17 Sources
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SoftBank bulks up its robotics portfolio with ABB Group's robotics unit | TechCrunch
Japanese investing conglomerate SoftBank Group is buying a robotics company as the financial behemoth says physical AI is its next frontier. SoftBank announced on Wednesday that it has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB Group's robotics business unit for $5.375 billion. The deal is subject to
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SoftBank makes a $5.4 billion bet on AI robots
Remember Pepper, the overhyped "emotional robot" that flopped hard a few years ago? Well, one of its makers, SoftBank, is getting back into the bot business with a $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics division. The deal, which still needs the green light from regulators, bolsters the
[3]
SoftBank snaps up ABB's robotics biz for $5.4B
Japanese tech goliath gets grabby with industrial automation as ABB shelves spin-off plans SoftBank Group has added more arms to its portfolio, this time of the robotic kind. The Japanese tech goliath is pushing ahead in its pursuit of "artificial super intelligence" after agreeing to buy ABB's
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SoftBank to buy ABB's robotics unit in $5.4bn deal
SoftBank has agreed to buy ABB's robotics arm in a deal valuing the business at $5.4bn as part of the Japanese group's aggressive push into a sector it believes will be tied to the rise of artificial intelligence. The purchase is consistent with SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son's ambitions to build a
[5]
SoftBank to buy ABB's robotics business in $5.4 billion deal
ZURICH, Oct 8 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group (9984.T), opens new tab said on Wednesday it has agreed to buy the robotics business of Swiss engineering group ABB (ABBN.S), opens new tab in a $5.4 billion deal. The deal marks a major push by SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son into robotics as he
[6]
SoftBank to buy ABB robotics unit for $5.4 billion as it boosts its AI play
Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., speaks during the company's annual general meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, June 27, 2025. SoftBank Group on Monday said it had agreed to buy the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB for $5.4 billion, as the
[7]
AI boom: SoftBank to buy ABB's robotics business for $5.4 billion
The acquisition brings together SoftBank's AI know-how and ABB's robotics expertise as companies race to stay ahead of tech advances. Japan's SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire the robotics branch of Swiss engineering company ABB for $5.37 billion (€4.62bn) as it pushes ahead with physical
[8]
Masayoshi Son's New Experiment Walks, Lifts and Learns | AIM
Instead of chasing novelty robots for homes and shops, SoftBank is now entering the industrial side of robotics. The Japanese conglomerate, SoftBank Group, led by Masayoshi Son, will reportedly buy ABB's Robotics division for $5.375 billion, marking its boldest move yet to merge AI with industrial
[9]
SoftBank to acquire ABB robotics unit in multi-billion dollar deal
Reportedly, the acquisition will empower both organisations in 'a new era of AI-based robotics'. Japanese multinational investment company SoftBank Group Corp has announced plans to acquire the robotics division of Swedish-Swiss electrical and engineering platform ABB, in a deal estimated to be
[10]
ABB to sell robots business to SoftBank in $5.38 billion deal - The Economic Times
SoftBank Group is acquiring ABB's robotics business for $5.4 billion, marking a significant expansion into robotics for SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son. This deal sees ABB abandon its spin-off plans for the division, which has faced profitability challenges. The transaction is expected to close in
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Tokyo-Listed SoftBank Shares Climb 13% After ABB Robotics Deal Boosts Outlook - ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM), ABB (OTC:ABBNY)
Tokyo-listed shares of SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY) (OTC:SFTBF) jumped as much as 13% after the Japanese giant agreed to acquire Swiss engineering firm ABB's (OTC:ABBNY) Robotics unit in a deal valued at $5.4 billion. Its shares closed up 11.4% at JPY 22,965 on Thursday, amid expectations that the
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SoftBank to buy ABB's robotics arm in $5.4 billion deal
SoftBank Group agreed to acquire ABB's industrial robots unit at an enterprise value of almost $5.4 billion, reflecting billionaire Masayoshi Son's growing bets on artificial intelligence and a global wave of data center construction. The Japanese investment firm agreed to take over a business
[13]
SoftBank to Acquire ABB's Robotics Business Amid Growing AI-Related Investments | PYMNTS.com
By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Subject to customary closing conditions, SoftBank expects the acquisition to
