Ecom Express receives $20 million follow-on investment from CDC Group
March 9, 2021: CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance institution and impact investor in South Asia and Africa, today announced that it has closed a $20 million investment round in Ecom Express.
Ecom Express will be utilizing the equity infusion by CDC Group investments for strategic initiatives such as growth driven capital expenditure, working capital requirements, new business initiatives, expansions, and potential strategic acquisitions/partnerships.
March 9, 2021: CDC Group, the UK government’s development finance institution and impact investor in South Asia and Africa, today announced that it has closed a $20 million investment round in Ecom Express.
This will be CDC’s second round of investment in Ecom Express after its initial investment in December 2019.
Ecom Express recently invested $11 million (about ₹80.6 crore) in Bangladesh's largest third-party e-commerce logistics (3PL) firm, Paperfly. Through this investment, Ecom Express entered Bangladesh marking its maiden venture outside India, after having covered the length and breadth of the country reaching over 1.2 billion people daily.
“This investment will enable Ecom Express to create 8,000 new jobs in addition to an initial target of 15,000 roles – prioritising employing women for jobs at delivery centres, fulfilment centres and warehouses across the nation,” says the release.
Additionally, Ecom Express will be utilizing the equity infusion by CDC Group investments for strategic initiatives such as growth driven capital expenditure, working capital requirements, new business initiatives, expansions, and potential strategic acquisitions/partnerships.
Srini Nagarajan, managing director and head of Asia at CDC, said, “CDC’s additional investment in the company reflects our support for the company’s pan-India expansion, and a commitment to channelling our patient capital toward a business that aligns with our development, impact, and sustainability goals.”
T. A. Krishnan, co-founder and chief executive officer of Ecom Express said, “This fresh infusion of capital will enable us to further strengthen our network, infrastructure, operations, and technological prowess while assuring support to our next levels of growth. We are looking at a development led impact which includes strengthening our sustainability initiatives, job creation and diversity. In CDC, we have a partner which helps us become socially responsible and contribute to the society at large through these initiatives.”
