Godrej Industries Group plans to invest 20,000 crore rupees in Haryana state

Global alternative investment firm Investcorp has acquired the contract logistics business of 20Cube 3PL Solutions for 500 crore rupees. This deal highlights the growing investor interest in India's rapidly developing logistics sector.

The investment company plans to invest an additional 500 to 750 crore rupees jointly with the company's founders to acquire more enterprises and create a pan-Indian contract logistics platform. The founders, Anand Sitaramanan and Rajan Kedia, will continue to lead the company.

The transaction takes place amid changes in the country's logistics industry, driven by increased manufacturing activity, supply chain modernization, and rising demand for organized warehousing.

The deal also involves a business split. The Indian segment of contract logistics will be separated from 20Cube Logistics, headquartered in Singapore, and will continue to focus on international freight forwarding. The Indian business already manages warehouse spaces exceeding 7 million square feet and intends to increase this area to over 20 million square feet within four to five years.

Contract logistics essentially means outsourcing supply chain functions such as warehouse management, transportation, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment to specialized operators. Increasingly, these services are supported by digital tools that help companies track goods, manage inventory, and improve delivery efficiency.

Gaurav Sharma, Head of Investments in India at Investcorp, stated that 'these investments reflect our sustained confidence in India's fast-growing contract logistics sector, in which we are currently involved through NDR Warehousing and Miebach Consulting. As India's supply chains continue to modernize, we look forward to close collaboration with the 20Cube management to scale the technologically equipped logistics platform.'

The industry is witnessing a wave of consolidation and investment. Large logistics companies are expanding their warehouse footprints, while third-party logistics providers are increasingly implementing automation, data analytics, and multi-client warehousing models to improve asset utilization and reduce costs. The growth of e-commerce and the development of organized retail have further increased the demand for modern warehousing capacity.

Investcorp believes that 20Cube's operating model gives it an advantage in this environment. Varun Laul, a partner at Investcorp, noted: 'In a market largely driven by fixed space and labor contracts, 20Cube stands out with its on-demand multi-client warehousing service, which seamlessly integrates transportation and other ancillary services. This not only brings greater value to clients but also creates a more resilient business.'

For 20Cube, these investments represent an opportunity for scaling, not a change in direction. CEO Sitaramanan stated that the company spent years building a customer-centric, service-oriented, and digitized contract logistics platform and is now ready to expand its technological capabilities and strengthen its nationwide network.

Krafton India, the developer of the game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), intends to expand its investment portfolio by supporting companies in both the gaming and non-gaming sectors through financial or other means. This was reported by Nihansh Bhat, head of corporate development at the company in India.

Over the past four to five years, the company has invested approximately $250 million in India and plans to continue investing around $50–60 million in gaming companies, artificial intelligence startups, and venture funds that invest in these startups.

According to Bhat, if larger and more mature companies are encountered, Krafton India finds ways to support them, while for less mature companies, different approaches are used, including mentorship, consulting, and incubation programs.

In addition to direct investments in mature and early-stage companies in India, Krafton India has begun increasing its investments in venture funds that do not have direct working relationships with the company. Previously, the company initially focused only on funds oriented towards gaming companies, but quickly realized that due to the youth of the gaming sector, one fund could not concentrate all its resources solely on supporting such companies.

Bhat noted that the company currently has about eighteen companies in its portfolio, only four or five of which are gaming studios, and the total investment amount in these companies and funds has reached approximately $250 million.

In April this year, the South Korean-based tech giant launched a fund focused on India with a capital of 6,000 crore rupees to support early-stage technology startups in the country. One of Krafton India's key areas of interest is investing in companies operating in the consumer internet and media entertainment space, such as Kuku FM, which became one of the company's first investments.

Bhat emphasized that although most companies receive investment in one or two rounds, Krafton India supports them through multiple funding rounds if it sees synergy, which is an advantage of a strategic investor.

Hinduja Group announced on Thursday plans to invest 250 billion rupees in the state of Tamil Nadu as part of its activities across various sectors.

These investments will cover areas such as renewable energy, electric mobility, automotive industry, financial services, energy, battery charging station infrastructure, and digital mobility solutions, as stated by the group in an official announcement.

Ashok Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group of Companies (India), stated that this commitment of 250 billion rupees demonstrates the group's confidence in Tamil Nadu and its desire to participate in the state's next phase of growth. He noted that due to its strong industrial base, talent pool, and renewable energy potential, Tamil Nadu is well-suited to lead India's energy and mobility transition.

The group expressed hope for developing long-term ties with the state and collaborating with the Tamil Nadu government to create sustainable value through investments in clean energy, electric mobility, and other emerging opportunities.

A key element of this commitment will be the development of over 200 MW projects in renewable energy by Hinduja Renewables Energy Pvt Ltd (HREPL), which will include solar, wind, and battery technologies.

Furthermore, in the mobility sector, OHM Global Mobility Ltd will focus on launching electric buses for public transport in Tamil Nadu and expanding its mobility solutions chain.

The group also reported its intention to explore opportunities in the automotive industry, financial services, energy, battery charging station infrastructure, and digital mobility as part of its broader investment commitment to the state.

Currently, the group has operations in the state, including Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil India, Hinduja Leyland Finance, Hinduja Housing Finance, Switch Mobility, Ohm Mobility, Gro Digital, and Hinduja Tech.