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Softbank Takes Over ABB Robotics In A $5.4 Billion Deal To Bolster AI Portfolio - ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM), ABB (OTC:ABBNY)
SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY) (OTC:SFTBF) said on Wednesday it will buy the robotics division of Swiss engineering firm ABB (OTC:ABBNY) in a $5.4 billion deal, as the Japanese firm looks to boost its artificial intelligence portfolio. ABB Robotics Poised To Boost SoftBank's AI Vision "SoftBank's
[15]
SoftBank Acquires ABB Robotics Unit for $5.4B to Drive Physical AI Tech Expansion
SoftBank Group of Japan has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the robotics unit of Swiss engineering company ABB for $5.4 billion (approximately €4.62 billion), a key milestone in its quest to enter the emerging physical AI market. Both companies have approved the transaction,
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SoftBank shares soar on $5.4 bln deal for ABB robotics unit By Investing.com
Investing.com-- SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) shares surged on Thursday after the company agreed to buy Swiss firm ABB's (SIX:ABBN) robotics division for about $5.4 billion, underlining its push deeper into artificial intelligence and automation. Softbank shares jumped as much as 13% to 23,335 yen in
[17]
SoftBank Expands AI Footprint With $5.38 Billion Deal to Buy ABB's Robotics Unit -- Update
Japan's SoftBank Group agreed to purchase ABB's robotic business in a deal that values it at $5.38 billion, furthering the investment company's push into the business of artificial intelligence. SoftBank said Wednesday that the acquisition of the division, whose valuation includes debt, would
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SoftBank Group has agreed to purchase ABB's robotics division for $5.4 billion, marking a significant move into the robotics and AI sector. This acquisition aligns with SoftBank's vision of dominating the AI industry and developing super intelligent AI.
Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group has made a significant leap into the world of robotics and artificial intelligence with its latest acquisition. The company announced on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, that it has agreed to purchase ABB Group's robotics business unit for $5.375 billion
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. This move aligns with SoftBank's vision of dominating the AI industry and developing super intelligent AI2
.Source: Analytics Insight
The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026 [1](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/08/softbank-bulks-up-its-robotics-portfolio-with-abb-groups-robotic s-unit/). ABB's robotics division, which employs around 7,000 people, generated revenue of $2.3 billion in 2024, representing 7% of ABB's overall revenue
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. The deal marks a departure from ABB's original plan to spin off the unit as an independently listed company4
.Masayoshi Son, the chairman and CEO of SoftBank, emphasized that the company's next frontier is 'Physical AI'
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. This acquisition is part of SoftBank's broader strategy to build a complete AI infrastructure, which includes robotics, data centers, energy, and chipmaking4
. Son envisions uniting world-class technology and talent to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) and robotics, driving what he calls a "groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward"3
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Source: CNBC
This acquisition adds to SoftBank's already substantial investments in the robotics sector. The company has stakes in various robotics companies, including AutoStore, Skild AI, Agile Robots, and Berkshire Grey
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. SoftBank also launched its own robotics platform, SoftBank Robotics Group, in 20141
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Source: The Register
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The announcement of the deal has been well-received by investors. SoftBank's share price jumped as much as 13 percent following the news, while ABB's stock edged higher in Zurich
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. SoftBank's stock has more than doubled in the year to date, as investors view the company as a play on the soaring valuations of AI companies like OpenAI4
.While the acquisition presents significant opportunities for SoftBank, it also comes with challenges. The robotics industry has faced subdued demand in Asia, with companies delaying capital investments due to economic uncertainty
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. However, SoftBank believes it is well-positioned to reignite the robotics business's growth, particularly through investment in cutting-edge technologies such as AI4
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