Skift Take
This seems to be a trial balloon. No active talks are underway. But it makes intuitive sense given Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s past and current ties with Expedia.
In what will be every travel industry dealmaker’s wet dream come true, Uber has explored buying Expedia in recent weeks, according to a speculative report in FT this evening.
An Expedia spokesperson told Skift that the company isn’t commenting. No formal approach has been made to Expedia, and there are currently no active discussions.
Why it matters: This would be Uberâs largest acquisition to date, significantly expanding its ambitions beyond ride-hailing into travel bookings. It would also be something of a homecoming for Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who was Expedia Groupâs CEO from 2005 to 2017 and has stayed a non-executive board director.
Behind the Scenes:
- Uber approached advisers in recent months to examine the feasibility of an Expedia deal, said the Financial Times, citing sources.
- Any approach would likely be “friendly,” with Khosrowshahi likely recusing himself from deal talks. Khosrowshahi is a protégé of Expedia’s executive chair Barry Diller.
Key Numbers:
- Uber market cap: $173 billion
- Expedia market cap: Just under $20 billion.
