Meta Acquisition

Meta, which owns Facebook, acquired Manus in December 2025 for more than US$2 billion in a bid to boost its capabilities in AI agents.

• China's National Development and Reform Commission prohibited Meta's acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus on April 27, 2026, requiring all parties to withdraw. • Manus, with Chinese roots, was targeted in a security review of foreign investment despite Meta's compliance claims from its California headquarters. • The decision heightens US-China tech tensions, impacting Meta's AI expansion and cross-border M&A in semiconductors and intelligence tools.

• Chinese authorities are reviewing Meta's US$2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, questioning whether the deal violated technology export and overseas investment rules, marking increased regulatory scrutiny of cross-border tech transactions. • Chinese regulators reportedly restricted Manus founders from leaving the country and began examining the deal shortly after announcement, suggesting a strategic shift toward scrutinizing where technology is developed rather than where companies are registered. • The regulatory action has drawn attention across the tech industry, indicating that traditional offshore structuring strategies may no longer protect companies from government oversight as both China and the US increase AI company surveillance.