CMA delays final decision on $570M Amex GBT-CWT deal

As American Express Global Business Travel’s planned acquisition of CWT faces increased scrutiny from regulators, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Thursday announced a six-week extension to its ongoing inquiry into the merger.

The CMA had been due to deliver its final report following a ‘phase 2’ investigation into the $570 million deal by 26 January, but this delivery date has now been pushed back to 9 March.

News of the extended review period comes less than a week after the US Justice Department (DOJ) filed its own antitrust lawsuit to block the transaction. Similar to the CMA’s interim report, published on 6 November, the DOJ argues the proposed deal would lead to “higher prices, less innovation and…