For $700 Million, American Express Completes Acquisition of European Platform TheFork
Key Facts
Tripadvisor completed the sale of the legal entities housing TheFork platform to American Express Travel Related Services on November 1, 2026, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The completion followed a purchase agreement signed on August 2, turning an announced sale into a completed transaction. The disclosed consideration was $700 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments, according to the filing. The deal gives American Express a restaurant-booking platform operating in several European markets. When it announced the agreement, the company said the deal supports growth in its international business, which it described as a key growth driver.
TheFork connects more than 50,000 restaurants in 11 European countries with diners through tools for restaurant management, bookings and customer engagement, according to an American Express statement in June. The company said adding the platform to Resy and Tock would expand its bookable restaurant network to 75,000 locations. That places TheFork within American Express’s expansion of dining services for its cardholders. Rafa Marquez, a company executive, said, "Dining is one of the most important ways people engage with our brand." The expansion gives the group a broader presence in Europe’s restaurant sector, alongside its existing platforms.
The deal follows Tripadvisor’s announcement in February 2026 that it would explore strategic alternatives for TheFork, according to its filing with the U.S. regulator. The company said the agreement allows it to focus more closely on its experiences business. Before the sale, TheFork recorded revenue of $220.8 million in 2025, compared with $180.8 million in 2024 and $153.7 million in 2023. Tripadvisor said the platform’s revenue in 2025 rose 22% from the previous year. Figures for the twelve months ended in the first quarter of 2026 show revenue of $232 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $28 million.
The deal filing sets the consideration at $700 million in cash before adjustments, while the arrangements include transitional services Tripadvisor will provide to the buyer for 12 months from the closing date, unless the parties agree otherwise. The arrangement provides a transition period for services after the business transfers to the buyer. Reuters reported when the agreement was announced that TheFork would continue under its existing leadership. The initial announcement also said the deal was expected to close before the end of 2026, subject to labor consultations and customary regulatory approvals. The sale was completed on November 1, ahead of the expected date at the time.
Tripadvisor shares rose 7% in morning trading on June 15 following the deal announcement, Reuters reported. That move relates to the session when the deal was announced, not its closing day in November. In its closing filing, Tripadvisor said it expected to discuss the deal on its third-quarter earnings call scheduled for November 5, 2026. American Express shares closed at $324.97 on November 5, according to EL7 data. That close came after the deal was completed on November 1, while the available data do not include a verified share price for the company on the closing date.