Mumbai: Diversified Conglomerate Raymond Group – with interests in textiles and clothing, real estate, engineering, aviation and defense – will continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities as it expands operations in India and abroad. “We will look at investments from an acquisition point of view when the opportunities come. We are well funded, we are a zero debt business. So we do not have a problem with that,” Raymond Group managing director Gautam Singhania said in an interview with Mint on Wednesday. Raymond Ltd, who was first admitted to Thane Creek as Raymond Woolen Mill in 1925, celebrated his centenary in Mumbai on Wednesday. The company has since started as a textile mill, and has since diversified into real estate, aviation and defense, and is now working through three listed entities in India. Singhania was appointed chairman and managing director of Raymond Ltd in 2000. The shares of the company raised about 2% on the BSE of £ 623.10 on the BSE on Wednesday. “There is no fault today; We put on cash. We generate cash, so we are very comfortable. We are constantly looking at transactions – in real estate we are looking for more projects, can be landowners … what capital, etc. ” Vijaypat Singhania, who transferred control of Raymond to his second son Gautam, was especially absent from the event. Gautam Singhania’s wife Nawaz and their two daughters were at the event. Realty, Defense Drive plans under Singhania’s leadership, has launched the group a series of strategic restructuring efforts to improve its valuations and market position. The company has successfully spotted its brand clothing division in a separate listed entity Raymond Lifestyle Ltd and rejected its rapidly moving consumer brands, including Park Avenue, to Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. Raymond also actively works to unlock value from its real estate assets by developing them under the Raymond Realty brand. In April 2023, Raymond sold its FMCG business (Raymond Consumer Care) to Godre Consumer Products via a £ 2,825 crore value. Two of its three businesses have since debuted on the stock market. Raymond Lifestyle, the section for brands and men’s clothing, was set apart and listed separately in September 2024. The stock closed almost 2% higher at £ 1,308.65 on Wednesday. The Denerger was aimed at creating a net debt-free lifestyle business and allowing Raymond Ltd to tighten focus on real estate and engineering. After this, Raymond Realty – the group’s vertical real estate – was also rinsed. The Demerger was approved in May 2025, with July 1 as the listing date. The stock reached 1.2% lower at £ 636.95 on the BSE on Wednesday. In 2023, the group announced the acquisition of a majority interest in Mainin Precision Products Ltd (MPPL) for £ 682 to grow in growing segments such as aviation, defense and electric vehicles (EV). MPPL is doing the manufacture of precision engineering products for air, EV and defense sectors. The group’s engineering performance dates back to 1949, with JK Files and Engineering Ltd as a major steel producer. Raymond Realty, launched in 2019, reported around £ 2,300 crore in FY25 and was targeting at least 20% growth this year. Against FY26, it plans to launch six projects across the Mumbai metropolitan region, Mint reports earlier in June. “Property is going to take capital … Lifestyle does not need any Capeex because we do not invest in new (manufacturing) … Engineering, car if we have acquisition opportunities, there can be something,” Singhania said. In June this year, it announced a £ 1,200 crore investment in Andhra Pradesh with a focus on auto parts and aviation manufacturing. Despite macro -economic windwinds, the group is an annual growth of at least 15%. “You need to see a growth of at least 15% for the group per year; I want to grow Ebitda of at least 20%,” Singhania said. “Each business has its own strategy and growth drivers. In real estate, it will be new projects that will cause growth. In lifestyle it can be new vertical, along with the expansion of retail. Defense is also a great opportunity,” he said. Meanwhile, recent tariffs imposed on the US on India’s imports have taxed clothing such as Raymond, providing ready -made clothing to large US retailers. ‘From our point of view – for a group of £ 14,000 to £ 15.00 – our export to the US is not even £ 500 crore. All of this does not intend to be affected, even if 10% are affected – it is too small. Export to the US as a percentage of the total group drops, ‘Singhania added. In 2017, the company moved part of its manufacturing base to Ethiopia, attracting a lower rate of 10% in the US. Raymond is now strengthening attempts to secure larger orders from the UK, a strategy that is expected to get traction as soon as the India-UK Free Trade Agreement comes into effect, Mint reported earlier.
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