Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has acquired a 40% stake in Autostore Systems, a robotics company that specialises in automated warehouse solutions, for a total of $2.8bn.

Founded in 1996, Norway-headquartered AutoStore provides robots and software for moving goods around a warehouse. It uses “cube-storage automation” to stack storage bins vertically in grids. Robots select bins from the top of the pile when needed, which according to AutoStore saves space and improves warehouse efficiency. More than 20,000 of its robots are deployed across 35 countries in sectors spanning grocery, industrial, healthcare and retail.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The announced deal gives AutoStore a total valuation of $7.7bn. SoftBank acquired the stake from private equity firms Thomas H.Lee Partners and EQT Private Equity, along with other shareholders. According to GlobalData’s market intelligence, Thomas H.Lee Partners acquired its shares in AutoStore from the EQT VII fund in 2019.

Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. said: “We view AutoStore as a foundational technology that enables rapid and cost-effective logistics for companies around the globe. We look forward to working with AutoStore to aggressively expand across end markets and geographies.”

Karl Johan Lier, president and CEO of AutoStore, said SoftBank’s support would help with its “vision for growth in Asia-Pacific”.

The move comes amid an ecommerce boom propelled by the pandemic’s stay-at-home restrictions, with technology becoming a key component in logistics operations.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

AutoStore competes with the likes of Ocado in the automated warehouse technology market. Ocado is currently suing AutoStore in Germany for alleged patent infringement, the latest in a string of disputes between the two companies stretching back nearly a decade.