and mobile food-ordering company. The Company previously acquired certain assets of 
OrderUp on September 14, 2017 from Groupon, Inc. See Note 6, Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets, to the accompanying notes 
to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

Growth Strategy 

The Company strives to make Grubhub an integral part of everyday life for restaurants and diners through the following growth 

strategies: 

•

•

•

•

Grow the Takeout Marketplace. The Company intends to continue to grow the number of independent and national and 
regional chain (“Enterprise”) restaurants in existing and new geographic markets by providing them with opportunities to 
generate more takeout orders and by offering delivery services. The Company intends to continue to grow the number of 
diners and orders placed on the Platform primarily through word-of-mouth referrals and marketing that encourages 
adoption of the Company’s ordering Platform and increased order frequency.

Enhance the Platform. The Company plans to continue to invest in its websites and mobile products and its independent 
delivery network, develop new products and better leverage the significant amount of order data that the Company 
collects.

Deliver Excellent Customer Care. By meeting and exceeding the expectations of both restaurants and diners through 
customer service, the Company seeks to gain their loyalty and support for the platform.

Pursue Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships. The Company intends to continue to pursue expansion opportunities in 
existing and new markets, as well as in core and adjacent categories through strategic acquisitions and partnerships that 
help accelerate the growth of the takeout marketplace.

Key Metrics

For a description of the Company’s key metrics, including Active Diners, Daily Average Grubs and Gross Food Sales, see Part 

II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K. 

4

The Grubhub Solution 

The Company focuses on providing value to both restaurants and diners through its takeout marketplace. Grubhub provides 

restaurants with more orders, helps them serve diners better, facilitates delivery logistics in many markets, and enables them to 
improve the efficiency of their takeout business. For diners, Grubhub makes takeout accessible, simple and enjoyable, enabling them 
to discover new restaurants and accurately and easily place their orders anytime and from anywhere. 

Restaurant Benefits 

With more than 105,000 restaurants on the Company’s platform as of December 31, 2018, management believes that Grubhub 

provides restaurants with the following key benefits: 

•

•

•

•

•

•

More Orders. Through Grubhub, restaurants in the network receive more orders at full menu prices.

Targeted Reach. Restaurants in the network gain an online and mobile presence with the ability to reach their most 
valuable target audience—hungry diners in their area.

Low Risk, High Return. Grubhub generates higher margin takeout orders for its restaurant partners by enabling them to 
leverage their existing fixed costs.

Efficiency. Restaurants in the network can receive and handle a larger volume of takeout orders more accurately, 
increasing their operational efficiency while providing their takeout diners with a high-quality experience. Grubhub also 
offers customizable integrated technologies that support digital orders with point of sale system integration and customer 
relationship management programs, including loyalty. 

Insights. Grubhub provides restaurants with actionable insights based on the significant amount of order data the 
Company gathers, helping them to optimize their delivery footprints, menus, pricing and online profiles.

Delivery. In many markets, the Company offers delivery services to the restaurants on its platform. By providing delivery 
services, the Company allows restaurants to focus on making great food while Grubhub handles the complexity of 
operating the delivery networks.

Diner Benefits 

With 17.7 million Active Diners as of December 31, 2018 and more than 435,900 combined Daily Average Grubs during the 

year ended December 31, 2018, management believes that Grubhub provides diners with the following key benefits: 

•

•

•

•

Discovery. Grubhub aggregates menus and enables ordering from restaurants across more than 2,000 cities in the United 
States as of December 31, 2018, in most cases providing diners with more choices than the “menu drawer” and allowing 
them to discover hidden gems from local restaurants on the Platform.

Convenience. Using Grubhub, diners do not need to place their orders over the phone. Grubhub provides diners with an 
easy-to-use, intuitive and personalized platform that makes ordering simple from any connected device.

Control and Transparency. The Grubhub Platform empowers diners with a “direct line” into the kitchen, without having 
to talk to a distracted order-taker in an already error-prone process.

Service. For diners, Grubhub’s role is similar to that of the waiter in a restaurant, providing a critical layer of customer 
care that is typically missing in takeout.

Challenges

The Company faces several key challenges in continuing to grow its business and maintaining profitability. These challenges 

include that: 

•

•

•

•

long-term growth depends on the Company’s ability to continue to expand its takeout marketplace of restaurants and 
diners in a cost-effective manner; 

the ability to realize the benefits of the investment in the Company’s delivery network depends on the efficient utilization 
and expansion of such network;

the ability to realize the benefits of acquired businesses depends on the successful integration of the operations of the 
acquired businesses with those of the Company; and 

while the Company’s primary competition remains the traditional offline takeout ordering method, new competitors could 
emerge and existing competitors could gain traction in the Company’s markets. These competitors may have greater 
resources and other advantages than Grubhub and could impact the Company’s growth rates and ability to maintain 
profitability.

5

Factors Affecting Performance 

•

•

•

The Size of the Company’s Takeout Marketplace. Grubhub’s growth has come, and is expected to continue to come, from 
the Company’s ability to successfully expand its takeout marketplace, which occurs through the growth of the number of 
restaurants and diners on the Platform. The Company believes that increases in the number of restaurants will make the 
Platform more attractive to diners and increases in the number of diners will make the Platform more attractive to 
restaurants. Furthermore, the number of popular restaurants in each local market is an important factor in making the 
Platform more attractive to diners. 

Seasonality. In metropolitan markets, the Company generally experiences a relative increase in diner activity from 
September to April and a relative decrease in diner activity from May to August. In addition, the Company benefits from 
increased order volumes in campus markets when school is in session and experiences a decrease in order volumes when 
school is not in session (during summer breaks and other vacation periods). 

Weather. Diner activity can also be impacted by colder or more inclement weather, which typically increases order 
volumes, and warmer or sunny weather, which typically decreases order volumes. 

Products and Services 

The following is a list of the Company’s primary products and services. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are the 

commissions earned from restaurants for consumer orders generated on its Platform. 

Grubhub, Seamless and Eat24 Mobile Apps and Mobile Website

The Company offers diners access to the Platform through its mobile applications designed for iPhone®, Android™, iPad®, 

Amazon Alexa® and Apple TV® devices. To use the mobile applications, diners either enter their delivery address or use geo-
location and are presented with local restaurants that provide takeout. Diners can further refine their search results using the search 
capability, enabling them to filter results across cuisine types, restaurant names, menu items, proximity, ratings and other criteria. 
Once diners have found what they are looking for, they place their orders using easy-to-use and intuitive menus, enabling them to 
discover food choices, select options and provide specific instructions on a dish-by-dish basis. Once an order is received, the Company 
transmits it to the restaurant, while saving the diners’ preferences for future orders, thus providing diners with a convenient repeat 
order experience. Diners can also access the Platform from their mobile devices through the mobile website using any mobile browser. 

Grubhub, Seamless, Eat24 and MenuPages Websites 

Diners can access the Platform through www.grubhub.com, www.seamless.com, www.eat24.com and menupages.com. The 

websites provide diners with the same functionality as the Company’s mobile applications, including restaurant discovery, search and 
ordering. For restaurants, all website-based orders are received in the same way as the mobile orders, and the Company charges the 
same commission for both.

Corporate Program 

The Company provides a corporate program that helps businesses address inefficiencies in food ordering and associated billing. 

The corporate program offers employees a wide variety of food and ordering options, including options for individual meals, group 
ordering and catering, as well as proprietary tools that consolidate all food ordering into a single online account that enables 
companies to proactively manage food spend by automating the enforcement of budgets and rules. The corporate tools provide 
consolidated ordering and invoicing, eliminating the need for employee expense reports and therefore significantly reducing 
administrative overhead relating to office food ordering. 

Delivery Services

The Company offers delivery services to restaurants in many of its markets. By providing delivery services, the Company is 

able to significantly broaden the number of restaurants it can offer to diners while enhancing the transparency, consistency and 
reliability of the diner experience. Delivery services benefit the restaurants by allowing them to focus on making great food while 
Grubhub handles the complexity of operating the delivery networks. 

Grubhub for Restaurants

Restaurants have historically received orders from Grubhub through a facsimile or email and confirmed orders by phone. 

Though many restaurants on the Company’s Platform still use this traditional method, a large portion of Grubhub’s restaurants use 
Grubhub for Restaurants, a responsive web application that can be accessed from computers and mobile devices, as well as Grubhub-
provided tablets. Grubhub for Restaurants allows restaurants to electronically receive and display orders and provides operators with 
the capability to acknowledge receipt of the order, update the estimated completion time and status, specify driver pick-up times, 
monitor delivery status for delivery drivers in Grubhub’s network, update menu items and perform other administrative functions. 
Grubhub for Restaurants allows the Company to monitor orders throughout the takeout process (receipt, ready for pickup, on the way, 

6

etc.). In turn, Grubhub can make that information available to hungry diners who are waiting for their orders, thus providing greater 
transparency, reducing their frustration and making the takeout experience more enjoyable. 

Technology and Fulfillment Services

Technology and fulfillment services include order transmission, customer relationship management tools such as loyalty 
programs, in-store kiosk ordering technology and hardware, quick-response code payment processing scanners, customer support, and 
functional analytics. The Company also offers mobile application development professional services and integrated access to the 
Company’s related platforms and services. 

Point of Sale Integration 

The Company also offers point of sale (“POS”) integration which allows restaurants to manage Grubhub orders and update their 

menus directly from their existing POS system, eliminating the need for additional devices. Grubhub has developed or is in the 
process of developing POS integrations with multiple major platforms including Oracle’s MICROS systems, NCR’s Aloha, 
RPOWER, Breadcrumb and Toast. These integrations help restaurants improve their in-store workflow, eliminate the time required to 
enter orders, create more transparency and potentially shorten the window between consumer order and meal preparation. 

Restaurant Websites and Mobile Applications

The Company offers the restaurants in its network a turnkey website and mobile application design and hosting service powered 

by template-driven technology, which provides restaurant partners with a simple yet effective online and mobile presence. Grubhub 
processes the orders placed on these websites and mobile applications through its platforms. 

Allmenus

Allmenus.com provides an aggregated database of approximately 440,000 menus from restaurants across all 50 U.S. states. The 
website is searchable by cuisine type, restaurant name, menu items and other criteria. For those restaurants whose menus are posted on 
allmenus.com and which are also part of the Company’s restaurant network, the site provides a link from its menus to grubhub.com 
and seamless.com, as applicable, through which diners can then place their orders, providing the Company with an efficient customer 
acquisition channel.

Customer Care 

Restaurants 

Customer care is an important component of Grubhub’s value proposition for restaurants, enabling them to focus on food 

preparation. The Company provides restaurants with 24/7 service, where representatives are able to assist with problems that may 
arise. The Company tracks and manages restaurant performance on the platform, helping restaurants manage capacity issues while 
ensuring that diners receive the service they expect. 

In addition to operations-related services, the Company offers restaurants actionable insights based on the significant amount of 

order data the Company gathers, helping restaurants optimize their delivery footprint, menus, pricing and online profiles. 

Diners 

The customer care the Company offers to diners is also an important component of Grubhub’s value proposition, helping to 
generate diner satisfaction and positive word-of-mouth referrals. The Company believes that it is its responsibility to make diners 
happy. When diners contact the 24/7 customer care center, the Company typically helps them add items to orders that have already 
been placed and informs them of the status of their orders. The Company believes that its excellent customer care drives diner 
referrals, more frequent ordering and overall loyalty to the platform. 

Geographic Markets 

The Company’s geographic reach included more than 2,000 cities across the United States as of December 31, 2018. The 

Company generally has greater market penetration in densely populated metropolitan cities in the United States. During the years 
ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company also generated a nominal amount of foreign revenues through its U.K. 
subsidiary. 

Sales and Marketing 

The Company’s sales team adds new restaurants to the network by emphasizing the Grubhub Platform’s low risk, high return 

proposition: providing more orders, without charging any upfront payments or subscription fees or requiring any discounts from a 
restaurant’s full price menus, and Grubhub only gets paid for orders it generates for them. The Company’s delivery network has also 
expanded the Company’s offerings and ability to attract restaurants that do not have their own delivery operations. Leads for new 
restaurants are generated either directly by the restaurant through the Company’s websites, including allmenus.com, or are self-

7

prospected by the sales team. Once restaurants have joined the Company’s takeout marketplace, Grubhub representatives continue to 
work with them to maintain quality control and to increase their order volume. The sales team separately focuses on adding new 
corporate and campus program clients by emphasizing Grubhub’s value proposition. For corporate customers, Grubhub provides a 
wide variety of ordering options for employees and proprietary tools that provide rule-based ordering and consolidated reporting and 
invoicing for employers. For campus customers, the Company provides integrated order ahead and meal plan payment processing 
technology and a mobile ordering application for student diners. 

The Company believes that its online ordering platform, innovative products and excellent customer care are its best and most 
effective marketing tools, helping to generate strong word-of-mouth referrals, which have been the primary driver of the Company’s 
diner growth. The Company’s integrated marketing efforts are aimed at encouraging new diners to try the platform and driving 
existing diners to engage more frequently with the platform. The Company uses both online as well as offline advertising. 

Technology 

The Company generally develops additional features for its platform in-house, focusing on quick release cycles and constant 
improvement. Grubhub’s web and mobile properties are either stored on secure remote servers and software networks through a public 
cloud provider or are hosted by a third-party provider of hosting services. The Company’s primary third-party hosting service 
providers are located in Illinois and Utah. The platform includes a variety of encryption, antivirus, firewall and patch-management 
technology to protect and maintain systems and computer hardware across the business. The Company relies on third-party off-the-
shelf technology as well as internally developed and proprietary products and systems to ensure rapid, high-quality customer care, 
software development, website integration, updates and maintenance. The Company leverages off-the-shelf hardware and software 
platforms in order to build and customize its hardware-based products, such as tablets installed with the Grubhub for Restaurants 
application. 

Customers 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company served approximately 17.7 million Active Diners and over 105,000 restaurants. For the 

years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, none of these Active Diners or restaurants accounted for 10% or more of the 
Company’s net revenues. 

Competition 

The Company primarily competes with the traditional offline ordering process used by the vast majority of restaurants and 
diners involving paper menus that restaurants distribute to diners, as well as advertising that restaurants place in local publications to 
attract diners. For diners, Grubhub competes with the traditional ordering process by aggregating restaurant and menu information in 
one place online so that it is easier and more convenient to find a desirable restaurant option and place a customized order without 
having to interact directly with the restaurants. For restaurants, the Company offers a more targeted marketing opportunity than the 
yellow pages, billboards or other local advertising mediums since diners typically access the Company’s platform when they are 
looking to place a takeout order, and Grubhub captures the transaction right when a diner has made a decision. 

The Company’s online competition consists primarily of national and local service providers, point-of-sale module vendors that 

serve some independent restaurants who have their own standalone websites and the online interfaces of Enterprise restaurants that 
also offer takeout. Compared to other online platforms, Grubhub offers diners a wide range of choices, with over 105,000 restaurants 
on the Company’s platform, including low cost or no cost delivery, menu price parity with any other online ordering option and full 
price transparency with no hidden fees. The Company also competes for diners with online competitors on the basis of convenience, 
control and customer care. For restaurants, Grubhub competes with other online platforms based on its ability to generate additional 
orders, manage challenges such as customization, change orders, menu updates and specials and the ability to help them improve their 
operational efficiency, with product innovations like Grubhub for Restaurants, POS integration, mobile application development, 
customer relationship management programs including loyalty tools, as well as providing a seamless diner experience. 

Management believes the Company competes favorably based on these factors and its singular focus on connecting restaurants 

and diners for takeout ordering. Although paper menus are still the Company’s biggest competition, based on available information 
regarding the number of diners and restaurants on the platform and the number of orders processed through the platform, management 
believes Grubhub is the largest online provider of takeout orders in the United States for independent and Enterprise restaurants. 

Seasonality 

The Company’s business is dependent on diner behavior patterns. In metropolitan markets, the Company generally experiences 
a relative increase in diner activity from September to April and a relative decrease in diner activity from May to August. In addition, 
the Company benefits from increased order volume in its campus markets when school is in session and experiences a decrease in 
order volume when school is not in session, during summer breaks and other vacation periods. Diner activity can also be impacted by 

8

colder or more inclement weather, which typically increases order volume, and warmer or sunny weather, which typically decreases 
order volume. Seasonality may cause fluctuations in the Company’s financial results on a quarterly basis. 

Intellectual Property 

The Company protects its intellectual property through a combination of trademarks, trade dress, domain name registrations, 

copyrights, trade secrets and patents applications, as well as contractual provisions and restrictions on access to and use of proprietary 
information. 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company owned nearly 60 trademarks registered in the United States and eight registered abroad, 

including: “Grubhub,” “Seamless,” “MenuPages,” “Tapingo,” and “LevelUp”. The Company has also filed 11 other trademark 
applications including three trademark applications pending in the United States and eight application pending abroad and may pursue 
additional trademark registrations to the extent management believes it will be beneficial and cost-effective. In 2018, the Company 
acquired 11 trademarks registered in the United States and Europe through the acquisitions of Tapingo and LevelUp. 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 20 patents issued in the United States, two of which are scheduled to expire in 

2020, one of which is scheduled to expire in 2029, one of which is scheduled to expired in 2030, one of which is scheduled to expire 
in 2031, three of which are scheduled to expire in 2032, seven of which are scheduled to expire in 2033, four of which are scheduled 
to expire in 2034, and one of which is scheduled to expire in 2036. The Company also had 30 patent applications pending in the 
United States and one patent application pending in foreign countries as of December 31, 2018, which seek to cover proprietary 
inventions relevant to the Company’s products and services. The Company may pursue additional patent protection to the extent 
management believes it will be beneficial and cost effective. In 2018, the Company acquired 10 patents registered in the United States 
through the acquisitions of Tapingo and LevelUp.

The Company is the registered holder of a variety of domestic and international domain names that include the terms 

“Grubhub,” “Seamless,” “Allmenus,” “MenuPages,” “DiningIn,” “LevelUp,” “Tapingo,” “ROTR,” “Delivered Dish” and certain other 
trademarks and similar variations of such terms. 

In addition to the protection provided by the Company’s intellectual property rights, the Company enters into confidentiality 

agreements with its employees, consultants, contractors and business partners who are given access to confidential information. 
Further, employees and contractors who contribute to the development of material intellectual property on the Company’s behalf are 
also subject to invention assignment and/or license agreements, as appropriate. The Company further controls the use of its proprietary 
technology and intellectual property by engaging trademark watch services, as well as through its general websites and product-
specific terms of use and policies. 

Employees

As of February 15, 2019, the Company had approximately 2,722 full-time equivalent employees. None of the Company’s 

employees is represented by a labor union with respect to his or her employment with Grubhub. 

Available Information 

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange 

Act”) and files or furnishes reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
“SEC”). The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and 
amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are filed with the SEC and are available free of 
charge on the Company’s website at investors.grubhub.com/investors/sec-filings at the same time as when the reports are available on 
the SEC’s website. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information 
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Company also maintains websites at 
www.grubhub.com and www.seamless.com. The contents of the websites referenced herein are not incorporated into this filing. 
Further, the Company’s references to the URLs for these websites are intended to be inactive textual references only. 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

In this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we discuss and analyze the results of operations and financial 

condition of the Company. In addition to historical information about the Company, we also make statements relating to the future 
called “forward-looking statements,” which are provided under the “safe harbor” of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. 
Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks, known or unknown, and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ 
materially from future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements 
generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking 
statements because they contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “contemplates,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” 

9

“intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “target” or “will” or the negative of these words or other 
similar terms or expressions that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. 

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. These forward-looking statements are subject to a 

number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Part 
I. Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, that could affect the future results of the Company and could cause those results or other outcomes to 
differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements. 

While forward-looking statements are our best prediction at the time they are made, you should not rely on them. Forward-
looking statements speak only as of the date of this document or the date of any document that may be incorporated by reference into 
this document. 

Consequently, you should consider forward-looking statements only as the Company’s current plans, estimates and beliefs. The 

Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, 
including those set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to reflect any new events, information, events or any change in 
conditions or circumstances unless required by law. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related 
subjects in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on 8-K and future Annual Reports on 10-K and our other filings 
with the SEC. 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors 

Our business is subject to numerous risks. You should carefully consider the following risk factors and all other information 

contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of these risks could harm our business, results of operations, and financial 
condition and our prospects. In addition, risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial 
also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. 

Risks Related to Our Business 

If we fail to retain our existing restaurants and diners or to acquire new restaurants and diners in a cost-effective manner, our 
revenue may decrease and our business may be harmed. 

We believe that growth of our business and revenue is dependent upon our ability to continue to grow our takeout marketplace 
in existing geographic markets by retaining our existing restaurants and diners and adding new restaurants and diners. The increase in 
restaurants attracts more diners to our platform and the increase in diners attracts more restaurants. This takeout marketplace takes 
time to build and may grow more slowly than we expect or than it has grown in the past. In addition, as we have become larger 
through organic growth, the growth rates for Active Diners, Daily Average Grubs and Gross Food Sales have at times slowed, and 
may similarly slow in the future, even if we continue to add restaurants and diners on an absolute basis. Although we expect that our 
growth rates will continue to slow during certain periods as our business increases in size, if we fail to retain either our existing 
restaurants (especially our most popular restaurants) or diners, the value of our takeout marketplace will be diminished. In addition, 
although we believe that many of our new restaurants and diners originate from word-of-mouth and other non-paid referrals from 
existing restaurants and diners, we also expect to continue to spend to acquire additional restaurants and diners. We cannot assure you 
that the revenue from the restaurants and diners we acquire will ultimately exceed the cost of acquisition. 

While a key part of our business strategy is to add restaurants and diners in our existing geographic markets, we will also 
continue to expand our operations into new geographic markets. In doing so, we may incur losses or otherwise fail to enter new 
markets successfully. Our expansion into new markets may place us in unfamiliar competitive environments and involve various risks, 
including the need to invest significant resources and the possibility that returns on such investments will not be achieved for several 
years or at all. 

Growth of our business will depend on a strong brand and any failure to maintain, protect and enhance our brand would hurt 
our ability to retain or expand our base of restaurants and diners and our ability to increase their level of engagement. 

We believe that a strong brand is necessary to continue to attract and retain diners and, in turn, the restaurants in our network. 

We need to maintain, protect and enhance our brand in order to expand our base of diners and increase their engagement with our 
websites and mobile applications. This will depend largely on our ability to continue to provide differentiated products, and we may 
not be able to do so effectively. While we may choose to engage in a broader marketing campaign to further promote our brand, this 
effort may not be successful or cost effective. If we are unable to maintain or enhance restaurant and diner awareness in a cost-
effective manner, our brand, business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed. Furthermore, negative publicity 
about our Company, including delivery problems, issues with our technology and complaints about our personnel or customer service, 
could diminish confidence in, and the use of, our products, which could harm our results of operations and business. 

10

We rely on restaurants in our network for many aspects of our business, and any failure by them to maintain their service levels 
could harm our business. 

We rely upon restaurants in our network, principally small and local independent businesses, and, to a lesser degree, our 
independent contractor driver network, to provide quality food to our diners on a timely basis. If these restaurants or our independent 
contractor driver network experience difficulty servicing diner demand, producing quality food, providing timely delivery and good 
service or meeting our other requirements or standards, our reputation and brand could be damaged. In addition, if restaurants in our 
network were to cease operations, temporarily or permanently, face financial distress or other business disruption, or if our 
relationships with restaurants in our network deteriorate, we may not be able to provide diners with restaurant choices. This risk is 
more pronounced in markets where we have fewer restaurants. In addition, if we are unsuccessful in choosing or finding popular 
restaurants, if we fail to negotiate satisfactory pricing terms with them or if we ineffectively manage these relationships, it could harm 
our business and results of operations. 

We may not continue to grow at historical rates or maintain profitability in the future. 

While our revenue has grown in recent periods, this growth rate may not be sustainable and we may not realize sufficient 
revenue to maintain profitability. We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including insufficient growth 
in the number of restaurants and diners on our platform, increasing competition, as well as other risks described in this Annual Report 
on Form 10-K, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays and other unknown factors. We 
expect to continue to make investments in the development and expansion of our business, which may not result in increased revenue 
or growth. In addition, as a public company, we incur and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that 
we did not incur as a private company. As a result of these increased expenditures, we will have to generate and sustain increased 
revenue to maintain profitability. Accordingly, we may not be able to maintain profitability and we may incur significant losses in the 
future, and this could cause the price of our common stock to decline. 

If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our brand, results of operations and business could be harmed. 

We have experienced rapid growth in our headcount and operations, both through organic growth and recent acquisitions. This 
growth places substantial demands on management and our operational infrastructure. Many of our employees have been with us for 
fewer than 18 months. We have and intend to continue to make substantial investments in our technology, customer care, sales and 
marketing infrastructure. As we continue to grow, we must effectively integrate, develop and motivate a large number of new 
employees, while maintaining the beneficial aspects of our Company culture. We may not be able to manage growth effectively. If we 
do not manage the growth of our business and operations effectively, the quality of our platform and efficiency of our operations could 
suffer, which could harm our brand, business and results of operations. 

The impact of economic conditions, including the resulting effect on consumer spending, may harm our business and results of 
operations. 

Our performance is subject to economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer spending. Some of the factors having 
an impact on discretionary consumer spending include general economic conditions, unemployment, consumer debt, reductions in net 
worth, residential real estate and mortgage markets, taxation, energy prices, interest rates, consumer confidence and other 
macroeconomic factors. Consumer purchases of discretionary items generally decline during recessionary periods and other periods in 
which disposable income is adversely affected. Small businesses that do not have substantial resources, like a substantial number of 
the restaurants in our network, tend to be more adversely affected by poor economic conditions than large businesses. Also, because 
spending for food purchases from restaurants is generally considered to be discretionary, any decline in consumer spending may have 
a disproportionate effect on our business relative to those businesses that sell products or services considered to be necessities. If 
spending at many of the restaurants in our network declines, or if a significant number of these restaurants go out of business, diners 
may be less likely to use our service, which could harm our business and results of operations. In addition, significant adverse 
economic conditions could harm the businesses of our corporate customers, resulting in decreased use of our platform. Restaurants in 
our network are located in diverse geographic areas across the U.S. and include major metropolitan areas like New York City, 
Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area. To the extent any one of these major metropolitan areas experience any of the above-
described conditions to a greater extent than other geographic areas, the harm to our business and results of operations could be 
exacerbated. 

We make the restaurant and diner experience our highest priority. Our dedication to making decisions based primarily on the 
best interests of restaurants and diners may cause us to forego short-term opportunities, which could impact our profitability. 

We base many of our decisions upon the best interests of the restaurants and diners who use our platform. We believe that this 
approach has been essential to our success in increasing our growth rate and the frequency with which restaurants and diners use our 
platform and has served our long-term interests and those of our stockholders. We believe that it is our responsibility to make our 
diners happy. In the past, we have foregone, and we may in the future forego, certain expansion or revenue opportunities that we do 
not believe are in the best interests of our restaurants and diners, even if such decisions negatively impact our business or results of 
operations in the short term. Our focus on making decisions based primarily on the interests of the restaurants and diners who use our 
platform may not result in the long-term benefits that we expect, and our business and results of operations may be harmed. 

