3

What’s SoftBank Without Robots? This Time Tech Investor is Chasing Berkshire Gre...

 1 year ago
source link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/softbank-without-robots-time-tech-093616613.html
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.

What’s SoftBank Without Robots? This Time Tech Investor is Chasing Berkshire Grey

Exploring Crypto's Relationship With AI as ChatGPT Interest Grows
 - Tokens using AI technology 
 have been on a tear 
Min Jeong Lee and Takahiko Hyuga
Fri, February 10, 2023, 6:36 PM GMT+9·3 min read

(Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp. offered to buy all shares in robot maker Berkshire Grey Inc. it doesn’t already own in a $218 million deal, in a foray into logistics automation after halting almost all investment activity for months.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The global tech investor sent a non-binding letter of interest earlier this week, offering to buy Berkshire shares for $1.30 a piece, according to a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SoftBank currently has a 28.1% stake in the Delaware-based maker of robots used to pack and ship products in e-commerce warehouses. Berkshire had a little more than 233 million common shares outstanding at the time of the filing.

SoftBank seeks to acquire 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Berkshire through a share purchase, tender offer, merger or other means, the filing said. The offer is preliminary and remains subject to due diligence and approval from SoftBank’s investment committee, it said.

“SoftBank greatly admires Berkshire and believes that a partnership with SoftBank will position Berkshire for long-term success,” the Japanese investor said in a letter.

Founder Masayoshi Son has tried several high-profile forays into robotics. SoftBank unveiled the original $1,600 humanoid robot Pepper in 2014, but demand never lived up to the Japanese company’s high expectations. In 2017, SoftBank bought Boston Dynamics Inc. from Google to try to commercialize the startup’s two- and four-legged machines. It ultimately sold control of the business to Hyundai Motor Group.

Tech firms around the world are now embracing SoftBank’s early focus on artificial intelligence, chasing different ways to apply it to generate content. Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Chinese firms from Baidu Inc. to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. are racing to harness artificial intelligence to drive human-like responses from chatbots, while investors race to buy into the smartest AI tools to create texts and pictures. SoftBank affiliate Z Holdings Corp. operates Google’s Japanese search engine rival Yahoo Japan.

Recommended Stories
  • f8ed2fb1d6ca0b9ca18379e5b1833943.cf.webp
    TheStreet.com

    Lyft Plummets As Price Cuts Hammer Profit Outlook, Widen Gap With Uber

    "To take advantage of this opportunity and grow the market, we must prioritize competitive service levels," said CEO Logan Green.

    2d ago
  • e404dd609dd1afab5f8e39d51f1dd459.cf.webp
    FX Empire

    USD/JPY Weekly Forecast – US Dollar Building a Base Against the Japanese Yen

    The US dollar is gapped to kick off the trading week, but then fell back to fill that gap and now looks ready to continue building its base.

    2d ago
  • ada6f5daedf8858bf784c7207dd3c9d1.cf.webp
    The Wall Street Journal

    Lyft’s Defensive Driving Stalls Out

    Having focused heavily on profits, ride-hailer Lyft is now getting beaten by rival Uber at its own game.

    2d ago
  • fe7a6be83ca24e8692f533684d6278c9.cf.webp
    Reuters

    Activist investor ValueAct takes stake in Spotify

    Spotify's shares rose 3.5% to $125. ValueAct Chief Executive Mason Morfit disclosed the investment during a presentation at a Columbia University event in New York on Friday, according to Bloomberg News, which first reported the stake. ValueAct, which declined to comment, distinguishes itself from other activist investors by preferring to stay behind the scenes and rarely presents its investment ideas publicly.

    2d ago
  • a4f9d5d77fd1b25f39c659ad3f06b84a.cf.webp
    Bloomberg

    Bank of Canada Seeks ‘New Thinking’ With Outsider at Rate Table

    (Bloomberg) -- The Bank of Canada wants to reinvigorate its interest-rate setting process, bringing an outside voice to the table next month amid a broader effort to bolster its credibility.Most Read from BloombergObject Shot Down Over Canada in Escalating Aerial DramaBlackRock, Pimco Push Back Against Bets Inflation Cooling FastUS Downs Unknown Object Over Alaska as China Tension GrowsUS Recovery of Object Downed Over Alaska Faces Arctic ConditionsClock Is Ticking Louder on a Stock Rally the Pr

    2d ago
  • c2a05b709ec19bd1f19b1924ffe71b32.cf.webp
    Barrons.com

    Lyft Earnings Were So Bad, 7 Analysts Downgraded the Stock

    The ride-hailing company received analyst downgrades after forecasting weak revenue as it seeks to compete with its main rival's pricing.

    2d ago
  • cd6e7e64bc5c5c88aa44a538d7886dcd.cf.webp
    Reuters

    Lyft shares skid on fears Uber pulling ahead

    (Reuters) -Lyft Inc lost more than a third of its market value on Friday after a bleak forecast fueled worries that the company's price cuts to avoid being a distant second to Uber in the North American ride-sharing market would squeeze profits. Analysts said any pickup in ride volumes at Lyft would not be enough to offset lower prices. The two companies have been locked in a battle for market share coming off the pandemic lows, with latest earnings showing Uber's global presence and more diversified business were giving it an edge over rideshare and U.S.-focused Lyft.

