News / Honeywell – Blackstone battle for JDA shows logistics automation on the rise

A battle has broken out over a troubled supply chain software provider, which puts the spotlight on the push of investors and firms with deep pockets into logistics automation.

Honeywell, a US multinational conglomerate that produces a variety of commercial and consumer products, engineering services and aerospace systems, wants to acquire JDA Software for US$3bn to expand its footprint in logistics technology.

But Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity firm, has countered this with an alternative financing deal that would give Blackstone a significant minority ...