Deals

Panasonic to Buy U.S. AI Firm Blue Yonder for $7.1 Billion

The buyout offer will value Blue Yonder at $8.5 billion
Panasonic to fund the deal through cash and bridge loan

Inside A Panasonic Corp. Showroom Ahead of Earnings Annoucement — Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg

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By Manuel Baigorri, Liana Baker, and Yuki Furukawa

April 23, 2021 at 5:40 AM UTC

Updated on

April 23, 2021 at 10:21 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Panasonic Corp. has agreed to take over U.S. artificial intelligence software developer Blue Yonder for $7.1 billion in one of the biggest acquisitions for the Japanese firm.

Panasonic, which already has a 20% stake in Blue Yonder, will buy the rest of the AI firm’s shares from New Mountain Capital and funds managed by Blackstone Group Inc. for $5.6 billion, according to a statement on Friday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. Including repayment of outstanding debt, Panasonic’s total investment will amount to $7.1 billion.