Dutch meal delivery service Takeway is in talks with British peer Just Eat about a takeover, the two companies said in press releases following a spate of media speculation.

‘The board confirms that Just Eat is in discussions regarding a possible combination of Just Eat with Takeaway.com,’ the British company said at the weekend.

‘There can be no certainty as to whether any transaction will take place or the terms on which any combination may be agreed. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate,’ the statement said.

According to the Guardian, the two companies are now on the verge of agreeing a merger to create a group which delivered 360 million orders worth €7.3bn last year.

Just Eat shareholders will receive 0.09744 Takaway.com shares for each Just Eat share and will own 52.2% of the combined group, the paper said. The company will be headquartered in Amsterdam and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Takeaway has been on the takeover trail for some time. In December, the Dutch food delivery service giant bought German home delivery companies Lieferheld, pizza.de and Foodora from its German competitor Delivery Hero for €930m in a cash share deal.

The agreement gives Delivery Hero an 18% stake in Takeaway.com, which operates the Thuisbezorgd.nl label in the Netherlands.

Jitse Groen, said to be chief executive of the new combine, set up Thuisbezorgd.nl – now Takeaway.com – in 2000 when he was a 21-year-old student. The company now operates in 12 European companies.