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In a bold leap toward its artificial superintelligence dream, SoftBank Group Corp. announced Wednesday that it will acquire the robotics division of Swedish-Swiss engineering giant ABB Ltd. for $5.375 billion. The move marks one of the year’s largest tech acquisitions and positions SoftBank as a global powerhouse in next-generation robotics and AI systems.

Under the agreement, ABB will spin off its robotics division into a new Swiss holding company, with SoftBank acquiring 100% ownership of the entity, which will become a wholly owned SoftBank subsidiary.

Legal Heavyweights Behind the Deal

SoftBank is being advised by Morrison Foerster, with Tokyo office managing partner Ken Siegel leading alongside Gary Brown, Stuart Alford, and Luke Rowland.
Meanwhile, Freshfields LLP is guiding ABB through the transaction, led by partners Piers Prichard Jones and Tom Godwin, with counsel Piusha Bose assisting.

Superintelligence Meets Robotics

SoftBank said the acquisition is part of its strategic push to merge artificial superintelligence with robotics, citing ABB’s reputation for reliability, innovation, and a vast customer network across automotive, logistics, and electronics sectors.

“Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse artificial superintelligence and robotics, driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward,” said Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s chair and CEO.

ABB Shifts Course After Spin-Off Plan

ABB, listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm and SIX Swiss Exchange, had initially planned to list its robotics division independently in April. However, after evaluating SoftBank’s offer, ABB’s board decided to sell instead.

“SoftBank's offer has been carefully evaluated and compared with our initial spin-off plan,” said Peter Voser, ABB’s chair. “The divestment will create immediate value for ABB shareholders.”

The division employs around 7,000 people and generated $2.3 billion in revenue in 2024.

Regulatory Hurdles and Global Reach

The deal will need clearance from regulators in the U.S., the European Union, and China, with both companies expecting to finalize the acquisition by late 2026.

As SoftBank continues its ambitious drive toward a future where machines think, move, and evolve alongside humans, this acquisition could mark a historic inflection point in the global robotics race — the moment artificial superintelligence takes physical form.