American Express Global Business Travel: Navigating the CMA's Interim Report on CWT Acquisition

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is facing scrutiny from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding its proposed acquisition of CWT, a global business travel and meeting solutions provider. The CMA's interim report has raised concerns about the potential impact of the merger on competition in the UK business travel market. This article explores the implications of the CMA's findings and Amex GBT's response to these concerns.

The CMA's interim report provisionally finds that the merger between Amex GBT and CWT could substantially lessen competition, potentially reducing choice and quality, and increasing prices for customers. The report highlights the close competition between the two companies for global multinational customers, largely due to their scale and global coverage. The merged business would be, by far, the largest supplier in the market, with the second largest player around half the size of the merged business, potentially leading to reduced competition.

Amex GBT, however, disputes the CMA's assessment, arguing that the CMA has focused on a narrow segment and ignored the highly competitive and dynamic nature of the business travel sector. Amex GBT believes that the acquisition of CWT will create synergies and provide greater capacity for investment and innovation, ultimately leading to more choice for customers and more efficient distribution for suppliers while maintaining a highly competitive environment.


To address the CMA's concerns, Amex GBT may need to consider various remedies or conditions, such as divesting certain assets or businesses, or maintaining a minimum level of competition in the market. These remedies could include divesting CWT's UK operations or requiring Amex GBT to maintain a certain level of service or pricing to ensure competition remains robust. If imposed, these remedies could impact Amex GBT's operations and share price by reducing its market share or requiring additional investment to maintain competitiveness.

The CMA's timeline for the investigation, with an interim report expected in November and a final report by January 26, may influence investor sentiment and Amex GBT's share price. If the CMA's provisional findings, indicating potential competition concerns, are confirmed, investors might perceive the deal as risky, potentially leading to a dip in Amex GBT's share price. However, if Amex GBT successfully addresses the CMA's concerns and the deal proceeds, investor confidence could be boosted, driving share price growth.


In conclusion, the CMA's interim report raises valid concerns about the potential impact of the Amex GBT-CWT merger on competition in the UK business travel market. Amex GBT must work diligently with the CMA to address these concerns and demonstrate the benefits of the acquisition. Investors should closely monitor the situation, as the outcome of the CMA's investigation could have significant implications for Amex GBT's share price and long-term prospects.