Panasonic to buy U.S. refrigeration firm Hussmann for over $1.2 billion - sources

Reuters
The company logo of Panasonic Corp is seen at CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) JAPAN 2015 in Makuhari, Japan, October 6, 2015. REUTERS/Yuya Shino/Files

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese electronics maker Panasonic Corp has agreed to buy a majority stake in U.S. refrigeration systems maker Hussmann from a private equity firm for over 150 billion yen ($1.2 billion), people familiar with the matter said on Monday. Panasonic agreed to buy the stake from Clayton Dubilier & Rice, said the people, who declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with media on the matter. Clayton Dubilier & Rice bought the stake from industrial conglomerate Ingersoll-Rand PLC in 2011. After exiting unprofitable product lines in smartphones, plasma television sets and semiconductors, Panasonic has been shifting to growth areas such as automotive and advanced technologies that earn higher profit margins. Panasonic officials were not immediately available to comment. ($1 = 121.2800 yen) (Reporting by Emi Emoto and Taro Fuse; Editing by Christopher Cushing)