ZURICH, Switzerland, Oct 10, 2025 – ABB has announced that it has signed an agreement to divest its Robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.375 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.
Peter Voser, chairman of ABB, said: “SoftBank’s offer has been carefully evaluated by the Board and Executive Committee and compared with our original intention for a spin-off. It reflects the long-term strengths of the division, and the divestment will create immediate value to ABB shareholders. ABB will use the proceeds from the transaction in line with its well-established capital allocation principles. 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.”
ABB CEO Morten Wierod added: “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. ABB Robotics will benefit from the combination of its leading technology and deep industry expertise with SoftBank’s state-of-the-art capabilities in AI, robotics and next-generation computing. This will allow the business to strengthen and expand its position as a technology leader in its field.”
Masayoshi Son, chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group 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 Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics – driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.”
Following the agreement, ABB will revise its reporting structure and operate under three business areas. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, the Robotics division will be classified as discontinued operations. The Machine Automation division, which currently operates within the Robotics & Discrete Automation business area, will move to the Process Automation business area. The divestment is expected to generate a $2.4 billion pre-tax gain and $5.3 billion in net cash proceeds, with separation costs of $200 million and tax outflows of $400–500 million.
Source: ABB
About ABB
ABB is a global technology company specializing in electrification and automation, with headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland, and Västerås, Sweden. Formed in 1988 through the merger of Sweden’s ASEA and Switzerland’s Brown, Boveri & Cie, the company traces its roots to 1883. ABB operates in more than 100 countries and serves industries including utilities, transportation, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Its portfolio includes robotics, industrial automation, electrification products, and motion solutions. In 2024, ABB reported about $33B in revenue and employed roughly 110,000 people worldwide.