China blocks SoftBank's $5.4bn acquisition of ABB's robotics unit

China has blocked SoftBank Group $9984.T's $5.4 billion takeover of ABB Ltd $ABBN's robotics division, according to Financial Times reporting. The decision signals tightening scrutiny of strategic technology acquisitions involving Chinese regulatory approval.

ABB's robotics business, a key player in industrial automation, had been targeted by SoftBank as part of its expansion strategy. This blockage reflects broader geopolitical tensions and China's protective stance on domestic industrial sectors.

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