SoftBank's proposed $5.4B acquisition of ABB Robotics blocked by China
SoftBank’s proposed $5.4B acquisition of ABB Robotics blocked by China
ABB announced in October 2025 that it had signed an agreement to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion, with the transaction expected to close in mid-to-late 2026 subject to regulatory approvals. However, as of early November 2026, the acquisition has been blocked by China's Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review following concerns from the Chinese government regarding foreign technology investment and implementation. ABB confirmed it was informed by SoftBank that the deal is prohibited in China, though both companies are in dialogue to resolve the situation. The New York Times noted that China is ABB's largest robotics market, with roughly 90% of machines for Chinese customers manufactured within the country.
Source: Robotics 24/7 — Industry reporting · Read original article ↗
Article text · Original source · English
Marc Segura (via LinkedIn)
(L-R): Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, Masayoshi Son, chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group, and Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB. ABB announced the divestment of its Robotics division to SoftBank for $5+ billion in October 2025, but the move has been blocked by China in November 2026.
China, through the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review, has blocked SoftBank Group's planned $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB's Robotics division.
The announcement, first reported by The Financial Times, stems from reported concerns from the Chinese government regarding foreign technology investment and implementation in the country.
ABB, SoftBank are working to resolve the transaction
The Financial Times reported that SoftBank was informed by China’s National Development and Reform Commission that the deal would be blocked.
ABB Group announced its intentions to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.375B in October 2025. At the time of that announcement, the companies said “the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and further customary closing conditions and is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.”
As of early November 2026, the acquisition has not been finalized.
ABB Group released the following statement regarding the news:
“In October 2025, ABB announced that it had signed an agreement to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank) for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The process to obtain the regulatory approvals is managed by SoftBank. ABB confirms that it has been informed by SoftBank that the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review in China has prohibited the acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China. ABB and SoftBank are in close dialogue and are working constructively on the transaction.”
ABB and SoftBank both declined to comment further on the news.
The New York Times reported that China is ABB’s largest robotics market and roughly 90% of its machines built for Chinese customers are manufactured within the country. The Times said that ABB currently employs thousands of people in China.
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Marc Segura (via LinkedIn) (L-R): Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, Masayoshi Son, chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group, and Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB. ABB announced the divestment of its Robotics division to SoftBank for $5+ billion in October 2025, but the move has been blocked by China in November 2026. China , through the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review, has blocked SoftBa
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SoftBank’s proposed $5.4B acquisition of ABB Robotics blocked by China
Open source S1
sion that the deal would be blocked. ABB Group announced its intentions to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.375B in October 2025 . At the time of that announcement, the companies said “the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and further customary closing conditions and is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.” As of early November 2026, the acquisition has not been finalized. ABB Grou
Open source S4
med by SoftBank that the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review in China has prohibited the acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China. ABB and SoftBank are in close dialogue and are working constructively on the transaction.” ABB and SoftBank both declined to comment further on the news. The New York Times reported that China is ABB’s largest robotics market and roughly 90% of
Open source S6
Marc Segura (via LinkedIn) (L-R): Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, Masayoshi Son, chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group, and Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB. ABB announced the divestment of its Robotics division to SoftBank for $5+ billion in October 2025, but the move has been blocked by China in November 2026. China , through the Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review, has blocked SoftBa
Open source S2
p released the following statement regarding the news: “In October 2025, ABB announced that it had signed an agreement to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank) for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The process to obtain the regulatory approvals is managed by SoftBank. ABB confirms that it has been infor
Open source S5
nk Group's planned $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB's Robotics division. The announcement, first reported by The Financial Times , stems from reported concerns from the Chinese government regarding foreign technology investment and implementation in the country. ABB, SoftBank are working to resolve the transaction The Financial Times reported that SoftBank was informed by China’s National Development and Reform Commis
Open source S3
Source：Robotics 24/7 — Industry reporting · robotics247.com