Skip to content

Subscriber Only

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

By

Manuel Baigorri,

Liana Baker, and

April 23, 2021, 5:40 AM UTCUpdated onApril 23, 2021, 10:21 AM UTC

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.