11

If use of the Internet via websites, mobile devices and other platforms, particularly with respect to online food ordering, does not 
continue to increase as rapidly as we anticipate, our business and growth prospects will be harmed. 

Our business and growth prospects are substantially dependent upon the continued and increasing use of the Internet as an 
effective medium of transactions by diners. Internet use may not continue to develop at historical rates, and diners may not continue to 
use the Internet and other online services to order their food at current or increased growth rates or at all. In addition, the Internet and 
mobile applications may not continue to be accepted as a viable platform or resource for a number of reasons, including: 

•

•

•

•

actual or perceived lack of security of information or privacy protection; 

possible disruptions, computer viruses or other damage to Internet servers, users’ computers or mobile applications; 

excessive governmental regulation; and 

unacceptable delays due to actual or perceived limitations of wireless networks. 

Grubhub is expanding its independent contractor driver network. The status of the drivers as independent contractors, rather 
than employees, has been and may continue to be challenged. A reclassification of the drivers as employees could harm our 
business or results of operations. 

We are involved or may become involved in legal proceedings and investigations that claim that members of the delivery 
network who we treat as independent contractors for all purposes, including employment tax and employee benefits, should instead be 
treated as employees. In addition, there can be no assurance that legislative, judicial or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not 
introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would mandate that we change our classification of 
the drivers. In the event of a reclassification of members of our independent contractor driver network as employees, we could be 
exposed to various liabilities and additional costs. These liabilities and costs could have an adverse effect on our business and results 
of operations and/or make it cost prohibitive for us to deliver orders using our driver network, particularly in geographic areas where 
we do not have significant volume. These liabilities and additional costs could include exposure (for prior and future periods) under 
federal, state and local tax laws, and workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits, labor, and employment laws, as well as potential 
liability for penalties and interest.

If our security measures are compromised, or if our platform is subject to attacks that degrade or deny the ability of restaurants 
and diners to access our content, restaurants and diners may curtail or stop use of our platform. 

Like all online services, our platform is vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins, phishing attacks, attempts to overload our 

servers with denial-of-service, misappropriation of data through website scraping or other attacks and similar disruptions from 
unauthorized use of our computer systems, any of which could lead to interruptions, delays or website shutdowns, causing loss of 
critical data or the unauthorized disclosure or use of personally identifiable or other confidential information. Like most Internet 
companies, we have experienced interruptions in our service in the past due to software and hardware issues as well as denial-of-
service and other cyber-attacks and, in the future, may experience compromises to our security that result in performance or 
availability problems, the complete shutdown of our websites or the loss or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In the 
event of a prolonged service interruption or significant breach of our security measures, our restaurants and diners may lose trust and 
confidence in us and decrease their use of our platform or stop using our platform entirely. We may be unable to implement adequate 
preventative measures against or proactively address techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or 
sabotage systems because such techniques change frequently, often remain undetected until launched against a target and may 
originate from remote areas around the world that are less regulated. The impact of cyber security events experienced by third-parties 
with whom we do business (or upon whom we otherwise rely in connection with our day-to-day operations) could have a similar 
effect on us. Moreover, even cyber or similar attacks that do not directly affect us or third-parties with whom we do business may 
result in a loss of consumer confidence generally, which could make users less likely to use or continue to use our platform. Any or all 
of these issues could harm our ability to attract new restaurants and diners or deter current restaurants and diners from returning, 
reduce the frequency with which restaurants and diners use our platform, or subject us to third-party lawsuits, regulatory fines or other 
action or liability, thereby harming our business and results of operations. 

Our failure to protect personal information provided by our diners against inappropriate disclosure, including security 
breaches, could violate applicable law and contracts with our service providers and could result in liability to us, damage to our 
reputation and brand and harm to our business. 

We rely on third-party payment processors and encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties that is 
designed to effect secure transmission of personal information provided by our diners. In some cases, we retain third-party vendors to 
store data, including personal information. We may need to expend significant resources to protect against impermissible disclosure, 
including security breaches, or to address problems caused by such disclosure. If we, or our third-party providers, are unable to 
maintain the security of our diners’ personal information, our reputation and brand could be harmed and we may lose current and 
potential diners, be exposed to litigation and possible liability. 

Because we process and transmit payment card information, we are subject to the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) and Data 
Security Standard (the “Standard”). The Standard is a comprehensive set of requirements for enhancing payment account data security 

12

that was developed by the PCI Security Standards Council to help facilitate the broad adoption of consistent data security measures. 
We are required by payment card network rules to comply with the Standard, and our failure to do so may result in fines or restrictions 
on our ability to accept payment cards. Under certain circumstances specified in the payment card network rules, we may be required 
to submit to periodic audits, self-assessments or other assessments of our compliance with the Standard. Such activities may reveal 
that we have failed to comply with the Standard. If an audit, self-assessment or other test determines that we need to take steps to 
remediate any deficiencies, such remediation efforts may distract our management team and require us to undertake costly and time 
consuming remediation efforts. In addition, even if we comply with the Standard, there is no assurance that we will be protected from 
a security breach. 

We face potential liability, expenses for legal claims and harm to our business based on the nature of our business and the 
content on our platform. 

We face potential liability, expenses for legal claims and harm to our business relating to the nature of the takeout food business, 
including potential claims related to food offerings, delivery and quality. For example, third parties could assert legal claims against us 
in connection with personal injuries related to food poisoning or tampering or accidents caused by the delivery drivers of restaurants in 
our network or drivers in our delivery network. Alternatively, we could be subject to legal claims relating to the delivery of alcoholic 
beverages sold by restaurants on our network to underage diners. 

Reports, whether true or not, of food-borne illnesses (such as E. Coli, avian flu, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, hepatitis A, 

trichinosis or salmonella) and injuries caused by food tampering have severely injured the reputations of participants in the food 
business and could do so in the future as well. The potential for acts of terrorism on our nation’s food supply also exists and, if such an 
event occurs, it could harm our business and results of operations. In addition, reports of food-borne illnesses or food tampering, even 
those occurring solely at restaurants that are not in our network, could, as a result of negative publicity about the restaurant industry, 
harm our business and results of operations. 

In addition, we face potential liability and expense for claims relating to the information that we publish on our websites and 

mobile applications, including claims for trademark and copyright infringement, defamation, libel and negligence, among others. For 
example, we could be subject to claims related to the content published on allmenus.com, which contains approximately 440,000 
menus, based on the fact that we do not obtain prior permission from restaurants to include their menus. 

We have incurred and expect to continue to incur legal claims. Potentially, the frequency of such claims could increase in 
proportion to the number of restaurants and diners that use our platform and as we grow. These claims could divert management time 
and attention away from our business and result in significant costs to investigate and defend, regardless of the merits of the claims. In 
some instances, we may elect or be compelled to remove content or may be forced to pay substantial damages if we are unsuccessful 
in our efforts to defend against these claims. If we elect or are compelled to remove valuable content from our websites or mobile 
applications, our platform may become less useful to restaurants and diners and our traffic may decline, which could harm our 
business and results of operations. 

We may not timely and effectively scale and adapt our existing technology and network infrastructure to ensure that our 
platform is accessible, which would harm our reputation, business and results of operations. 

It is critical to our success that restaurants and diners within our geographic markets be able to access our platform at all times. 

We have previously experienced service disruptions and, in the future, we may experience service disruptions, outages or other 
performance problems due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors, capacity constraints due 
to an overwhelming number of diners accessing our platform simultaneously, and denial of service or fraud or security attacks. In 
some instances, we may not be able to identify the cause or causes of these performance problems within an acceptable period of time. 
It may become increasingly difficult to maintain and improve the availability of our platform, especially during peak usage times and 
as our products become more complex and our diner traffic increases. If our platform is unavailable when diners attempt to access it or 
it does not load as quickly as they expect, diners may seek other services, and may not return to our platform as often in the future, or 
at all. This would harm our ability to attract restaurants and diners and decrease the frequency with which they use our platform. We 
expect to continue to make significant investments to maintain and improve the availability of our platform and to enable rapid 
releases of new features and products. To the extent that we do not effectively address capacity constraints, respond adequately to 
service disruptions, upgrade our systems as needed or continually develop our technology and network architecture to accommodate 
actual and anticipated changes in technology, our business and results of operations would be harmed. 

We are subject to payment-related risks, and if payment processors are unwilling or unable to provide us with payment 
processing service or impose onerous requirements on us in order to access their services, or if they increase the fees they 
charge us for these services, our business and results of operations could be harmed. 

We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit and debit cards, Apple Pay®, Android Pay™, PayPal, Amex 
Express Checkout, Venmo, certain campus meal plans and gift cards. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, 
we pay bank interchange and other fees. These fees may increase over time and raise our operating costs and lower our profitability. 
We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit and debit cards. Our business may 
be disrupted for an extended period of time if any of these companies becomes unwilling or unable to provide these services to us. We 

13

are also subject to payment card association operating rules, certification requirements and rules governing electronic funds transfers, 
which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. If we fail to comply with these rules or 
requirements, we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees and/or lose our ability to accept credit and debit card payments 
from diners or facilitate other types of online payments, and our business and results of operations could be harmed. 

We rely on third parties, including our payment processor and data center hosts, and if these or other third parties do not 
perform adequately or terminate their relationships with us, our costs may increase and our business and results of operations 
could be harmed. 

Our success will depend upon our relationships with third parties, including our payment processor and data center hosts. We 
rely on a third-party payment processor and encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties that is designed to 
effect secure transmission of personal information provided by our diners. We also rely on third-party data center hosts to provide a 
reliable network backbone with the speed, data capacity, security and hardware necessary for reliable Internet access and services. If 
our payment processor, or a data center host, or another third party, does not perform adequately, terminates its relationship with us or 
refuses to renew its agreement with us on commercially reasonable terms, we may have difficulty finding an alternate provider on 
similar terms and in an acceptable timeframe, our costs may increase and our business and results of operations could be harmed. 

In addition, we rely on off-the-shelf hardware and software platforms developed by third parties to build and customize our 
Grubhub for Restaurants tablet and mobile application, quick-response code scanners and in-store ordering kiosks. If third parties fail 
to continue to produce or maintain these hardware and software platforms, our Grubhub for Restaurants tablet and mobile application, 
quick-response code scanners and in-store ordering kiosks may become less accessible to restaurants and diners, and our business and 
results of operations could be harmed. 

We compete primarily with the traditional offline ordering process and adherence to this traditional ordering method and 
pressure from existing and new companies that offer online ordering could harm our business and results of operations. 

We primarily compete with the traditional offline ordering process used by the vast majority of restaurants and diners involving 
the telephone and paper menus that restaurants distribute to diners, as well as advertising that restaurants place in local publications to 
attract diners. Changing traditional ordering habits is difficult and if restaurants and diners do not embrace the transition to online food 
ordering as we expect, our business and results of operations could be harmed. 

In addition to the traditional takeout ordering process, we compete with other online food ordering businesses, Enterprise 
restaurants that have their own online ordering platforms, point of sale companies and restaurant delivery services. Our current and 
future competitors may enjoy competitive advantages, such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories, greater market 
share in certain markets and larger existing user bases in certain markets and substantially greater financial, technical and other 
resources than we have. Greater financial resources and product development capabilities may allow these competitors to respond 
more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in restaurant and diner requirements that may render our products less 
attractive or obsolete. These competitors have and may continue to introduce new products with competitive price and performance 
characteristics and they may undertake more aggressive marketing campaigns than ours. Large Internet companies with substantial 
resources, users and brand power have also entered our market and compete with us. Furthermore, independent restaurants could 
determine that it is more cost effective to develop their own platforms to permit online takeout orders rather than use our service. 

If we lose existing restaurants or diners in our network, fail to attract new restaurants or diners or are forced to reduce our 
commission percentage or make pricing concessions as a result of increased competition, our business and results of operations could 
be harmed. 

If we do not continue to innovate and provide useful products or if our introduced products do not perform or are not adopted 
by restaurants in accordance with our expectations, we may not remain competitive and our business and results of operations 
could suffer. 

Our success depends in part on our ability to continue to innovate. To remain competitive, we must continuously enhance and 
improve the functionality and features of our platform, including our websites and mobile applications. The Internet and the online 
commerce industry are rapidly changing and becoming more competitive. If competitors introduce new products embodying new 
technologies, or if new industry standards and practices emerge, our existing websites, technology and mobile applications may 
become obsolete. Our future success could depend on our ability to: 

•

•

•

enhance our existing products and develop new products; 

persuade restaurants to adopt our new technologies and products in a timely manner; and 

respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. 

Developing our platform, which includes our mobile applications, websites and other technologies entails significant technical 

and business risks. We may use new technologies ineffectively, or we may fail to adapt to emerging industry standards. If we face 
material delays in introducing new or enhanced products or if our recently introduced products do not perform in accordance with our 
expectations, the restaurants and diners in our network may forego the use of our products in favor of those of our competitors. 

14

Internet search engines drive traffic to our platform and our new diner growth could decline and our business and results of 
operations would be harmed if we fail to appear prominently in search results. 

Our success depends in part on our ability to attract diners through unpaid Internet search results on search engines like Google, 

Yahoo! and Bing. The number of diners we attract to our platform from search engines is due in large part to how and where our 
websites rank in unpaid search results. These rankings can be affected by a number of factors, many of which are not under our direct 
control and may change frequently. For example, a search engine may change its ranking algorithms, methodologies or design layouts. 
As a result, links to our websites may not be prominent enough to drive traffic to our websites, and we may not know how or 
otherwise be in a position to influence the results. In some instances, search engine companies may change these rankings in a way 
that promotes their own competing products or services or the products or services of one or more of our competitors. Search engines 
may also adopt a more aggressive auction-pricing system for keywords that would cause us to incur higher advertising costs or reduce 
our market visibility to prospective diners. Our websites have experienced fluctuations in search result rankings in the past, and we 
anticipate similar fluctuations in the future. Any reduction in the number of diners directed to our platform could harm our business 
and results of operations.

We experience significant seasonal fluctuations in our financial results, which could cause our stock price to fluctuate. 

Our business is highly dependent on diner behavior patterns that we have observed over time. In our metropolitan markets, we 

generally experience a relative increase in diner activity from September to April and a relative decrease in diner activity from May to 
August. In addition, we benefit from increased order volume in our campus markets when school is in session and experience a 
decrease in order volume when school is not in session, during summer breaks and other vacation periods. Diner activity can also be 
impacted by colder or more inclement weather, which typically increases order volume, and warmer or sunny weather, which typically 
decreases order volume. Seasonality will likely cause fluctuations in our financial results on a quarterly basis. In addition, other 
seasonality trends may develop and the existing seasonality and diner behavior that we experience may change or become more 
significant. 

We expect a number of factors to cause our results of operations to fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis, which may 

make it difficult to predict our future performance. 

Our results of operations could vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year because of a variety of factors, many 

of which are outside of our control. As a result, comparing our results of operations on a period-to-period basis may not be 
meaningful. In addition to other risk factors discussed in this section, factors that may contribute to the variability of our quarterly and 
annual results include: 

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

our ability to attract new restaurants and diners and retain existing restaurants and diners in our network in a cost effective 
manner;

our ability to accurately forecast revenue and appropriately plan our expenses; 

the effects of changes in search engine placement and prominence; 

the effects of increased competition on our business; 

our ability to successfully expand in existing markets and successfully enter new markets; 

the impact of worldwide economic conditions, including the resulting effect on diner spending on takeout; 

the seasonality of our business, including the effect of academic calendars on college campuses and seasonal patterns in 
restaurant dining; 

the impact of weather on our business; 

our ability to protect our intellectual property; 

our ability to maintain an adequate rate of growth and effectively manage that growth; 

our ability to maintain and increase traffic to our platform; 

our ability to keep pace with technology changes in the takeout industry; 

the success of our sales and marketing efforts; 

costs associated with defending claims, including intellectual property infringement claims and related judgments or 
settlements; 

changes in governmental or other regulation affecting our business; 

interruptions in service and any related impact on our business, reputation or brand; 

the attraction and retention of qualified employees and key personnel; 

15

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our ability to choose and effectively manage third-party service providers; 

changes in diner behavior with respect to takeout; 

the effects of natural or man-made catastrophic events; 

the effectiveness of our internal controls; 

the impact of payment processor costs and procedures; 

changes in the online payment transfer rate; and 

changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional tax liabilities. 

The loss of key senior management personnel could harm our business and future prospects. 

We depend on our senior management and other key personnel. We may not be able to retain the services of any of our senior 

management or other key personnel. Although we have employment agreements with our key senior management personnel, their 
employment is at-will and they could leave at any time. The loss of any of our executive officers or other key employees could harm 
our business and future prospects. 

We depend on talented personnel to grow and operate our business, and if we are unable to hire, retain, manage and motivate 
our personnel, or if our new personnel do not perform as we anticipate, we may not be able to grow effectively. 

Our future success will depend upon our ability to continue to identify, hire, develop, motivate and retain talented personnel. We 
may not be able to retain the services of any of our employees or other members of senior management in the future. In addition, from 
time to time, there may be changes in our senior management team that may be disruptive to our business. If our senior management 
team fails to work together effectively and to execute our plans and strategies, our business and results of operations could be harmed. 

Our growth strategy also depends on our ability to expand our organization by attracting and hiring high-quality personnel. 
Identifying, attracting, recruiting, training, integrating, managing and motivating talented individuals will require significant time, 
expense and attention. Competition for talent is intense, particularly in technology driven industries such as ours. If we are not able to 
effectively recruit and retain our talent, our business and our ability to achieve our strategic objectives would be harmed. 

Unfavorable media coverage could harm our business and results of operations. 

We are the subject of media coverage from time to time. Unfavorable publicity regarding our business model, content, 

personnel, customer care, technology, product changes, product quality or privacy practices could harm our reputation. Such negative 
publicity could also harm the size of our network and engagement and loyalty of our restaurants and diners, which could adversely 
impact our business and results of operations. 

Our business, and that of our third-party providers and third-party data center, is subject to the risks of severe weather, 
earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural catastrophic events and to interruption by man-made problems such as 
computer viruses or terrorism. 

Our business, particularly in areas of significant concentration like New York, Chicago and San Francisco, is subject to damage 

or interruption from severe weather, earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, power losses, telecommunications failures, 
terrorist attacks, acts of war and similar events. For example, severe weather in Chicago, the location of our corporate headquarters 
and most of our customer care staff, could inhibit the ability of our customer care staff to get to work, which could result in service 
problems and complaints from restaurants or diners. As we rely heavily on our servers, computer and communications systems, as 
well as those of our third-party providers and third-party data centers, and the Internet to conduct our business and provide high 
quality customer service, disruptions could harm our ability to run our business, which could harm our results of operations and 
financial condition. For example, in 2017, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted business in the affected areas and in January 2016, 
Winter Storm Jonas caused certain restaurants to shut-down in New York City, and other East Coast cities, which resulted in 
restaurants being unable to fulfill orders on our platform. These events could also negatively impact diner activity or the ability of 
restaurants to continue to operate. 

Increases in food, labor, energy and other costs could adversely affect results of operations. 

An increase in restaurant operating costs could cause restaurants in our network to raise prices or cease operations. Factors such 

as inflation, increased food costs, increased labor and employee benefit costs, increased rent costs and increased energy costs may 
increase restaurant operating costs. Many of the factors affecting restaurant costs are beyond the control of the restaurants in our 
network. In many cases, these restaurants may not be able to pass along these increased costs to diners and, as a result, may cease 
operations, which could harm our profitability and results of operations. Additionally, if these restaurants raise prices, order volume 
may decline, which could harm our profitability and results of operations. 

16

Acquisitions could disrupt our business and harm our business and results of operations. 

As part of our business strategy, we have and we will continue to selectively explore acquisition opportunities of companies and 

technologies to strengthen our platform. For example, in 2018 we completed acquisitions of Tapingo and LevelUp and in 2017 we 
completed the acquisitions of Eat24 and Foodler. The identification of suitable acquisition candidates can be difficult, time consuming 
and costly, and we may not be able to successfully complete identified acquisitions. The risks we face in connection with acquisitions 
include: 

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regulatory hurdles; 

anticipated benefits may not materialize; 

diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to addressing acquisition integration challenges; 

transition of the acquired company’s users to our websites and mobile applications; 

retention of employees from the acquired company; 

assimilation, integration and maintenance of the acquired company’s business;

cultural challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization; 

integration of the acquired company’s accounting, management information, human resources and other administrative 
systems; 

the need to implement or improve controls, procedures and policies at a business that prior to the acquisition may have 
lacked effective controls, procedures and policies; 

coordination of product development and sales and marketing functions; 

liability for activities of the acquired company before the acquisition, including patent and trademark infringement claims, 
violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known and unknown liabilities; and 

litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, users, 
former stockholders or other third parties. 

Our failure to address these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and 

investments could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions or investments, cause us to incur 
unanticipated liabilities, and harm our business generally. Future acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of our equity 
securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses or the impairment of goodwill, any of which could harm 
our business and results of operations. 

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes could substantially harm our 
business and results of operations. 

We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as federal and state regulations and laws specifically governing 

the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet, e-commerce or other 
online services, and increase the cost of providing online services. These regulations and laws may cover sweepstakes, taxation, 
tariffs, user privacy, data protection, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, electronic contracts and other communications, 
consumer protection, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics and quality of services. It is not clear how existing 
laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales, use and other taxes, libel and personal privacy apply to the Internet and e-
commerce. Unfavorable resolution of these issues may harm our business and results of operations. 

Our business is subject to a variety of U.S. laws, many of which are unsettled and still developing and which could subject us to 
claims or otherwise harm our business or results of operations. 

We are subject to a variety of laws in the United States, including laws regarding data retention, online credit card payments, 

privacy, data security, distribution of user-generated content, consumer protection, tax and securities laws, which are frequently 
evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be 
conflicting.

 In addition, we may be subject to foreign data protection, privacy, and other laws and regulations, including without limitation 

the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation, which can be more restrictive than those in the United States and could impact our 
ability to transfer, process and/or receive transnational data. The regulatory framework for privacy and security issues is evolving and 
may remain in flux for some period of time. It is difficult to ascertain whether this will impact our business in the United Kingdom. It 
is also likely that if our business grows and evolves and our products are used in a greater number of geographies, we will become 
subject to laws and regulations in additional jurisdictions. It is difficult to predict how existing laws will be applied to our business and 
the new laws to which we may become subject. 

17

If we are not able to comply with these laws or regulations or if we become liable under these laws or regulations, we could be 

harmed, and we may be forced to implement new measures to reduce our exposure to this liability. This may require us to expend 
substantial resources or to discontinue certain products or features, which would negatively affect our business. In addition, the 
increased attention focused upon liability issues as a result of lawsuits and legislative proposals could harm our reputation or 
otherwise impact the growth of our business. Any costs incurred to prevent or mitigate this potential liability could also harm our 
business and results of operations. 

Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could harm our business and results of operations. 

Our business depends on our intellectual property, the protection of which is crucial to the success of our business. We rely on a 

combination of patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property. In 
addition, we attempt to protect our intellectual property, technology and confidential information by requiring our employees and 
consultants who develop intellectual property on our behalf to enter into confidentiality and assignment of inventions agreements and 
non-competition agreements, and third parties to enter into nondisclosure agreements. These agreements may not effectively prevent 
unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information, intellectual property or technology and may not provide an adequate 
remedy in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information, intellectual property or technology. Despite our 
efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may copy aspects of our website features, software and functionality or 
obtain and use information that we consider proprietary. 

We have registered, among numerous other trademarks, “Grubhub,” “Seamless,” “Tapingo,” “LevelUp,” and “MenuPages” as 

trademarks in the United States and abroad. Competitors have and may continue to adopt service names similar to ours, thereby 
harming our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to user confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or 
trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other trademarks that are similar to our trademarks. Litigation or proceedings 
before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or other governmental authorities and administrative bodies in the United States and 
abroad may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to determine the validity and scope of the 
proprietary rights of others. Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights may be ineffective and could result in substantial 
costs and diversion of resources, which could harm our business and results of operations. 

We may be unable to continue to use the domain names that we use in our business, or prevent third parties from acquiring and 
using domain names that infringe on, are similar to, or otherwise decrease the value of our brand or our trademarks or service 
marks. 

We have registered domain names for our websites that we use in our business, most importantly seamless.com, grubhub.com, 

eat24.com, thelevelup.com, tapingo.com, MenuPages.com and allmenus.com. If we lose the ability to use a domain name, whether 
due to trademark claims, failure to renew the applicable registration, or any other cause, we may be forced to market our products 
under a new domain name, which could cause us substantial harm, or to incur significant expense in order to purchase rights to the 
domain name in question. In addition, our competitors and others could attempt to capitalize on our brand recognition by using 
domain names similar to ours. Domain names similar to ours have been registered in the United States and elsewhere. We may be 
unable to prevent third parties from acquiring and using domain names that infringe on, are similar to, or otherwise decrease the value 
of our brand or our trademarks or service marks. Protecting and enforcing our rights in our domain names may require litigation, 
which could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, which could in turn harm our business and results of operations. 

Intellectual property infringement assertions by third parties could result in significant costs and harm our business, results of 
operations and reputation. 

We operate in an industry with extensive intellectual property litigation. Other parties have asserted, and in the future may 
assert, that we have infringed their intellectual property rights. Such litigation may involve patent holding companies or other adverse 
patent owners who have no relevant product revenue, and therefore our own issued and pending patents may provide little or no 
deterrence. We could be required to pay substantial damages or cease using intellectual property or technology that is deemed 
infringing. 

For example, we are currently a defendant in a patent infringement suit filed by Ameranth, Inc. (“Ameranth”) in which we are 
alleged to infringe on patents relating to online ordering software. See Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings, and Part II, Item 8, Note 8, 
Commitments and Contingencies, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a 
further discussion of this litigation. This litigation could cause us to incur significant expenses and costs. In addition, the outcome of 
any litigation is inherently unpredictable and, as a result of this litigation, we may be required to pay damages, an injunction may be 
entered against us, or a license or other right to continue to deliver an unmodified version of the service may not be made available to 
us at all or may require us to pay ongoing royalties and comply with unfavorable terms. Any of these outcomes could harm our 
business. Even if we were to prevail, this litigation could be costly and time-consuming, could divert the attention of our management 
and key personnel from our business operations, and may discourage restaurants and diners from using our products. 

Furthermore, we cannot predict whether other assertions of third-party intellectual property rights or claims arising from such 

assertions will substantially harm our business and results of operations. The defense of these claims and any future infringement 
claims, whether they are with or without merit or are determined in our favor, may result in costly litigation and diversion of technical 
and management personnel. Furthermore, an adverse outcome of a dispute may require us to pay damages, potentially including treble 
damages and attorneys’ fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a party’s patent or copyright rights; cease making, licensing or 

18

using products that are alleged to incorporate the intellectual property of others; expend additional development resources to redesign 
our products; and enter into potentially unfavorable royalty or license agreements in order to obtain the right to use necessary 
technologies. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In any event, we 
may need to license intellectual property which would require us to pay royalties or make one-time payments. Even if these matters do 
not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, the time and resources necessary to resolve 
them could harm our business, results of operations and reputation. 

