Amex GBT to Start Trading as a Public Company on May 31
Photo Credit: Highly detailed abstract wide angle view up towards the sky in the financial district of London City and its ultra modern contemporary buildings with unique architecture during a rare moment with commercial airplane passing / flying above the skyscrapers. Shot on Canon EOS R full frame with 14mm wide angle prime premium lens. Image is ideal for business travel concepts background. Sun flare and light leaks added in post production. Getty Images
Skift Take
One of travel's most-anticipated SPACs, Amex GBT made it official Friday. It will start trading as a public company on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, smack into a volatile market. But signs of a fast-improving business travel recovery may be what investors choose to focus on.
American Express Global Business Travel, the world's largest corporate travel agency, will start trading as a public company on Tuesday, May 31, with its special purpose acquisition company (or SPAC) partner Apollo Strategic Growth Capital, the company quietly announced on Friday
Amex GBT will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GBTG.”
The timing of the stock market debut is opportunistic, for sure, as more travel companies in recent weeks reported seeing a faster-than-anticipated recovery of business travel. Still, Amex GBT heads into a volatile and choppy market, where fears of inflation and a recession have spooked investors recently against the backdrop of the Ukraine war's ongoing global impact.
But Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott expressed optimism about his company's future.
“Trading as a public company follows years of work to strengthen our market leadership position," Abbott said.
"While listing our company is an achievement, it also marks the beginning of a new phase of growth paired with a focus on delivering long-term shareholder value as the world’s largest publicly traded (business-to-business) travel platform.”
Amex GBT announced last December it would go public as part of its merger with Apollo Strategic Capital. Strategic investors also include Zoom and Sabre, and new investors Apollo, Ares and HG Vora, which join American Express Company, Certares and Expedia Group.
Amex GBT's value rose to $5.3 billion after the announcement of the merger, which generated up to $1.2 billion for the agency.
News of its public debut was announced without fanfare in a press release on Friday afternoon, a tactic used by many companies before long holiday weekends.
Per Diem is your source for the latest business travel and corporate travel news.
Get it in your inbox every Tuesday.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive email communication from Skift.