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.
