Cullinan Holdings was established in 1901 as the famous diamond mining company which discovered the world’s largest ever rough diamond. The company is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange under the Tourism and Leisure sector.

The Group has evolved rapidly in the past four years, from a Group almost exclusively focusing on Tourism to the current business which operates in three major segments. These are Travel and Tourism, still the dominant segment, Marine and Boating and recently Financial Services.

Within the Tourism and Travel segment, the Group operates some of the most reputable brands in Southern African travel and tourism. These are covered in more detail under the Group Profile. The businesses within the Marine and Boating segment are licenced to supply many premium yachting products to yacht builders in South Africa, as well as retaining the agency for many well known leisure boating brands. The Finance segment was established in 2012 and is evolving into a key area for the business and continues to be the focus for the future.

In terms of Travel and Leisure, Cullinan has created an integrated business model which allows for the supply of high-quality travel packages in which the Group is involved in most parts of the chain of supply, with consequent control over service and the ability to provide excellent value to the traveller. Financial Services will leverage the cash generative nature of the Travel business and in addition, will work synergistically with the Boating businesses to offer a turn- key yacht finance offering.

In 2002, the Company disposed of non-core businesses being Cadac and Karrimor and the majority shareholding changed, with the acquisition of 64% of the shares in Cullinan by Travcorp Financial Services Limited.

Travcorp Financial Services Limited are part of the Travel Corporation, one of the largest Travel Companies in the world, owning such household names as Contiki, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours. This brought significant expertise into what was now essentially a Travel business, through the appointment of a new board of Directors.

In 2006, Cullinan Holdings Ltd acquired 100% of the shares in Hylton Ross Tours (Pty) Ltd. Hylton Ross is the pre-eminent Coach Operator in the Western Cape. In 2008, Cullinan Holdings Ltd acquired Central Boating to complement the business of Manex Marine. Central Boating and Manex together represent some of the major brands in marine and boating, such as Lewmar, Musto & Aqua-Lung.