- SoftBank has been accelerating efforts to assemble an AI-supportive ecosystem
- The transaction between SoftBank and ABB is awaiting regulatory approvals\
- The deal is likely to be finalized the second half of 2026
The SoftBank Group has decided to purchase the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB. The Japanese investment giant will shell out $5.37 billion to complete this acquisition in an attempt to strengthen its presence in the global AI arena.
ABB confirmed the development on Wednesday, October 8. It said that the transaction is awaiting regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2026.
For SoftBank, the move comes in alignment with its vision to explore the realm of physical AI in the coming times.
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“With ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics,” said Masayoshi Son, the Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group as commenting on the development.
Headquartered in Japan’s Tokyo, SoftBank has been accelerating efforts to assemble an AI-supportive ecosystem. In September, for instance, SoftBank announced that it will be investing $2 billion in Intel to be part of the semiconductor manufacturing and supply in the U.S. market.
As per SoftBank, hardware along with infrastructure and applications will make their foundational layer to support an AI-driven economy in the future.
For Stockholm-based ABB, it will now discontinue its Robotics division that commands a work force of around 7,000 employees with the staff now migrating to function under SoftBank’s authority. In 2024, this division alone churned $2.3 billion in revenue for the company — making for seven percent of the total earnings.
As per ABB CEO Morten Wierod, SoftBank will be an excellent new home for the business and its employees.
“The world is entering a new era of AI-based robotics and believe that the division and SoftBank’s robotics offering can best shape this era together. ABB Robotics will benefit from the combination of its leading technology and deep industry expertise with SoftBank’s state-of-the-art capabilities in AI, robotics and next-generation computing,” Wierod noted.
The proceeds from this deal, upon completion, will be allocated to other parts of ABB’s business that focus on electrification, motion, and process automation.
“Our ambitions for ABB are unchanged and we will continue to focus on our long-term strategy, building on our leading positions in electrification and automation,” said Peter Voser, Chairman of ABB.
