Hogg Robinson Group

Hogg Robinson Group was established in 1845, by brothers in law Francis Hogg, a young wine merchant, and Augustus Robinson, an insurance broker.

The partnership developed mercantile and insurance interests from offices in Birchin Lane in the City of London. Its travel business was established after World War II. By 1984, it was one of the four largest travel agency operators in the United Kingdom, and included the chains Wakefield Fortune and Blue Star, as well as the shops of Hogg Robinson.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtMOAAAAQAAJ | title=Consumption, Identity and Style: Marketing, Meanings, and the Packaging of Pleasure | editor-first=Alan | editor-last=Tomlinson |publisher=Routledge |year=2006 |isbn=9781134982493| page=142}}

In June 1993, the retail division was sold to Airtours (later MyTravel Group). Airtours merged it with Pickfords Travel, acquired by Airtours from Pickfords in September 1992, to form Going Places (later Thomas Cook Group).{{Cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/travel-departures-pickfords-change-1397285.html | title=Travel Departures: Pickfords change | work=The Independent | date=1 January 1994}} In 1997, new chairman Neville Bain led the sale of Hogg Robinson's transport division and the acquisition of two business travel operations. In June 1998, it acquired 51% of Rider Travel of Canada.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/hogg-robinson-shaken-up-1167208.html | title=Hogg Robinson shaken up | first=Peter Thal | last=Larsen

| work=The Independent | date=24 June 1998}}

In June 2000, chief executive David Radcliffe led a £232 million management buyout funded by Schroder Ventures (now Permira).{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/david-radcliffe-change-is-relentless-and-ugly-but-its-steady-as-she-goes-in-corporate-travel-34068.html | title=David Radcliffe: Change is 'relentless and ugly', but it's steady as she goes in corporate travel | work=The Independent | date=26 September 2004}} Hogg Robinson divested of various of its insurance broking businesses in 2001.{{cite web |title=Towergate acquires Hogg Robinson firms |url=https://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/towergate-acquires-hogg-robinson-firms/1353530.article |website=Insurance Times |access-date=10 November 2022 |date=7 June 2001}}

In October 2006, the company expanded in Halifax, Nova Scotia.{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hogg-robinson-to-expand-operations-in-halifax/article654409/ | title=Hogg Robinson to expand operations in Halifax | work=The Globe and Mail | date=October 20, 2006}} In April 2007, the company expanded its office space in Charlotte, North Carolina.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/04/02/daily24.html | title=HRG triples local office space | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 4, 2007}} In March 2012, the company acquired Spendvision.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Insider |title=Hogg Robinson seeks control of Spendvision {{!}} South East Deals News |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-east/67606-hogg-robinson-seeks-control-spendvision |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Insider Media Ltd |language=en}} In February 2015, it was rebranded as Fraedom.{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/HRG-creates-Fraedom-Seekda-launches-platform-Epteca-unveils-ancillary-platform-and-more- | title=HRG creates Fraedom, Seekda launches platform, Epteca unveils ancillary platform, and more... | work=Phocuswire | date=February 27, 2015}}

In May 2017, the company acquired eWings.com, a travel management company for small to medium sized companies.{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/HRG-buys-eWings-online-business-travel-management-platform | title=HRG buys eWings online business travel management platform | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=May 24, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://travolution.com/articles/102877/hrg-acquires-digital-innovator-ewingscom | title=HRG acquires 'digital innovator' eWings.com | first=Phil | last=Davies | work=Travolution | date=May 24, 2017}} In February 2018, the company sold Fraedom to Visa Inc. for $195 million.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180208006621/en/Visa-Acquires-Fraedom-Expand-Global-Commercial-Offerings | title=Visa Acquires Fraedom to Expand Its Global Commercial Offerings | publisher=Business Wire | date=February 9, 2018}} On July 19, 2018, American Express Global Business Travel acquired the company for approximately £400 million.{{cite press release | url=https://www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/press-room/american-express-global-business-travel-completes-acquisition-hogg-robinson-group/ | title=American Express Global Business Travel Completes Acquisition of Hogg Robinson Group | publisher=American Express Global Business Travel | date=July 19, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Amex-buys-Hogg-Robinson | title=Amex GBT buys Hogg Robinson, tech integration at heart of £400M deal | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=February 9, 2018}}

The Hogg Robinson name remains in active use in Nigeria, where the 1974 establishment of Hogg Robinson Nigeria Limited is now operating independently of the former UK parent and continues as an insurance broker.{{cite web |title=Who we are |url=http://www.hoggnigeria.com/whoweare.html |publisher=Hogg Robinson Nigeria Limited}}

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Category:British companies disestablished in 2018

Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:British companies established in 1845

Category:Permira companies