The company also has a presence in Mauritius. Thomas Cook - which pipped MakeMyTrip and Oberoi chain's Mercury Travels for the acquisition - will retain all of the 1,800 employees at Kuoni's India and Hong Kong units, which generated a turnover of Rs 1,804 crore and operating profit of Rs 29 crore in 2014. The arrangement entails the Kuoni brand being licensed to Thomas Cook for one year in India and for five years in Hong Kong. The transaction, expected to complete in the course of this year, comes as the travel industry is projected to grow faster than the global economy, according to World Travel and Tourism Council. Thomas Cook has become very aggressive on mergers and acquisitions since Watsa checked into the travel service provider three years ago. The BSE-listed company purchased Ikya Human Capital Solutions in 2013, and Sterling Holiday Resorts in 2014, transforming into a diversified enterprise.