Will Shu has played down speculation that Deliveroo could be a target for a merger after a larger German rival, Delivery Hero, took a stake in the London-listed company. The Deliveroo founder and chief executive said the 5.1pc stake, revealed in a filing on Monday, was an "endorsement" of its business but not thought to be part of a wider approach. "We are a public company - Delivery Hero can buy shares. [Niklas Oestberg, its chief executive] said he thought it was a good long-term investment.