Samara Capital has created an integrated logistics platform by acquiring stakes in Associated Road Carriers (ARC), one of India's largest business-to-business (B2B) road transportation companies, and Calyx Container Terminals (Calyx), a licensed container freight station serving the Chennai Port. According to reports from the companies, the private equity firm invested close to ₹1,200 crore in the transaction. The promoters and the firm are holding almost equal stakes in the new entity, with PwC serving as the financial advisor to Samara Capital and EY advising the promoter group. As per industry sources, the company did not disclose the complete financial details of the deal, though the investment amount was confirmed at approximately ₹1,200 crore.
The combined entities recorded revenue of about ₹2,140 crore in 2025-26, demonstrating the significant scale of the newly formed logistics platform. According to the companies, the fresh capital will be directed towards expanding the branch and hub network, strengthening first-mile and last-mile capability, technology modernization and selective acquisitions. The platform now covers both domestic and EXIM cargo movements, providing comprehensive logistics solutions across India. Abhishek Kabra, managing director at Samara Capital, emphasized the unique nature of this acquisition, stating "Networks of this density are built over decades. Very few businesses in Indian logistics combine that reach with this quality of earnings. Together with Calyx, we now have an entity that covers both domestic and EXIM cargo movements."
According to Samara Capital's managing director Abhishek Kabra, the firm sees logistics as an attractive investment sector given rising freight intensity as the country's manufacturing-led growth accelerates. The Indian logistics sector is estimated at ₹28 trillion and growing at about 10% annually, with road transportation accounting for roughly two-thirds of transportation spend. Factors such as goods and services tax (GST)-led supply-chain consolidation, manufacturing growth and expanding trade flows continue to shift demand towards scaled operators. Abhik Mitra, an operating partner at Samara Capital, highlighted the firm's focus on helping the platform deliver top service levels through an integrated, comprehensive, pan-India road transportation network, enabled through initiatives in network expansion, people, technology, data analytics, engineering, and process improvements.
ARC, founded in 1972, operates over 20 hubs and about 600 branches across more than 16,000 pin codes, with nearly 2 million square feet of covered hub space. The company deploys around 3,500 trucks daily on an asset-light model, with under 7% of the fleet owned, and serves more than 100,000 active customers across project cargo, full-truckload (FTL), and part-truckload (PTL). Its customer base spans capital goods, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, power and electrical equipment, metals, automotive, textiles and fast-moving consumer goods, with about 95% of revenue coming from existing customers and no single customer accounting for more than a small share of revenue. Nearly half of the revenue comes from relationships of more than 10 years' standing. Meanwhile, Calyx operates a container freight station about 20 kilometres from the Chennai Port with an annual capacity of around 75,000 TEUs, alongside supply chain management and empty container yard services for shipping lines and clearing agents. Founded in 2006, it ranks among the leading Container Freight Station operators at the Chennai Port and adds integrated EXIM capability.
Abhik Mitra, an operating partner at Samara Capital, emphasized the firm's focus on helping the platform deliver top service levels through an integrated, comprehensive, pan-India road transportation network. The company will focus on initiatives and investments in network expansion, people, technology, data analytics, engineering, and process improvements. Rajiv Goyal, who represents the promoter group of ARC and Calyx, highlighted that this transition is a conscious step towards institutionalizing the business, separating ownership from management, strengthening its governance and creating an opportunity for sustainable long-term growth. "While the company transitions to professional management, the promoters will remain available to the company for guidance, support and the benefit of our experience whenever required," he said. Samara Capital, founded in 2007, is a homegrown, mid-market focused PE firm with over ₹12,000 crore invested across a diverse portfolio of more than 30 companies, focusing on consumer/retail, healthcare/pharma, financial services, and business services/technology sectors.