Some of our products contain open source software, which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software and products. 

We use open source software in our products and will use open source software in the future. From time to time, we may face 
claims from third parties claiming ownership of, or demanding release of, the open source software and/or derivative works that we 
developed using such software (which could include our proprietary source code), or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of the 
applicable open source license. These claims could result in litigation and could require us to purchase a costly license or cease 
offering the implicated products unless and until we can re-engineer them to avoid infringement. This re-engineering process could 
require significant additional research and development resources. In addition to risks related to license requirements, use of certain 
open source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not 
provide warranties or controls on the origin of software. Any of these risks could be difficult to eliminate or manage, and, if not 
addressed, could harm our business and results of operations.

Our credit agreement contains operating and financial covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities. 

We are party to a credit agreement in connection with our secured, revolving credit facility. The obligations under the credit 

agreement are guaranteed by the Company and its domestic subsidiaries and secured by a lien on substantially all of the tangible and 
intangible property of the Company, and by a pledge of all of the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. 

The credit agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, require the Company to satisfy certain financial 

covenants and restrict the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, incur additional debt, create liens, make 
certain investments and acquisitions, pay dividends and make distributions, transfer and sell material assets and merge or consolidate. 
As a result, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business, and we may be unable to engage in favorable business 
activities. These restrictions could place us at a competitive disadvantage to competitors. 

Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, and we may not be able to meet these 

covenants. From time to time, we may be required to seek waivers or amendments to the credit agreement to maintain compliance 
with these covenants, and there can be no certainty that any such waiver or amendment will be available, or what the cost of such 
waiver or amendment, if obtained, would be. Non-compliance with one or more of these covenants could result in any amounts 
outstanding under the credit agreement becoming immediately due and payable and termination of the commitments. 

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash available to repay our debt obligations, if any, when they become due and payable, 

either when they mature or in the event of a default, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable 
terms, if at all.

In addition to the capital available under the credit facility, we may require additional capital to support business growth, and 
this capital might not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. 

We intend to continue to make investments to support our business growth and may require additional funds to respond to 
business challenges, including the need to develop new features and products or enhance our existing products, improve our operating 
infrastructure or acquire complementary businesses and technologies. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt 
financings to secure additional funds. If we raise additional funds through future issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our 
existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and 
privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. Any additional debt financing that we secure in the future could involve 
restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters. As a result, it may be more 
difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions. We may not be able 
to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms 
satisfactory to us when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges 
could be impaired, and our business may be harmed. 

Our business and results of operations may be harmed if we are deemed responsible for the collection and remittance of state 
sales taxes for our restaurants. 

If we are deemed an agent for the restaurants in our network under state tax law, we may be deemed responsible for collecting 

and remitting sales taxes directly to certain states. It is possible that one or more states could seek to impose sales, use or other tax 
collection obligations on us with regard to such food sales. These taxes may be applicable to past sales. A successful assertion that we 
should be collecting additional sales, use or other taxes or remitting such taxes directly to states could result in substantial tax 
liabilities for past sales and additional administrative expenses, which would harm our business and results of operations. 

19

As a public company, we incur significant costs to comply with the laws and regulations affecting public companies which 
could harm our business and results of operations. 

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the 

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and the listing 
requirements of the NYSE, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. These rules and regulations have increased and will 
continue to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and have made and will continue to make some activities 
more time consuming and costly. For example, these rules and regulations could make it more difficult and more costly for us to 
obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or to incur 
substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to 
attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or our board committees or as executive officers. Our 
management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. As a result, management’s 
attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could harm our business and operating results. Although we have hired 
additional employees to comply with these requirements, we may need to hire more employees in the future, which will increase our 
costs and expenses. 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock 

A significant portion of our common stock is held by our existing executive officers, directors and holders of 5% or more of our 
outstanding common stock, whose interests may differ from yours. 

As of February 15, 2019, our current executive officers, directors and holders of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock 

beneficially owned, in the aggregate, approximately 40% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Some of these persons or 
entities may have interests that are different from yours. For example, these stockholders may support proposals and actions with 
which you may disagree or which are not in your interests or which adversely impact the value of your investment. These stockholders 
will be able to exercise a significant level of control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of 
directors, amendment of our certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions. This control could have the 
effect of delaying or preventing a change of control in us or changes in management and could also make the approval of certain 
transactions difficult or impossible without the support of these stockholders, which in turn could reduce the price of our common 
stock. 

The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your 
investment. 

Since shares of our common stock were sold in our IPO in April 2014 at a price of $26.00 per share, the reported high and low 

sales prices of our common stock have ranged from $17.77 to $149.35 through February 15, 2019. An active, liquid and orderly 
market for our common stock may not be sustained, which could depress the trading price of our common stock. The trading price of 
our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are 
beyond our control. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock since you might be 
unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid. In addition to the factors discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and 
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include 
the following: 

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price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time; 

volatility in the market prices and trading volumes of technology stocks, particularly Internet stocks; 

changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other technology companies generally, or those in our 
industry in particular; 

sales of shares of our common stock by us or our stockholders; 

failure of securities analysts to maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who 
follow our Company or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors; 

the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in those projections or our failure to meet those 
projections; 

announcements by us or our competitors of new products; 

the public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements and filings with the SEC; 

rumors and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry; 

actual or anticipated changes in our results of operations or fluctuations in our results of operations; 

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actual or anticipated developments in our business, our competitors’ businesses or the competitive landscape generally; 

litigation involving us, our industry or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our 
competitors; 

developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights; 

announced or completed acquisitions of businesses or technologies by us or our competitors; 

new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business; 

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles; 

any significant change in our management; and 

general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of our markets. 

In addition, in the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of 

volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company’s securities. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could result in 
substantial costs, divert our management’s attention and resources and harm our business and results of operations. 

We cannot guarantee that we will repurchase additional shares of our common stock pursuant to our ongoing share repurchase 
program or that our share repurchase program will enhance stockholder value. Share repurchases could also increase the 
volatility of the price of our common stock and could diminish our cash reserves.

On January 22, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $100 million of our 
common stock exclusive of any fees, commissions or other expenses relating to such repurchases through open market purchases or 
privately negotiated transactions at the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. 

Although our Board of Directors has approved the share repurchase program, we are not obligated to repurchase any specific 
dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares. The timing and amount of repurchases, if any, will depend upon several 
factors, including market and business conditions, the trading price of our common stock and the nature of other investment 
opportunities. The repurchase program may be limited, suspended or discontinued at any time without prior notice, which could result 
in a decrease in the trading price of our common stock. In addition, repurchases of our common stock pursuant to our share repurchase 
program could affect the trading price of our common stock or increase its volatility. For example, the existence of a share repurchase 
program could cause our stock price to be higher than it would be in the absence of such a program and could potentially reduce the 
market liquidity for our common stock. Additionally, our share repurchase program may cause us to incur debt or reduce our cash 
reserves, and those reserves may be reduced further in the future, which may impact our ability to finance future growth and to pursue 
possible future strategic opportunities and acquisitions. There is no assurance that our share repurchase program will enhance 
stockholder value and short-term stock price fluctuations could reduce the program’s effectiveness.

If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, the accuracy and timeliness of 
our financial reporting may be adversely affected.

We are responsible for implementing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and are required, 

pursuant to Section 404, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over 
financial reporting. This assessment requires disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal 
control over financial reporting. While we have determined that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of 
December 31, 2018, as indicated in our Management’s Report and Attestation Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, we must continue to monitor and assess 
our internal control over financial reporting. If during the evaluation and testing process we identify one or more material weaknesses 
in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal controls are effective. If we are unable to 
assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to 
express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal controls or concludes that we have a material weakness in our internal controls, 
investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could adversely affect the market price 
of our common stock. In addition, if we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner each year, we 
could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, the NYSE or other regulatory authorities which would require additional 
financial and management resources and could adversely affect the market price of our stock.

In addition, implementing any appropriate changes to our internal controls may distract our officers and employees, entail 
substantial costs to implement new processes and modify our existing processes and take significant time to complete. Moreover, any 
such changes do not guarantee that we will be effective in maintaining the adequacy of our internal controls, and any failure to 
maintain that adequacy, or consequent inability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis, could increase our 
operating costs and harm our business. Furthermore, investors’ perceptions that our internal controls are inadequate or that we are 
unable to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis may harm our stock price. 

21

Anti-takeover provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could 
impair a takeover attempt. 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain and Delaware law contains provisions, which could have the effect of 

rendering more difficult, delaying or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by our board of directors. Our corporate 
governance documents include provisions: 

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creating a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered three-year terms; 

authorizing “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors without stockholder approval 
and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock; 

limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers; 

limiting the ability of our stockholders to call and bring business before special meetings; 

requiring advance notice of stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of our stockholders and for 
nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors; 

controlling the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of board of directors and stockholder meetings; and 

providing our board of directors with the express power to postpone previously scheduled annual meetings and to cancel 
previously scheduled special meetings. 

These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our 

management. 

As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the Delaware General 

Corporation law, which prevents some stockholders holding more than 15% of our outstanding common stock from engaging in 
certain business combinations without approval of the holders of substantially all of our outstanding common stock. 

Any provision of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in 

control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also 
affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock. 

If securities or industry analysts issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our common stock or do not publish or cease 
publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our 
common stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline. 

The trading market for our common stock is influenced, to some extent, by the research and reports that industry or securities 

analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. We do not control these analysts or the content and 
opinions included in their reports. If any of the analysts who cover us change their recommendation regarding our common stock 
adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our stock price would likely decline. If any 
analyst who covers us were to cease coverage of our Company or fail to publish reports on us regularly or if analysts elect not to 
provide research coverage of our common stock, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock 
price or trading volume to decline. 

We do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future. 

We do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Consequently, 
investors may need to rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize 
any future gains on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock. 

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments 

None. 

Item 2.

Properties 

The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 111 W. Washington, Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60602. As of 

December 31, 2018, the Company leased approximately 164,072 square feet of office space that houses the principal operations in 
Chicago, Illinois, approximately 81,219 square feet of office space in New York, New York and an aggregate of approximately 
192,000 square feet of office space in various locations throughout the U.S. as well as in the U.K. and Israel as a result of acquisitions 
and organic growth. The Company believes these facilities are in good condition and sufficient for its current needs, but may need to 
seek additional or expanded facilities if the business continues to grow. 

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Item 3.

Legal Proceedings 

For a description of the Company’s material pending legal proceedings, please see Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies - 
Legal, to the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 
10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4:

Mine Safety Disclosures 

Not applicable. 

23

PART II. 

Item 5.

Market for Grubhub Inc.’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matter and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities 

The Company’s common stock began trading on the NYSE under the symbol “GRUB” on April 4, 2014. Before then, there was 

no public market for the Company’s common stock. 

Holders 

As of the close of business on February 15, 2019, there were approximately 29 stockholders of record of the Company’s 

common stock. The number of holders of record is based upon the actual number of holders registered at such date and does not 
include holders of shares in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associates, corporations or other entities in security position 
listings maintained by depositories. 

Dividends 

There were no distributions to common and preferred stockholders during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 

and the Company currently intends to retain any future earnings and does not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. 
Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors, subject to 
applicable laws, and will depend on a number of factors, including the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital 
requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities 

On April 25, 2018, the Company sold 2,820,464 shares of its common stock (the “Acquired Shares”) to the Yum Restaurant 

Services Group, LLC (the “Investor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. This issuance and sale is exempt from 
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The 
Investor represented to the Company that it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of the Securities Act and that the 
Acquired Shares are being acquired for investment purposes and not with a view to any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends 
will be affixed to the Acquired Shares. See Part II, Item 8, Note 12, Stockholders' Equity, to the accompanying notes to the 
consolidated financial statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 

On January 22, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a program (the “Repurchase Program”) that authorizes 
the repurchase of up to $100 million of the Company’s common stock exclusive of any fees, commissions or other expenses relating 
to such repurchases through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions at the prevailing market price at the time of 
purchase. The Repurchase Program was announced on January 25, 2016. Repurchased stock may be retired or held as authorized but 
unissued treasury shares. The repurchase authorizations do not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common 
stock or adopt any particular method of repurchase and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time at the Company’s 
discretion. Repurchased and retired shares will result in an immediate reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the 
weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share at the time of the transaction. 

During the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, the Company did not repurchase any of its common stock. See Part 

II, Item 8, Note 12, Stockholders' Equity, for additional details of common stock repurchased since inception of the program. 

24

 
Company Stock Performance Graph 

The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total return for the Company’s common stock, the NYSE Composite 

Index and the RDG Internet Composite Index from April 4, 2014 (the date the Company’s common stock commenced trading on the 
NYSE) through December 31, 2018. The graph assumes that $100 was invested at market close on April 3, 2014 in each of the 
Company’s common stock, the NYSE Composite Index and the RDG Internet Composite Index. Such returns are based on historical 
results and are not intended to suggest future performance. The cumulative total returns for the NYSE Composite Index and the RDG 
Internet Composite Index assume reinvestment of dividends.

$560

$510

$460

$410

$360

$310

$260

$210

$160

$110

$60

3/3 1/2 0 1 4

6/3 0/2 0 1 4

1 2/3 1/2 0 1 4
9/3 0/2 0 1 4

3/3 1/2 0 1 5

6/3 0/2 0 1 5

1 2/3 1/2 0 1 5
9/3 0/2 0 1 5

3/3 1/2 0 1 6

6/3 0/2 0 1 6

1 2/3 1/2 0 1 6
9/3 0/2 0 1 6

3/3 1/2 0 1 7

6/3 0/2 0 1 7

1 2/3 1/2 0 1 7
9/3 0/2 0 1 7

3/3 1/2 0 1 8

6/3 0/2 0 1 8

1 2/3 1/2 0 1 8
9/3 0/2 0 1 8

GRUB

NYSE Composite

RDG Internet Composite

This performance graph shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of 
the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference 
into any filing of Grubhub Inc. under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act. 

25

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data 

The selected financial data presented below reflects the results of operations and financial condition of Grubhub Inc. for the 

periods presented and the results of acquired businesses from the relevant acquisition dates. The audited consolidated financial 
statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are necessary for the fair 
presentation of the financial statements. The following selected consolidated financial data is not necessarily indicative of the results 
of future operations and should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations,” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Part II, 
Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to fully understand factors that may 
affect the comparability of the information presented below. 

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017
2015
2016
(in thousands, except per share data)

2014

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Revenues(a)
Total costs and expenses(a)
Income before provision for income taxes
Net income attributable to common stockholders
Net income per share attributable to common 
stockholders:
Basic
Diluted

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
Working capital(b)
Total assets
Total stockholders’ equity
Other Financial Information:
Adjusted EBITDA(c)
Cash Flow Data:

  $1,007,257   $ 683,067    $ 493,331    $ 361,825    $ 253,873 
300,403      208,889 
44,984 
61,929     
24,263 
38,077     

593,317     
89,648     
98,983     

410,208     
83,852     
49,557     

922,294    
81,433    
78,481    

  $
  $

0.88   $
0.85   $

1.15    $
1.12    $

0.58    $
0.58    $

0.45    $
0.44    $

0.33 
0.30 

140,607    

  $ 225,329   $ 257,695    $ 323,619    $ 310,741    $ 313,137 
266,662      241,199 
    2,065,708     1,543,769      1,197,507      1,060,248      978,877 
877,596      770,522 
    1,442,339     1,117,816     

185,935     

285,847     

972,119     

  $ 233,742   $ 183,988    $ 144,646    $ 104,967    $

78,703 

Net cash provided by operating activities(d)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities    
Net cash provided by financing activities

  $ 225,527   $ 154,144    $
(336,962)   
178,059     

(594,004)  
346,685    

97,780    $
(45,519)   
19,344     

43,988    $

74,609 
(116,397)    (118,740)
39,404      161,332  

Reflects results of acquired businesses from the relevant acquisition dates. 

(a) On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards 
Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”) using the modified retrospective 
method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods 
beginning on or after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted 
and continue to be reported in accordance with historical accounting guidance under ASC Topic 605. See Part II, Item 8, 
Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 3, Revenue, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details, 
including the impact of ASC Topic 606 on the Company’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018. 
The adoption of ASC Topic 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position 
or cash flows.

(b) Working capital is calculated as current assets less current liabilities.

(c)

(d)

See the section titled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for more information and for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net 
income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with accounting 
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). 

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted 
Cash” in the first quarter of 2018 with amendments applied on a retrospective basis. See Part II, Item 8, Note 2, 
Significant Accounting Policies, for additional details. 

Includes the following items: 

For 2018: Acquisitions of businesses, including LevelUp and Tapingo, for an aggregate of $517.9 million in net cash paid, 
$200.0 million of proceeds from the issuance of common stock to Yum Restaurant Services Group, LLC (see Note 12, 

26

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
    
 
 
   
   
   
 
   
      
       
       
       
 
     
      
       
       
       
 
   
     
      
       
       
       
 
     
      
       
       
       
 
   
Stockholders’ Equity), $168.1 million of borrowings under the Company’s credit facility (net of repayments of $53.9 million), 
payments to acquire certain assets of OrderUp of $11.9 million and acquisition and restructuring costs of $7.6 million.

For 2017: Acquisition of Eat24 and Foodler for an aggregate of $333.3 million in net cash paid, $174.2 million of borrowings 
under the Company’s credit facility (net of repayments of $25.8 million), $61.2 million of proceeds from maturities of 
investments net of purchases, income tax benefit of $34.1 million related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) (see Part 
II, Item 8, Note 11, Income Taxes), acquisitions of other intangible assets including certain assets of OrderUp of $25.1 million 
and acquisition-related and non-recurring legal costs of $9.6 million. 

For 2016: Acquisition of LABite for $65.8 million in cash, $58.0 million of proceeds from maturities of investments net of 
purchases and repurchases of common stock of $14.8 million.

For 2015: Acquisition of three restaurant delivery services for an aggregate of $73.9 million in cash and net purchases of 
investments of $30.8 million. 

For 2014: Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock in the IPO and the follow-on offering of $142.5 million and 
purchases of investments of $113.2 million. 

Key Business Metrics 

To analyze the Company’s business performance, determine financial forecasts and help develop long-term strategic plans, 

management reviews the following key business metrics: 

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Year Ended December 31,

Key Business Metrics:
Active Diners(a)
Daily Average Grubs(b)
Gross Food Sales (in millions)(c)

   17,688,000    14,462,000    8,174,000    6,746,000    5,029,000 
182,800 
1,787.4  

227,100   
2,353.6  $

274,800   
2,998.1  $

334,000   
3,783.7  $

435,900   
5,056.8  $

 $

Key business metrics include transactions placed on the Platform where the Company provides marketing services to generate 
orders. The Platform excludes transactions where the Company exclusively provides technology or fulfillment services. Reflects 
results of acquired businesses from the relevant acquisition dates. 

(a) Active Diners are the number of unique diner accounts from which an order has been placed in the past twelve months 

through the Company’s Platform.

(b) Daily Average Grubs are the number of orders placed on the Platform divided by the number of days for a given period. 

(c) Gross Food Sales are the total value of food, beverages, taxes, prepaid gratuities, and any delivery fees processed through 
the Company’s Platform. The Company includes all revenue generating orders placed on the Platform in this metric; 
however, revenues are recognized on a net basis for the Company’s commissions from the transaction, which are a 
percentage of the total Gross Food Sales for such transaction. 

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

Overview 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be 
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K. Unless otherwise stated, the discussion below primarily reflects the historical condition and results of operations for Grubhub 
Inc. for the periods presented and the results of acquired businesses from the relevant acquisition dates. In addition to historical 
consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s plans, 
estimates, and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could 
cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly 
in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”. This overview summarizes the MD&A, which includes the following sections: 

•

•

Our Business –for a general description of our business, strategy, challenges and products and services see Part I, Item 1, 
“Business” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

Significant Accounting Policies and Critical Estimates – for further discussion of accounting policies that require critical 
judgments and estimates see Part II, Item 8, Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the accompanying 
notes to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
    
     
     
     
     
 
  
•

•

Operations Review – an analysis of our consolidated results of operations for the three years presented in our consolidated 
financial statements, pro-forma results of operations and non-GAAP financial measures. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources – an analysis of cash flows, contractual obligations and commitments, the impact of 
inflation, changes in interest rates and fluctuations in foreign currency and an overview of financial position. 

Significant Accounting Policies and Critical Estimates 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to 

make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures. We 
evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other 
assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates. We believe 
our most critical accounting policies and estimates relate to the following: 

•

•

•

•

•

•

Revenue recognition 

Website and software development costs 

Recoverability of intangible assets with finite lives and other long-lived assets 

Stock-based compensation 

Goodwill 

Income Taxes

For a description of our significant accounting policies including critical judgments and estimates, see Part II, Item 8, Note 2, 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report 
on Form 10-K.

Operations Review

Executive Overview 

In 2018, we continued our strong growth trajectory, generating 47% revenue growth and accelerated growth in Daily Average 

Grubs throughout 2018 as compared to 2017. 

Compared to 2017, our revenues increased by $324.2 million, or 47%, to $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

The increase was primarily related to the significant growth in Active Diners, which increased from 14.5 million as of December 31, 
2017 to 17.7 million at the end of December 31, 2018, driving an increase in Daily Average Grubs to 435,900 during the year ended 
December 31, 2018 from 334,000 Daily Average Grubs during 2017. We processed $5.1 billion in Gross Food Sales in 2018, a 34% 
increase from the $3.8 billion in Gross Food Sales processed in 2017. The growth in Active Diners and Daily Average Grubs was due 
to increased product and brand awareness largely as a result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth referrals, better restaurant 
choices for diners in our markets, technology and product improvements to drive more orders and the full year impact of the Eat24 
acquisition. In addition, revenue increased during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to an 
increase in our average commission rates, a higher average order size and the inclusion of results from our recent acquisitions (see Part 
II, Item 8, Note 4, Acquisitions).

Net income decreased by $20.5 million to $78.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the year ended 

December 31, 2017. The decrease was driven by the one-time income tax benefit of $34.1 million recognized in the year ended 
December 31, 2017 related to the Tax Act (see Part II, Item 8, Note 11, Income Taxes). Additionally, net income during the year 
ended December 31, 2018 reflects the impact of increased costs due to the expansion of the Company’s delivery services and 
increased advertising to generate organic growth as well as an increase in certain other expenses to support organic growth in the 
business and higher order volume and as a result of the impact of recent acquisitions. These costs primarily included compensation 
and benefits expenses, payment processing costs, as well as depreciation and amortization of recently acquired intangible assets and 
other general and administrative expenses of the acquired companies. 

On November 7, 2018, we acquired Tapingo and on September 13, 2018, we acquired LevelUp. The aggregate purchase price 

for the acquisitions was $521.5 million, net of cash acquired and including non-cash consideration. Additionally, on October 30, 2018, 
we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the restaurant and diner network assets of OrderUp, an online and mobile food-
ordering company for $18.5 million. We previously acquired certain assets of OrderUp in September 2017 from Groupon, Inc. The 
acquisition of businesses and other intangible assets has simplified our integrations with restaurants’ systems, increased diner 
engagement, accelerated product development and expanded the breadth and depth of our network of diners and restaurants.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company borrowed $222.0 million under its credit facility entered into in 

October 2017 to finance a portion of the purchase price and transaction costs in connection with the acquisitions of LevelUp and 

28

Tapingo. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we made principal payments of $53.9 million from cash on hand. As of 
December 31, 2018, outstanding borrowings under the credit facility were $342.3 million. The Company entered into an amended and 
restated credit agreement on February 6, 2019 which expanded the available facility by $200.0 million (see Part II, Item 8, Note 16, 
Subsequent Events, for additional details).

On April 25, 2018, we sold 2,820,464 shares of our common stock to Yum Restaurant Services Group, LLC (the “Investor”), a 

wholly owned subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., for an aggregate purchase price of $200.0 million pursuant to the investment 
agreement, dated as of February 7, 2018, by and among the Company and the Investor. The Company has used and expects to use 
proceeds for general corporate purposes including accelerating the expansion of delivery services, investing in the platform, 
repayment of borrowings under the credit facility and pursuing growth opportunities. Concurrent with the investment agreement, we 
entered into a services agreement with Yum! Brands, Inc. to provide online ordering and delivery services to its U.S. restaurants. 

Key Business Metrics 

To analyze our business performance, determine financial forecasts and help develop long-term strategic plans, we review key 

business metrics which include transactions placed on the Platform where the Company provides marketing services to generate 
orders. The Platform excludes transactions where the Company exclusively provides technology or fulfillment services. The following 
key business metrics are reviewed: 

Active Diners. 

We count Active Diners as the number of unique diner accounts from which an order has been placed in the past twelve months 
through our Platform. Diner accounts from which an order has been placed on one of our websites or one of our mobile 
applications are included in our Active Diner metrics. Active Diners is an important metric for us because the number of diners 
using our Platform is a key revenue driver and a valuable measure of the size of our engaged diner community. Some of our 
diners could have more than one account if they were to set up multiple accounts using a different e-mail address for each 
account. As a result, it is possible that our Active Diners metric may count certain diners more than once during any given 
period.

Daily Average Grubs. 

We count Daily Average Grubs as the number of orders placed on our Platform divided by the number of days for a given 
period. Daily Average Grubs is an important metric for us because the number of orders processed on our Platform is a key 
revenue driver and, in conjunction with the number of Active Diners, a valuable measure of diner activity on our Platform for a 
given period.

Gross Food Sales. 

We calculate Gross Food Sales as the total value of food, beverages, taxes, prepaid gratuities, and any diner-paid delivery fees 
processed through our Platform. We include all revenue generating orders placed on our Platform in this metric. Gross Food 
Sales is an important metric for us because the total volume of food sales transacted through our Platform is a key revenue 
driver. Because we act as an agent of the merchant in the transaction, revenues are recognized on a net basis for our 
commissions from the transaction, which are a percentage of the total Gross Food Sales for such transaction.

Our key business metrics are as follows for the periods presented: 

Active Diners
Daily Average Grubs
Gross Food Sales (in millions)

Year Ended December 31,
2017

2016

    2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

% Change

2018
    17,688,000 
435,900 
5,056.8    $

  $

   14,462,000      8,174,000     
274,800     
2,998.1     

334,000     
3,783.7    $

22%   
31%   
34%   

77%
22%
26%

We experienced significant growth across all of our key business metrics, Active Diners, Daily Average Grubs and Gross Food 

Sales, during the periods presented.

2018 compared to 2017
The Company experienced significant growth across all of its key business metrics during the year ended December 31, 2018 as 

compared to the same periods in the prior year. Growth in all metrics was primarily attributable to increased product and brand 
awareness by diners largely as a result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth referrals, better restaurant choices for diners in our 
markets and technology and product improvements to drive more orders as well as the full year impact of Eat24 on Daily Average 
Grubs and Gross Food Sales. 

2017 compared to 2016

The Company experienced significant growth across all of its key business metrics, Active Diners, Daily Average Grubs and 

Gross Food Sales, during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the same periods in the prior year. Growth in all metrics 

29

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
  
was primarily attributable to increased product and brand awareness by diners largely as a result of marketing efforts and word-of-
mouth referrals, better restaurant choices for diners in our markets and technology and product improvements. The increase in our key 
business metrics, particularly Active Diners, was also impacted by the inclusion of results from recent acquisitions.