    2d ago
  • 754591dd77f85065f6c68ae78240a58f.cf.webp
    Barrons.com

    Can a Hot T-Mobile Outperform in a Subscriber Slowdown?

    Wireless analysts Craig Moffett, who calls T-Mobile “the best house on a bad block,” has his doubts. The consequences for Verizon and AT&T could be worse.

    1d ago
  • 4717eb040105b7daea85c0c70a52c576.cf.webp
    The Wall Street Journal

    Lyft Shares Fall After Unexpected Loss, Weak Outlook

    More than a dozen Wall Street analysts cut their price target for the stock, while six downgraded the stock’s rating, after Lyft reported underwhelming revenue growth and an adjusted quarterly loss.

    2d ago
  • b51af38265f696dc1f5e8c86382b50fe.cf.webp
    Bloomberg

    Moody’s Cuts Outlook for Four Adani Firms After Market Slump

    (Bloomberg) -- Moody’s Investors Service cut its outlook for Adani Green Energy Ltd. and three other companies backed by Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, citing the plunge in the conglomerate’s stock market value in the wake of criticisms in a short-seller report. Most Read from BloombergUS Downs Unknown Object Over Alaska as China Tension GrowsRussia Blames US for Nord Stream Blasts, Threatens ConsequencesThe Rise of the Millionaire RentersUS Shoots Down Object Over Alaska Waters, Citing Aviation Ri

    2d ago
  • 31267480bb74ffc899e73cb0accd12a1.cf.webp
    The Wall Street Journal

    Zoom, Disney, Lyft: Stocks That Defined the Week: Stocks That Defined the Week

    Zoom is cutting its connection to some workers. Zoom shares rose 9.9% Tuesday. Alphabet’s Google unit and Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled rival AI-powered search features as companies capitalize on a wave of renewed excitement about the technology’s potential among businesses and consumers.

    1d ago
  • fbc8ac43d9957b0f06703ea38cabf43f.cf.webp
    Investor's Business Daily

    Bitcoin Price Plummets As Regulations Tighten; Major Exchange Pays SEC $30 Million

    Bitcoin price dives as the SEC steps up cryptocurrency enforcement. Crypto exchange Kraken pays $30 million to the SEC over staking services.

    2d ago
  • 23h ago
  • 7f6b14f300219e5fa0ec307b068177f5.cf.webp
    SmartAsset

    How You Can Make $1,000 in Dividends Every Month

    Dividends are the bread and butter of income investors. You don't need to sell your assets or spend hours every day managing your accounts. Instead, dividend stocks simply generate income on their own. Putting together a portfolio that generates at least … Continue reading → The post How to Make $1,000 a Month in Dividends appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.

    21h ago
  • eedbb590c04436f60e55869387e12cf4.cf.webp
    TipRanks

    Mohamed El-Erian Sees Inflation Sticking Around 3-4%; Here Are 2 ‘Strong Buy’ Dividend Stocks That Easily Beat That Rate

    While the Fed eventually applied an almost unheard-of aggressive approach in its efforts to quell inflation, it took its time in doing so, ignoring the initial data. Noted economist Mohamed El-Erian says that had the Fed not delayed crucial policy it could have spared unnecessary pain on millions of American households. Nevertheless, despite the “fumbled response,” fast forward to the present and there are signs inflation is cooling down. While El-Erian warns of complacency and notes of more “in

    2d ago
  • b49cb64b3bf399b26758678e291e58b2.cf.webp
    Barrons.com

    Buy Hertz Stock. It’s Cheap, Well-Run, and Renting Teslas.

    The rental car company remains highly profitable, leads peers in adding electric vehicles to its fleet, and has bought back over 30% of its stock since it emerged from bankruptcy in mid-2021.

    2d ago
  • fa19d332e17184855c39e41954e03942.cf.webp
    TheStreet.com

    This Ultra-Luxury Brand Is Quietly Building an Empire Around Us

    A cold-weather clothing company founded more than half a century ago is beginning to make a global move. While launched in the 1950s by Polish-Jewish immigrants to Canada, winter clothing company Canada Goose truly started exploding as a business in the mid-2000s. After taking over from his father-in-law in 2001 at 27 years old, current president and chief executive Dani Reiss started opening factories and sewing schools all over Canada and pitching the goose down winter coats workers produced to luxury boutiques in Europe.

    2d ago
  • 6da20e107fa6d648dbf5b0f9b2c5ac67.cf.webp
    TheStreet.com

    3 High-Yielding Monthly Dividend Stocks

    Monthly dividend payers provide a variety of advantages over quarterly payouts. Let's check out three REITs.

    22h ago
  • 93343cc8b26a1f56ae9f4cdc04fc4e25.cf.webp
    Fortune

    Meta employees are reportedly bracing for more layoffs amid delays to finalized budgets: ‘It’s still a mess’

    “The year of efficiency is kicking off with a bunch of people getting paid to do nothing," one Meta employee told the FT.

    12h ago
  • 9af3c4bb41cb90a6afd696bccebddfb0.cf.webp
    Barrons.com

    Money Markets Pay 4.5%. If You’re Getting Less on a Sweep Account, It’s Time for ‘Cash Sorting.’

    A lot has changed in two years, when rates were hugging zero and the banks’ 1% looked like a screaming bargain. Plus, why Charles Schwab looks like a longer-term buy.

    1d ago

About Joyk


Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK