Prem Watsa of Fairfax Financial Awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in Recognition of his Contributions to India

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. (Thomas Cook India), India's leading integrated travel and related financial services company, owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax), announces that Mr. Prem Watsa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax, has been honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards, in recognition of his contributions to transforming India.

The Padma Shri recognises Mr. Watsa's significant contributions, including the initiatives of the Fairfax India Charitable Foundation (FICF), in delivering measurable social impact among India's poorest and towards creating a sustainable ecosystem for the local community. Since its formation, the FICF has delivered over 2 lakh of dialysis sessions almost entirely free of cost to below-poverty-line patients and installed over 500 dialysis machines across India. In addition, the FICF has been responsible for opening over 100 dialysis centres and creating a positive social impact across 15 states in India.

Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman and Managing Director of Thomas Cook India, said, "Thomas Cook India is extremely proud of Mr. Prem Watsa, and his being awarded the distinguished Padma Shri by the Government of India recognises his vision to transform and give back to India - the country of his birth." He added, "Having been acquired by Fairfax in 2012, Thomas Cook India's fruitful growth story stands testament to Mr. Watsa's visionary leadership - not only to provide outstanding business services but also sustainability and giving back to the community."

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About Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Set up in 1881, 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 and Passport services and E-Business. It operates leading B2C and B2B brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied T Pro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Luxe Asia, Kuoni Hong Kong, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, TC Forex, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, TC Visa, Travel Circle International Limited, Ithaka, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Private Safaris East & South Africa.

As one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, The Thomas Cook India Group spans 29 countries across 5 continents, a team of over 9700 and a combined revenue in excess of Rs. 6718.7 Cr. (over $ 0.96 Bn.) for the financial year ended March 31, 2019.

TCIL has been felicitated with The Best Travel Agency - India at TTG Travel Awards 2019, The Best Outbound Tour Operator at the Times Travel Awards 2018 & 2019 and Leading Company with Cutting Edge Travel Innovation at the Times Travel Awards 2018, Best Risk Management-Framework & Systems at the India Risk Management Awards 2019; Best Cash Management Solution - India at the Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain & Risk Management Awards 2018, Best Outbound Tour Operator at the SATTE awards 2019, Excellence in Domestic Tour Operations at the SATTE Awards 2018, Best Travel Entrepreneur of The Year at TTG Travel Awards 2017, The French Ambassador's Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance - 2015 to 2019 and the Cond� Nast Traveller - Readers' Travel Awards from 2011 to 2019.

CRISIL has reaffirmed the rating on debt programmes and bank facilities of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd at 'CRISIL AA-/Stable on the long-term bank facilities of TCIL and CRISIL A1+ rating on the short-term bank facilities and short- term debt of the Company.

For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited promotes TCIL by holding 65.60% of its paid-up capital and is responsible for the execution of acquisition and investment opportunities.

This release was published on openPR.