Basis of Presentation 

Revenues 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts 

which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 are presented 
under ASC Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historical 
accounting guidance under ASC Topic 605. See Part II, Item 8, Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 3, Revenue, in this 
Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details, including a description of the Company’s revenue recognition policies under ASC 
Topic 606. The adoption of ASC Topic 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position 
or cash flows.

We generate revenues primarily when diners place an order on our Platform through our mobile applications, our websites, or 

through third-party websites that incorporate our API or one of our listed phone numbers. Restaurants pay us a commission, typically 
a percentage of the transaction on orders that are processed through our Platform. Most of the restaurants on our Platform can choose 
their level of commission rate, at or above the base rate. A restaurant can choose to pay a higher rate which affects its prominence and 
exposure to diners on the Platform. Additionally, restaurants that use our delivery services pay an additional commission for the use of 
those services. We may also charge a delivery fee directly to the diner. 

For most orders, diners use a credit card to pay us for their meal when the order is placed. For these transactions, we collect the 

total amount of the diner’s order net of payment processing fees from the payment processor and remit the net proceeds to the 
restaurant less commissions. We generally accumulate funds and remit the net proceeds to the restaurants on at least a monthly basis. 
We also deduct commissions for other transactions that go through our platform, such as cash transactions for restaurants in our 
network, from the aggregate proceeds received.

We periodically provide incentive offers to restaurants and diners to use our Platform. These promotions are generally cash 

credits to be applied against purchases. These incentive offers are recorded as reductions in revenues, generally on the date the 
corresponding revenue is recorded.

We also derive some revenues from mobile application development professional services and access to the respective order 

ahead platforms and related tools and services. 

We generate a small amount of revenues directly from companies that participate in our corporate ordering program and by 

selling advertising on our allmenus.com website. 

We do not anticipate that corporate fees, advertising, professional services or fees to access order ahead platforms and tools will 

generate a significant portion of our revenues in the foreseeable future. 

Costs and Expenses 

Operations and Support 

Operations and support expenses consist of salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation expense and bonuses for salaried 

employees and payments to independent contractors engaged in customer care, operations and restaurant delivery services. Operations 
and support expenses also include payment processing costs for diner orders, costs of uploading and maintaining restaurant menu 
content, communications costs related to orders, facilities costs allocated on a headcount basis and other expenses related to operating 
and maintaining an independent delivery network. 

Sales and Marketing 

Sales and marketing expenses contain advertising expenses including search engine marketing, television, online display, media 
and other programs. Sales and marketing expenses also consist of salaries, commissions, benefits, stock-based compensation expense 
and bonuses for restaurant sales, restaurant sales support, corporate and campus program customer sales and marketing employees, 
payments to contractors and facilities costs allocated on a headcount basis. 

Technology (exclusive of amortization) 

Technology (exclusive of amortization) expenses consist of salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation expense and 

bonuses for salaried employees and payments to contractors engaged in the design, development, maintenance and testing of our 
platform, including our websites, mobile applications and other products. Technology expenses also include facilities costs allocated 
on a headcount basis but do not include amortization of capitalized website and software development costs. 

30

General and Administrative 

General and administrative expenses consist of salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation expense and bonuses for executive, 

finance, accounting, legal, human resources and administrative support. General and administrative expenses also include legal, 
accounting, other third-party professional services, other miscellaneous expenses and facilities costs allocated on a headcount basis. 

Depreciation and Amortization 

Depreciation and amortization expenses primarily consist of amortization of acquired intangibles and depreciation of computer 

equipment, furniture and fixtures, leasehold improvements and capitalized website and software development costs. 

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

Income tax (benefit) expense consists of federal and state income taxes in the United States and income taxes in certain foreign 
jurisdictions, deferred income taxes reflecting the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, excess tax benefits or deficiencies from 
stock-based compensation and net operating loss carryforwards. 

Results of Operations 

The following tables set forth our results of operations for the periods presented in dollars and as a percentage of our revenues:

Revenues
Costs and expenses:

Operations and support
Sales and marketing
Technology (exclusive of amortization)
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses(a)

Income from operations
Interest (income) expense - net
Income before provision for income taxes

Income tax (benefit) expense

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

2016

Amount

% of
revenue  

  Amount

% of
revenue  

  Amount

% of
revenue  

(in thousands, except percentages)

$ 1,007,257     

100%  $ 683,067     

100%   $493,331     

100% 

454,321     
214,290     
82,278     
85,465     
85,940     
922,294     
84,963     
3,530     
81,433     
2,952     
78,481     

45%    269,453     
21%    150,730     
8%    56,263     
8%    65,023     
9%    51,848     
92%    593,317     
8%    89,750     
0%   
102     
8%    89,648     
0%   
(9,335)    
8%  $ 98,983     

39%     171,756     
22%     110,323     
8%     42,454     
10%     50,482     
8%     35,193     
87%     410,208     
13%     83,123     
(729)    
0%    
13%     83,852     
(1%)    34,295     
14%   $ 49,557     

35% 
22% 
9% 
10% 
7% 
83% 
17% 
0% 
17% 
7% 
10% 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:

Adjusted EBITDA(b)

$

233,742     

23%  $ 183,988     

27%   $144,646     

29%  

(a) Totals of percentage of revenues may not foot due to rounding

(b) For an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of the Company’s operating performance and a reconciliation to net 

earnings, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measure—Adjusted EBITDA” below.

Revenues

Revenues

$ 1,007,257    $

683,067    $

493,331   

47% 

38%

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

(in thousands)

2018 compared to 2017

Revenues increased by $324.2 million, or 47%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017. The increase was 
primarily related to significant growth in Active Diners, which increased from 14.5 million to 17.7 million at the end of each year, 
driving an increase in Daily Average Grubs to 435,900 during the year ended December 31, 2018 from 334,000 Daily Average Grubs 
during 2017. The growth in Active Diners and Daily Average Grubs was due to increased product and brand awareness largely as a 
result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth referrals, better restaurant choices for diners in our markets, and technology and 
product improvements to drive more orders, as well as the impact of Eat24, OrderUp and Foodler. In addition, revenue increased 

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
  
   
      
  
   
      
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
  
   
      
  
   
      
  
 
   
       
 
     
       
 
     
       
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017 due to an increase in our average commission rates, higher average order 
size and the inclusion of results from acquisitions (see Part II, Item 8, Note 4, Acquisitions to our consolidated financial statements in 
this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

2017 compared to 2016

Revenues increased by $189.7 million, or 38%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The increase was 
primarily related to significant growth in Active Diners, which increased from 8.2 million to 14.5 million at the end of each year, 
driving an increase in Daily Average Grubs to 334,000 during the year ended December 31, 2017 from 274,800 Daily Average Grubs 
during 2016. The growth in Active Diners and Daily Average Grubs was due to increased product and brand awareness largely as a 
result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth referrals, better restaurant choices for diners in our markets, and technology and 
product improvements to drive more orders, as well as the impact of recent acquisitions. In addition, revenue increased during the year 
ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016 due to an increase in our average commission rates, the inclusion of results from the 
acquisitions (see Part II, Item 8, Note 4, Acquisitions, to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K) 
and a higher average order size.

Operations and Support

Operations and support
Percentage of revenues

2018 compared to 2017

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

2016 to 2017  

(in thousands, except percentages)

$

454,321 

  $

45% 

269,453    $
39% 

171,756 

35%  

69%  

57%

Operations and support expense increased by $184.9 million, or 69%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017. 
This increase was primarily attributable to expenses incurred to support the 34% growth in Gross Food Sales and the related increase 
in order volume including expenses related to delivering orders, customer care and operations personnel costs, the inclusion of results 
from recent acquisitions and payment processing costs. Delivery expenses increased during the year ended December 31, 2018 
compared to the prior year due to organic growth of our delivery orders and the expansion of the delivery network in general. 

2017 compared to 2016

Operations and support expense increased by $97.7 million, or 57%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. 
This increase was primarily attributable to the 26% growth in Gross Food Sales and the related increase in expenses to support higher 
order volumes including expenses related to delivering orders, customer care and operations personnel costs, payment processing costs, 
and the inclusion of results from the acquisitions. Delivery expenses increased disproportionally with revenue growth during the year 
ended December 31, 2017 compared to the prior year due to organic growth of delivery orders and expansion of the delivery network 
in general. 

Sales and Marketing

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

Sales and marketing
Percentage of revenues

$

2018 compared to 2017

(in thousands, except percentages)
  $

150,730 

  $

214,290 

21%  

22%  

110,323 

22%  

42%   

37%

Sales and marketing expense increased by $63.6 million, or 42%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017. The 

increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $63.1 million in our advertising campaigns across various media channels. The 
increase was partially offset by the net deferral of $9.0 million of payroll commission and bonus costs as a result of adopting ASC 
Topic 606 (see Part II, Item 8, Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies) during the year ended December 31, 2018. Sales and 
marketing expense was 21% of revenues in 2018, a slight decrease from 22% in 2017.

2017 compared to 2016

Sales and marketing expense increased by $40.4 million, or 37%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The 

increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $31.7 million in our advertising campaigns across most media channels. The 
increase in sales and marketing expense was also due to the 19% growth in our sales and marketing teams and related commissions, 
salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, and stock-based compensation expense and the impact of recent acquisitions. Sales and marketing 
expense was 22% of revenues, consistent with 2016. 

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
Technology (exclusive of amortization)

Technology (exclusive of amortization)
Percentage of revenues

2018 compared to 2017

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

  2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

(in thousands, except percentages)

$

82,278 

  $

56,263 

  $

42,454 

46% 

33%

8% 

8% 

9% 

Technology expense increased by $26.0 million, or 46%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017. The increase 

was primarily attributable to the 56% growth in our technology team as a result of organic growth and the impact of acquisitions, 
including salaries, stock-based compensation expense, payroll taxes, benefits and bonuses to support the growth and development of 
our platform. 

2017 compared to 2016

Technology expense increased by $13.8 million, or 33%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The increase 

was primarily attributable to the 36% growth in our technology team, including salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation expense, 
payroll taxes, and bonuses to support the growth and development of our platform.

General and Administrative

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

General and administrative
Percentage of revenues

$

2018 compared to 2017

(in thousands, except percentages)
  $

65,023 

  $

85,465 

8%  

10%  

50,482 

10% 

31%    

29%

General and administrative expense increased by $20.4 million, or 31%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 

2017. The increase was primarily attributable to stock-based and other compensation expense, the inclusion of expenses from recent 
acquisitions, as well as increases in a number of miscellaneous expenses required to support growth in the business. Stock-based 
compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 included $4.8 million of expense related to the accelerated vesting of equity 
awards to certain terminated acquired employees. 

2017 compared to 2016

General and administrative expense increased by $14.5 million, or 29%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 
2016. The increase was primarily attributable to acquisition-related expenses for recent transactions, legal fees, higher stock-based and 
other compensation expense, inclusion of the results of operations of recent acquisitions, as well as increases in a number of 
miscellaneous expenses required to support growth in the business. 

Depreciation and Amortization

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

2016 to 2017  

Depreciation and amortization
Percentage of revenues

$

2018 compared to 2017

(in thousands, except percentages)
  $

51,848 

  $

85,940 

9%  

8%  

35,193 

7% 

66% 

47%

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $34.1 million, or 66%, for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 
2017. The increase was primarily attributable to higher depreciation and amortization expense related to the amortization of intangible 
assets acquired in recent acquisitions as well as an increase in capital spending on internally developed software, leasehold 
improvements, restaurant facing technology and office equipment to support the growth of our business.

2017 compared to 2016 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $16.7 million, or 47%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 

2016. The increase was primarily attributable to the amortization of recently acquired intangible assets, higher depreciation and 
amortization expense related to an increase in capital spending on internally developed software, and depreciation expense related to 

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
the additions of restaurant facing technology, leasehold improvements and office equipment to support the growth of our business. 
The increase was partially offset by a decrease in amortization expense related to acquired developed technology and trademark 
intangible assets that became fully amortized in the first quarter of 2017.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

Year Ended December 31,

% Change

2018

2017

2016

2017 to 2018  

  2016 to 2017  

Income tax (benefit) expense
Effective income tax rate

$

2018 compared to 2017

(in thousands, except percentages)
  $

(9,335)

  $

2,952 

4%  

(10%)  

34,295 

41%  

132%  

(127%)

Income tax expense increased by $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 2017. The increase was 
primarily due to the one-time $34.1 million benefit recorded in the year ended December 31, 2017 as a result of a decrease in the value 
of our deferred tax liabilities caused by the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% resulting from the Tax 
Act enacted in December of 2017, partially offset by the impact of the lower U.S. federal tax rate in 2018, an $8.8 million increase in 
discrete excess tax benefits from stock based compensation as compared to 2017 and the decrease in income before provision for 
income taxes due to the factors described above. See Part II, Item 8, Note 11, Income Taxes, to the Company’s consolidated financial 
statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for further description of the Tax Act and the impact to the Company. 

2017 compared to 2016

Income tax expense decreased by $43.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The decrease was 

primarily due to the decrease in the effective income tax rate from 41% to negative 10% during the respective periods, partially offset 
by the increase in income before provision for income taxes due to the factors described above. The prior period effective tax rate was 
primarily affected by the Tax Act and the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), 
Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”), during the first quarter of 2017. The Tax Act 
resulted in an income tax benefit of $34.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily as a result of the decrease in the 
corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% (see Part II, Item 8, Note 11, Income Taxes, to the Company’s consolidated financial 
statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for further description of the Tax Act and the impact to the Company). Additionally, 
during the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized a discrete excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation of $7.1 million 
in accordance with ASU 2016-09. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net 
income adjusted to exclude acquisition and restructuring costs, non-recurring legal costs, income taxes, net interest (income) expense, 
depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most 
directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, is provided below. Adjusted EBITDA 
should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in 
accordance with GAAP. The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other organizations 
because other organizations may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. 

We have included Adjusted EBITDA in this Annual Report on Form 10-K because it is an important measure upon which 

management assesses the Company’s operating performance. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a key performance measure because we 
believe it facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period by excluding potential differences primarily caused by 
variations in capital structures, tax positions, the impact of acquisitions and restructuring, the impact of depreciation and amortization 
expense on the Company’s fixed assets and the impact of stock-based compensation expense. Because Adjusted EBITDA facilitates 
internal comparisons of our historical operating performance on a more consistent basis, we also use Adjusted EBITDA for business 
planning purposes, in evaluating business opportunities and determining incentive compensation for certain employees. In addition, 
management believes Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts, ratings agencies and 
other parties in evaluating companies in the industry as a measure of financial performance and debt-service capabilities. 

Our use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute 

for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

•

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures for capital equipment or other contractual commitments;

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be 
replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect capital expenditure requirements for such replacements;

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
•

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and

other companies, including companies in the same industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces 
its usefulness as a comparative measure.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future the Company will incur expenses similar to some of the 

adjustments in this presentation. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as indicating that our future results 
will be unaffected by these expenses or by any unusual or non-recurring items. When evaluating our performance, you should 
consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including net income and other GAAP results. 

The following table sets forth Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation to net income for each of the periods presented below:

Net income

Income taxes
Interest expense - net
Depreciation and amortization

EBITDA

Acquisition, restructuring and legal costs(b)
Stock-based compensation

Adjusted EBITDA

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

2016

  $

  $

  $

78,481 
2,952 
3,530 
85,940 
170,903 
7,578 
55,261 (c)    
  $
233,742 

98,983    $ 49,557 
34,295 
(9,335)   
— (a)
102     
51,848     
35,193 
141,598      119,045 
2,042 
9,642     
23,559 
32,748     
183,988    $ 144,646  

(a) Due to the insignificance of net interest income during the year ended December 31, 2016, the 

Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA excludes this adjustment. 

(b) Acquisition and restructuring costs include transaction and integration-related costs, such as legal and 
accounting costs, associated with acquisition and restructuring initiatives. Legal costs included above 
are not expected to be recurring (see Part II, Item 8, Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies, to the 
Company’s consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional 
details).

(c)

Stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2018 included $4.8 million of expense 
related to the accelerated vesting of equity awards to certain terminated acquired employees.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $211.2 million consisting of cash, money market funds, 
commercial paper and U.S. and non-U.S.-issued corporate debt securities with original maturities of three months or less and short-
term investments of $14.1 million consisting of commercial paper and other short-term corporate debt securities with original 
maturities greater than three months, but less than one year. We generate a significant amount of cash flows from operations and have 
additional availability under our revolving credit facility, as necessary. Additionally, we received proceeds of $200.0 million resulting 
from the sale of our common stock in the first quarter of 2018 as further described below. 

As of December 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents of $211.2 million included $7.8 million held in the accounts of our U.K. 

subsidiary, Seamless Europe, Ltd. We plan to repatriate the cash from our U.K. subsidiary to the U.S. in the future and we estimate no 
additional tax liability as there are no applicable withholding taxes for the repatriation of unremitted earnings of our U.K. subsidiary 
(see Part II, Item 8, Note 11, Income Taxes, for additional details). 

Amounts deposited with third-party financial institutions exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Securities Investor 

Protection insurance limits, as applicable. These cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balances could be affected if the 
underlying financial institutions fail or if there are other adverse conditions in the financial markets. We have not experienced any loss 
or lack of access to our invested cash, cash equivalents or short-term investments; however, such access could be adversely impacted 
by conditions in the financial markets in the future. 

We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short term investments and available credit facility will be sufficient to meet 

our working capital requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, our liquidity assumptions may prove to be incorrect, 
and we could utilize our available financial resources sooner than currently expected. Our future capital requirements and the 
adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including those set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. If we are unable to obtain needed additional funds, we will have to reduce operating costs, which could impair 
our growth prospects and could otherwise negatively impact our business.

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
    
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
For most orders, diners use a credit card to pay for their meal when the order is placed. For these transactions, we collect the 

total amount of the diner’s order net of payment processing fees from the payment processor and remit the net proceeds to the 
restaurant less commission. Outstanding credit card receivables are generally settled with the payment processors within two to four 
business days. We generally accumulate funds and remit the net proceeds to the restaurants on at least a monthly basis. Restaurants 
have different contractual arrangements with us regarding payment frequency. They may be paid bi-weekly, weekly, monthly or, in 
some cases, more frequently when requested by the restaurant. We generally hold accumulated funds prior to remittance to the 
restaurants in a non-interest bearing operating bank account that is used to fund daily operations, including the liability to the 
restaurants. However, the Company is not restricted from earning investment income on these funds under its restaurant contract terms 
and has made short term investments of proceeds in excess of our restaurant liability as described above.

Seasonal fluctuations in our business may also affect the timing of cash flows. In metropolitan markets, we generally experience 
a relative increase in diner activity from September to April and a relative decrease in diner activity from May to August. In addition, 
we benefit from increased order volume in our campus markets when school is in session and experience a decrease in order volume 
when school is not in session, during summer breaks and other vacation periods. Diner activity can also be impacted by colder or more 
inclement weather, which typically increases order volume, and warmer or sunny weather, which typically decreases order volume. 
These changes in diner activity and order volume have a direct impact on operating cash flows. While we expect this seasonal cash 
flow pattern to continue, changes in our business model could affect the timing or seasonal nature of our cash flows.

On February 6, 2019, we entered into a new credit agreement which provides, among other things, for aggregate revolving loans 

up to $225 million and term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $325 million (the “Credit Agreement”). In addition, we may 
incur up to $250 million of incremental revolving or term loans pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. The 
credit facility under the Credit Agreement will be available until February 5, 2024. The Credit Agreement replaced the Company’s 
$350.0 million credit facility, which was due to expire on October 9, 2022 (the “Previous Credit Agreement”). Outstanding 
borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of the filing date were $342.3 million. Additional capacity of $200 million on the Credit 
Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, including funding working capital and future acquisitions. See Part II, Item 8, 
Note 16, Subsequent Events, for additional details.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we borrowed $222.0 million of revolving loans under the Previous Credit 

Agreement to finance a portion of the purchase price and transaction costs in connection with the acquisitions of LevelUp and 
Tapingo. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we made principal payments of $53.9 million from cash on hand, including $50.0 
million applied to prior year borrowings under the revolver and $3.9 million of term loan principal payments. As of December 31, 
2018, outstanding borrowings under the Previous Credit Agreement were $342.3 million, including $222.0 million of revolving loans 
and $120.3 million of term loans. 

The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, require us to satisfy certain financial covenants 

and may restrict our ability to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make certain investments and acquisitions, 
create liens, transfer and sell material assets and merge or consolidate. Non-compliance with one or more of the covenants and 
restrictions could result in any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement becoming immediately due and payable and in the 
termination of the commitments. We were in compliance with the covenants of the Previous Credit Agreement as of December 31, 
2018. The Company expects to remain in compliance for the foreseeable future. 

On April 25, 2018, we sold 2,820,464 shares of our common stock to Yum Restaurant Services Group, LLC (the “Investor”), a 

wholly owned subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., for an aggregate purchase price of $200.0 million pursuant to the investment 
agreement, dated as of February 7, 2018, by and among our Company and the Investor. We have used and expect to use the proceeds 
for general corporate purposes, which include accelerating the expansion of delivery services, investing in the platform, repayment of 
borrowings under the credit facility and pursuing growth opportunities including mergers and acquisitions.

On January 22, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $100 million of our 

common stock exclusive of any fees, commissions or other expenses relating to such repurchases through open market purchases or 
privately negotiated transactions at the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. The repurchase program was announced on 
January 25, 2016. Repurchased stock may be retired or held as authorized but unissued treasury shares. The repurchase authorizations 
do not obligate us to acquire any particular amount of common stock or adopt any particular method of repurchase and may be 
modified, suspended or terminated at any time at management’s discretion. Repurchased and retired shares will result in an immediate 
reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted net 
income per share at the time of the transaction. We did not repurchase any of our common stock during the years ended December 31, 
2018 and 2017. Since inception of the program, we repurchased and retired 724,473 shares of our common stock at a weighted-
average share price of $20.37, or an aggregate of $14.8 million.

36

The following table sets forth certain cash flow information for the periods presented:

Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)

2016

$

225,527    $
(594,004)   
346,685     

154,144    $
(336,962)   
178,059     

97,780 
(45,519)
19,344  

For the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash provided by operating activities was $225.5 million compared to $154.1 
million for the same period in 2017. The increase in cash flows from operations was driven primarily by an increase in non-cash 
expenses, partially offset by a decrease in net income of $20.5 million. Changes in non-cash expenses primarily related to increases in 
depreciation and amortization of $34.1 million, deferred taxes of $32.9 million primarily related to the Tax Act, and stock-based 
compensation of $22.5 million. Additionally, during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, significant changes in our 
operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions, resulted from the following:

•

•

•

•

•

an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily related 
to the deferral of contract acquisition costs under ASC Topic 606 (See Part II, Item 8, Note 3, Revenue, for additional 
details) and an increase in prepaid advertising and software services compared to a decrease of $5.5 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2017; 

an increase in accounts receivable of $6.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to an increase of 
$26.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the timing of the receipt of processor payments at 
year-end;

an increase in accounts payable $11.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a decrease of $4.2 
million during the year ended December 31, 2017 due to the timing of payments and an increase in bills payable to 
support growth of the business;

an increase in accrued expenses of $8.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily related to an increase 
in accrued credit card processing fees and payroll costs, compared to an increase of $17.3 million during the year ended 
December 31, 2017; and

an increase in our restaurant food liability of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to an increase 
of $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 due the timing of payments to our restaurant partners at year-end.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $154.1 million, driven primarily by net 
income of $99.0 million and non-cash expenses, including $51.8 million related to depreciation and amortization and $32.7 million 
related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by changes in deferred taxes of $31.2 million. Significant changes in our 
operating assets and liabilities resulted from an increase in accrued expenses of $17.3 million due to an increase in deferred revenue 
related to outstanding diner gift cards, accrued advertising costs, accrued payroll withholding taxes and other accrued operating costs, 
an increase in our restaurant food liability of $8.6 million due to the timing of payments to our restaurant partners at year-end and a 
decrease in prepaid expenses of $5.5 million primarily related to a decrease in prepaid technology services, partially offset by an 
increase in accounts receivable of $26.2 million due to the growth in the business and the timing of the receipt of processor payments 
at year-end.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by operating activities was $97.8 million, driven primarily by net 

income of $49.6 million and non-cash expenses, including $35.2 million related to depreciation and amortization and $23.6 million 
related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by significant changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $13.6 million. 
Significant changes in our operating assets and liabilities resulted from an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $8.7 
million primarily related to an increase in prepaid application hosting, insurance and software licenses to support growth in the 
business, an increase in accounts receivable of $12.0 million due to the timing of processor payments at year-end, a decrease in 
accounts payable of $3.2 million due to the timing of payments and an increase in tax refund receivable of $5.5 million, partially 
offset by an increase in our restaurant food liability of $16.5 million due to growth in our business and the timing of payments to the 
restaurants at year-end.

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

Our primary investing activities during the periods presented consisted primarily of acquisitions of businesses and other 
intangible assets, purchases of and proceeds from maturities of short-term investments, the purchase of property and equipment to 
support the growth of the business and the development of mobile-applications, website and internal-use software.

37

 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash used in investing activities was $594.0 million compared to $337.0 million in 

2017. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to an increase in acquisition of businesses of $184.6 
million, a decrease in proceeds from maturity of investments of $148.8 million and an increase in purchases of property and 
equipment of $24.1 million, partially offset by a $97.6 million decrease in the purchases of short-term investments and a $13.3 million 
decrease in the acquisition of certain assets of businesses.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash used in investing activities was $337.0 million compared to $45.5 million in 
2016. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was primarily the result of an increase in the acquisition of businesses and 
certain assets of businesses of $292.3 million in 2017.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash used in investing activities was $45.5 million, which was primarily due to 
purchases of investments of $226.7 million, acquisitions of businesses of $65.8 million, purchases of property and equipment of $24.1 
million and development of website and internal use software of $12.8 million, partially offset by proceeds from maturities of short-
term investments of $284.7 million.

