Global law firm Freshfields is advising ABB, the Swiss-based global technology leader in electrification and automation, on the sale of its robotics business to SoftBank Group. The sale values the robotics business at $5.375bn.

ABB’s robotics business is one of the world’s leading robotics suppliers, has a global customer base, and has approximately 7,000 employees. The sale is subject to a carve-out through a multi-jurisdictional reorganisation which will conclude prior to closing. Completion is also subject to the receipt of customary regulatory clearances.

The Freshfields team is being led by partners Piers Prichard Jones, Tom Godwin, and Stephen Hewes and counsel Piusha Bose, with support from associates Jo Lee, Lucy Garrett, and Megan Rodgers and trainees Imogen Gordon, Dylan Smith and Wiktoria Fay.

Intellectual Property / Information Technology advice was provided by partner Jon Scurr, senior associates Zofia Aszendorf, Tochukwu Egenti and Maxwell Smith, and associates Jaymie Younger and Nicole Looi. Tax advice was provided by partner Peter Clements and associate Joseph Williams. Partner Andrew Murphy, senior associate Charles Smye and associate Karishma Paun advised on people and reward matters. Real estate advice was provided by partner Alexander Watt, senior associate Mohammad Ali Bagash, and associate Murad Cholak. Antitrust advice was provided by partner Helmut Bergmann, counsels Mariusz Motyka-Mojkowski and Uwe Salaschek, associates Johann von Pestalozza, Miriam Swamy-von Zastrow, and Nico Kiekebusch. French law advice was provided by partners Guillemette Burgala and Gwen Senlanne and senior associate Jules Troubat. Dutch law advice was provided by partner Brechje Nollen and associate Thom Veldhuizen.