ABB Says China Barred SoftBank’s Purchase of ABB Robotics in China

ABB announced that China has blocked SoftBank's planned $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB Robotics in China due to regulatory restrictions, complicating the divestment process. Despite this, ABB and SoftBank continue discussions to address the ownership limitation while keeping the broader sale active. The deal, signed in October 2025, was intended to replace ABB's earlier plan to spin off its Robotics division.