American Express acquires TheFork for $700m to build out its dining empire
American Express acquires TheFork, the European restaurant-reservation platform, from Tripadvisor for $700m in cash. The payments company announced the proposed deal on Monday, adding a booking network of more than 50,000 restaurants across 11 European countries to a dining business it has been quietly assembling for years.
The structure is an all-cash put-option agreement, a common European setup: Amex grants Tripadvisor the option, an employee works-council consultation runs, and once Tripadvisor exercises it the two sign a definitive purchase agreement. The companies expect it to close before the end of 2026, subject to that consultation and regulatory approvals.
For Tripadvisor it is a planned exit, not a surprise. It said in February it was exploring strategic alternatives for TheFork, and is selling to concentrate on its Experiences business, Viator. Goldman Sachs advised Tripadvisor.
This is not really a restaurant play. It is a loyalty play. Amex makes its money keeping...
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