Japanese industrial conglomerate Hitachi today acquired Indian logistics and warehousing firm Flyjac Logistics for Rs 250 crore in an all-cash deal. Mumbai-based Flyjac claims to have a group strength of 1,250 staff and has presence at 16 locations in India. Besides, it operates in 40 countries and is ground handling agent for Airport Authority of India at Delhi and Chennai.

Gati Ltd., India’s leading express distribution & supply chain solutions provider has announced its tie-up with Bangladesh-based Xpress International to provide end to end solutions, especially for surface movement, between the two countries. With this Gati Ltd have become the first Indian company, and the leader in the region, to provide such solutions between the both countries.

The November 2009 USD 26 billion all cash acquisition of Texas based rail road company Burlington Northern Santa Fe by arguably the world’s most famous and successful investor Warren Buffet fixed the wandering investors’ eyes on to the ‘next big thing’ – logistics. “Transportation is fundamental. And there’s lots of money to be made”, Mr. Buffet had said after the acquisition. With almost 600 reported deals representing more than $79 billion in aggregate transaction value since 2005, the transportation industry has seen significant PE, mergers and acquisitions transaction activity. Nobody doubts that the deal activity has picked up significantly in India since last year and is expected to edge higher towards the end of this year. “It will probably not touch 2007 levels but it will certainly approach it”, said Manish Saigal, Executive Director & Head – Transportation & Logistics, KPMG India said at the summit. “Deal activity in logistics had not been significantly hit by the slowdown in 2009 over 2008, though ticket sizes had dipped from an average of USD 46m to USD 27m. A strong bounce back in M&A is expected in the current fiscal”, Manish added.

French retailer Carrefour is close to a deal with a unit of Pantaloon Retail, India’s largest listed retailer, to set up franchisee stores in India, the Economic Times reported on Tuesday citing an anonymous source.

Chartered Logistics Ltd has announced that the company has entered into contract with the M/s. Ambuja Cement Ltd. a leading cement manufacturer of India for transportation of Cement and other product w.e.f. January 01, 2010.

Aegis Logistics today said it has acquired Shell Gas (LPG) India and expects the whole acquisition process to be completed in the next 90 days, marking its entry in the cylinder market.

TVS Logistics Services Ltd (TVS-LSL) on Wednesday announced the acquisition of UK-based logistic supply chain company Multipart Holding to provide services to its customers in India and overseas and also expand TVS LSL area of operations to Defe nce and Utility Services.

In a major initiative to increase exposure to the agriculture sector, Shree Shubham Logistics Limited (SSLL) today announced signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Axis Bank to work together in the area of warehouse-based receipt financing.

For some time, the once-sharp lines between transportation and logistics, domestic and international, and third-party logistics (3PL) companies and freight forwarders have been blurring.