SoftBank Group founder and CEO Masayoshi Son looks at the company’s robot “Pepper” during a press … [+]
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images
Japanese telecom and investment giant SoftBank is upping its bet on e-commerce and robotics with another big investment.
The Tokyo-based firm is investing $2.8 billion for a 40% stake in AutoStore, a Norwegian company that specializes in warehouse automation technology designed to support e-commerce operations. AutoStore said in a statement last week that the investment values the company a $7.7 billion and “accelerates AutoStore’s global expansion, with particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.”
E-commerce itself is growing, which analysts see as a prime reason for SoftBank’s investment.
“We view AutoStore as a foundational technology that enables rapid and cost-effective logistics for companies…
