NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2026--
American Express today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Hypercard (Hyper), an agentic expense management company, adding to Amex’s AI expertise and capabilities across its commercial services business. Hyper’s team of AI experts will help American Express continue to build agentic tools and AI-powered solutions that help businesses automate processes and simplify operations.
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“Our customers want smarter, more efficient ways to manage expenses so they can focus on what's next for their business, and AI has the potential to transform the way businesses get things done,” said Raymond Joabar, Group President of Global Commercial Services at American Express. “We’re thrilled to welcome Hyper, a team with deep expertise in designing and deploying AI agents, as we build next-generation AI capabilities into our products and services, including our expense management platform launching later this year.”
“We’re excited to join the team at American Express and work together to help businesses reduce friction in the expense process through AI technology,” said Marc Baghadjian, CEO and Co-Founder of Hyper. “Hyper was founded with the ambition to better automate expenses, and we’re excited to continue this mission as a part of the Amex team.”
Founded in 2022, Hyper has focused on transforming expense management from a manual process into more autonomous workflows, successfully developing native AI agents that auto-categorize and file expenses, check them against budget and policy, and send reminders that submissions are due. In 2024, American Express and Hyper partnered to launch the Hypercard Rewards American Express card with embedded AI-powered expense agents leveraging the Agile Partner Platform. Since then, Hyper has continued to focus and refine its agentic expense management capabilities.
Amex Business Membership brings together award-winning service, best-in-class card products, intelligent software and next-generation AI tools. Last month, Chairman and CEO Stephen J. Squeri outlined the company’s strategy and how AI is transforming the way we operate in his annual letter to shareholders, and the company announced plans to integrate the latest AI technology into products and services to help businesses automate processes and operate more efficiently. The acquisition of Hyper builds on these plans by bolstering the company’s AI talent and capabilities.
The acquisition is expected to close within the second quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions.
ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.
For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements, which include American Express’ expectations regarding the transaction and plans for launching new and enhanced products, benefits and capabilities, among other matters, contain words such as “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the parties’ ability to satisfy the closing conditions and consummate the transaction; the underlying assumptions related to the transaction proving to be inaccurate or unrealized; and American Express’ ability to integrate Hyper and benefit from its talent and technology, which will depend in part on management’s decisions regarding future operations, strategies and business initiatives. A further description of these and other risks and uncertainties can be found in American Express’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and its other reports filed with the SEC. American Express undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Location: U.S.
American Express to Acquire Hyper, Adding to Its AI Expertise and Expense Management Capabilities
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that stretched for hours from daytime into the night, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 100 others as terrified residents cowered in their homes, officials said Thursday.
Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilians, in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two weeks, authorities said.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old resident of Kyiv, said two missiles hit near her home and she took cover with her dog in the hallway as flashes lit up the night and windows shattered from the blast wave.
“On the third attack everything broke, everything flew, we were shocked, we didn’t know where to run. I grabbed whatever came to hand and ran away with the dog,” she told The Associated Press. “I still can’t find the cats in the house, they climbed out somewhere, I don’t even know. No windows, nothing, the dog is still walking around in stress.”
Moscow's forces have hit civilian areas almost daily since its all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, with the regular assaults occasionally punctuated by massive attacks. More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the strikes, the United Nations says.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation was launched “in retaliation” for Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia, where long-range drones and missiles have hit Russian oil refineries and war-related manufacturing plants. The Russian barrage was aimed at facilities associated with the Ukrainian armed forces, the Defense Ministry claimed.
European Council President António Costa described it as “yet another horrendous attack” while people slept in their homes.
The latest bombardment came in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 48-hour trip this week to Germany, Norway and Italy in an urgent search for more air defense systems that can stop Russian missiles.
Ukraine has developed a significant domestic arms industry, especially in the production of drones and missiles, but it can’t yet match the sophistication of U.S. Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine’s top diplomatic priority is securing allies’ help to buy and build more and better air defenses, Zelenskyy said this week.
Yuriy Ihnat, the head of communications for the Ukrainian air force, said the Russian attack made extensive use of ballistic missiles, which only Patriot systems can reliably shoot down.
“We desperately need more missiles for the Patriot systems," Ihnat told Ukraine’s private TV channel 1+1.
Cash-strapped Ukraine also needs the speedy disbursement of a promised loan from the European Union of 90 billion euros ($106 billion) that has been blocked by Hungary.
Ukraine fears the Iran war is burning through stockpiles of the advanced American-made air defense systems it needs, and has argued against a U.S. temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions that Kyiv says is helping finance the Kremlin's war effort.
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said on X.
He thanked Germany, Norway and Italy for new agreements this week on supporting Ukraine's air defense. Officials are also working with the Netherlands on additional supplies, he said.
At the same time, he noted that some partner countries haven't followed through on pledges of military support.
“I have instructed the Commander of the Air Force to contact those partners who earlier committed to providing missiles for Patriot and other systems,” Zelenskyy said.
The bombardment was the biggest in weeks. Last month, Russia fired 948 drones and 34 missiles in the space of 24 hours in the largest assault of the war on civilian areas.
At least four people were killed overnight in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old, with more than 50 others injured, according to authorities. Officials said the attack damaged 17 apartment buildings, 10 private homes, as well as a hotel, office center, car dealership, gas station and a shopping mall in the capital.
Nine people were killed and 23 injured in the southern port city of Odesa, three women were killed and around three dozen injured in the central Dnipro region, and one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia in the south.
“Such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must be stopped and their perpetrators held to account,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
Ukraine’s air force said air defenses shot down or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming targets, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other uncrewed aerial vehicles.
It said 20 strike drones and 12 missiles hit 26 locations.
Meanwhile in Russia, Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev reported that a 14-year-old girl and a woman were killed in Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea port of Tuapse.
He said that attacks damaged six apartment buildings, 24 private houses and three schools. Drone fragments also fell near Tuapse.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said that its air defenses downed 207 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A firefighter works at a damaged building following Russia's missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Burnt private cars on a damaged parking site following Russia's missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out a fire following a Russian attack in Dnipro, Ukraine, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
People take shelter inside a house damaged after a Russian strike on residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman with a dog walks among the rubble of a house damaged after a Russian strike on residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
