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ABB said on Nov. 5, 2026, that SoftBank had been told China prohibited the acquisition of ABB’s robotics business in China on national security grounds. The statement does not say the global deal has been canceled, and China has not published its decision or an official reason.
ABB said on November 5, 2026, that SoftBank had informed it that a Chinese foreign-investment security review office prohibited the acquisition of ABB’s robotics business in China. The decision puts a major cross-border industrial robotics transaction in doubt, but ABB’s statement does not say the entire global deal has been canceled, and Chinese authorities have not published their reasoning.
ABB’s three-sentence statement says the security review office “has prohibited the acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China.” ABB said SoftBank manages the regulatory approval process and that the two companies are “in close dialogue and are working constructively on the transaction.” The wording describes a prohibition on the China business; it does not explain whether the rest of the deal can proceed separately.
The transaction, agreed on October 8, 2025, has an enterprise value of $5.375 billion. The European Union cleared it in March 2026. ABB said on October 20 that it expected the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Chinese decision changes that outlook, although neither ABB’s statement nor the available reporting specifies a revised timetable.
The Financial Times reported on November 5, citing people familiar with the matter, that China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) told SoftBank it would not allow the acquisition. The report also said SoftBank was examining whether it could seek approval again. Those details have not appeared in a published Chinese decision. SoftBank had not issued its own statement when the source material for this article was published.
China blocks ABB robotics deal Security review puts scope in doubt
ABB says China prohibited SoftBank’s acquisition of its robotics business in China. The global deal’s status and China’s official reasoning remain unclear.
What China prohibited
ABB says the prohibition covers the acquisition of its robotics business in China.
- China’s security review office prohibited the China business acquisition.
- ABB says the companies remain in dialogue.
- Whether the global deal can proceed without the China business.
- Whether the parties will seek approval again.
A separate security review
The review addresses foreign investment and is distinct from competition approval.
SoftBank agreed to acquire ABB’s robotics division on October 8, 2025.
The European Union cleared the transaction in March 2026.
ABB announced the China decision on November 5, 2026.
Why robotics matter in China
China accounted for a large share of industrial robot installations in 2025.
What businesses should watch
The decision raises questions about deal structure and timing, while the impact on existing factory operations is not indicated.
- Whether SoftBank issues its own statement.
- Whether the companies propose a revised transaction structure.
- Whether another approval application is possible.
A Security Review Reaches Industrial Robots
The decision shows that an acquisition involving industrial robotics can face a national security review distinct from competition approval. Companies considering cross-border purchases may need to account for country-specific security reviews alongside merger control, especially when a transaction includes technology or operations considered strategically important.
Robots are central to manufacturing in China. The International Federation of Robotics reported that China installed 354,000 industrial robots in 2025, representing 59% of global installations that year. The figures describe installations over that period; they do not establish the Chinese government’s reason for blocking this deal.
The Financial Times reported that officials were concerned robotics data could move abroad and be used to train foreign AI models. That is an attributed report, not a reason confirmed by Chinese authorities. For companies operating ABB robots in China, the announced decision does not itself indicate any immediate change to existing machines or factory operations.
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The Deal Before Beijing’s Decision
SoftBank agreed to acquire ABB’s robotics division in October 2025. The planned purchase became part of SoftBank’s stated “Physical AI” strategy, which connects artificial intelligence with physical systems such as robots. ABB’s expected fourth-quarter 2026 closing date followed the European Union’s clearance in March.
China’s foreign-investment security review is separate from merger control. The source material describes the review office as operating under the NDRC and led jointly with the Ministry of Commerce. The reported decision is about whether a foreign investor may acquire the China business, rather than whether the transaction meets competition rules.
On November 5, AFP asked Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun about the Financial Times report. Guo said, “I would refer you to the competent Chinese authorities.” His response did not confirm or deny the reported decision.
““has prohibited the acquisition of the ABB Robotics business in China.””
— ABB, in its statement on November 5, 2026
The Decision’s Scope Remains Unclear
China has not published the decision text or an official explanation for the prohibition. The Financial Times’ account of the NDRC’s role and concerns about data transfers remains reporting attributed to people familiar with the matter.
ABB has not said whether the global transaction can close without the China business, whether the parties might change its structure, or whether they will seek another approval. The status of any other required regulatory reviews, including a U.S. review mentioned in the source material, has not been clarified. SoftBank’s own account was also not available at publication time.
Companies Weigh Their Options
ABB and SoftBank are in dialogue, according to ABB. The next indications to watch are whether SoftBank issues a statement, whether either company provides details about a revised transaction structure, and whether a new approval application is possible. The available reporting says SoftBank is examining whether it can seek approval again, but that has not been confirmed by the companies.
Until the parties or regulators provide more information, the deal’s timing, its final geographic scope, and the fate of the China business remain open.
Key Questions
What did China prohibit?
ABB said SoftBank informed it that China’s foreign-investment security review office prohibited the acquisition of ABB’s robotics business in China. The published statement does not say the entire global deal was prohibited.
Has the ABB and SoftBank deal been canceled?
ABB has not said that the deal has been canceled. It said the companies were in close dialogue and working constructively, but did not explain whether the transaction can proceed without the China business.
Why did China block the acquisition?
Chinese authorities have not published a reason. The Financial Times reported that officials were concerned robotics data could move abroad and be used to train foreign AI models; this has not been confirmed by the government.
When was the deal expected to close?
On October 20, 2026, ABB said it expected the transaction to close in the fourth quarter. The November 5 announcement puts that schedule in doubt, and no new date has been provided.
Source: Thorsten Meyer AI
