SoftBank agreed to acquire a 40% stake in AutoStore, a global robotics and software company, from Thomas H. Lee Partners, an American private equity firm, and EQT, a global investment firm, for $2.8bn. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed this month, in April 2021. "We are delighted for SoftBank to join the AutoStore team as we continue on our journey to automate all commerce and deliver best-in-class automation solutions to our customers. Our world-class investor group brings exceptional experience from multiple geographies, and we are thrilled to have SoftBank's leadership and support on a global scale, but particularly with our vision for growth in Asia-Pacific," Karl Johan Lier, AutoStore President & CEO.