China Blocks SoftBank's Purchase of ABB's Robotics Business in China
ABB says the companies remain in talks after Chinese authorities prohibited the China portion of the planned $5.375 billion transaction.
China has prohibited SoftBank's acquisition of ABB's robotics business in China, ABB said Thursday, putting a regulatory obstacle in the way of the planned sale.
ABB said SoftBank informed it of the decision by China's foreign-investment security review authority. SoftBank is managing the transaction's regulatory approval process.
The companies agreed in October 2025 to the sale of ABB's Robotics division for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
ABB said the two companies are in close dialogue and are working constructively on the transaction. Its statement did not announce that the entire global sale had been canceled.
The prohibition described in ABB's statement concerns the robotics business in China. ABB did not give a new completion date or describe an alternative structure for the deal.