Cox & Kings eyes overseas acquisitions to strengthen franchise operations in India

2nd February 2010: Travel operator Cox & Kings India is scouting for acquisitions in countries like the US, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand, a senior company official said today. The travel operator, which raised Rs 610 crore through a public issue in December last year, has earmarked Rs 150 crore for funding such acquisitions. "We have a fund of Rs 150 crore earmarked for this (acquisitions). We are very comfortable with countries where the laws are familiar like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...It becomes very attractive for us particularly since these countries are just coming out of recession," Cox & Kings Executive Director Peter Kerkar told PTI here.

Kerkar said the company is still on the look out and that "it could be several small companies or one large company". Last year, Cox & Kings acquired MyPlanet Australia and Bentours International, expanding its product and retail distribution presence in Australia. Besides this, it has a strong presence there through Tempo Holidays, a outbound tourism market player that it had earlier acquired. He said the company would focus on enhancing its distribution in India, through franchise sales outlets as well as internet.

Cox & Kings as a franchisor would grant the franchisee / entrepreneur the licensed right to own and operate a business based on the Cox and King's travel business concept, using its trademark. Cox and Kings would help the franchisee start the business, providing training, assistance with, site development and ordering inventory, advertising and marketing support. To benefit from this business opportunity, a franchisee needs 250 to 1,000 sq ft of space and to make an investment of Rs 10-15 lakh

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A Short Inspirational Story: Its You

One  day  all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the  door  on  which  it  was  written:  'Yesterday the person who has been hindering  your  growth  in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym'. In  the  beginning,  they  all  got  sad  for  the  death  of  one of their colleagues,  but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The  more  people  reached  the  coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone  thought: 'Who is this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he died!'. One  by  one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked  inside  it  they  suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin,  shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There  was  a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.

There  was  also  a  sign  next to the mirror that said: 'There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU. You  are  the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.

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