Shop CJ to market Thomas Cook India’s innovative Holiday Savings Account packages

Mumbai, July 30, 2015: SHOP CJ Network Pvt. Ltd (“Shop CJ”), Asia’s No. 1 home shopping Network has announced a marketing alliance with Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading travel and travel related financial services company, to showcase the Thomas Cook ‘Holiday Savings Account’ – a pioneering and affordable holiday solution for today’s burgeoning Middle India. Shop CJ’s wide consumer base will enable  Thomas Cook (India) Ltd access India’s rapidly emerging Middle India travellers with its Holiday Savings Account range of 15 tour packages across popular international destinations, including,  Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, Malaysia, Sri Lanka as well as domestic favourites like Andaman,  Himachal, Kerala, North East, Kashmir, Bhutan, The Golden Triangle & Goa. The marketing alliance between the two is a first of its kind in India.

Shop CJ is poised to cross INR 1200 crore turnover this year, recording a 40% growth over its sales of INR 850 crore achieved in the last fiscal ended Dec 31, 2014 Shop CJ’s reach extends to more than 6.5 crore households in India and currently caters to about 40% of the market and this marketing association with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. will serve to enhance Shop CJ’s product portfolio with the great value proposition of the Thomas Cook Holiday Savings Account tour packages.

Commenting on the marketing alliance with Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., Kenny Shin, CEO of Shop CJ Network said, “The home-shopping industry is growing rapidly in India and Shop CJ is expanding its market share by entering into a new segment to create a unique shopping experience for its consumers. Shop CJ, with a footprint of 75 million households will create great value for its consumers with Thomas Cook India’s unique and affordable Holiday Savings Account range of holidays. Travel is seeing impressive demand from Indian consumers and we bring to this partnership an audience which is yet untapped by organized players in the Travel & Tourism industry”.

Mr. Abraham Alapatt, Chief Innovation Officer & Head – Marketing and Service Quality, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “Our Holiday Savings Account is a truly innovative product that allows customers to Save, Earn and Travel! Its unique concept allows customers to save via 12 easy installments while earning an attractive interest (via our Bank Partners Indus Ind, ICICI and Kotak Bank), with further benefits of a Thomas Cook top up on the 13^th month and a zero exit penalty. Indeed a significant consumer empowering tool”.

He elaborated on the marketing association, “Our tie up with Shop CJ gives us access to its extensive network of high potential yet under leveraged travel hungry Middle India. Our innovative Holiday Savings Account, is ideally suited to the informative format of Shop CJ’s electronic and online shopping platforms, ensuring visibility-reach, as also the personal touch of our Toll Free number for details and assisted transactions.”

Mr. Alapatt concluded by stating, “Our Thomas Cook Holiday Savings Account is a comprehensive savings solution to guarantee every Indian the affordability of a better holiday!”

About Shop CJ Network Private Limited (“Shop CJ”)

SHOP CJ Network Pvt. Ltd. (Formerly Known as STAR CJ Network India Pvt. Ltd) is a 50:50 joint venture between the South Korean home shopping major, CJ O Shopping Co. Ltd. and Providence Equity Partners group. It operates a 24x7 home shopping channel called SHOP CJ (formerly STAR CJ alive) and a web-based portal www.shopcj.com (formerly www.starcj.com). SHOP CJ channel is available on major DTH and analogue & digital cable platforms. It reaches more than 65 million households in India. The channel/service was launched in 2009 and within five and a half years of its operation added 6.5 million satisfied shoppers. The parent company, CJ O Shopping, is the first and largest home shopping company in South Korea. Currently, world's second-largest home shopping network operates in 10 sites, including, Korea, China, India, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Philippines, generating $4.4 billion in sales in 2013. CJ O Shopping brings shoppertainment and trendy lifestyle products with value to its customers. Website - http://www.shopcj.com/

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited:

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd (TCIL) is the leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Insurance, Visa & Passport services and E-Business. The company set up its first office in India in 1881.

TCIL’s footprint currently extends to over 233 locations (including 19 airport counters) in 94 cities across India, Mauritius & Sri Lanka and is supported by a strong partner network of 115 Gold Circle Partners and 112 Preferred Sales Agents in over 130 cities across India.

ICRA has upgraded the long term rating of Thomas Cook (India) Limited’s non convertible debenture programme to ‘ICRA AA/Stable’ from ‘ICRA AA-/Stable’, assigned earlier. CRISIL has assigned long term rating of CRISIL AA-/ stable outlook to the non convertible debenture programme and banking facilities and short term rating of CRISIL A1+ to TCIL’s banking facilities.

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been voted as Favourite Outbound Tour Operator at the Outlook Traveller Awards 2015, Best Tour Operator - Outbound at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015, 2014 & 2013 and Best Company providing Foreign Exchange at the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2015 & 2014; felicitated with Diamond Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance at the French Ambassador's Travel Awards Ceremony 2015; Thomas Cook India’s Travel Quest honoured with a gold award at PATA Gold Awards 2015; honored as ‘India's Leading Tour Operator’ for the year 2014, at the 21st Annual World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia 2014, Best Tour Operator at the Lonely Planet Travel Awards 2013, Favourite Tour Operator at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011 and recognized as a “Consumer Superbrand” 2013-14 & 2012-2013. In addition, TCIL has been chosen as the Best Corporate Travel Management Company by World Travel Brands 2012. At the National Tourism Awards 2012-2013, TCIL was the recipient of 3 prestigious awards. Thomas Cook India’s Centre of Learning has received IATA accreditation as “Top 10 South Asia IATA Authorized Training Centers”2015, 2013 & 2012. For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

Thomas Cook (India) Limited is promoted by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited and its controlled affiliates.  Fairbridge is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities in the Indian subcontinent on behalf of the Fairfax family of companies.

About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a Toronto-based financial services holding company with a global presence in insurance and reinsurance and a portfolio of assets in excess of $38 billion invested worldwide. The Company, founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prem Watsa, has over the past 25 years, demonstrated a strong financial track record to achieve an annual appreciation in Book Value per Share of 24.7% annually. Fairfax has almost 20 general insurance subsidiaries and joint ventures globally, including ICICI Lombard (India).

Fairfax is engaged in long term investments from its own resources, with a focus to delivering long term capital appreciation through a flexible and value oriented approach. Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. owns 73.96% on a fully diluted basis of the Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited), a provider of specialised Human Resource related Services and 55.01% of Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Ltd, engaged in time share and resort business and holiday activities.

About Quess Corp Limited (formerly IKYA Human Capital Solutions Limited)

Quess Corp Limited is a market leading business services entity with interests in Asset Management, IT Services and HR services. Headquartered in Bangalore, the Group has more than 80000 employees, operates in 27 cities in India, the North America, Middle East and South East Asia.  The group has grown through a series of acquisitions in the last seven years and has INR 2,200 crores as revenue. Quess Corp Limited is a subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. For more information visit: http://www.quesscorp.com/

About Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Limited:

Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Limited, a pioneer in vacation ownership and a leading leisure hospitality company in India, was incorporated in 1986 with the vision of delivering great holiday experiences to Indian families. Sterling Holidays’ network includes 1767 rooms across 24 resorts in 21 scenic holiday destinations pan India. The company also has 15 additional sites where it plans to add new resorts in the coming years. For more information visit: www.sterlingholidays.com