China Demands Meta Withdraw Acquisition of Manus... Tencent to Restructure as Largest Shareholder

Tencent is advancing investor negotiations to become the largest shareholder of AI agent startup Manus, though its stake remains below 50%. Manus will continue independent operations in Singapore. The restructuring began after Chinese authorities ordered Meta to withdraw its $2 billion acquisition of Manus in 2025, citing regulatory violations. Chinese regulators viewed the deal as a scheme to siphon domestic technology, and Meta initially integrated Manus into its platforms before separating and halting data transfers. Current negotiations involve Tencent, Frontline Fund, HSG, and Manus' management, with potential participation from other investors. The enterprise value of Manus remains at $2 billion, as reported by CryptoPolitan.