[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) today announced that it has signed an agreement to create a joint venture for its Global Business Travel division (“GBT”). Under the agreement, American Express will share ownership of the joint venture with an investor group led by Certares. In the proposed transaction, American Express will separate its GBT operations into a dedicated holding structure, which will include certain assets and liabilities that currently comprise GBT, and will have a 50% ownership stake in the joint venture following the closing. In exchange for an investment of $900 million in the joint venture, the investor group will hold the remaining 50%. American Express initially announced its intention to pursue this joint venture transaction in September 2013.

The Certares-formed group includes Qatar Investment Authority through its wholly-owned subsidiary Qatar Holding LLC, funds managed by BlackRock, Certares itself and Macquarie Capital. The business will continue to operate under the “American Express Global Business Travel” brand following the closing. American Express expects to execute comprehensive commercial agreements with the joint venture to provide uninterrupted service and close coordination for the benefit of mutual customers of GBT and American Express’ other business units, such as Global Corporate Payments, which issues the American Express Corporate Card and provides business-to-business payment solutions.

Bill Glenn, formerly President of Global Commercial Services at American Express, will be President and Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture. Certares founder Greg O’Hara will serve as Chairman of the joint venture.

“The joint venture reflects our continued commitment to the travel business through a new structure with an outstanding group of investors and the resources to grow the business and provide additional value to our corporate customers,” said Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express. “Bill Glenn is an accomplished leader with experience running major business units during his distinguished career at American Express. He has built strong customer relationships throughout the corporate sector and his experience makes him a terrific choice to lead the transformation of a business that will be focused on capitalizing on new growth opportunities.”

H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Investment Authority, said: “We are pleased to have agreed terms and established this joint venture with Mr. Chenault and his management team, whom we regard as one of the most reputable and capable in any industry. American Express Global Business Travel is a truly global operation with clear benefits for our investment portfolio, across multiple regions and sectors. We welcome our new partners and look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

The joint venture will build upon GBT’s technology innovations to support digital and premium servicing capabilities, mobile applications, improved reporting tools and itinerary management solutions, as well as the customer service expertise for which American Express is renowned. In addition to travel services, GBT provides meetings & events management and consulting services to some of the world’s most recognized companies.

Mr. Glenn added: “To our knowledge, this would be the largest single investment made in a travel management company. We believe it will accelerate our growth by funding meaningful advances in technology, analytics and service excellence that will benefit suppliers, partners and our global customer base. We account for more corporate travel sales than any other TMC, and these initiatives will put us in a better position to help travel buyers manage travel spend and support their travelers.”