To discuss £1.6 billion capital refinancing plan

Thomas Cook Group plc reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the six months ended March 31, 2013. For the quarter, the company reported revenues of £3,224.3 million compared with £3,310.1 million a year ago. Underlying loss from operations was £197.5 million against £248.1 million for the same period a year ago. Underlying loss before tax was £275.6 million against £313.9 million for the same period a year ago. Loss before tax was £390.9 million against £584.1 million for the same period a year ago. Net debt as at March 31, 2013 was £1,214.5 million against net debt of £1,389.9 million as at March 31, 2012. Net cash used in operating activities was £300.8 million against £449.1 million for the same period a year ago. The seasonal underlying free cash outflow from underlying operating activities has reduced by £198.1 million to £316.2 million. Purchase of tangible assets was £47.1 million against £50.1 million for the same period a year ago. Purchase of intangible assets was £19.5 million against £19.3 million for the same period a year ago. The underlying basic loss per share was 15.3 pence against 16.4 pence for the same period a year ago. The basic loss per share was 31.9 pence against 68.2 pence for the same period a year ago. The company reported loss attributable to equity holders of the parent for the six months ended March 31, 2013 narrowed to £285.6 million from the prior year's £594.3 million. In view of encouraging trading for the Summer 2013 season, continued progress with its transformation, including the increased delivery of Cost Out initiatives announced and the improved financial performance in the six months ended March 31, 2013, the Board is confident of a satisfactory results for the full year. The company reported that it is aiming for Group sales to improve by at least 3.5% on average per year from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2015, for underlying Group gross margin to improve by at least 1.5% points from the level in fiscal 2012 by fiscal 2015, and for underlying UK EBIT margin to be greater than 5% by fiscal 2015.

Thomas Cook Group plc has been launched to learn from customers' social sentiment, improve marketing strategies, and build stronger customer relations. The company has taken its social media listening to the next level with the implementation, of what is to be believed, as a travel industry first, a bespoke 24/7 social media monitoring facility. The Thomas Cook Listening Lab using a specially trained social media listening team will provide real-time global brand reputation management, listening in over 180 languages about "chatter" around their brands. The team will identify social 'brand champions' and who the company should be interacting with socially to help increase sales. Data will also be collected that will be used for future marketing campaigns and to provide insight on how to heighten social brand awareness. The facility will aid in crisis management, provide real time comparison of competitor brands, and importantly, listen to all customer sentiment. The facility also features tools to engage with customers directly through countless social media channels. The Listening Lab and its team have already proven to be an effective instrument in changing customer sentiment and responding to customers' queries.