孙正义豪掷382亿，抄底全球机器人巨头

Core Viewpoint - The industrial robotics landscape is undergoing significant changes, with SoftBank making a substantial investment of $5.375 billion (approximately 38.3 billion RMB) to acquire ABB's robotics business, leading ABB to abandon its plans for a separate IPO of this unit [1][3]. Group 1: ABB's Robotics Business - ABB has signed an agreement to sell its robotics business unit to SoftBank for $5.375 billion, which will no longer pursue its previously planned independent listing [3]. - The robotics business generated $2.3 billion in sales in 2024, accounting for 7% of ABB's total revenue, with an operating EBITDA margin of 12.1% [3]. - ABB's decision to sell comes after a period of considering a 100% spin-off of its robotics unit, which was aimed at enhancing focus and governance within the business [3][5]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The global industrial robotics market has experienced a slowdown in growth after years of rapid expansion, with local competitors in China gaining market share, putting pressure on multinational firms [4][5]. - The sale to SoftBank reflects ABB's strategic shift towards electrification and automation, reducing its business focus to three main divisions [5]. Group 3: SoftBank's Strategic Vision - SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son has a long history of investing in robotics, with previous attempts yielding mixed results, including the acquisition of Aldebaran and the launch of the Pepper robot [7]. - The recent acquisition of ABB's robotics business aligns with SoftBank's ambition to integrate artificial superintelligence (ASI) with robotics, aiming to create a new frontier in physical AI [8]. - SoftBank's broader strategy includes investments in AI chips, AI robots, and AI data centers, with plans to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the U.S. [8].