Delhivery acquires Aramex

Gurugram based logistics provider for ecommerce companies, Delhivery, has acquired the India Business of Dubai based logistics firm Aramex for an undisclosed amount. Aramex provides logistics for major ecommerce companies such as Amazon India. In 2016, the company had invested in online hyperlocal Delhivery service for restaurants Grab.in, and Jaipur intra-city B2B logistics service provider, Logisure.

Delhivery will now take over Aramex India’s pick-up and delivery shipment operations. However, Aramex will continue to focus on its global competencies of express and freight and will continue the international business in the country. Delhivery was founded in 2011. As of December 2018, the company claimed to be catering its logistics service in more than 600 cities with 12 fulfillment centres for B2C and B2B services.

The startup, which counts Carlyle and Tiger Global as investors, works with ecommerce companies such as Flipkart and Paytm. Speculation was rife earlier that Japan’s SoftBank Vision Fund is reportedly looking to acquire 37.87% stake in Delhivery, and has reportedly sought approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Logistics is the brain behind the supply chain industry. Over the years, startups in this sector have come up with innovative new technologies with logistics-related software solutions, last-mile delivery, robotics, automation solutions. Indian logistics sector is currently valued at $160 Bn and is poised to hit $215 Bn by 2020.

Quikr acquires Stayglad

Listings website Quikr India Pvt. Ltd has acquired on demand beauty services provider Stayglad for an undisclosed sum after the start-up failed to attract new investors and ran out of cash. Stayglad, owned by Glow Prime Technologies Pvt. Ltd, was in talks with Accel Partners and Matrix Partners to raise funds but the talks were unsuccessful, prompting the company to scout for a buyer.

This is Quikr third acquisition in the on-demand home beauty services space. In May, Quikr acquired Gurgaon based home beauty services provider Salosa for an undisclosed amount to bolster its presence in the segment. In July, Quikr rebranded Salosa as AtHomeDiva and launched a separate home beauty service under the QuikrServices vertical in August; the company acquired another home beauty service provider Zapluk.

Quikr had earlier committed an investment of Rs250 Crore to strengthen its home services vertical. On demand beauty is one of the fastest growing service categories. Stayglad was founded in May 2015. In June last year, the company raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from Delhivery, and TracxnLabs. The company went on to raise an undisclosed amount in Series A funding round from Bessemer Venture Partners and former Chief Executive officer at Lakme Lever Pvt. Ltd.

In the home beauty segment, Quikr AtHomeDiva, currently operates in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Gurgaon and Hyderabad, competes with BigStylist, Belita, VanityCube, MyGlam, and The Home Salon among others. The acquisition is part of Quikr verticalization drive where it is focusing on five key business segments – automobiles, real estate, jobs, services and customer to customer sales.

Pigeon Express to acquire GoJavas

Courier service provider Pigeon Express Pvt. Ltd is in advanced talks to acquire e-commerce focused logistics service provider GoJavas (Quickdel Logistics Pvt. Ltd) which suspended operations last week amid an organization overhaul, in a cash stock deal.

GoJavas, which counts Snapdeal (Jasper Infotech Pvt. Ltd) as a key investor, had started scouting for possible suitors after a bid by Snapdeal for a complete buyout fell through. Besides Pigeon Express, the company had also held talks with another Delhi based courier service provider, Trackon Couriers Pvt. Ltd.

Delhi headquartered Pigeon Express was founded in 2004. The company handles doorstep pickup and delivery of bulk packets, parcels and other consignments, essentially competing with larger rivals such as DHL, DTDC and Bluedart. The company claims to handle 1.2 lakh deliveries every day and has 135 delivery centers across the country. Snapdeal and Jabong together accounted for more than 80% of GoJavas overall business.

Logistics and supply chain are the backbone of e-commerce firms as sound infrastructure helps reduce delivery costs and ensures faster delivery which in turn helps win over customers. GoJavas primarily competed with Flipkart’s logistics firm eKart, Delhivery, Ecom Express Pvt. Ltd and Dotzot, the e-commerce focused arm of DTDC.