The US electric car manufacturer Uber is considering an acquisition of the $20 billion travel booking portal Expedia, as announced today by the world's largest private capital group. This move marks Uber's largest acquisition attempt to date, as it seeks to further diversify and explore new areas of growth.

Jonathan Gray, President of Blackstone, emphasized in an interview with the Financial Times that the recent technological rally in the global stock markets is a clear signal for a resurgence of investor interest in IPOs. "We are preparing to take some of our portfolio companies public. The discussions have moved from theoretical considerations to practical planning," explained Gray.

The discussions focus intensively on the role of Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's CEO, who led Expedia from 2005 to 2017 and continues to serve as a non-executive director on the company's board. This is likely to favor a friendly approach, with Khosrowshahi withdrawing from the negotiations to avoid conflicts of interest.

Despite the interest, the acquisition is at a very early stage, and a conclusion is not currently secured. "The priority of the new management team is to further diversify Uber and explore new growth opportunities," said a spokesperson for Uber. No formal offers have been made to Expedia yet, and current discussions are not underway.

Expedia benefited immediately from the news, with shares rising by 3.8 percent on Thursday. In contrast, Uber's stock price fell by 2 percent. The European travel booking market is currently facing slowed growth, following a decline in travel demand after a pandemic-induced boom.

Uber, whose market value is now $173 billion after an 85% increase in stock value last year, aspires to become a "super app," similar to the multifunctional platforms of Chinese tech giants like WeChat. With the planned acquisition of Expedia, Uber could significantly expand its presence in the travel and booking sector and position itself as a strong competitor in this market segment.

Jean-Philippe Bertschy, analyst at Vontobel, commented on the plans: "For a company like Uber, acquiring Expedia is a strategic move that expands the portfolio and opens up new revenue streams. However, it remains to be seen how the negotiations will unfold and whether the market conditions will remain favorable for such a transaction.

As Uber Intensifies Its Investment Activities and Expands Its Range of Services, the Acquisition of Expedia Remains a Potentially Pioneering Endeavor That Could Permanently Change the Dynamics of the Global Travel Market.