Cox & Kings (formerly known as Cox & Kings Ltd.) was established in 1758 and is one of the longest-established travel brands. In 2019, the UK business of Cox & Kings, along with the rights worldwide excluding India, was acquired by Abercrombie & Kent following insolvency proceedings.[1] In May 2024, the rights to the Indian entity were acquired by Singapore-based private equity firm Wilson & Hughes through an insolvency process overseen by the National Company Law Tribunal.[2]
The Years Preceding 2019
Historically, Cox and Kings Ltd. was an army agent, travel agent, a printer and a publisher. It has also worked as a newsagent, cargo agent, ship-owner, banker, insurance agent, and dealer of several travel-related activities. Its core activities now include the sale of packaged holidays.
In the United Kingdom, Cox & Kings was acquired out of administration by Abercrombie & Kent which continues to operate the brand under its ownership.[3]
In India, Cox & Kings Ltd. was declared bankrupt in 2020 and underwent insolvency proceedings under the Indian Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. In May 2024, Singapore-based private equity firm Wilson and Hughes Pte, led by Karan Agarwal, acquired Cox & Kings India. The acquisition included over 200 sub-brands, such as Luxury Escapades, Duniya Dekho, Bharat Dekho, Bhakti Yatra, Holiday 365, and Tour to Feast.[4][5]
History
Richard Cox, the founder
Cox was born in Yorkshire in 1718. His father had made a good living as a lawyer and had moved from his birthplace in Clent in Worcestershire to Yorkshire. He then bought an estate near Quarley in Hampshire. Richard Cox came into the service of a General, Lord Ligonier, as a clerk in the early 1740s. In 1747 he married Caroline Codrington, daughter of Sir William Codrington.
Cox's career took off when Lord Ligonier led the Flanders campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession. In one letter sent back to London, Richard Cox made a demand that "suitable winter provisions and housing should be made available for the three English companies" and he became entwined with logistics and the general welfare of the troops. Ligonier made Cox his private secretary in the late 1740s, went on to become the colonel of the First Foot Guards (Grenadier Guards) in 1757, and rewarded Cox with the post of "military agent" after the incumbent died in May 1758. Thus was born Cox & Co.[6]
There were about a dozen main agents working for the army at that time and each regimental colonel chose one to serve their troops. These agents arranged the payment of officers and men, organized the provision of clothing, acted as intermediaries for the buying and selling of officers' commissions and acted on any special requests from the regimental
See also
- Holt's Military Banking
Sources
- Lloyds Bank Pamphlet (1990), Cox's & King's: The Evolution of a Military Tradition
- Lloyds TSB Archives. Cox & Co 1758 to 1922 – an excellent selection of company records, the private papers of Richard Cox and partners. Details
- Sumit Gairola (2015) "Travel Happiness" & "Uttarakhand Tourism" Cox & Kings Travel Compass Magazine
- Leslie Pressnell and John Orbell (1985), Guide to the Historical Records of British Banking
External links
References
- Jacobs Media Group Ltd. Abercrombie & Kent acquires Cox & Kings Travel Weekly, retrieved 2025-02-17^
- Peden Doma Bhutia. Cox & Kings' India Brand Returns Under New Owner Skift, 2024-11-12, retrieved 2025-02-17^
- Jacobs Media Group Ltd. Abercrombie & Kent acquires Cox & Kings