Meta's $2bn Manus acquisition is under Chinese regulatory review

Meta has agreed to buy Singapore-based, Chinese-founded AI company Manus for $2 billion; Chinese regulators are reviewing whether export-control rules were breached, including whether an export license was required.

Meta agreed to acquire Singapore-based, Chinese-founded AI company Manus in a $2 billion deal that was announced in December 2024. Chinese regulators are now reviewing whether the transaction violated export-control laws and whether an export license was required for technology that moved from China to Singapore. Manus is expected to remain based in Singapore and to operate separately under the deal terms. Key details: - The acquisition price reported is $2 billion and Manus will continue selling subscriptions via its app and website. - Chinese authorities are reviewing whether export-control rules apply and whether an export license was needed; reports state founders could face criminal liability if technology was exported without proper authorization. - Meta highlighted Manus's technical scale in announcements, noting large volumes of processed data and virtual compute, and described the integration as a way to advance its AI efforts. Summary: Chinese regulatory review is the current constraint on the transaction while authorities assess export-control compliance, and that review could stall or halt the deal. Undetermined at this time.