China blocks the ABB Robotics sale, adding uncertainty for employees before the SoftBank deal closes
ABB said China’s foreign-investment security review authority has prohibited SoftBank’s acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China. The update affects a transaction first announced in October 2025 at an enterprise value of $5.375 billion. ABB emphasized that the wider transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, and that the two companies are in constructive dialogue. The announcement does not say that the global sale has been cancelled, nor does it specify whether the Chinese operation could be carved out or restructured. For candidates, the confirmed fact is a material regulatory obstacle affecting a major robotics business; the final scope, closing timetable and organizational solution remain unresolved.
Read analysis ↗