BKNG · News · 20260917N

Acquisition / Partnership / Divestiture

Booking Holdings Inc. · 2026-09-17 · Importance 22 · Surprise 60

The EU General Court upheld the European Commission’s prohibition of Booking Holdings’ acquisition of eTraveli on September 17, 2026. The ruling marks the first merger blocked under a pure ecosystem theory of harm. The decision increases regulatory risk for Booking’s future acquisitions of complementary travel services and may require stronger efficiency evidence in merger reviews.

Key facts

• The sale reduced Pisano Paulo's holdings by approximately 2.0%, leaving him with 71,900 shares. source
• Booking Holdings Inc.'s Chief Human Resources Officer, Pisano Paulo, sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock on September 15, 2026, at a price of $173.02 per share. source