KDS Has Been Acquired by Amex Global Business Travel
About KDS
- KDS is a global provider of integrated travel SaaS solutions for enterprise and mid-market companies, allowing customers to manage door-to-door travel and expenses in a unified, consumer-grade user interface
- The company has millions of end users across 60 countries, processes billions in travel spend each year and is used by leading enterprises such as BNP Paribas, Coca-Cola, Orange, PwC and Shell
- KDS was founded in 1994 and is based in Paris with approximately 150 employees
- KDS was backed by top-tier venture investors including Accel Partners, Accomplice and Amundi, as well as travel company Carlson Wagonlit Travel
About American Express Global Business Travel
- American Express Global Business Travel (“AMEX GBT”) provides leading travel solutions, integrated consulting services, proprietary research, and end-to-end meetings and events capabilities to customers worldwide, including 37 of the 100 largest travel spenders in the U.S.
- AMEX GBT empowers customers to take control of their travel programs, optimizing the return on their travel and meetings investments, while providing extraordinary traveler care
- The company was formed in 2014 as a joint venture between American Express (NYSE: AXP), Certares and Qatar Investment Authority
- AMEX GBT is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey and has approximately 12,000 global employees in nearly 120 countries on six continents
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We are bringing together an industry-leading online solution and travel management company (TMC) to create the first seamless end-to-end experience centered on the modern traveler. This will also enable us to provide GBT customers with a proprietary door-to-door online booking tool (OBT) supported by our new technology infrastructure.
Philippe Chereque
CTO & CCO, Amex GBT
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KDS is a leading integrated travel technology provider with a deserved reputation for innovation and an entrepreneurial DNA. We have the best team challenging the status quo and creating game-changing technology. Our focus is on driving adoption to deliver savings, productivity gains and spend control for businesses of all sizes. 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 with great products and services.
Dean Forbes
CEO, KDS
Transaction Notes
- The pending acquisition of KDS by American Express Global Business Travel was announced on August 30, 2016
- Shea & Company served as the exclusive financial advisor to KDS and their Board of Directors