Cash Flows Provided by Financing Activities

Our financing activities during the periods presented consisted primarily of proceeds from the issuance of common stock, 
proceeds from and repayments of borrowings under the Previous Credit Agreement, taxes paid related to the net settlement of stock-
based compensation awards and proceeds from the exercise of stock options. 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash provided by financing activities was $346.7 million compared to $178.1 
million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily related to 
$200.0 million in proceeds received from the issuance of our common stock to Yum Restaurant Services Group, LLC (see Part II, 
Item 8, Note 12, Stockholders’ Equity) and $22.0 million in additional proceeds received from borrowings under the Previous Credit 
Agreement in 2018. These increases were partially offset by the increase in repayments of borrowings under the Previous Credit 
Agreement of $28.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 and an increase of $25.0 million in taxes paid related to the net 
share settlement of stock-based compensation awards compared to 2017.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash provided by financing activities was $178.1 million compared to $19.3 million 

for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 
31, 2017 as compared to 2016 primarily resulted from borrowings under the Previous Credit Agreement of $200.0 million, of which 
$25.8 million was repaid during the year ended December 31, 2017, as well as an increase due to repurchases of our common stock of 
$14.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in cash provided by financing activities was partially offset by 
the change in how excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation are presented on the statement of cash flows due to the 
adoption of ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, excess tax benefits of $24.9 million 
were presented within financing activities on the statement of cash flows, whereas excess tax benefits of $7.1 million were recognized 
within net income during the year ended December 31, 2017

For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by financing activities was $19.3 million, which primarily resulted 
from excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation of $24.9 million prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-09 and proceeds 
from the exercise of stock options of $13.5 million, partially offset by repurchases of the Company’s common stock of $14.8 million.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments 

We have offices located in Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York, as well as smaller offices throughout the U.S. and in the 
U.K. and Israel as a result of both recent acquisitions and organic growth, with various lease terms through June 2030. The office lease 
for our headquarters in Chicago, Illinois expires in March 2028. The terms of the lease agreements provide for rental payments that 
increase on an annual basis. We recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period. We do not have any capital lease 
obligations as of December 31, 2018 and all of our material property, equipment and software have been purchased with cash. We 
have no material long-term purchase obligations outstanding with any vendors or third parties. 

38

Our debt and interest payments, payments due to OrderUp sellers and future minimum payments under non-cancelable 

operating leases for equipment and office facilities were as follows as of December 31, 2018: 

Debt(a)
Interest due on debt(a)
Amounts due to seller for the acquisition of other intangible 
assets(b)
Operating lease obligations(c)
Total

As of December 31, 2018 

Less than 
1 year

1 to 2 
years

2 to 3 
years

  3 to 4 years   

4 to 5 
years

More than 
5 Years   

Total

(in thousands)
 $ 6,250  $ 6,250  $ 7,031  $ 322,781  $
10,498   
   12,230    12,005    11,781   

—  $
—   

—  $ 342,312 
46,514 
—   

—   

6,733   

—    6,733.0 
—   
   13,009    14,874    14,243   
12,219    12,220    57,503    124,068 
 $ 38,222  $ 33,129  $ 33,055  $ 345,498  $ 12,220  $ 57,503  $ 519,627  

—   

—   

(a) Debt payments include scheduled term loan payments under the Previous Credit Agreement and the payment of outstanding 

balances under the credit facility due in October 2022. Interest due on debt includes scheduled interest payments under the 
Previous Credit Agreement at current interest rates. See Part II, Item 8, Note 16, Subsequent Events, for details of the Credit 
Agreement entered into on February 6, 2019, which replaced the Previous Credit Agreement.

(b) In October of 2018, we acquired certain assets of OrderUp for $18.5 million, of which $11.8 million was paid in cash at closing 
and the remaining $6.7 million, included in other accruals on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018, will be 
paid to the sellers in 2019.

(c) The contractual commitment amounts under operating leases in the table above are associated with agreements that are 

enforceable and legally binding. Obligations under contracts that we can cancel without a significant penalty are not included in 
the table above. The table above does not reflect our option to exercise early termination rights or the payment of related early 
termination fees.

_________________________________________________________

We also have accrued management bonuses as of December 31, 2018, included in accrued payroll on the consolidated balance 

sheets, which are expected to be paid in the first quarter of 2019.

Acquisitions of Businesses and Other Intangible Assets

On November 7, 2018, we acquired Tapingo and on September 13, 2018, we acquired LevelUp. We paid an aggregate of $518.6 
million in cash to acquire LevelUp and Tapingo, net of cash acquired of $7.5 million, non-cash consideration of $3.0 million and a net 
working capital adjustment receivable of $0.1 million. See Part II, Item 8, Note 4, Acquisitions, for additional details.

In October of 2018, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the restaurant and diner network assets of OrderUp for 
$18.5 million, of which $11.8 million was paid in cash at closing and the remaining $6.7 million will be paid in 2019. We previously 
acquired certain specified assets of OrderUp for $20.1 million in September of 2017. We paid an aggregate of $25.1 million related to 
the acquisition of these and certain other intangibles during the year ended December 31, 2017. See Part II, Item 8, Note 6, Goodwill 
and Acquired Intangible Assets, for additional details.

On October 10, 2017, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Eat24. On August 23, 2017, we acquired 
substantially all of the assets and certain expressly specified liabilities of Foodler. We paid an aggregate of $332.6 million in cash to 
acquire Eat24 and Foodler, net of cash acquired of $0.1 million and non-cash consideration of $0.3 million. 

On May 5, 2016, we acquired LABite for $65.8 million in cash, net of cash acquired of $2.6 million. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to certain market risks in the ordinary course of business. These risks primarily consist of interest rate 

fluctuations and inflation rate risk as follows:

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk on our outstanding borrowings of $342.3 million under the Credit Agreement as of the date 

of this filing. Under the Credit Agreement, the loans bear interest, at our option, based on LIBOR or an alternate base rate, plus a 
margin, which in the case of LIBOR loans is between 1.125% and 1.750% and in the case of alternate base rate loans is between 
0.125% and 0.750%, and in each case, is based upon our consolidated senior secured net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit 
Agreement). We do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.

39

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
We invest our excess cash primarily in money market accounts, commercial paper and U.S. and non-U.S.-issued corporate debt 

securities. We intend to hold our investments to maturity. Our current investment strategy seeks first to preserve principal, second to 
provide liquidity for our operating and capital needs and third to maximize yield without putting principal at risk. We do not enter into 
investments for trading or speculative purposes. 

Our investments are exposed to market risk due to the fluctuation of prevailing interest rates that may reduce the yield on our 

investments or their fair value. We assess market risk utilizing a sensitivity analysis that measures the potential change in fair values, 
interest income and cash flows. As our investment portfolio is short-term in nature, management does not believe an immediate 100 
basis point increase in interest rates would have a material effect on the fair value of our portfolio, and therefore management does not 
expect our results of operations or cash flows to be materially affected to any degree by a sudden change in market interest rates. In 
the unlikely event that we would need to sell our investments prior to their maturity, any unrealized gains and losses arising from the 
difference between the amortized cost and the fair value of the investments at that time would be recognized in the consolidated 
statements of operations. See Part II, Item 8, Note 5, Marketable Securities, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for additional 
details.

Inflation Risk

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Risks Related to Market Conditions

We perform our annual goodwill impairment tests as of September 30, or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances 
change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of our Company below its carrying value. Such indicators may include 
the following, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows, a sustained, significant decline in our stock price 
and market capitalization, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, unanticipated competition, the 
testing for recoverability of a significant asset group and slower growth rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a 
significant impact on the recoverability of our goodwill and could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. 
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the net assets acquired. As of 
December 31, 2018, we had $1,019.2 million in goodwill on the consolidated balance sheets. 

Based on our annual and interim assessments, management concluded that as of December 31, 2018, there were no events or 

changes in circumstances that indicated it was more likely than not that our fair value was below our carrying value. For further details 
of our interim and annual assessments, see the discussion above in Part II, Item 8, Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting 
Policies, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K concerning goodwill. 
Nevertheless, significant changes in global economic and market conditions could result in changes to expectations of future financial 
results and key valuation assumptions. Such changes could result in revisions of management’s estimates of our fair value and could 
result in a material impairment of goodwill.

OTHER INFORMATION

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2018.

Contingencies

For a discussion of certain litigation involving our Company, see Part II, Item 8, Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies, to the 

accompanying consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Pending Accounting Standards

See Part II, Item 8, Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements 

in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the various accounting standards adopted during the year ended December 
31, 2018. Pending standards and their estimated effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements are described in Part II, 
Item 8, Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the accompanying consolidated financial statements in this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K.

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 

We are exposed to certain market risks in the ordinary course of business. These risks primarily consist of interest rate 

fluctuations and inflation rate risk. We discuss risk management in various places throughout this document, including discussions in 
Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in this Annual Report on 
Form 10-K concerning Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. 

40

Item 8:

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Consolidated Statements of Operations..........................................................................................................................................
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income .....................................................................................................................
Consolidated Balance Sheets ..........................................................................................................................................................
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.........................................................................................................................................
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.......................................................................................................
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ..................................................................................................................................
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm...........................................................................................................
Unaudited Selected Quarterly Financial Data ................................................................................................................................
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm...........................................................................................................

Page

42
42
43
44
45
46
72
73
75

41

 
GRUBHUB INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)

Revenues
Costs and expenses:

Operations and support
Sales and marketing
Technology (exclusive of amortization)
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Income from operations
Interest (income) expense - net
Income before provision for income taxes
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net income attributable to common stockholders
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders:

Basic
Diluted

Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share 
attributable to common stockholders:

Basic
Diluted

$

$

$
$

2018
1,007,257    $

Year Ended December 31,
2017
683,067 

 $

454,321     
214,290     
82,278     
85,465     
85,940     
922,294     
84,963     
3,530     
81,433     
2,952     
78,481    $

269,453 
150,730 
56,263 
65,023 
51,848 
593,317 
89,750 
102 
89,648 
(9,335)
98,983 

0.88    $
0.85    $

1.15 
1.12 

 $

 $
 $

89,447     
92,354     

86,297 
88,182 

2016

493,331 

171,756 
110,323 
42,454 
50,482 
35,193 
410,208 
83,123 
(729)
83,852 
34,295 
49,557 

0.58 
0.58 

85,069 
86,135  

GRUBHUB INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)

Net income
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

2016

78,481    $

98,983 

 $

49,557 

(663)  
77,818    $

850 
99,833 

 $

(1,474)
48,083  

$

$

(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
      
  
  
  
 
      
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
GRUBHUB INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share data)

  December 31, 2018     December 31, 2017  

211,245    $
14,084   
110,855   
9,949   
17,642   
363,775   

119,495   

14,186   
1,019,239   
549,013   
1,582,438   
2,065,708    $

127,344    $
26,656   
18,173   
422   
6,250   
44,323   
223,168   

46,383   
18,270   
335,548   
400,201   

— 

9 

(1,891)  
1,094,866   
349,355   
1,442,339    $
2,065,708    $

234,090 
23,605 
87,377 
8,593 
6,818 
360,483 

71,384 

6,487 
589,862 
515,553 
1,111,902 
1,543,769 

119,922 
7,607 
13,186 
3,109 
3,906 
26,818 
174,548 

74,292 
7,468 
169,645 
251,405 

— 

9 
(1,228)
849,043 
269,992 
1,117,816 
1,543,769  

  $

  $

  $

ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts
Income tax receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

Property and equipment, net of depreciation and amortization

OTHER ASSETS:
Other assets
Goodwill
Acquired intangible assets, net of amortization

Total other assets

TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Restaurant food liability
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll
Taxes payable
Short-term debt
Other accruals

Total current liabilities
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Deferred taxes, non-current
Other accruals
Long-term debt

Total long-term liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value. Authorized: 25,000,000 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 
December 31, 2017; issued and outstanding: no shares as of December 31, 2018 and 
December 31, 2017.
Common stock, $0.0001 par value. Authorized: 500,000,000 shares at December 31, 2018 and 
December 31, 2017; issued and outstanding: 90,756,548 and 86,790,624 shares as of December 
31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Total Stockholders’ Equity
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  $
  $

(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)

43

 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017

2016

  $

78,481    $

98,983    $

49,557 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

Depreciation
Bad debt expense
Deferred taxes
Amortization of intangible assets and developed software
Stock-based compensation
Deferred rent
Tenant allowance amortization
Amortization of deferred loan costs
Other

Change in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of business acquisitions:

Accounts receivable
Income taxes receivable
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Restaurant food liability
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll
Other accruals

Net cash provided by operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
Purchases of investments
Proceeds from maturity of investments
Capitalized website and development costs
Purchases of property and equipment
Acquisition of other intangible assets
Other cash flows from investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock
Proceeds from borrowings under the credit facility
Repayments of borrowings under the credit facility
Repurchases of Common Stock
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation
Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards
Payments for debt issuance costs
Net cash provided by financing activities

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of the year
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ITEMS

Cash paid for income taxes
Capitalized property, equipment and website and development costs in accounts 
payable at period end
Net working capital adjustment receivable
Fair value of equity awards assumed on acquisition

  $

  $

RECONCILIATION OF CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH  

Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other current assets
Restricted cash included in other assets
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

  $

  $

21,647   
941 
1,724   
64,293 
55,261 
4,974 
(837)
715 
(241)

(6,092)  
(1,356)  
(16,270)  
2,921   
11,160 
3,621 
4,585   

225,527 

(517,909)
(57,197)
67,166 
(31,180)  
(43,033)
(11,851)  
—   
(594,004)  

200,000   
222,000   
(53,906)  
—   
14,190   
—   
(35,599)  
—   
346,685   
(21,792)  
(645)
238,239   
215,802 

7,895 

7,463 
127 
2,966 

211,245 
1,398 
3,159 
215,802 

 $

 $

 $

 $

11,775   
1,424 
(31,179)  
40,073 
32,748 
849 
(135)
487 
(168)

(26,236)  
(1,597)  
5,516   
8,576   
(4,244)
5,537 
11,735   
154,144 

(333,301)
(154,758)
215,983 
(21,325)  
(18,971)
(25,147)  
557   
(336,962)  

— 
200,000 
(25,781)  
—   
16,375   
—   
(10,556)  
(1,979)  
178,059   
(4,759)  
784 

242,214   
238,239 

19,148 

2,960 

737   
274   

 $

 $

234,090    $
—   
4,149   
238,239    $

8,921 
1,102 
1,027 
26,272 
23,559 
1,286 
(159)
365 
(612)

(12,027)
(5,461)
(8,663)
16,451 
(3,204)
1,819 
(2,453)
97,780 

(65,849)
(226,694)
284,662 
(12,809)
(24,087)
(250)
(492)
(45,519)

— 
— 
— 
(14,774)
13,468 
24,906 
(2,779)
(1,477)
19,344 
71,605 
(1,394)
172,003 
242,214 

8,722 

2,583 
— 
— 

239,528 
— 
2,686 
242,214  

(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)

44

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
    
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
GRUBHUB INC. 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity 
(in thousands, except share data) 

Common stock

Shares

Amount

APIC

Accumulated
Other 
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

Retained
Earnings

Total
Stockholders'
Equity

Balance December 31, 2015
Net income
Currency translation
Stock-based compensation
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation
Stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net of 
withholdings and other
Repurchases of common stock
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting  
Balance at December 31, 2016
Net income
Cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-09
Currency translation
Stock-based compensation
Stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net of 
withholdings and other
Issuance of common stock, acquisitions
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting  
Balance at December 31, 2017
Net income
Cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2014-09
Currency translation
Stock-based compensation
Stock option exercises and vesting of restricted stock units, net of 
withholdings and other
Issuance of common stock, investments
Issuance of common stock, acquisitions
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting  
Balance at December 31, 2018

84,979,869  
—  
—  
—  
—  

1,523,952  
(724,473 )
(87,015 )
85,692,333  
—  
—  
—  
—  

1,331,083  
—  
(232,792 )
86,790,624  
—  
—  
—  
—  

1,512,426  
2,820,464  
 —  
(366,966 )
90,756,548  

 $

  $

8  
—  
—  
—  
—  

1  
—  
—  
9  
—  
—  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
9  
—  
—  
—  
—  

—  
 —  
—  
—  
9  

  $

  $

759,292  
—  
—  
25,619  
24,906  

13,467  
(14,774 )
(2,779 )
805,731  
—  
—  
—  
37,219  

16,375  
274  
(10,556 )
849,043  
—  
—  
—  
64,266  

14,190  
200,000  
2,966  
(35,599 )
1,094,866  

  $

  $

(604 )
—  
(1,474 )
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
(2,078 )
—  
—  
850  
—  

—  
—  
—  
(1,228 )
—  
—  
(663 )
—  

—  
 —  
—  
—  
(1,891 )

  $

  $

118,900  
49,557  
—  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
168,457  
98,983  
2,552  
—  
—  

—  
—  
—  
269,992  
78,481  
882  
—  
—  

—  
 —  
—  
—  
349,355  

  $

  $

877,596  
49,557  
(1,474 )
25,619  
24,906  

13,468  
(14,774 )
(2,779 )
972,119  
98,983  
2,552  
850  
37,219  

16,375  
274  
(10,556 )
1,117,816  
78,481  
882  
(663 )
64,266  

14,190  
200,000  
2,966  
(35,599 )
1,442,339  

(See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization 

Grubhub Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) provide an 

online and mobile takeout marketplace for restaurant pick-up and delivery orders. The Company connects diners and restaurants 
through restaurant technology and easy-to-use platforms. Diners enter their delivery address or use geo-location within the mobile 
applications and the Company displays the menus and other relevant information for restaurants in its network. Orders may be placed 
directly online, via mobile applications or over the phone. The Company primarily charges the restaurant a per order commission that 
is largely fee based. In many markets, the Company also provides delivery services to restaurants on its platform that do not have their 
own delivery operations. The Company’s takeout marketplace, and related platforms where the Company provides marketing services 
to generate orders, are collectively referred to as the “Platform”.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the United States of America (“GAAP”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all wholly-owned subsidiaries. 
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated statements of operations include the 
results of entities acquired from the dates of the acquisitions for accounting purposes.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards 

Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”) using the modified retrospective method applied 
to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 
2018 are presented under ASC Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with 
historical accounting guidance under ASC Topic 605. See Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements and Note 3, Revenue, below 
for additional details.

Changes in Accounting Principle

See “Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” below for a description of accounting principle changes adopted during the 

year ended December 31, 2018 related to revenue and the statement of cash flows.

Use of Estimates 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates, 

judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosures at the date of the 
financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. Estimates include revenue 
recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, website and internal-use software development costs, goodwill, depreciable lives of 
property and equipment, recoverability of intangible assets with finite lives and other long-lived assets and stock-based compensation. 
To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, the Company’s 
consolidated financial statements will be affected. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically 
dictated by GAAP and does not require management’s judgment in its application. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents 

Cash includes demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid 
investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and that are so near their maturity that they present minimal 
risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. The Company’s cash equivalents include only investments with original 
maturities of three months or less. The Company regularly maintains cash in excess of federally insured limits at financial institutions. 
Cash and cash equivalents excludes the Company’s restricted cash balances of $4.6 million and $4.1 million as of December 31, 2018 
and 2017, respectively, which are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets and other long term assets on the 
consolidated balance sheets.

Marketable Securities 

Marketable securities consist primarily of commercial paper and investment grade U.S. and non-U.S.-issued corporate debt 
securities. The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of marketable securities and limits the concentration of its investment in any 
particular security. Marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less are included in cash and cash equivalents and 
marketable securities with original maturities greater than three months, but less than one year, are included in short term investments 
on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company determines the classification of its marketable securities as available-for-sale or 
held-to-maturity at the time of purchase and reassesses these determinations at each balance sheet date. Debt securities are classified 
as held-to-maturity when the Company has the intent to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at 

46

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

amortized cost and are periodically assessed for other-than-temporary impairment. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for 
the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, which is recognized as interest income within net interest 
(income) expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest income is recognized when earned. 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of foreign currency translation adjustments. The financial statements of the 

Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated from their functional currency into U.S. dollars. Assets and liabilities are translated at 
period end rates of exchange, and revenue and expenses are translated using average rates of exchange. The resulting gain or loss is 
included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. 

Property and Equipment, Net 

Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the 

related assets. The useful lives are as follows: 

Computer equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Developed software
Purchased software and digital assets
Leasehold improvements

  Estimated Useful Life
  2-3 years
  5 years
  1-3 years
  3-5 years
  Shorter of expected useful life or lease term

Maintenance and repair costs are charged to expense as incurred. Major improvements, which extend the useful life of the 
related asset, are capitalized. Upon disposal of a fixed asset, the Company records a gain or loss based on the difference between the 
proceeds received and the net book value of the disposed asset. 

Accounts Receivable, Net 

See Note 3, Revenue, below for a description of the Company’s accounts receivable accounting policy. 

Advertising Costs 

Advertising costs are generally expensed as incurred in connection with the requisite service period. Certain advertising 
production costs are capitalized and expensed when the advertisement first takes place. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 
and 2016, expenses attributable to advertising totaled approximately $170.3 million, $107.2 million and $75.5 million, respectively. 
Advertising costs are recorded in sales and marketing expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. 

Stock-Based Compensation 

The Company measures compensation expense for all stock-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock units and 
restricted stock awards, at fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period on a straight-
line basis for awards expected to vest. 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value for stock options. Management has 
determined the Black-Scholes fair value of stock option awards and related stock-based compensation expense with the assistance of 
third-party valuations. Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires judgment. The determination of the 
grant date fair value of options using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s estimated common stock fair value as well 
as assumptions regarding a number of other complex and subjective variables. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes 
model changes significantly, stock-based compensation for future awards may differ materially compared with the awards granted 
previously. 

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of highly subjective and complex assumptions, including the expected 

term and the price volatility of the underlying stock, which determine the fair value of stock-based awards. These assumptions 
include: 

•

•

•

Risk-free rate. Risk-free interest rates are derived from U.S. Treasury securities as of the option grant date. 

Expected dividend yields. Expected dividend yields are based on our historical dividend payments, which have been zero 
to date (excluding the preferred stock tax distributions made by Seamless Holdings prior to 2015). 

Volatility. Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, expected volatility is based on the historical and implied volatilities of 
the Company’s own common stock. Prior to 2018, the expected stock price volatility was based on a combination of the 
historical and implied volatilities of comparable publicly-traded companies and the historical volatility of our common 

47

 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

•

•

stock due to our limited trading history as there was no active external or internal market for our common stock prior to 
the Company’s initial public offering in April 2014.

Expected term. Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, the expected term calculation for option awards considers a 
combination of the Company’s historical and estimated future exercise behavior. Prior to 2017, the Company applied a 
simplified method which estimated the weighted-average expected life of the options as the average of the vesting option 
schedule and the term of the award due to insufficient historical exercise data as a result of the limited period of time 
stock-based awards had been exercisable. 

Forfeiture rate. Forfeiture rates are estimated using historical actual forfeiture trends as well as our judgment of future 
forfeitures. These rates are evaluated at least annually and any change in compensation expense is recognized in the 
period of the change. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment and, to the extent actual 
results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment 
in the period in which the estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected 
forfeitures, including the types of awards and employee class. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ 
substantially from management’s current estimates.

See Note 10, Stock-Based Compensation, for the weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options 

granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. 

Prior to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): 
Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”) in 2017, the Company elected to use the with-and-
without method in determining the order in which tax attributes are utilized. As a result, the Company only recognized a tax benefit 
for stock-based awards in additional paid-in capital if an incremental tax benefit was realized after all other tax attributes available to 
the Company had been utilized. Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, the Company recognizes tax benefits and deficiencies for stock-
based awards in income tax (benefit) expense within the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 10, Stock-Based 
Compensation, for further discussion.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense 

Income tax (benefit) expense is determined using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and 
liabilities are calculated based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and 
liabilities using the enacted tax rates that are applicable in a given year. The utilization of deferred tax assets is limited by the amount 
of taxable income expected to be generated within the allowable carryforward period and other factors. The Company records a 
valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount management believes is more likely than not to be realized. As of 
December 31, 2018 and 2017, a valuation allowance of $23.8 million and $4.8 million, respectively, was recorded on the Company’s 
consolidated balance sheets. See Note 11, Income Taxes, for additional information. 

The Company utilizes a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions (“tax contingencies”). The first 

step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than 
not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to 
measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company 
considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments, and 
which may not accurately forecast actual outcomes. 

Management believes that it is more likely than not that forecasted income, including future reversals of existing taxable 
temporary differences, will be sufficient to fully recover the net deferred tax assets. In the event the Company determines that all or 
part of the net deferred tax assets are not realizable in the future, we will adjust the valuation allowance with the adjustment 
recognized as expense in the period in which such determination is made. The calculation of income tax liabilities involves significant 
judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties and complex tax laws. In addition, the Company’s tax returns are subject to audit 
by various U.S. and foreign tax authorities. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with our expectations could 
have a material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations. 

Due to the reduced cost of repatriating unremitted earnings as a result of U.S. tax legislation signed into law in December of 

2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), the Company plans to repatriate cash from the U.K. to the U.S. The Company 
estimated no additional tax liability as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 as there are no applicable withholding taxes for the transaction. 
Management regularly evaluates whether foreign earnings are expected to be permanently reinvested. This evaluation requires 
judgment about the future operating and liquidity needs of the Company’s foreign subsidiary. Changes in economic and business 
conditions, foreign or U.S. tax laws, or the Company’s financial situation could result in changes in these judgments and the need to 
record additional tax liabilities. 

48

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company includes interest and penalties related to tax contingencies in the provision for income taxes in the consolidated 

statements of operations. Management does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change in the 
next twelve months. 

Intangible Assets 

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives and are 
reviewed for impairment. The Company evaluates intangible assets with finite and indefinite useful lives and other long-lived assets 
for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that they may not be recoverable, or at least annually. If management 
determines in its qualitative assessment that it is more likely than not that the assets may not be recoverable, the recoverability of finite 
and other long-lived assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows 
expected to be generated by that asset group. The Company groups assets for purposes of such review at the lowest level for which 
identifiable cash flows of the asset group are largely independent of the cash flows of the other groups of assets and liabilities. The 
amount of impairment to be recognized for finite and indefinite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets is calculated as the 
difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the asset group, generally measured by discounting estimated future cash 
flows. There were no impairment indicators present during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016. 

Website and Software Development Costs 

The costs incurred in the preliminary stages of website and software development are expensed as incurred. Once an application 
has reached the development stage, internal and external costs, if direct and incremental and deemed by management to be significant, 
are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the application. Maintenance and enhancement 
costs, including those costs in the post-implementation stages, are typically expensed as incurred, unless such costs relate to 
substantial upgrades and enhancements to the website or software that result in added functionality, in which case the costs are 
capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. Amortization expense related to capitalized website 
and software development costs is included in depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statements of operations. The 
Company capitalized $41.1 million, $26.0 million and $15.6 million of website development costs during the years ended 
December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Goodwill 

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the fair value of the assets acquired at the date of 
acquisition. The Company’s methodology for allocating the purchase price of acquisitions is based on established valuation techniques 
that consider a number of factors, including valuations performed by third-party appraisers. As of December 31, 2018, the Company 
had $1,019.2 million in goodwill on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company assesses the impairment of goodwill at least 
annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. Absent any special circumstances 
that could require an interim test, the Company has elected to test for goodwill impairment at September 30 of each year. The 
Company has one reporting unit in testing goodwill for impairment.

In testing goodwill for impairment, the Company may elect to utilize a qualitative assessment to evaluate whether it is more 

likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative assessment indicates that 
goodwill impairment is more likely than not, the Company performs a quantitative impairment test. The Company would recognize an 
impairment charge for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, if any, not to exceed the 
carrying amount of goodwill. 

Management determined the fair value of the Company as of September 30, 2018 by using a market-based approach that utilized 

our market capitalization, as adjusted for factors such as a control premium. After consideration of the Company’s market 
capitalization, business growth and other factors, management determined that it was more likely than not that the fair value of the 
Company exceeded its carrying amount at September 30, 2018 and that further analysis was not required.

