LONDON — American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has announced that it will acquire Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) PLC, a global B2B services company specializing in travel management.

The deal is a recommended all-cash acquisition of the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital. It is conditioned on receipt of antitrust and other regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.

“The complementary geographical footprints of each company will improve the global scale and reach of our business, enabling us to achieve efficiencies across a best-in-class platform and accelerate growth. The technology roadmaps of each business provide a powerful platform from which to drive future innovation. We will deliver a superior client and traveller experience through fully-integrated travel management solutions, including booking and expense management products,” said Doug Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, American Express GBT.

Added David Radcliffe, Chief Executive Officer, HRG: “This transaction represents a good deal for shareholders and stakeholders. I am particularly excited and heartened by American Express GBT’s reassurance that it will be utilising the best talent and technology from within both organisations to create a truly world-class, leading-edge organisation, which will bring benefits to our clients, colleagues and supplier partners alike.”

Both American Express GBT and HRG have made significant investments in people and technology in recent years. The combined group will offer clients and travellers a more comprehensive range of travel management products and services. The acquisition is expected to:

• Accelerate growth by utilising complementary footprints and solutions to provide additional benefits to clients
• Create the ability to combine two advanced travel technology and development platforms to create better products and services to serve clients and travellers
• Deliver synergies through cost savings and scale benefits; and
• Leverage each company’s existing infrastructure and technology capabilities to maximise efficiencies across the business