SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire the robotics business of Switzerland-based technology company ABB for an enterprise value of $5.4bn.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory review in the European Union, China and the US, as well as standard closing conditions, is expected to be finalised in mid-to-late 2026.

ABB has decided not to proceed with its previous plan to spin off the robotics division as a separately listed entity.

The business involved in the deal employs around 7,000 and generated $2.3bn in revenue in 2024. It accounted for nearly 7% of ABB’s total revenue, with an operational EBITA margin of 12.1%.

SoftBank said that it is shifting focus to AI and aims to achieve artificial super intelligence (ASI) by investing in AI chips, robots, data centres, energy, and leading AI companies.

The acquisition from ABB is anticipated to boost SoftBank’s AI robotics efforts by adding the Swiss company’s expertise to its current investments, speeding up innovation and progress toward ASI.

After closing the acquisition, SoftBank plans to leverage its existing robotics investments, including SoftBank Robotics Group, Berkshire Grey, AutoStore, Agile Robots, and Skild AI, to expedite innovation and growth toward ASI.

SoftBank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said: “SoftBank’s next frontier is Physical AI. Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse ASI and robotics —driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.”

The transaction will prompt changes to ABB’s organisational structure. From the fourth quarter of this year, ABB will report the robotics division as discontinued operations.

The company’s machine automation division, currently part of the Robotics & Discrete Automation business area, will be incorporated into ABB’s Process Automation business area.

These adjustments will shift ABB’s business from four to three core areas.

Upon completion, ABB anticipates a non-operational pre-tax book gain of roughly $2.4bn. Expected net proceeds after transaction costs are estimated at $5.3bn.

ABB forecasts separation costs related to the divestment at $200m, with about half already included in its 2025 guidance.

Cash tax outflows associated with the carve-out are projected to range between $400m and $500m.

ABB CEO Morten Wierod said: “SoftBank will be an excellent new home for the business and its employees.

“ABB and SoftBank share the same perspective that 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.”

In September 2025, ABB’s robotics unit invested in LandingAI to enhance robotic vision using generative AI technology.

This undisclosed investment, via ABB Robotics Ventures, aims to improve vision AI efficiency and usability by integrating LandingAI’s capabilities, including its flagship product, LandingLens, into ABB’s software suite.