The deal ends ABB’s previously announced plan to spin-off the robotics division into a separate company.
Zürich-based automation products manufacturer ABB has agreed to sell its robotics division to SoftBank Group Corp., a Tokyo-based multinational investment holding company.
The deal is valued at $5.375 billion and overrides the previously announced plan to spin-off the robotics business as a separately listed company.
“SoftBank’s offer…reflects the long-term strengths of the division, and the divestment will create immediate value to ABB shareholders. 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, in a release.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to close by late 2026.
“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 artificial super intelligence and robotics, driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward,” said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.
As part of the divestment, Sami Atiya, president of the Robotics and Discrete Automation business area and member of the executive committee, will leave ABB by the end of 2026.
“I am convinced that with the acquisition by SoftBank our robotics business will be in excellent hands, creating a platform for growth that will benefit from the numerous opportunities in automation and AI that we are seeing across many industries and geographies,” said Atiya.
ABB will adjust its reporting structure and move to three business areas. As of the fourth quarter 2025, the Robotics division will be reported as discontinued operations. At the same time, the machine automation division, which together with ABB Robotics currently forms the Robotics and Discrete Automation business, will become a part of the Process Automation business.
Upon closing, the divestment will result in a non-operational pre-tax book gain of approximately $2.4 billion with expected cash proceeds of approximately $5.3 billion. The expected separation costs related to the divestment are approximately $200 million, about half of which was already included in its 2025 guidance. ABB’s current best estimate of the transaction-related cash tax outflows in respect of the local business carve-out is in the range of $400 – $500 million.
While ABB Robotics is a leader in its industry, the company has previously stated there are limited business and technology synergies between the ABB Robotics business and the remainder of ABB’s businesses, with different demand and market characteristics. The ABB Robotics division has a workforce of approximately 7,000 with 2024 revenues of $2.3 billion.
Editor’s note: RoboBusiness 2025, which takes place Ocxtober 15-16 in Santa Clara, Calif., will feature tracks on physical AI, design and development, enabling technologies, business, field robotics, and humanoids.
Ali Raja, managing director of automation for industries, and Thomas-Tianwei Wang, lead AI application engineer at ABB Robotics, will be among the speakers. Register now to attend.
