The facts
SoftBank said it received notice on 4 November that China’s foreign-investment security review office prohibited its planned acquisition of ABB’s robotics business in China. [1]
SoftBank said it remained in dialogue with ABB; its notice concerns the China business and does not say the wider global transaction is cancelled. [1]
ABB’s 2025 announcement described a $5.375 billion global division sale and said China represented about 30% of the robotics division. [3]
Reuters relayed Bloomberg’s report that the companies were exploring a carve-out under separate ownership; no agreement was confirmed in the report. [2]
Still unconfirmed
- Whether the wider global sale will proceed, be restructured or be cancelled.
- Whether the reported China carve-out will be pursued or approved.
- The Chinese regulator’s detailed rationale.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 9 Nov 2026, 06:38 UTC.
SoftBank and ABB releases establish the announced decision and original transaction scope. Reuters carries a Bloomberg-sourced report about a possible carve-out, which remains attributed and unconfirmed; China’s decision is not generalized to the transaction outside China.
- SoftBank Group announces China prohibits acquisition of ABB’s robotics business in China
SoftBank Group · Primary source · 6 Nov 2026
Opened SoftBank’s official 6 November release, which says notice of the prohibition was received on 4 November and dialogue with ABB continues.
- SoftBank, ABB explore China carve-out to salvage robotics deal, Bloomberg News reports
Reuters · Reporting · 7 Nov 2026
Opened the Reuters report carried by Euronext. It attributes the separate-ownership carve-out possibility to Bloomberg and people familiar with the matter; it is not a confirmed agreement.
- ABB to divest Robotics division to SoftBank Group
ABB · Primary source · 8 Oct 2025
Opened ABB’s original transaction announcement: the global division sale was valued at $5.375 billion enterprise value and China represented about 30% of the division.