Meta reportedly moves to unwind $2B Manus deal after Beijing’s demand

Meta has begun dismantling its $2 billion acquisition of Manus, completing an operational separation and halting data sharing between the two companies. The firm cut Manus off from its internal systems, preventing employees from using Manus tools for internal projects as the two companies move toward a full separation.

Manus’ co‑founders held preliminary talks about raising roughly $1 billion from outside investors to reclaim the startup, a step that could lead to a Chinese joint venture structure and an eventual listing in Hong Kong, which has seen a surge in AI listings such as MiniMax and Zhipu.

The agentic AI startup has continued to ship new features, rolling out integrations with Similarweb and Shopify after relocating staff to Singapore in mid‑2025 and announcing the $2 billion acquisition in December. Beijing issued a forced divestiture order roughly two months ago on national security grounds, underscoring its aim to retain control over strategically sensitive technology regardless of a company’s offshore incorporation.

China, Beijing

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