Netherlands-based ATG Travel Worldwide is expanding its presence in Germany with the acquisition of CWT¡¯s business operations in the country.

The TMC, which has a number of fully owned regional offices and a comprehensive network of franchised businesses, said in a statement it has ¡°long held many ties to Germany and has a strong growth path and aspirations¡±.

ATG chief executive officer Tammy Krings told BTN Europe that the deal ¨C the value of which was not disclosed ¨C incorporates ¡°local German businesses who have a strong foundation here.¡± Krings added: ¡°There are some global accounts that we will not be acquiring that are serviced in Germany,¡± she continued, but the acquisition will nevertheless ¡°triple¡± ATG¡¯s presence in the country.

The deal is expected to close on 1 September, when the company will ¡°change the CWT name to ATG Business Travel Management GMBH¡±, said Krings. ¡°Everyone who¡¯s currently employed by CWT in Germany will have the opportunity to move over as an ATG associate.¡±

The announcement comes days after the US Department of Justice¡¯s decision to drop its antitrust suit against American Express Global Business Travel¡¯s acquisition of CWT, clearing the way for their merger. However, Krings said ATG¡¯s acquisition of CWT¡¯s German operations was signed in the last week and is an unrelated transaction.

¡°It¡¯s completely separate. I¡¯ve had no conversations with GBT. They¡¯re not part of this transaction, it¡¯s just between CWT and ATG,¡± said Krings, who assumes Amex GBT was aware of the deal.

ATG and CWT first began talking about a deal in April 2024, said Krings, shortly after Amex GBT¡¯s planned acquisition of CWT was announced.

Asked whether ATG looked at similar opportunities in other markets, Krings said: ¡°Initially we did, but Germany is a target market for us and it has been for years. We wanted to grow and scale this market so we abandoned any other ideas ¨C it wasn¡¯t just CWT, we were looking at other agencies in other markets ¨C and we decided to focus on Germany.¡±

Krings added: ¡°We¡¯ve been in the German market for over 20 years but people still think of us as being new. Our own office has been open for nine years. We¡¯re a safe choice.¡±

Both Tammy and husband Torsten Krings, president of ATG, worked for Wagonlit Travel and for CWT. ¡°We have some history and this feels like a full circle moment. Our culture at ATG is very familiar with the old Wagonlit culture ¨C a people first culture; an empowerment culture. Our existing ATG office here [in Germany] is very excited about bringing many of their former colleagues into ATG.¡±

Krings said CWT¡¯s employees in Germany will be brought onboard ¡°as quickly as possible¡± after 1 September, with the integration of the business expected to take between 12 and 24 months. ¡°The bulk of the transition will really occur in a six-month period and the remainder will be more technical in nature.¡±

According to Europe's Leading TMCs 2025, CWT achieved an estimated €369 million in sales in Germany last year and had around 140 full-time equivalent employees.

In a statement provided by CWT, the TMC's president and CEO Patrick Andersen said: ¡°We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with ATG. CWT and ATG share a deep commitment to customer service and closely aligned operating cultures. I am confident that this will be a positive outcome for both our customers and our employees.¡±

Since this story was published, ATG and CWT have confirmed the acquisition is expected to close in Q3 but not necessarily on 1 September.

? Amex GBT has been approached for further information but had not responded at the time of publication.