The Financial Times reported that the Chinese government plans not to approve SoftBank Group's (SBG) acquisition of ABB's robotics business. The contract was signed previously, and concerns over national security and data transfers have emerged during the review process.
The Financial Times (FT) reported that China had indicated it would not approve SBG's planned acquisition of ABB's robotics business. SBG previously announced in October 2025 that it would acquire the business for approximately $5.4 billion.
The acquisition plan is reported to have cleared China's antitrust review in February 2026, but was subsequently subject to a national security review of foreign investment. Concerns reportedly emerged over the transfer of assets developed in China to a Japanese company.
ABB established a joint venture with a Chinese company in 1992, and its operations in China, particularly its robotics business, are said to have received government support for many years. People familiar with the matter said the National Development and Reform Commission was concerned that data could leak overseas and be used to train AI models. It was also reported that the authorities planned to scrutinize SBG's supply chain in China.
The report highlights the Chinese authorities' cautious stance toward SBG and ABB's acquisition plan, as well as the broader context of tighter regulations concerning data and national security.