Apollo LogiSolutions to go public by 2020, to invest Rs 3-4 bn pre-IPO

The company provides end-to-end integrated logistics services through its global network spread across locations

Apollo LogiSolutions is planning to go public by 2020 and is currently investing Rs 3-4 billion in run up to its IPO, before embarking on an international journey.

The company’s newly-appointed CEO, Samarnath Jha, is spearheading an expansion drive that may include acquisitions on the way to becoming a global logistics player. The overseas foray is expected to start with Central Asia and Southeast Asia, where the company may even forge a partnership, if feasible.

“From now on to the time of the IPO, we envisage an investment of Rs 3-4 billion to push our growth. This would come in various forms,” Jha told Business Standard.

He added that the company’s expansion has to be interlinked to its current product segment. “If we find an opportunity in the inorganic mode that adds value to our portfolio, we will be interested in looking at that area.” Jha was appointed CEO in April by Chairman and Managing Director Raaja Kanwar, who feels that the logistics sector has long been ignored in the country, but its time has come.

His company provides end-to-end integrated logistics services through its global network spread across locations. The services include freight forwarding, luxury logistics and contract logistics.

“We are late in the day as far as the logistics sector is concerned and catch-up is required. Manufacturing companies have created their own supply chains, but as far as logistics is concerned, end-to-end solutions or value addition still does not happen in India,” he said.

The Union Cabinet in November 2017 granted infrastructure status to the logistics sector, a move that will allow it to borrow on easier terms with enhanced limits, apart from giving it access to larger external commercial borrowings and loans with longer tenures from insurance companies and pension funds. Companies in the sector will also be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Ltd.