Additionally, as part of the interim review for indicators of impairment, management analyzed potential changes in value based 
on operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to expected results. Management also considered how 
the Company’s market capitalization, business growth and other factors used in the September 30, 2018 impairment analysis, could be 
impacted by changes in market conditions and economic events. For example, the fair market value of the Company’s stock has 
decreased since September 30, 2018. Management considered these trends in performing its assessment of whether an interim 
impairment review was required. Based on this interim assessment, management concluded that as of December 31, 2018, there were 
no events or changes in circumstances that indicated it was more likely than not that the Company’s fair value was below its carrying 
value. 

The Company determined there was no goodwill impairment during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. 
Nevertheless, significant changes in global economic and market conditions could result in changes to expectations of future financial 

49

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

results and key valuation assumptions. Such changes could result in revisions of management’s estimates of the Company’s fair value 
and could result in a material impairment of goodwill. 

Debt Issuance Costs

The  Company  has  incurred  debt  issuance  costs  in  connection  with  its  debt  facilities  and  related  amendments.  Amounts  paid 
directly to lenders are classified as issuance costs. Commitment fees and other costs directly associated with obtaining credit facilities 
are deferred financing costs which are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the term of the facility. The 
Company allocates deferred debt issuance costs incurred for its current credit facility between the revolver and term loan based on 
their relative borrowing capacity. Deferred debt issuance costs associated with the revolving credit facility are recorded within other 
assets and those associated with the term loan are recorded as a reduction of the carrying value of the debt on the consolidated balance 
sheets. All deferred debt issuance costs are amortized using the effective interest rate method to interest expense within net interest 
(income) expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. See Note 9, Debt, for additional details.

Fair Value 

Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit 
price) in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. 
The standards also establish a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the 
use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. See Note 15, Fair Value Measurement, for details of the fair value hierarchy 
and the related inputs used by the Company. 

Concentration of Credit Risk 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts 

receivable. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no customers which accounted for more than 
10% of revenue or accounts receivable. 

Revenue Recognition 

See Note 3, Revenue, below for a description of the Company’s revenue recognition policy.

Deferred Rent 

For the Company’s operating leases, the Company recognizes rent expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases. 
Accordingly, the Company records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expenses as a deferred rent 
liability within other accruals in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company also has landlord-funded leasehold improvements that 
are recorded as tenant allowances, which are being amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the noncancelable terms of the 
operating leases. Deferred rent and tenant allowances recorded as of December 31, 2018 will be impacted by changes in accounting 
pronouncements that became effective in the first quarter of 2019. See Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements below for 
additional information. 

Segments 

The Company has one reportable segment, which has been identified based on how the chief operating decision maker manages 

the business, makes operating decisions and evaluates operating performance. 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-15, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-

Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That 
is a Service Contract” (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in 
hosting arrangements that are service contracts and that include an internal-use software license with the requirement for capitalizing 
implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The capitalized implementation costs are required to be 
expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The guidance also clarifies the presentation requirements for reporting such costs 
in the entity’s financial statements. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-15 beginning in the third quarter of 2018. The 
amendments have been applied prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The adoption of ASU 
2018-15 has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of 
operations or cash flows.

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): 
Scope of Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). ASU 2017-09 provides clarification on when modification accounting should 
be used for changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. ASU 2017-09 does not change the accounting for 
modifications but clarifies that modification accounting guidance should only be applied if there is a change to the value, vesting 
conditions, or award classification and would not be required if the changes are considered non-substantive. ASU 2017-09 was 

50

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

effective for and adopted by the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2018 on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 
has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or 
cash flows. 

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): 

Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 adds or clarifies guidance on the 
classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows with the intent of reducing diversity in practice 
related to eight types of cash flows including, among others, debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, contingent consideration 
payments made after a business combination, and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. In 
addition, in November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): 
Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 requires companies to include amounts generally described as restricted cash and 
restricted cash equivalents in cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown 
on the statement of cash flow. ASU 2016-15 and ASU 2016-18 were effective for and adopted by the Company beginning in the first 
quarter of 2018. The amendments were applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented and impacted the 
Company’s presentation of the consolidated statements of cash flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 and ASU 2016-18 had no 
material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as the Company’s restricted cash 
balances are immaterial.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): 

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 introduces a new forward-looking 
approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables and 
held-to-maturity debt securities, which will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information 
and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This ASU also expands disclosure requirements. ASU 2016-13 is effective for the Company 
beginning in the first quarter of 2020 and early adoption is permitted. The guidance will be applied using the modified-retrospective 
approach. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, 
results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”), which 

established Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 (“ASC Topic 842”). Under ASC Topic 842, a lessee will recognize in the 
statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for all leases (with the exception of short-
term leases) at the commencement date. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a 
lease under ASU 2016-02 will not significantly change from current GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective beginning in the first quarter of 
2019 with early adoption permitted. In July 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-11 “Leases (Topic 842): 
Targeted Improvements” (“ASU 2018-11”), which provides for the election of transition methods between the modified retrospective 
method and the optional transition relief method. The modified retrospective method is applied to all prior reporting periods presented 
with a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in the earliest comparative period while the optional transition relief method is applied 
beginning in the period of adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in the first quarter of 2019. The Company will apply 
the optional transition relief method and has elected the optional practical expedient package, which includes retaining the current 
classification of leases. Under ASC Topic 842, the Company expects to record in the consolidated balances sheets as of January 1, 
2019, right of use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases entered into prior to December 31, 2018 of approximately $80 million 
to $95 million. The adoption of ASC Topic 842 has a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, but 
management anticipates that it will have no material impact to its results of operations or cash flows.    

In May 2014, and in subsequent updates, the FASB issued ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which 

supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific 
requirements. ASC Topic 606 establishes a five-step revenue recognition process in which an entity will recognize revenue when it 
transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be 
entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC Topic 606 also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, 
timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. ASC Topic 606 was effective for and adopted by 
the Company in the first quarter of 2018. The Company applied the modified retrospective approach to contracts which were not 
completed as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASC Topic 606 did not have and is not expected to have a material impact on 
the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows or its business processes, systems and controls.

The adoption of ASC Topic 606 resulted in an increase in revenues of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 

primarily had the following impact on the Company’s financial statements:

•

Beginning in January 1, 2018, the Company defers the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as contract acquisition 
assets resulting in a net decrease of $9.0 million in sales and marketing expense in the consolidated statements of 
operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 and corresponding increase in other assets on the consolidated balance 
sheets. Contract acquisition assets are amortized to sales and marketing expense in the consolidated statements of 

51

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

operations over the period in which services are expected to be provided to the customer, which is estimated to be 
approximately 4 years. Prior to the adoption of ASC Topic 606, the cost of obtaining a contract was recognized as it was 
incurred.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, the Company recognizes revenue from estimated unredeemed gift cards that are 
not subject to unclaimed property laws over the expected customer redemption period, rather than when the likelihood 
of redemption became remote. The Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of 
January 1, 2018 of $0.9 million related to unredeemed gift cards, breakage income of $1.1 million in revenues in the 
consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2018 and a corresponding decrease in other 
accruals of $2.0 million on the consolidated balance sheets.

Changes in the timing of revenue recognition under ASC Topic 606 related to incentives, refunds and adjustments 
resulted in a $0.1 million increase in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations during the year 
ended December 31, 2018.

The adoption of ASC Topic 606 had no impact to the Company’s total net cash provided by or used in operations, 
investing or financing activities within the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows for the year 
ended December 31, 2018.

•

•

•

See Note 3, Revenue, for additional details.

3. Revenue

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer, in the amount that 

reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those good or services.

The Company generates revenues primarily when diners place an order on the Platform through its mobile applications, its 

websites, or through third-party websites that incorporate the Company’s API or one of the Company’s listed phone numbers. 
Restaurants generally pay a commission, typically a percentage of the transaction, on orders that are processed through the Platform. 
Most of the restaurants on the Company’s Platform can choose their level of commission rate, at or above a base rate. A restaurant can 
choose to pay a higher rate that affects its prominence and exposure to diners on the Platform. Additionally, restaurants on the 
Platform that use the Company’s delivery services pay an additional commission for the use of those services. The Company may also 
charge a delivery or other convenience fee directly to the diner. 

Revenues from online and phone pick-up and delivery orders are recognized when the orders are transmitted to the restaurants, 

including revenues for managed delivery services due to the simultaneous nature of the Company’s delivery operations. The amount 
of revenue recognized by the Company is based on the arrangement with the related restaurant and is adjusted for any expected 
refunds or adjustments, which are estimated using an expected value approach based on historical experience and any cash credits 
related to the transaction, including incentive offers provided to restaurants and diners. The Company also recognizes as revenue any 
fees charged to the diner for delivery or convenience services provided by the Company. Although the Company processes and 
collects the entire amount of the transaction with the diner, it records revenue for transmitting orders to restaurants on a net basis 
because the Company is acting as an agent for takeout orders, which are prepared by the restaurants. The Company is the principal in 
the transaction with respect to credit card processing and managed delivery services because it controls the respective services. As a 
result, costs incurred for processing the credit card transactions and providing delivery services are included in operations and support 
expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company periodically provides incentive offers to restaurants and diners to use our platform. These promotions are 
generally cash credits to be applied against purchases. These incentive offers are recorded as a reduction in revenues, generally on the 
date the corresponding order revenue is recognized. For those incentives that create an obligation to discount current or future orders, 
management applies judgment in allocating the incentives that are expected to be redeemed proportionally to current and future orders 
based on their relative expected transaction prices.

The Company derives some revenues from mobile application development professional services and access to the respective 

order ahead platforms and related services. Revenues for professional services and related platform access fees are generally 
recognized ratably over the subscription period beginning on the date the platform access becomes available to the customer. 
Revenues for certain professional services may be recognized in full once the services are performed if they are distinct. The 
Company also generates a small amount of revenues directly from companies that participate in our corporate ordering program and 
by selling advertising to third parties on our allmenus.com website. The Company does not anticipate that the foregoing will generate 
a material portion of our revenues in the foreseeable future. 

52

GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

For most orders, diners use a credit card to pay for their meal when the order is placed. For these transactions, the Company 
collects the total amount of the diner’s order net of payment processing fees from the payment processor and remits the net proceeds 
to the restaurant less commission. The Company generally accumulates funds and remits the net proceeds to the restaurants on at least 
a monthly basis, depending on the payment terms with the restaurant. The Company also accepts payment for orders via gift cards 
offered on its platform. For gift cards that are not subject to unclaimed property laws, the Company recognizes revenue from estimated 
unredeemed gift cards, based on its historical breakage experience, over the expected customer redemption period.

Certain governmental taxes are imposed on the products and services provided through the Company’s platform and are 
included in the order fees charged to the diner and collected by the Company. Sales taxes are either remitted to the restaurant for 
payment or are paid directly to certain states. These fees are recorded on a net basis, and, as a result, are excluded from revenues.

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable primarily represent the net cash due from the Company’s payment processors for cleared transactions and 
amounts owed from corporate and other institutional customers and Enterprise restaurants, which are generally invoiced on a monthly 
basis. The carrying amount of the Company’s receivables is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects management’s 
best estimate of amounts that will not be collected. These uncollected amounts are generally not recovered from the restaurants. The 
allowance is recorded through a charge to bad debt expense which is recognized within general and administrative expense in the 
consolidated statements of operations. The allowance is based on historical loss experience and any specific risks, current or 
forecasted, identified in collection matters. 

Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge against bad debt expense and a credit to an 
allowance based on its assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Balances still outstanding after management has used 
reasonable collection efforts are written off against the allowance. The Company does not charge interest on trade receivables. 

The Company incurs expenses for uncollected credit card receivables (or “chargebacks”), including fraudulent orders, when a 

diner’s card is authorized but fails to process, and for other unpaid credit card receivables. The majority of the Company’s chargeback 
expense is recorded directly to general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations as the charges are 
incurred; however, a portion of the allowance for doubtful accounts includes a reserve for estimated chargebacks on the net cash due 
from the Company’s payment processors as of the end of the period. 

Changes in the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts for the periods presented were as follows: 

Balance at beginning of period

Additions (reductions) to expense
Write-offs, net of recoveries and other adjustments

Balance at end of period

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

  $

  $

1,513    $
(23)   
(30)   
1,460    $

1,229 
335 
(51)
1,513  

Deferred Revenues

The Company’s deferred revenues consist primarily of gift card liabilities, certain incentive liabilities as well as customer 
billings for professional services recognized ratably over the subscription period. These amounts are included within other accruals on 
the consolidated balance sheets and are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position. The majority of gift cards and 
incentives issued by the Company are redeemed within a year.

Contract Acquisition Costs

The Company defers the incremental costs of obtaining and renewing restaurant and corporate and campus program customer 

contracts, primarily consisting of commissions and bonuses and related payroll taxes, as contract acquisition assets within other assets 
on the consolidated balance sheets. Contract acquisition assets are amortized using the straight-line method to sales and marketing 
expense in the consolidated statements of operations over the useful life of the contract, which is estimated to be approximately 4 
years based on anticipated customer renewals. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company deferred $10.3 million of 
contract acquisitions costs and amortized $1.3 million of related expense. No amounts were deferred prior to the adoption of ASC 
Topic 606 on January 1, 2018. 

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

4. Acquisitions 

2018 Acquisitions

On November 7, 2018, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Tapingo Ltd. (“Tapingo”) for 
approximately $152.1 million, including $151.8 million of cash paid (net of cash acquired of $1.5 million), $0.4 million of other non-
cash consideration and a net working capital adjustment receivable of $0.1 million. Tapingo is a leading platform for campus food 
ordering with direct integration into college meal plans and point of sale systems. The acquisition of Tapingo has enhanced the 
Company’s diner network on college campuses.

On September 13, 2018, the Company acquired SCVNGR, Inc. d/b/a LevelUp (“LevelUp”) for approximately $369.4 million, 
including $366.8 million of cash paid (net of cash acquired of $6.0 million) and $2.6 million of other non-cash consideration. LevelUp 
is a leading provider of mobile diner engagement and payment solutions for national and regional restaurant brands. The acquisition of 
LevelUp has simplified the Company’s integrations with restaurants’ systems, increased diner engagement and accelerated product 
development.

The Company assumed Tapingo and LevelUp employees’ unvested incentive stock option (“ISO”) awards as of the respective 

closing dates. Approximately $0.4 million and $2.6 million of the fair value of the assumed ISO awards granted to acquired Tapingo 
and LevelUp employees, respectively, was attributable to the pre-combination services of the awardees and was included in the 
respective purchase prices. These amounts are reflected within goodwill in the respective purchase price allocations. As of the 
respective acquisition dates, aggregate post-combination expense of approximately $21.4 million is expected to be recognized related 
to the combined assumed ISO awards over the remaining post-combination service periods.

The results of operations of Tapingo and LevelUp have been included in the Company’s financial statements since November 
7, 2018 and September 13, 2018, respectively but did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations 
for the year ended December 31, 2018.

The excess of the consideration transferred in the acquisitions over the amounts assigned to the fair value of the net assets was 
recorded as goodwill, which represents the value of LevelUp’s technology team, the ability to simplify integrations with restaurants on 
the Company’s platform and the expanded breadth and depth of the Company’s network of diners and campus relationships. The total 
goodwill related to the acquisitions of Tapingo and LevelUp of $429.4 million is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Tapingo and LevelUp were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the 

closing dates of November 7, 2018 and September 13, 2018, respectively. The purchase price allocation for Tapingo and LevelUp is 
subject to change within the measurement period as certain significant fair value estimates are subject to management review and 
approval. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation acquisition-date fair values of the asset and 
liabilities acquired in connection with the Tapingo and LevelUp acquisitions:

Tapingo

LevelUp
(in thousands)

Total

Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Property and equipment
Other assets
Restaurant relationships
Diner acquisition
Below-market lease intangible
Developed technology
Goodwill
Net deferred tax asset
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Total purchase price net of cash acquired
Net working capital adjustment receivable
Fair value of assumed ISOs attributable to pre-combination service
Net cash paid

$

$

$

54

 $

3,101 
843 
— 
163 
11,279 
— 
— 
9,755 
133,383 
(1,988)
(4,478)
152,058 
127 
(372)
151,813    $

 $

 $

6,201 
1,396 
895 
— 
10,217 
3,912 
2,205 
20,107 
295,994 
31,621 
(3,121)
369,427 
— 
(2,594)
366,833    $

  $

9,302 
2,239 
895 
163 
21,496 
3,912 
2,205 
29,862 
429,377 
29,633 
(7,599)
521,485 
127 
(2,966)
518,646  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

2017 Acquisitions

On October 10, 2017, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Eat24, LLC (“Eat24”), a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Yelp Inc., for approximately $281.7 million, including $281.4 million in net cash paid and $0.3 million of 
other non-cash consideration. Of such amount, $28.8 million will be held in escrow for an 18-month period after closing to secure the 
Company’s indemnification rights under the purchase agreement. Eat24 provides online and mobile food ordering for restaurants and 
diners across the United States. The acquisition expanded the breadth and depth of the Company’s national network of restaurant 
partners and active diners.

The Company granted restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards to acquired Eat24 employees in replacement of their unvested 
equity awards as of the closing date. Approximately $0.3 million of the fair value of the replacement RSU awards granted to acquired 
Eat24 employees was attributable to the pre-combination services of the Eat24 awardees and was included in the $281.7 million 
purchase price. This amount is reflected within goodwill in the purchase price allocation. As of the acquisition date, post-combination 
expense of approximately $4.1 million was expected to be recognized related to the replacement awards over the remaining post-
combination service period.

On August 23, 2017, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and certain expressly specified liabilities of A&D 

Network Solutions, Inc. and Dashed, Inc. (collectively, “Foodler”). The purchase price for Foodler was $51.1 million in cash, net of 
cash acquired of $0.1 million. Foodler is an independent online food-ordering company with an established diner base in the Northeast 
United States. The acquisition expanded the breadth and depth of the Company’s restaurant network, active diners and delivery 
network.

The results of operations of Eat24 and Foodler have been included in the Company’s financial statements since October 10, 

2017 and August 23, 2017, respectively.

The excess of the consideration transferred in the acquisitions over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets was 

recorded as goodwill, which represents the value of increasing the breadth and depth of the Company’s network of restaurants and 
diners. The total goodwill related to the acquisitions of Eat24 and Foodler of $153.4 million is expected to be deductible for income 
tax purposes.

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Eat24 and Foodler were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the respective 

closing dates of October 10, 2017 and August 23, 2017. The following table summarizes the final purchase price allocation 
acquisition-date fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired in connection with the Eat24 and Foodler acquisitions:

Eat24

    Foodler
(in thousands)

Total

Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Property and equipment
Restaurant relationships
Diner acquisition
Trademarks
Developed technology
Goodwill
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Total purchase price net of cash acquired
Fair value of replacement RSUs attributable to pre-combination service
Net cash paid

$

8,267   $
221     
1,113     

307   $
—   
—   
  126,232      35,217   
1,354   
  35,226     
74   
2,225     
1,955   
2,559     
  135,955      17,452   
(5,237)  
  (30,082)    

8,574 
221 
1,113 
  161,449 
  36,580 
2,299 
4,514 
  153,407 
  (35,319)
 $ 281,716   $  51,122    $ 332,838 
(274)
$ 281,442    $ 51,122    $ 332,564  

(274)    

—   

2016 Acquisitions

On May 5, 2016, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding stock of KMLEE Investments Inc. and LABite.com, 
Inc. (collectively, “LABite”). The purchase price for LABite was $65.8 million in cash, net of cash acquired of $2.6 million. LABite 
provides online and mobile food ordering and delivery services for restaurants in numerous western and southwestern cities of the 
United States. The acquisition expanded the Company’s restaurant, diner and delivery networks.

55

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The results of operations of LABite have been included in the Company’s financial statements since May 5, 2016. 

The excess of the consideration transferred in the acquisition over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets 
acquired was recorded as goodwill, which represents the opportunity to expand restaurant delivery services and enhance the breadth 
and depth of the Company’s restaurant partners. Of the $40.2 million of goodwill related to the acquisition, $5.0 million is expected to 
be deductible for income tax purposes.

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed of LABite were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the closing date of May 

5, 2016. The following table summarizes the final purchase price allocation acquisition-date fair values of the assets and liabilities 
acquired in connection with the LABite acquisition: 

$ 

Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Restaurant relationships
Property and equipment
Developed technology
Goodwill
Trademarks
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Net deferred tax liability

     Total purchase price net of cash acquired

$

(in thousands)

2,320
68
46,513
257
1,731
40,235
440
(6,303)
(19,412)
65,849

Additional Information

The estimated fair values of the intangible assets acquired were determined based on a combination of the income, cost, and 
market approaches to measure the fair value of the restaurant relationships, diner acquisition, developed technology and trademarks as 
follows: 

Restaurant relationships

Diner acquisition
Developed technology

Trademark

Valuation Method

Tapingo
Multi-period 
excess earnings

n/a
Cost to recreate

n/a

LevelUp
With or without 
comparative 
business valuation

  Cost to recreate
Multi-period 
excess earnings
n/a

Eat24
  Multi-period 
excess earnings

Foodler
  Multi-period 
excess earnings

  Cost to recreate   Cost to recreate
  Cost to recreate   Cost to recreate

  Relief  from 

  Relief  from 

royalty

royalty

 The fair value of the LevelUp below market lease was measured based on the present value of the difference between the 

contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the lease and an estimate of current fair market lease rates measured over the non-
cancelable remaining term of the lease. 

These fair value measurements were based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 

measurements within the fair value hierarchy. 

The Company incurred certain expenses directly and indirectly related to acquisitions which were recognized in general and 
administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 of 
$6.9 million, $5.6 million, and $2.0 million, respectively. 

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Pro Forma (unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the operating results of the Company for the years ended 
December 31, 2018 and 2017 as if the acquisitions of Tapingo, LevelUp, Eat24, and Foodler had occurred as of January 1 of the year 
prior to acquisition:

Revenues
Net income
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders:

Basic
Diluted

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

1,041,811    $
55,975   

782,895 
41,008 

0.63    $
0.61    $

0.48 
0.46  

$

$
$

The pro forma adjustments that reflect the amortization that would have been recognized for intangible assets, elimination of 

transaction costs incurred, stock-based compensation expense for replacement awards, interest expense for transaction financings and 
other adjustments, as well as the pro forma tax impact of such adjustments for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as 
follows:

Depreciation and amortization
Transaction costs
Stock-based compensation
Interest expense
Other
Income tax benefit

$

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

4,893    $
(6,923) 
3,748   
1,601   
—   
(1,548) 

16,588 
1,293 
7,200 
5,358 
4,690 
(15,098)

The unaudited pro forma revenues and net income are not intended to represent or be indicative of the Company’s consolidated 
results of operations or financial condition that would have been reported had the acquisitions been completed as of the beginning of 
the periods presented and should not be taken as indicative of the Company’s future consolidated results of operations or financial 
condition.

5. Marketable Securities 

The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value of the Company’s held-to-maturity marketable 

securities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Cash and cash equivalents
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Short-term investments
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Total

Amortized Cost

  Unrealized Gains

  Unrealized Losses

(in thousands)

Estimated
Fair Value

December 31, 2018

  $

  $

12,097    $
870 

13,334     
750     
27,051    $

 $

— 
— 

—     
—     
—    $

(21)   $
— 

(88)    
—     
(109)   $

12,076 
870 

13,246 
750 
26,942  

57

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
      
      
      
  
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Cash and cash equivalents
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Short-term investments
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Total

Amortized Cost

  Unrealized Gains

  Unrealized Losses

(in thousands)

Estimated
Fair Value

December 31, 2017

  $

  $

39,979    $
1,250     

21,480     
2,125     
64,834    $

 $

— 
— 

—     
—     
—    $

(43)   $
—     

(99)    
(1)    
(143)   $

39,936 
1,250 

21,381 
2,124 
64,691  

All of the Company’s marketable securities were classified as held-to-maturity investments and have maturities within one year 
of December 31, 2018. Approximately $40 million of the Company’s marketable securities matured during the year ended December 
31, 2018, which was invested in other interest-bearing accounts upon maturity.

The gross unrealized losses, estimated fair value and length of time the individual marketable securities were in a continuous 

loss position for those marketable securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Less Than 12 Months

December 31, 2018
12 Months or Greater

Total

Estimated
Fair Value

Unrealized 
Loss

Estimated
Fair Value

  Unrealized Loss    

Estimated
Fair Value

Unrealized 
Loss

Commercial paper
Corporate bonds

Total

  $

  $

25,322    $
750     
26,072    $

(109)   $
—     
(109)   $

(in thousands)

 $

— 
— 
—    $

—    $
—     
—    $

25,322    $
750     
26,072    $

(109)
— 
(109)

Less Than 12 Months

December 31, 2017

12 Months or Greater

Total

Estimated
Fair Value

Unrealized 
Loss

Estimated
Fair Value

  Unrealized Loss    

Estimated
Fair Value

Unrealized 
Loss

Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Total

  $

  $

61,317    $
3,374     
64,691    $

(142)   $
(1)    
(143)   $

(in thousands)

 $

— 
— 
—    $

—    $
—     
—    $

61,317    $
3,374     
64,691    $

(142)
(1)
(143)

The Company recognized interest income during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 of $4.0 million, $2.0 

million and $1.3 million, respectively, within net interest (income) expense on the consolidated statements of operations. During the 
years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not recognize any other-than-temporary impairment losses related 
to its marketable securities.

The Company’s marketable securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (see Note 15, Fair Value 

Measurement, for further details). 

58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
  
   
      
      
      
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

6. Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets 

The components of acquired intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Gross Carrying
Amount

December 31, 2018
Accumulated
Amortization  

Net Carrying
Value

Gross Carrying
Amount

(in thousands)

December 31, 2017
Accumulated
Amortization  

Net Carrying
Value

Restaurant relationships
Diner acquisition
Developed technology
Trademarks
Below-market lease intangible
Other
Total amortizable intangible assets
Indefinite-lived trademarks
Total acquired intangible assets

  $

  $

494,278    $
47,541     
38,385     
2,225     
2,206     
3,676     
588,311     
89,676     
677,987    $

(103,457)   $
(10,306)    
(10,247)    
(2,225)    
(124)    
(2,615)    
(128,974)    
—     
(128,974)   $

390,821    $
37,235     
28,138     
—     
2,082     
1,061     
459,337     
89,676     
549,013    $

457,580    $
40,247     
8,523     
2,225     
—     
6,888     
515,463     
89,676     
605,139    $

(76,852)   $
(1,906)    
(6,418)    
(402)    
—     
(4,008)    
(89,586)    
—     
(89,586)   $

380,728 
38,341 
2,105 
1,823 
— 
2,880 
425,877 
89,676 
515,553  

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 were 

adjusted by $3.2 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for certain assets that were no longer in use. Amortization expense for 
acquired intangible assets was $42.5 million, $28.1 million and $20.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, 
respectively. Amortization of the acquired below-market lease intangible is recognized as rent expense within the consolidated 
statements of operations. 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows. 

