American Express Global Business Travel Acquired for $6.3 Billion

By Chris Stiles • Monday, May 04 11:52 • Permanent Link

American Express Global Business Travel agreed to be acquired by Long Lake Management in an all-cash deal valuing the company at about $6.3 billion.

Amex GBT shareholders will receive $9.50 per share in cash. That price is 60.2% above the stock’s closing price on May 1, 2026, and about 65.1% above the 30-day volume-weighted average price through that date.

The deal has the backing of shareholders representing 69% of GBT’s shares, including American Express, Expedia, Qatar Investment Authority and BlackRock. The company said its board approved the merger after a unanimous recommendation from a special committee of independent directors.

Long Lake said the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Once it closes, Amex GBT will be taken private and its shares will no longer trade publicly.

The financing package includes equity from Long Lake’s existing investors and Koch Equity Development, along with committed debt financing from JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citi and MUFG.

Amex GBT chief executive Paul Abbott said the deal delivers “substantial, certain cash value” to shareholders. Long Lake co-founder and CEO Alex Taubman said the combination will focus on faster booking times, disruption resolution and travel administration using applied AI alongside human agents.

Amex GBT said it operates in more than 140 countries. Today the company's shares have moved 0.53% to a price of $5.73. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.

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