China Meta Manus Deal Review

What happened

China's senior leadership initiated an assessment of Meta's approximately $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, driven by concerns over the potential loss of cutting-edge technology. This action introduces a new regulatory scrutiny layer for foreign technology acquisitions involving Chinese entities, specifically regarding compliance with China's export controls, technology transfer rules, currency flows, tax accounting, and overseas investment regulations. The review assesses whether Manus's relocation of staff and technology to Singapore and subsequent sale to Meta required an export licence.

Why it matters

This introduces an increased due diligence burden for corporate development and legal teams involved in cross-border technology acquisitions, particularly those with Chinese entities or technology origins. It creates a visibility gap for deal progression, increasing exposure to unforeseen regulatory delays or prohibitions concerning technology transfer. This tightens the dependency on Chinese regulatory approval for such transactions, impacting strategic planning and resource allocation.