American Express acquires TheFork from Tripadvisor

On Monday, American Express (AXP) announced its acquisition of TheFork, a European restaurant reservations platform, from Tripadvisor (TRIP) for $700 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in Q2 2023.

The acquisition drives AXP's expansion into the dining reservations market, bolstering its ecosystem and potentially increasing customer engagement. TRIP's share price surged 14% in premarket trading, reflecting the deal's value. Jefferies analysts, however, noted that while the sale simplifies TRIP's structure, it doesn't fully offset long-term pressure in its core business.

Investors should watch for AXP's Q1 2023 earnings, due in April, to gauge the initial impact of TheFork on its financials. Additionally, the closing of the acquisition in Q2 2023 will be a key catalyst, as it will mark the start of AXP's integration of TheFork's operations.