Goodwill

Accumulated 
Impairment Losses  

(in thousands)

  Net Book Value  

Balance as of December 31, 2016

Acquisitions

Balance as of December 31, 2017

Acquisitions

Balance as of December 31, 2018

  $

  $

  $

436,455    $
153,407   
589,862    $
429,377   
1,019,239    $

—    $
—   
—    $
—   
—    $

436,455 
153,407 
589,862 
429,377 
1,019,239  

 In October 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the restaurant and diner network assets of 
OrderUp, Inc. (“OrderUp”). OrderUp provides online and mobile food ordering for restaurants across the United States. The Company 
previously completed the acquisition of certain assets of OrderUp from Groupon, Inc. in September 2017.

59

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded additions to acquired intangible assets of $76.1 million as a 
result of the acquisitions of LevelUp and Tapingo and the acquisition of certain assets of OrderUp. During the year ended December 
31, 2017, the Company recorded additions to acquired intangible assets of $230.0 million as a result of the acquisitions of Eat24 and 
Foodler, the acquisition of certain assets of OrderUp and payments made to Zoomer, Inc. The components of the acquired intangible 
assets added during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Weighted-Average
Amortization
Period

Amount

(in thousands)    

Restaurant relationships
Developed technology
Diner acquisition
Below-market lease intangible
Trademarks
Other
Total

  $

  $

36,697     
29,862     
7,294     
2,205     
—     
—     
76,058       

(years)
17.5
4.7
5.0
5.8

Weighted-Average
Amortization
Period

Amount

(in thousands)

  $

  $

177,929     
4,514     
40,247     
—     
2,299     
5,000     
229,989       

(years)
19.3
0.5
5.0

1.2
2.8

Estimated future amortization expense of acquired intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 was as follows: 

2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total

(in thousands)  
47,445 
44,770 
39,120 
37,150 
30,644 
260,208 
459,337  

  $

  $

As of December 31, 2018, the estimated remaining weighted-average useful life of the Company’s acquired intangibles was 

13.9 years. The Company recognizes amortization expense for acquired intangibles on a straight-line basis. 

7. Property and Equipment 

The components of the Company’s property and equipment as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

  December 31, 2018     December 31, 2017  
(in thousands)

Developed software
Computer equipment
Leasehold improvements
Furniture and fixtures
Purchased software and digital assets
Construction in progress

  $

Property and equipment

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

Property and equipment, net

  $

90,302    $
50,767     
39,550     
10,801     
4,696     
1,976     
198,092     
(78,597)   
119,495    $

52,041 
31,601 
23,400 
6,857 
2,881 
— 
116,780 
(45,396)
71,384  

The Company recorded depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment other than developed software for the 

years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 of $21.6 million, $11.7 million and $8.9 million, respectively. The gross carrying 
amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s leasehold improvements, developed software, furniture and fixtures and 
purchased software and digital assets as of December 31, 2018 were adjusted in aggregate by $10.3 million and $9.8 million, 
respectively, for certain assets that were no longer in use.

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company capitalized developed software costs of $41.1 million, $26.0 million and $15.6 million for the years ended 
December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amortization expense for developed software costs, recognized in depreciation and 
amortization in the consolidated statements of operations, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $21.8 million, 
$12.0 million and $5.4 million, respectively. 

 8. Commitments and Contingencies 

Office Facility Leases 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had various operating lease agreements for its office facilities which expire at various 

dates through September 2029. The terms of the lease agreements provide for rental payments on a graduated basis. For its primary 
operating leases, the Company can, after the initial lease term, renew its leases under right of first offer terms at fair value at the time 
of renewal for a period of five years. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

Rental expense, primarily for leased office space under the operating lease commitments, was $13.1 million, $7.5 million and 

$5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

Future minimum lease payments under the Company’s operating lease agreements that have initial or remaining non-cancelable 

lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2018 were as follows: 

2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total

(in thousands)  
13,009 
14,874 
14,243 
12,219 
12,220 
57,503 
124,068  

  $

  $

The table above does not reflect the Company’s option to exercise early termination rights or the payment of related early 

termination fees. 

Legal 

In August 2011, Ameranth, Inc. (“Ameranth”) filed a patent infringement action against a number of defendants, including 
Grubhub Holdings Inc., in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (the “Court”), Case No. 3:11-cv-1810 (“’1810 
action”). Ameranth subsequently initiated additional actions for infringement of a related patent, including separate actions against 
Grubhub Holdings Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-739, and Seamless North America, LLC, Case No. 3:12-cv-737, which were consolidated 
along with approximately 40 other cases Ameranth filed in the same district.

In September 2018, the district court granted summary judgment (on another defendant’s motion) of unpatentability on the sole 

remaining patent and vacated the December 3, 2018 jury trial date for the claims against Grubhub Holdings Inc. and Seamless North 
America, LLC. In October 2018, the district court entered final judgment on all claims in the case in which summary judgment was 
granted, and then stayed the remaining cases (including the cases against Grubhub and Seamless). Ameranth then appealed this 
decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Company believes this case lacks merit and that it has strong 
defenses to all of the infringement claims. The Company intends to defend the suit vigorously. However, the Company is unable to 
predict the likelihood of success of Ameranth’s infringement claims and is unable to predict the likelihood of success of its 
counterclaims. The Company has not recorded an accrual related to this lawsuit as of December 31, 2018, as it does not believe a 
material loss is probable. It is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred; however, the possible range of loss is not estimable 
given the status of the case and the uncertainty as to whether the claims at issue are with or without merit, will be settled out of court, 
or will be determined in the Company’s favor, whether the Company may be required to expend significant management time and 
financial resources on the defense of such claims, and whether the Company will be able to recover any losses under its insurance 
policies.

In addition to the matter described above, from time to time, the Company is involved in various other legal proceedings arising 

from the normal course of business activities, including labor and employment claims, some of which relate to the alleged 
misclassification of independent contractors. In September 2015, a claim was brought in the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of California under the Private Attorneys General Act by an individual plaintiff on behalf of himself and seeking to 
represent other drivers and the State of California. The claim sought monetary penalties and injunctive relief for alleged violations of 

61

 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

the California Labor Code based on the alleged misclassification of drivers as independent contractors. A decision was issued on 
February 8, 2018, and the court ruled in favor of the Company, finding that plaintiff was properly classified as an independent 
contractor. In March 2018, the plaintiff appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Company does 
not believe any of the foregoing claims will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. However, there is no 
assurance that any claim will not be combined into a collective or class action.

Indemnification

In connection with the merger of Seamless North America, LLC, Seamless Holdings Corporation and Grubhub Holdings Inc. in 
August 2013, the Company agreed to indemnify Aramark Holdings Corporation for negative income tax consequences associated with 
the October 2012 spin-off of Seamless Holdings Corporation that were the result of certain actions taken by the Company through 
October 29, 2014, in certain instances subject to a $15.0 million limitation. Management is not aware of any actions that would impact 
the indemnification obligation.

9. Debt

The following table summarizes the carrying value of the Company’s debt as of December 31, 2018:

Term loan
Revolving loan
Total debt

Less current portion
Less unamortized deferred debt issuance costs

Long-term debt

  December 31, 2018     December 31, 2017  

(in thousands)

$

$

$

120,312   $
222,000    
342,312   $
(6,250)  
(514)  
335,548   $

124,219 
50,000 
174,219 
(3,906)
(668)
169,645  

On October 10, 2017, the Company entered into a credit agreement which provided, among other things, for aggregate revolving 

loans up to $225 million and term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $125 million (the “Previous Credit Agreement”). In 
addition, the Company was permitted to incur up to $150 million of incremental revolving loans or incremental term loans pursuant to 
the terms and conditions of the Previous Credit Agreement. The credit facility under the Previous Credit Agreement was due to expire 
on October 9, 2022. There were no changes in the terms of the Previous Credit Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2018, 
however, the Company refinanced the Previous Credit Agreement on February 6, 2019 (see Note 16, Subsequent Events, for additional 
details).

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company borrowed $222.0 million of revolving loans under the Previous Credit 

Agreement. The Company utilized the revolving loan proceeds to finance a portion of the purchase price and transaction costs in 
connection with the acquisitions of Tapingo and LevelUp. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company made principal 
payments of $53.9 million from cash on hand. As of December 31, 2018, outstanding borrowings under the Previous Credit 
Agreement were $342.3 million. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding debt approximates its carrying value as of December 31, 
2018 (see Note 15, Fair Value Measurement, for additional details).

Under the Previous Credit Agreement, borrowings bore interest, at the Company’s option, based on LIBOR or an alternate base 

rate plus a margin. In the case of LIBOR loans, the margin ranged between 1.25% and 2.00% and, in the case of alternate base rate 
loans, between 0.25% and 1.0%, in each case, based upon the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Previous 
Credit Agreement). The Company was also required to pay a commitment fee on the undrawn portion available under the revolving 
loan facility of between 0.20% and 0.30% per annum, based upon the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, total unamortized debt issuance costs of $1.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively, were 

recorded as other assets and as a reduction of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets in proportion to the borrowing 
capacities of the revolving and term loans.

Interest expense includes interest on outstanding borrowings, amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees on the 

undrawn portion available under the Previous Credit Agreement. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the 
Company recognized interest expense of $7.5 million, $2.1 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. The effective interest rate, 
including amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees, for borrowings under the Previous Credit Agreement for the years 
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 3.82% and 3.00%, respectively. 

62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The obligations under the Previous Credit Agreement and the guarantees were secured by a lien on substantially all of the 
tangible and intangible property of the Company and the domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors, and by a pledge of all of the equity 
interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Previous Credit Agreement. 

The Previous Credit Agreement contained customary covenants that, among other things, required the Company to satisfy 
certain financial covenants and restricted the Company’s ability to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make 
certain investments and acquisitions, create liens, transfer and sell material assets and merge or consolidate. The Company was in 
compliance with the covenants as of December 31, 2018.

Future maturities of principal payments, excluding potential early payments, as of December 31, 2018 under the Previous Credit 

Agreement were as follows: 

2019
2020
2021
2022
Total

(in thousands)

6,250 
6,250 
7,031 
322,781 
342,312  

  $

  $

10. Stock-Based Compensation 

In May 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the Grubhub Inc. 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), 

pursuant to which the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, 
restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based and cash-based awards. On May 20, 2015, 
the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 to register up to 14,256,901 shares of common stock reserved for issuance 
pursuant to awards granted under the 2015 Plan. Effective May 20, 2015, no further grants will be made under the Company’s 2013 
Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). As of December 31, 2018, there were 3,729,176 shares of common stock authorized and 
available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the 2015 Plan. On November 7, 2018 and September 14, 2018, the Company 
filed registration statements on Form S-8 to register up to 91,338 and 236,414 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant 
to unvested assumed stock options granted under the respective incentive plans previously established by Tapingo and LevelUp. No 
further grants will be made under the assumed Tapingo and LevelUp incentive plans. The Board of Directors of the Company and 
committee or subcommittee of the Board of Directors has discretion to establish the terms and conditions for grants, including, but not 
limited to, the number of shares and vesting and forfeiture provisions.

The Company has granted non-qualified and incentive stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards under its 
incentive plans. The Company recognizes compensation expense based on estimated grant date fair values for all stock-based awards 
issued to employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards. For all stock options 
outstanding as of December 31, 2018, the exercise price of the stock options equals the fair value of the stock option on the grant date. 
The stock options and restricted stock units vest over different lengths of time, but generally over 4 years, and are subject to forfeiture 
upon termination of employment prior to vesting. The maximum term for stock options issued to employees under the 2015 Plan, the 
2013 Plan and the assumed Tapingo and LevelUp incentive plans is 10 years, and they expire 10 years from the date of grant. 
Compensation expense for stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards is recognized ratably over the vesting 
period. 

The rights granted to the recipient of a restricted stock unit generally accrue over the vesting period. Participants holding 
restricted stock units are not entitled to any ordinary cash dividends paid by the Company with respect to such shares unless otherwise 
provided by the terms of the award. The Company does not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.

The recipient of a restricted stock award shall have all of the rights of a holder of shares of the Company’s common stock, 
including the right to receive dividends, if any, the right to vote such shares and, upon the full vesting of the restricted stock awards, 
the right to tender such shares. The payment of any dividends will be deferred until the restricted stock awards have fully vested. The 
Company’s restricted stock awards generally vest over 2 years and are subject to forfeiture upon termination of employment prior to 
vesting unless otherwise provided in the terms of the award agreement.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

The total stock-based compensation expense related to all stock-based awards was $55.3 million, $32.7 million and $23.6 
million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, $169.4 million of total 
unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years. 

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Excess tax benefits reflect the total realized value of the Company’s tax deductions from individual stock option exercise 

transactions and the vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units in excess of the deferred tax assets that were 
previously recorded. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized excess tax benefits from stock-
based compensation of $15.9 million and $7.1 million, respectively, within income tax (benefit) expense on the consolidated 
statements of operations and within cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. During the year 
ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported excess tax benefits as a decrease in cash flows from operations and an increase in 
cash flows from financing activities of $24.9 million. The change in presentation of excess tax benefits effective for the years ended 
December 31, 2018 and 2017 is a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09. 

The Company capitalized stock-based compensation expense as website and software development costs of $9.0 million, $4.5 

million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

Stock Options 

The Company granted 347,891, 618,899 and 166,272 stock options under the 2015 Plan during the years ended December 31, 

2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In 2018, the Company also assumed 327,752 unvested ISOs with the acquisitions of LevelUp and 
Tapingo. The fair value of each stock option award was estimated based on the assumptions below as of the grant date using the 
Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, expected volatility is based on the historical and 
implied volatilities of the Company’s own common stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercises and 
employee terminations within the valuation model. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are 
considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term calculation for option awards considers a combination of the 
Company’s historical and estimated future exercise behavior. The risk-free rate for the period within the contractual life of the option 
is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. 

The assumptions used to determine the fair value of the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 

and 2016 were as follows:

Weighted-average fair value options granted
Average risk-free interest rate
Expected stock price volatility (a)
Dividend yield
Expected stock option life (years) (b)

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017

2016

 $

66.19 
 $
2.61%  
46.4%  
None 
3.51 

15.19 
 $
1.65%  
48.7%  
None 
4.00 

12.59 
1.41%
49.7%
None 
5.84  

(a)

Prior to the first quarter of 2018, the expected stock price volatility was based on a combination of the 
historical and implied volatilities of comparable publicly-traded companies and the historical volatility 
of the Company’s own common stock due to its limited trading history as there was no active external 
or internal market for the Company’s common stock prior to the Company’s initial public offering in 
April 2014.

(b) The expected term for Tapingo and LevelUp assumed ISO awards was calculated based on their 

respective remaining vesting periods as of the acquisition date. During the year ended December 31, 
2016, the expected term of option awards was estimated using a simplified method due to the limited 
period of time stock-based awards had been exercisable.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Stock option awards as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2018, were as 

follows: 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

Granted
Forfeited
Exercised

Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2018
Exercisable at December 31, 2018

Options

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

Aggregate 
Intrinsic Value 
(thousands)

Weighted-Average
Exercise Term
(years)

25.53    $
62.89       
46.27     
27.10       
33.13     
33.11     
22.91    $

125,197 

7.28 

120,977     
120,926     
86,880     

6.87 
6.87 
6.03  

2,705,849    $
675,643     
(206,986)    
(523,667)    
2,650,839     
2,649,081     
1,599,731    $

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
     
 
 
   
      
  
   
     
 
 
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the fair value 
of the common stock and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the 
option holders had all option holders exercised their in-the-money options on each date. The aggregate intrinsic value of assumed 
Tapingo and LevelUp ISOs as of December 31, 2018 was approximately $13.1 million. This amount will change in future periods 
based on the fair value of the Company’s stock and the number of options outstanding. The aggregate intrinsic value of awards 
exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $38.7 million, $19.5 million and $30.2 million, respectively. 

The Company recorded compensation expense for stock options of $17.7 million, $11.8 million and $12.3 million for the years 

ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, total unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for 
estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested stock options was $34.2 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average 
period of 2.5 years, including aggregate remaining post-combination expense of approximately $11.7 million expected to be 
recognized related to the assumed Tapingo and LevelUp ISO awards. 

Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards 

Non-vested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2018 

were as follows: 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

Granted
Forfeited
Vested

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

Restricted Stock Units

Shares
2,454,801    $
1,325,499     
(462,684)    
(988,759)    
2,328,857    $

Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value

37.56 
94.41 
52.72 
36.55 
67.33  

Compensation expense related to restricted stock units was $37.6 million, $20.9 million and $9.6 million during the years ended 

December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The aggregate fair value as of the vest date of restricted stock units that vested 
during years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 was $96.3 million, $27.3 million and $5.8 million, respectively. As of 
December 31, 2018, $135.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to 2,316,461 
non-vested restricted stock units expected to vest with weighted-average grant date fair values of $67.14 is expected to be recognized 
over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years. The fair value of these awards was determined based on the Company’s stock price at the 
grant date and assumes no expected dividend payments through the vesting period.

Each of the compensation expense recognized and the vest date aggregate fair value of vested awards related to restricted stock 

awards was $1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. There were no non-vested restricted stock awards or related 
expense during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2018, there were no remaining non-vested 
restricted stock awards or related unrecognized compensation cost. 

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

11. Income Taxes 

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Israel and various state jurisdictions. 

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the income tax provision was comprised of the following: 

Current:

Federal
State
Foreign

Total current

Deferred:

Federal
State

Total deferred

Total income tax (benefit) expense

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)

2016

  $

  $

(2,934)  $
3,827     
335     
1,228     

16,852    $
4,721     
271     
21,844     

2,608     
(884)   
1,724     
2,952    $

(30,794)   
(385)   
(31,179)   
(9,335)  $

24,509 
8,132 
338 
32,979 

800 
516 
1,316 
34,295  

Income before provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, was as follows: 

Domestic source
Foreign source
Income before provision for income taxes

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)

2016

  $

  $

80,878    $
555     
81,433    $

88,357    $
1,291     
89,648    $

82,033 
1,819 
83,852  

The following is a reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory rate to the income taxes reported in the 

consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: 

Income tax expense at statutory rate
State income taxes
Effect of federal rate change
Stock-based compensation
Excess compensation
Research and development tax credit
Uncertain tax position
Foreign rate differential
Unremitted earnings tax
All other
Total income tax (benefit) expense

2018

Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)

2016

  $

  $

17,101    $
1,248     
—     
(15,924)   
1,753     
(1,470)   
(545)   
(57)   
—     
846     
2,952    $

31,377    $
5,011     
(36,768)   
(7,072)   
—     
(800)   
(55)   
(203)   
363     
(1,188)   
(9,335)  $

29,348 
5,621 
— 
— 
— 
(638)
— 
(273)
— 
237 
34,295  

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. legislature enacted the Tax Act resulting in significant modifications to the tax law. The 
Company completed its determination of the accounting effects of the Tax Act in the period it was enacted. The Tax Act reduced the 
corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, subjected certain foreign earnings on which U.S. income tax was previously deferred to a 
one-time transition tax, as well as other changes. As a result of the Tax Act, the Company incurred an incremental income tax benefit 
of $34.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, which consisted primarily of the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and 
liabilities at the 21% corporate income tax rate and the one-time transition tax on accumulated foreign earnings of $0.4 million. 

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
       
       
 
   
   
   
     
       
       
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The tax effects of temporary differences giving rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 

2017 were as follows: 

Deferred tax assets:

Loss and credit carryforwards
Accrued expenses
Stock-based compensation
Fixed assets - state

Total deferred tax assets

Valuation allowance

Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Prepaid expenses

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax liability

As of December 31,

2018

2017

(in thousands)

  $

  $

72,466    $
4,128     
8,832     
2,295     
87,721     
(23,840)   
63,881     

(8,607)   
(101,451)   
(206)   
(110,264)   
(46,383)  $

11,184 
2,089 
9,914 
— 
23,187 
(4,803)
18,384 

(5,909)
(86,462)
(305)
(92,676)
(74,292)

The Company classified its net deferred tax liabilities as long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of 

December 31, 2018 and 2017.

A partial valuation reserve of $8.4 million and $4.8 million was recorded as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, 
against certain state-only credits as those credits have a short carryover period and the Company believes that this portion of the credit 
carryovers will more likely than not expire before they are utilized. The Company also recorded a full valuation allowance as of 
December 31, 2018 of $15.4 million on Israeli net operating losses (“NOLs”) as it is more likely than not that these will not be 
utilized.

The Tax Act generally allows companies to repatriate future foreign source earnings without incurring additional U.S. taxes by 
providing a 100% exemption for the foreign source portion of dividends from certain foreign subsidiaries. As a result, the Company 
plans to repatriate cash from its foreign subsidiaries to the U.S. in the future. The Company estimated no additional tax liability as 
there are no applicable withholding taxes for the repatriation of unremitted earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. 

The Company had the following tax loss and credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2018 and 2017: 

U.S. federal loss carryforwards
U.S. state and local loss carryforwards
Israeli loss carryforward
Illinois Edge Credits(a)
Federal research and development credit
State research and development credit
(a)

Amounts are before the federal benefit of state tax.

  $

2018

2017
(in thousands)

29,853    $
18,147     
15,382     
11,992     
1,986     
1,710     

595   
4,362   
—   
8,422   
—   
—   

Beginning
Year of
Expiration

2027
2027
Indefinite
2018
2028
2018

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The adoption of ASU 2016-09 resulted in a $2.6 million cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings, including the federal 

benefit of state taxes, on the consolidated balance sheets as of January 1, 2017. 

In July 2018, the examination in New York for corporate income tax returns for the tax years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 

and 2016 was completed with no material findings. The Company does not expect any material additional tax liabilities, penalties 
and/or interest as a result of the audit. The Company’s tax returns are subject to the normal statute of limitations, three years from the 
filing date for federal income tax purposes. The federal and state statute of limitations generally remain open for years in which tax 
losses are generated until three years from the year those losses are utilized. Under these rules, the 2006 and later year NOLs of Slick 
City Media, Inc. are still subject to audit by the IRS and state and local jurisdictions. Also, the 2007 and later year NOLs of Grubhub 
Holdings Inc. and its acquired businesses are still subject to audit by the IRS and state and local jurisdictions. The December 31, 2015 

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
       
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
       
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

and later period U.K. returns of Seamless Europe Ltd. are subject to examination by the U.K. tax authorities. The December 31, 2014 
and later period Israeli returns of Tapingo Ltd. are subject to exam by the Israeli tax authorities. 

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in 

determining the provision for income taxes and recording the related income tax assets and liabilities. The Company’s practice for 
accounting for uncertainty in income taxes is to recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that 
the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-
likely-than-not criteria, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood 
of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. 

The following table summarizes the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit activity during the years ended December 31, 2018 

and 2017, excluding the related accrual for interest: 

Balance at beginning of period
Reductions for tax positions taken in prior years
Additions for tax positions taken in the current year
Balance at end of period

  $

  $

As of December 31,

2018

2017

(in thousands)
2,864    $
(2,260) 
147   
751    $

3,345 
(937)
456 
2,864  

Included in the net deferred tax liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were deferred 
tax assets that relate to the potential settlement of these unrecognized tax benefits. As of December 31, 2018, the remaining reserve 
related to the Company’s New York and New York City unitary position for the year ending December 31, 2014 was reversed due to 
the closing of the statute of limitations. The remaining reserve relates to research and development credits.  

The Company records interest and penalties, if any, as a component of its income tax (benefit) expense in the consolidated 
statements of operations. No interest expense or penalties were recognized during the year ended December 31, 2018. Interest expense 
of less than $0.1 million and no penalties were recognized during the year ended December 31, 2017. 

12. Stockholders’ Equity 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company was authorized to issue two classes of stock: common stock and preferred 

stock. 

Common Stock 

Each holder of common stock has one vote per share of common stock held on all matters that are submitted for stockholder 

vote. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were 500,000,000 shares of common stock authorized. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, 
there were 90,756,548 and 86,790,624 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, respectively. The Company did not hold 
any shares as treasury shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

On April 25, 2018, the Company issued and sold 2,820,464 shares of the Company’s common stock to Yum Restaurant Services 

Group, LLC (the “Investor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., for an aggregate purchase price of $200 million 
pursuant to an investment agreement dated February 7, 2018, by and between the Company and the Investor. The Company has used 
and expects to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes.

On January 22, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $100 
million of the Company’s common stock exclusive of any fees, commissions or other expenses relating to such repurchases through 
open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions at the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. The repurchase 
program was announced on January 25, 2016. Repurchased stock may be retired or held as authorized but unissued treasury shares. 
The repurchase authorizations do not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock or adopt any particular 
method of repurchase and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time at management’s discretion. Repurchased and retired 
shares will result in an immediate reduction of the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares 
outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share at the time of the transaction. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 
2017, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. In 2016, the Company repurchased and retired 724,473 shares 
of its common stock at a weighted-average share price of $20.37, or an aggregate of $14.8 million. 

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Preferred Stock 

The Company was authorized to issue 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. There were no 

issued or outstanding shares of preferred stock as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. 

13. Retirement Plan 

Beginning February 1, 2012, the Company has maintained a defined contribution plan for employees. The plan is qualified 

under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company may also make discretionary profit sharing contributions as 
determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company matched 100% of the first 3% of employees’ contributions of 
eligible compensation and 50% of the next 2% of employees’ contributions of eligible compensation during the years ended 
December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and recognized matching contributions expense of $3.5 million, $2.3 million and $1.7 million, 
respectively. 

14. Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average 
number of common shares outstanding during the period without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net income per 
share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares 
outstanding during the period and potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, including stock options, restricted stock units and 
restricted stock awards, except in cases where the effect of the common stock equivalent would be antidilutive. Potential common 
stock equivalents consist of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units and restricted 
stock awards using the treasury stock method.

The sale of 2,820,464 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Investor on April 25, 2018 resulted in an immediate 
increase in the outstanding shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 
2018 (see Note 12, Stockholders’ Equity).

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders for 

the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: 

Basic earnings per share:

Net income attributable to common stockholders (numerator)
Shares used in computation (denominator)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share:

Net income attributable to common stockholders (numerator)
Shares used in computation (denominator)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock options
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards

Weighted-average diluted shares

Year Ended December 31,
2017

2016

2018

(in thousands, except per share data)

$ 78,481    $ 98,983    $

49,557 

89,447     
0.88    $

86,297     
1.15    $

85,069 
0.58 

$

$ 78,481    $ 98,983    $

49,557 

89,447     

86,297     

85,069 

1,601     
1,306     
92,354     
0.85    $

1,059     
826     
88,182     
1.12    $

792 
274 
86,135 (a) 
0.58  

Diluted earnings per share
(a) Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, the treasury stock method calculation of weighted-average dilutive 

$

shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2016 included the estimated impact of tax benefits and 
deficiencies. 

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased and retired 724,473 shares of its common stock at a 
weighted-average share price of $20.37, or an aggregate of $14.8 million. The repurchases resulted in a reduction of the outstanding 
shares used to calculate the weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic and diluted net earnings per share from the dates 
of the repurchases. See Note 12, Stockholders' Equity, for additional details.

