Amex to buy HRG

AMERICAN Express Global
Business Travel has
announced its intention
to acquire Hogg Robinson
Group (HRG). The acquisition
is conditional on receipt of
antitrust and other regulatory
approvals and is expected to
close in the second quarter of
the year.
It is unclear whether this
deal will result in a merger,
or whether both companies
will be run as separate
entities. Neither of the
global groups would provide
further information in this
regard, citing tight regulations
concerning listed companies.
However, at least a partial
merger seems likely.
An announcement of the
deal said the acquisition
would “create a world-class
organisation, using the best
available talent from both Hogg
Robinson and GBT”.
TNW could not get clarity
from either of the local
companies on how the
acquisition will play out in the
South African market.