Private company

Forbes & Company Ltd.

Logo: The logo is from the following website: Forbes & Company Ltd. Annual Report 2009-2010 on www.forbes.co.in, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia4

Indian engineering, shipping, and logistics company

Forbes & Company Limited, the erstwhile Forbes Gokak Limited, is an Indian engineering, shipping and logistics company based in Mumbai. It was established in that city in 1767 by John Forbes of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a descendant of an ancient family of Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. Over the years, the management of the company moved from the Forbes family to the Campbells, to the Tata Group, and finally to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1767Founded1
  • Industryfreight transport1
  • HeadquartersMumbai1
  • Websitewww.forbes.co.in
  • Legal formPublic Limited Company3
  • LEI335800WW4EBH5JT7Y2973
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressFORBES BUILDING CHARANJIT RAI MARG FORT, 400001 Mumbai, India3
  • Registered withMinistry of Corporate Affairs, L17110MH1919PLC0006283

Forbes & Company Limited, the erstwhile Forbes Gokak Limited, is an Indian engineering, shipping and logistics company based in Mumbai. It was established in that city in 1767 by John Forbes of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a descendant of an ancient family of Lord Forbes of Pitsligo. Over the years, the management of the company moved from the Forbes family to the Campbells, to the Tata Group, and finally to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It is one of the oldest companies of India and has been listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange since 1919.2

The story

Born in 1743, John Forbes set sail to India in 1764 on board the ship Asia as a purser on the East India Company's service. After three years as a 'free mariner' and later 'free merchant', he established a business to trade Indian cotton. The company later expanded into ship brokerage, ship building and banking.

From Wikipedia’s article on Forbes (engineering company), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Products and brands

Forbes & Company Limited is involved in three subsidiary companies:

Forbes Engineering: Robotics, industrial automation, precision cutting tools and springs

Forbes Real Estate

Forbes Technosys: ATM and banking kiosks

From Wikipedia’s article on Forbes (engineering company), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Timeline

  1. 1767Founded Founded1