SCMP Tech10 minutes agoBusiness1 min readChina

China blocks SoftBank’s US$5.4 billion takeover of ABB’s robotics division

State planner rejects US$5.4 billion deal amid increased scrutiny of foreign investment in frontier technologies

Quick Look

China's state planner has blocked SoftBank's US$5.4 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics segment.
This move follows a similar rejection of Meta's deal for Manus, reflecting Beijing's tightening oversight of foreign investment in key technologies.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

China is intensifying its regulatory review process for foreign investments in domestic startups focused on frontier technologies. This is the second major deal blocked by Beijing this year.

Font size

China’s state planner has told Japanese investor SoftBank it will not allow the US$5.4 billion acquisition of the robotics segment of engineering group ABB to go ahead, the Swiss firm said on Thursday.

The case marks the second major deal blocked by China this year after Meta Platforms was ordered to unwind its US$2 billion-plus acquisition of artificial intelligence start-up Manus. The news comes as Beijing tightens scrutiny of foreign investment in domestic start-ups that are developing frontier technologies.

It also restrains SoftBank’s ambitions in the robotics industry, which CEO Masayoshi Son has billed as a core component of its AI investment strategy.

Open Questions

Will SoftBank seek alternative acquisition targets?
What specific criteria does China use for blocking these deals?

China blocks SoftBank’s US$5.4 billion takeover of ABB’s robotics division

State planner rejects US$5.4 billion deal amid increased scrutiny of foreign investment in frontier technologies

Quick Look

China's state planner has blocked SoftBank's US$5.4 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics segment.
This move follows a similar rejection of Meta's deal for Manus, reflecting Beijing's tightening oversight of foreign investment in key technologies.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

China is intensifying its regulatory review process for foreign investments in domestic startups focused on frontier technologies. This is the second major deal blocked by Beijing this year.

Font size

It also restrains SoftBank’s ambitions in the robotics industry, which CEO Masayoshi Son has billed as a core component of its AI investment strategy.

Open Questions

Will SoftBank seek alternative acquisition targets?
What specific criteria does China use for blocking these deals?

China blocks SoftBank’s US$5.4 billion takeover of ABB’s robotics division

Quick Look

Why It Matters

Open Questions

Related Topics

China blocks SoftBank’s US$5.4 billion takeover of ABB’s robotics division

Quick Look

Why It Matters

Open Questions

Related Topics

Related Stories

Tsann Kuen 3C home appliances are on sale for 11 days. RTX5060 laptops are available for 45,000 yuan and air conditioners for 18,000 yuan.

Will there be help tomorrow? Taiwan index futures stopped falling and rebounded in overnight trading, returning to the 42,000 mark

The 140th Canton Fair achieved an intended export turnover of US$26.75 billion

AI disruption, geopolitics and partnerships in focus at Hong Kong business summit

BizLink-KY exceeded 10 billion yuan in October, setting a record high in a single month

Taiwan stocks surged over 8,300 points in one month! Net smiles bitterly: It’s not the ocean current that’s blocking spots at Dahu Park, it’s “them”