American Express GBT has signed an agreement to acquire travel and expense management firm KDS.
Amex, which recently named former CWT boss Doug Anderson as its new CEO, said the acquisition is part of a broader investment strategy to develop a suite of online and digital services, sitting on top of the company's technology platform for business travellers.
Amex’s chief commercial and technology officer Philippe Chereque said: “We are bringing together an industry-leading online solution and travel management company to create the first seamless end-to-end experience centred on the modern business traveller.
"This will also enable us to provide customers with a proprietary door-to-door online booking tool supported by our new technology infrastructure,” said Chereque.
Dean Forbes, CEO of KDS, said: "We look forward to leveraging the support and assets that GBT will provide us to better serve GBT customers, whilst also continuing to serve our existing customers and partners.”
Amex’s Chereque added the deal will "open up new possibilities" for both businesses and provide KDS with access to a "strong brand, significant resources and global customer base".
In February this year, Amex launched a traveller-facing mobile app, and in May it acquired Finnish agency SMT.
Amex plans to complete the transaction in the fourth quarter of 2016.