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GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The number of shares of common stock underlying stock-based awards excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per 
share attributable to common stockholders because their effect would have been antidilutive for the years ended December 31, 2018, 
2017 and 2016 were as follows:  

Anti-dilutive shares underlying stock-based awards:

Stock options
Restricted stock units

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

2016

  216,451     
  222,984     

—      552,108 
35,646      212,170  

15. Fair Value Measurement 

Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Accounting standards define fair value 

as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous 
market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The standards also establish a fair value 
hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when 
measuring fair value. 

The accounting guidance for fair value measurements prioritizes valuation methodologies based on the reliability of the inputs 

in the following three-tier value hierarchy: 

Level 1

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2

Level 3

Assets and liabilities valued based on observable market data for similar instruments, such as quoted prices for 
similar assets or liabilities.

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity; instruments valued based on the best 
available data, some of which is internally developed, and considers risk premiums that a market participant would 
require.

The Company applied the following methods and assumptions in estimating its fair value measurements. The Company’s 
commercial paper, investments in corporate bonds and certain money market funds are classified as Level 2 within the fair value 
hierarchy because they are valued using inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable directly or indirectly. The 
Company’s long-term debt is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy because it is valued using an income approach, 
which utilizes a discounted cash flow technique that considers the credit profile of the Company. Accounts receivable, restaurant food 
liability and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their generally short-term maturities. 

The following table presents the fair value, for disclosure purposes only, and carrying value of the Company’s assets and 

liabilities that are recorded at other than fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017: 

Assets

Money market funds
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds

Total assets
Liabilities

Long-term debt, including 
current maturities

Total liabilities

  $

  $

  $
  $

December 31, 2018

Level 2

Level 3

Carrying 
Value
(in thousands)

    Level 2

December 31, 2017

  Level 3

Carrying 
Value

61  $
25,322   
1,620   
27,003  $

—  $
—   
—   
—  $

61    $
25,431    
1,620    
27,112   $

93  $
61,317   
3,374   
64,784  $

93 
—  $
61,459 
—   
—   
3,375 
—  $ 64,927 

—  $
—  $

342,745  $  342,312   $ 
342,312    $
342,745  $

—  $ 175,700  $  174,219 
—  $ 175,700  $ 174,219  

The Company is required to record certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, generally as a result of 
acquisitions. See Note 4, Acquisitions, for further discussion of the fair value of assets and liabilities associated with acquisitions. 

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
       
       
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
 
   
 
    
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
   
   
    
    
     
    
    
  
GRUBHUB INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

16. Subsequent Events

 On February 6, 2019, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) which 

provides, among other things, for aggregate revolving loans up to $225 million and term loans in an aggregate principal amount of 
$325 million. In addition, the Company may incur up to $250 million of incremental revolving loans or incremental term loans 
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. The credit facility will be available to the Company until February 5, 
2024. The Credit Agreement replaced the Company’s $350.0 million Previous Credit Agreement.

Under the Credit Agreement, borrowings bear interest, at the Company’s option, based on LIBOR or an alternate base rate plus 

a margin. In the case of LIBOR loans the margin ranges between 1.125% and 1.175% and, in the case of alternate base rate loans, 
between 0.125% and 0.75%, in each case, based upon the Company’s consolidated senior secured net leverage ratio (as defined in the 
Credit Agreement). The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee on the undrawn portion available under the revolving loan 
facility of between 0.150% and 0.275% per annum, based upon the Company’s consolidated senior secured net leverage ratio.

The obligations under the Credit Agreement and the guarantees are secured by a lien on substantially all of the tangible and 

intangible property of the Company and the domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors, and by a pledge of all of the equity interests of 
the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Credit Agreement.

As of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement were $342.3 million, 

including $325.0 million of term loans and $17.3 million of revolving loans. Additional capacity under the Credit Agreement may be 
used for general corporate purposes.

The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, require the Company to satisfy certain financial 

covenants and may restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional debt, pay dividends and make distributions, make certain 
investments and acquisitions, create liens, transfer and sell material assets and merge or consolidate. 

The Company incurred loan origination fees at closing of the Credit Agreement and other expenses related to the financing of 

the facility of $1.5 million, which, in addition to $1.8 million of the remaining unamortized balance of loan origination costs under the 
Previous Credit Agreement, will be deferred on the consolidated balance sheets and amortized over the term of the new facility.

71

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of 
Grubhub Inc. 
Chicago, Illinois

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Grubhub Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 

2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for 
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial 
statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as 
of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 
December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 

(“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 
(“COSO”), and our report dated February 28, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion. 

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 

the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required 
to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or 
fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due 
to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence 
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used 
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe 
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

Oak Brook, Illinois
February 28, 2019 

/s/ Crowe LLP 

72

 
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(UNAUDITED) 

Unless otherwise stated, the discussion below reflects the results of acquired businesses from the relevant acquisition dates in 

2017 and 2018. In the opinion of management, the data has been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements 
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and reflects all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring 
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data. The results of historical periods are not necessarily indicative of the results 
of operations of any future period. You should read this data together with the financial statements and the related notes included 
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Three Months Ended

December 31,
2018

September 30,
2018

June 30,
2018

September 30,
2017
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)

December 31,
2017

March 31,
2018

June 30,
2017

March 31,
2017

   $ 287,721   $

247,225   $239,741  $232,570   $ 205,080   $

163,059   $158,794   $156,134 

144,082    
69,877    

111,511     102,445    96,283    
49,426     46,231    48,756    

81,658    
45,384    

65,352     62,924     59,519 
35,138     34,770     35,438 

24,972    
27,393    
24,153    
290,477    
(2,756)  
2,163    

21,258     18,717    17,331    
22,195     18,180    17,697    
20,987     19,849    20,951    
225,377     205,422    201,018    
21,848     34,319    31,552    
1,022    

337    

8   

14,703    
18,396    
18,781    
178,922    
26,158    
1,010    

14,292     14,076     13,192 
18,617     14,829     13,181 
12,613     10,414     10,040 
146,012     137,013     131,370 
17,047     21,781     24,764 
(221)

(373)  

(314)  

(4,919)  
231    

21,511     34,311    30,530    
(236)   
4,191   
(1,234)  

25,148    
(28,378)   

17,420     22,095     24,985 
7,270 

4,432    

7,341    

   $

(5,150) $

22,745   $ 30,120  $ 30,766   $

53,526   $

12,988   $ 14,754   $ 17,715 

Revenues
Costs and expenses:

Operations and support
Sales and marketing
Technology (exclusive of
   amortization)
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses
Income (loss) from operations
Interest (income) expense - net
Income (loss) before provision for
   income taxes
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net income (loss) attributable to
   common stockholders
Net income (loss) per share 
attributable to common 
stockholders(a):

Basic
Diluted

   $
   $

(0.06) $
(0.06) $

0.25   $
0.24   $

0.34  $
0.33  $

0.35   $
0.34   $

0.62   $
0.60   $

0.15   $
0.15   $

0.17   $
0.17   $

0.21 
0.20  

(a)

Full year amounts may not equal the sum of the quarters due to rounding

•

•

The growth in revenues was the result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth referrals, better restaurant choices, technology 
and product improvements as well as an increase in average commission rates, higher average order size and the impact of 
acquisitions. The increase in operations and support expense during the year ended December 31, 2018 was driven primarily by 
growth in Gross Food Sales and costs related to processing those orders including the outpaced expansion of delivery services. 
The increase in sales and marketing expense during the year ended December 31, 2018 was related to the increase in advertising 
campaigns across various media channels. Depreciation and amortization increased during the year ended December 31, 2018 as 
a result of an increase in capital spending to support the growth of the business and amortization of intangible assets acquired in 
recent acquisitions. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018, September 30, 2018 and December 31, 
2018, the Company recognized acquisition-related and non-recurring restructuring costs of $1.3 million, $1.3 million, $3.0 
million and $2.0 million, respectively, within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

The growth in revenues during the year ended December 31, 2017 was the result of marketing efforts and word-of-mouth 
referrals, better restaurant choices, technology and product improvements as well as an increase in average commission rates, 
the impact of acquisitions and higher average order size. The increase in operations and support expense during the year ended 
December 31, 2017 was driven primarily by growth in Gross Food Sales and costs related to processing those orders and the 
expansion of delivery services. During the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized an income tax 
benefit of $34.1 million related to the Tax Act. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017, September 30, 
2017 and December 31, 2017, the Company recognized acquisition-related and non-recurring legal costs of $0.4 million, $1.5 
million, $4.5 million and $3.2 million, respectively, within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements 
of operations.

73

 
   
 
 
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
 
    
     
     
    
     
     
     
     
  
    
    
    
    
    
     
     
     
    
    
    
     
     
    
     
     
     
     
  
Key business metrics include transactions placed on the Platform where the Company provides marketing services to generate 

orders. The Platform excludes transactions where the Company exclusively provides technology or fulfillment services. Our key 
business metrics were as follows for the periods presented:

December 31,
2018

September 30,
2018

June 30,
2018

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2018

December 31,
2017

September 30,
2017

June 30,
2017

March 31,
2017

Active Diners
Daily Average Grubs
Gross Food Sales (in millions)  $

(unaudited)
   17,688,000    16,379,000    15,581,000    15,078,000    14,462,000    9,806,000    9,177,000    8,751,000 
324,600 
898.1  

304,500   
867.3  $

313,900   
879.7  $

392,500   
1,138.6  $

436,900   
1,245.0  $

416,000   
1,214.5  $

423,200   
1,220.4  $

467,500   
1,376.9  $

•

•

•

Active Diners are the number of unique diner accounts from which an order has been placed in the past twelve months through the Company’s 
Platform. 

Daily Average Grubs are calculated as the number of orders placed on the Platform divided by the number of days for a given period. 

Gross Food Sales are the total value of food, beverages, taxes, prepaid gratuities, and any delivery fees processed through the Company’s 
Platform. The Company includes all revenue generating orders placed on the Platform in this metric; however, revenues are recognized on a 
net basis for the Company’s commissions from the transaction, which are a percentage of the total Gross Food Sales for such transaction. 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

None. 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act, the Company’s management, including the Chief 

Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and 
procedures, as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. As of December 31, 2018, an evaluation was 
performed under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that 
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that disclosure controls and procedures as of 
December 31, 2018 were effective in ensuring information required to be disclosed in the Company’s SEC reports was recorded, 
processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information was 
accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as 
appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 

15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 that has materially affected, or is 
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Management’s Report and Attestation Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in 

Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). 

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. Our 
management based this assessment on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the “Internal Control 
– Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As permitted, 
our management excluded from its assessment the operations of Tapingo Ltd. and SCVNGR, Inc. d/b/a LevelUp acquired during 
2018, which is described in Part II, Item 8, Note 4, Acquisitions, to the consolidated financial statements.

Based on this assessment, our management determined that, as of December 31, 2018, the Company maintained effective 

internal control over financial reporting.

Crowe LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, who has audited the consolidated financial statements of the 

Company included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and as part of the audit, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness 
of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018.

74

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Grubhub Inc. 
Chicago, Illinois

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Grubhub Inc.’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the 
Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued 
by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 

(“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements 
of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period 
ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements") and our report dated February 
28, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion. 

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report and 
Attestation Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules 
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. 

 We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 

audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material 
respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial 
reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of 
internal control based on the assessed risk. As permitted, the Company has excluded the operations of businesses acquired during 
2018, which are described in Note 4 of the consolidated financial statements, from the scope of management’s report on internal 
control over financial reporting.  As such, they have also been excluded from the scope of our audit of internal control over financial 
reporting. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that 
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 

reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) 
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the 
assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being 
made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance 
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a 
material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, 

projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of 
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Crowe LLP

Oak Brook, Illinois
February 28, 2019

75

  
Item 9B.

Other Information 

None.

76

 
PART III. 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 

The information required by this Item 10 will be contained in the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC 
in connection with its 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2019 Proxy Statement”), which is expected to be filed not later than 
120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and is incorporated herein by reference. 

Code of Conduct. The Company has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all 

employees, officers and directors, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.  
The Code of Conduct is available on the Company’s website at investors.grubhub.com under “Corporate Governance.” The Company 
intends to post on its website all disclosures that are required by law or NYSE listing rules regarding any amendment to, or a waiver 
of, any provision of the Code of Conduct for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or 
controller, or persons performing similar functions. 

Item 11.

Executive Compensation 

The information required by this Item 11 will be contained in the 2019 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 

The information required by this Item 12 will be contained in the 2019 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence 

The information required by this Item 13 will be contained in the 2019 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services 

The information required by this Item 14 will be contained in the 2019 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.  

77

PART IV. 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 

(a)

The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1.

Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Quarterly Financial Data

2.

Financial Statement Schedules

The schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the

related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted. 

(b)

Exhibits

See Item 15(b) below for a complete list of Exhibits to this report. 

78

EXHIBITS

Exhibit 
No.
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of 

Description

Grubhub Inc.

Form of common stock certificate of the Registrant.

3.2 Amended and Restated By-laws of Grubhub Inc.
4.1
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 8, 2013 
by and among Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub Seamless 
Inc. f/k/a Seamless Grubhub Holdings Inc.) and certain 
stockholders listed therein.

Incorporated by Reference

Form
10-Q

File No.
001-36389

Exhibit
3.1

Filing Date
August 7, 2014

Filed 
Herewith

001-36389
10-Q
S-1/A 333-194219
S-1/A 333-194219

3.2
4.1
10.1

August 7, 2014
March 20, 2014
March 14, 2014

10.2* Employment Agreement between Grubhub Holdings 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.8

February 18, 2014

Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, dated 
as of May 19, 2013.

10.3* Employment Agreement between Grubhub Holdings 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.9

February 18, 2014

Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, dated 
as of March 9, 2009.

10.4* Employment Agreement between Grubhub Holdings 
Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, dated as 
of May 19, 2013.

S-1/A 333-194219

10.1

February 18, 2014

10.5* Employment Offer Letter between Grubhub Holdings 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.11

February 18, 2014

Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, dated 
October 17, 2011.

10.6* Protective Agreement and Agreement Not To Compete 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.12

February 18, 2014

between Grubhub Holdings Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) 
and Adam DeWitt, dated as of October 7, 2011.
10.7* Employment Offer Letter and Agreement Relating to 

Employment and Post-Employment Competition 
between Seamless North America, LLC and Margo 
Drucker, dated as of May 17, 2012.

10-K

001-36389

10.39

February 26, 2016

10.8* Employment Offer Letter between Grubhub Holdings 

10-K

001-36389

10.42

February 26, 2016

Inc. and Stanley Chia, dated as of February 22, 2015

10.9*  Employment Offer Letter between Grubhub Holdings 
Inc. and Maria Belousova, dated as of January 
30, 2014.

10-K

001-36389

10.11

February 28, 2018

10.10* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.16

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on April 23, 
2012.

10.11* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.17

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on July 26, 
2012.

10.12* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.18

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on 
November 16, 2012.

10.13* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.19

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on 
January 28, 2013.

79

10.14* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.2

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on March 12, 
2013.

10.15* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.21

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on 
December 7, 2011.

10.16* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.22

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on 
December 7, 2011.

10.17* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.23

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on April 23, 
2012.

10.18* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.24

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on July 26, 
2012.

10.19* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.25

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on 
November 16, 2012.

10.20* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.26

February 18, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted in 
replacement of options originally granted on March 12, 
2013.

10.21* Employee Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, dated 
November 3, 2010, by and between Grubhub Holdings 
Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.) and Matthew Maloney.

10.22* Note Cancellation and Stock Repurchase Agreement, 
dated December 21, 2012, by and between Grubhub 
Holdings Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub, Inc.), Matthew Maloney 
and Matt and Holly Maloney Family Limited.
10.23* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Matthew Maloney, granted 
in substitution of options originally granted on January 
28, 2014.

S-1/A 333-194219

10.38

February 18, 2014

S-1/A 333-194219

10.39

February 18, 2014

S-1/A 333-194219

10.41

February 28, 2014

10.24* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

S-1/A 333-194219

10.42

February 28, 2014

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Adam DeWitt, granted 
in substitution of options originally granted on 
January 28, 2014.

10.25* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

10-Q

001-36389

10.1

May 9, 2016

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Margo Drucker, granted in 
substitution of options originally granted on July 9, 
2012.

80

10.26* Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option 

10-Q

001-36389

10.2

May 9, 2016

Agreement between Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub 
Seamless Inc.) and Margo Drucker relating to options 
granted on January 28, 2014.
10.27* Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.28* Grubhub Inc. (f/k/a Grubhub Seamless Inc.) 2013 

Omnibus Incentive Plan.

10.29* Form of Option Grant Notice and Option Agreement 
under the Grubhub Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
10.30* Form of RSU Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit 

Agreement under the Grubhub Inc. 2013 Omnibus 
Incentive Plan.

10.31* Grubhub Inc. 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.32*  Appendix A - Israel to the 2015 Long-Term Incentive 

Plan

S-1/A 333-194219
S-1/A 333-194219

10.44
10.15

April 3, 2014
February 18, 2014

10-K

001-36389

10.46

March 5, 2015

10-K

001-36389

10.47

March 5, 2015

DEF 14A 001-36389 Appendix A April 10, 2015

X

10.32* Form of Non-Qualified Option Grant Notice and 

10-K

001-36389

10.45

February 26, 2016

Option Agreement under the 2015 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan.

10.33* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and 

10-Q

001-36389

10.46

August 8, 2016

Option Agreement under the 2015 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan.

10.34* Form of Non-Qualified Option Grant Notice and 

10-K

001-36389

10.47

February 26, 2016

Option Agreement under the 2015 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan (Officer Grant).

10.35* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and 

10-K

001-36389

10.48

February 26, 2016

Option Agreement under the 2015 Long-Term 
Incentive Plan (Officer Grant).

10.36* SCVNGR, Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan.
10.37* Tapingo Ltd. - 2011 Option Plan.
10.38 Office Building Lease, dated March 23, 2012, by and 

S-8
S-8
8-K

333-227330
333-228261
001-36389

99.1
99.1
10.1

September 14, 2018
November 7, 2018
October 9, 2015

between 111 West Washington, LLC and Grubhub, 
Inc.

10.39 First Amendment to Lease, dated December 11, 2013, 
by and between Burnham Center – 111 West 
Washington, LLC and Grubhub, Inc.

10.40 Second Amendment to Lease, dated October 5, 2015, 
by and between Burnham Center – 111 West 
Washington, LLC and Grubhub Holdings Inc.
10.41 Third Amendment to Lease, dated as of October 5, 
2015, by and between Burnham Center – 111 West 
Washington, LLC and Grubhub Holdings Inc.
10.42 Fourth Amendment to Lease, dated as of October 16, 

2017, by and between Burnham Center – 111 West 
Washington, LLC and Grubhub Holdings Inc.

10.43 Fifth Amendment to Lease, dated as of October 1, 
2018, by and between Burnham Center – 111 West 
Washington, LLC and Grubhub Holdings Inc.
10.44 Office Building Lease, dated as of May 19, 2011, by 
and between TrizecHahn 1065 Avenue of the 
Americas Property Owner LLC and Grubhub Holdings 
Inc., as successor-in-interest to Seamless North 
America, LLC (f/k/a SeamlessWeb Professional 
Solutions, LLC)

8-K

001-36389

10.2

October 9, 2015

8-K

001-36389

10.3

October 9, 2015

10-Q

001-36389

10.7

November 8, 2017

10-Q

001-36389

10.8

November 8, 2017

10-Q

001-36389

10.1

November 6, 2018

10-Q

001-36389

10.9

November 8, 2017

81

10.45 First Amendment to Lease, dated as of July 26, 2013, 

10-Q

001-36389

10.1

November 8, 2017

by and between TrizecHahn 1065 Avenue of the 
Americas Property Owner LLC and Grubhub Holdings 
Inc., as successor-in-interest to Seamless North 
America, LLC (f/k/a SeamlessWeb Professional 
Solutions, LLC).

10.46 Second Amendment to Lease, dated as of July 26, 

10-Q

001-36389

10.11

November 8, 2017

2013, by and between TrizecHahn 1065 Avenue of the 
Americas Property Owner LLC and Grubhub Holdings 
Inc., as successor-in-interest to and Seamless North 
America, LLC (f/k/a SeamlessWeb Professional 
Solutions, LLC).

10.47 Third Amendment to Lease, dated as of September 27, 
2017, by and between TrizecHahn 1065 Avenue of the 
Americas Property Owner LLC and Grubhub Holdings 
Inc. as successor-in-interest to Seamless North 
America, LLC.

10.48 Credit Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2016, by and 
between Grubhub Inc., Grubhub Holdings Inc., 
Citibank, N.A. and BMO Capital Markets Corp., as co-
lead arrangers and book runners, the other lender party 
thereto, and Citibank N.A., as administrative agent.

10.49 Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of 
May 26, 2016, by and between Grubhub Inc., Grubhub 
Holdings Inc., Citibank, N.A. and BMO Capital 
Markets Corp., as co-lead arrangers and book runners, 
the other lender party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as 
administrative agent.

10.50 Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2017, by 
and among Grubhub Holdings Inc., Citibank, N.A., 
BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce 
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as joint lead arrangers 
and joint bookrunners, the other lenders party thereto, 
and Citibank N.A. as administrative agent.

10.51 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of 
February 6, 2019, by and among Grubhub Inc., 
Grubhub Holdings Inc., Citibank, N.A., BMO Capital 
Markets Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & 
Smith Incorporated, as joint lead arrangers and joint 
bookrunners, the other lenders party thereto, and 
Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent.

10.52 Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2017, 
by and among Grubhub Inc., Grubhub Holdings, Inc., a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Grubhub Inc., Yelp Inc. 
and Eat24, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yelp 
Inc.

10-Q

001-36389

10.12

November 8, 2017

8-K

001-36380

10.1

May 3, 2016

10-K

001-36389

10.45

February 28, 2017

8-K

001-36389

10.1

October 11, 2017

8-K

001-36389

10.1

February 7, 2019

10-Q

001-36389

10.1

August 8, 2017

10.53 Amendment No. 1 to the Unit Purchase Agreement, 

10-Q

001-36389

10.2

November 8, 2017

dated as of October 10, 2017, by and among Grubhub 
Inc., Grubhub Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Grubhub Inc., Yelp Inc. and Eat24, LLC, 
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yelp Inc.

10.54 Investment Agreement by and among the Grubhub Inc. 

8-K

001-36389

10.1

February 8, 2018

and Yum Restaurant Services Group, LLC, a wholly 
owned subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc.

21.1  List of Subsidiaries.
23.1  Consent of Crowe LLP.
24.1  Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the 
signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

82

X
X
X

31.1  Certification of Matthew Maloney, Chief Executive 

Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as 
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002.

31.2  Certification of Adam DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer, 
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted 
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002.

32.1  Certification of Matthew Maloney, Chief Executive 
Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as 
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002.

32.2  Certification of Adam DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer, 
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted 
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002.

101.INS XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

Document.

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

Document.

101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase

Document.

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

Document.

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan

X

X

X

X

X
X
X

X

X

X

83

*
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this 

report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

SIGNATURES

GRUBHUB INC.

By:

/s/    ADAM DEWITT        
Adam DeWitt
President and Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
February 28, 2019

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons 

on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated, on the twenty-eighth day of February 2019. 

/s/    ADAM DEWITT
Adam DeWitt
President and Chief Financial Officer 
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/    DAVID FISHER
David Fisher
Director

/s/    LLOYD FRINK
Lloyd Frink
Director

/s/    DAVID HABIGER
David Habiger
Director

/s/    BRANDT KUCHARSKI
Brandt Kucharski
Corporate Controller

/s/    KATRINA LAKE
Katrina Lake
Director

/s/    GIRISH LAKSHMAN
Girish Lakshman
Director

/s/    MATTHEW MALONEY
Matthew Maloney
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    BRIAN MCANDREWS
Brian McAndrews
Chairman of the Board of Directors

/s/    LINDA JOHNSON RICE
Linda Johnson Rice
Director

/s/    KEITH RICHMAN
Keith Richman
Director

/s/    ARTHUR F. STARRS, III
Arthur F. Starrs, III
Director

84

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13-14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 31.1

I, Matthew Maloney, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of GrubHub Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with 
respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in 
this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act 
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under 

our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to 
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed 

under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial 
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions 

about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such 
evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, 
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial 
reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the 
equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting 

which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; 
and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 

registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

By:    

/s/ MATTHEW MALONEY
Matthew Maloney
Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date: February 28, 2019

   
   
   
   
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Adam DeWitt, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of GrubHub Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with 
respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all 
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in 
this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act 
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under 

our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to 
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed 

under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial 
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions 

about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such 
evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the 
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, 
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial 
reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the 
equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting 

which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; 
and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the 

registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

By:    

/s/ ADAM DEWITT
Adam DeWitt
President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: February 28, 2019

   
   
   
   
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TOSECTION 906 
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.1

In connection with the Annual Report of GrubHub Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 

2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Matthew Maloney, Chief Executive 
Officer and Director of the Company, certify, as of the date hereof and solely for purposes of and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as 
adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge: 

1.

2.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
78m); and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 
operations of the Company.

By:   

/s/ MATTHEW MALONEY
Matthew Maloney
Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date: February 28, 2019

   
   
   
   
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TOSECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.2

In connection with the Annual Report of GrubHub Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 

2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Adam DeWitt, Chief Financial 
Officer and Treasurer of the Company, certify, as of the date hereof and solely for purposes of and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as 
adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that , to my knowledge: 

1.

2.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
78m); and

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of 
operations of the Company.

Date: February 28, 2019

By:

/s/ ADAM DEWITT
Adam DeWitt
President and Chief Financial Officer

   
   
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

STOCK EXCHANGE

Matthew Maloney 
Chief Executive Officer

Adam DeWitt
President and Chief  
Financial Officer

Margo Drucker
Senior Vice President, General 
Counsel and Secretary 

Maria Belousova
Chief Technology Officer 

Samuel Hall
Chief Product Officer

Grubhub’s stock is listed on the 
New York Stock Exchange under 
the ticker symbol GRUB.

TRANSFER AGENT
American Stock Transfer & Trust 
Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219  
www.amstock.com
For inquiries: info@amstock.com 
Shareholder inquiries: 
(800) 937-5449

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Grubhub Inc.
111 W. Washington, Suite 2100 
Chicago, Illinois 60602

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Current information about  
Grubhub, press releases and 
investor information are  
available on our website  
at investors.grubhub.com

ir@grubhub.com

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED 
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Crowe LLP
225 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 2600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

David Fisher
Chief Executive Officer, 
President and Chairman
Enova International, Inc.

Lloyd Frink
President and Executive Chairman 
Zillow Group, Inc.

David Habiger
Chief Executive Officer
and President
J.D. Power

Katrina Lake
Founder & CEO
Stitch Fix

Girish Lakshman
Former President, Fulfillment -  
Supply Chaining and Sourcing
Sears Holdings Corporation

Matthew Maloney 
Chief Executive Officer
Grubhub Inc.

Brian McAndrews - Chairman 
Senior Advisor
Spectrum Equity

Linda Johnson Rice 
Chief Executive Officer 
and Chairman
Johnson Publishing Company
Chairman Emeritus
EBONY Media Operations

Keith Richman
President
Voi Technology

Arthur Francis Starrs, III
President
Pizza Hut U.S.