American Express GBT to acquire Hogg Robinson Group

American Express Global Business Travel will acquire Hogg Robinson Group, a global B2B services company specializing in travel management, in an all-cash acquisition expected to close in the second quarter of 2018.

The combined group will offer clients and travellers a more comprehensive range of travel management products and services. In a separate transaction, HRG will sell its payments technology business, Fraedom, to Visa.

“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,” said Doug Anderson, CEO, American Express GBT. “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.”

David Radcliffe, Chief Executive Officer, HRG, added: “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.”