Tencent to buy Meta’s stake in AI startup Manus for $2B

Tencent is set to become the largest shareholder of Chinese AI developer Manus by acquiring Meta ↗ 2.78% Platforms' stake in the company, Nikkei Asia reported on Thursday, completing the unwinding of a deal that Beijing blocked earlier this year on national security grounds.marketscreener+1

The transaction will see Tencent, alongside earlier Manus backers Sequoia China and ZhenFund, purchase Meta's holdings for roughly $2 billion — approximately what Meta originally paid for the startup in late 2025. Manus announced on August 11 that it would separate from Meta and resume operations as an independent company.tech.ifeng+2

A Deal Unwound by Beijing

Meta acquired Manus for over $2 billion in December 2025, integrating the startup's autonomous AI agent technology into its advertising and consumer products. But in April 2026, China's National Development and Reform Commission prohibited the foreign investment and ordered the parties to unwind the transaction, citing laws governing foreign acquisitions of domestic technology.reuters+1

The NDRC's decision came after Manus had relocated roughly 100 employees to Meta's Singapore offices and severed its China operations — a move Chinese state media characterized as an illegitimate "bath-style" overseas relisting. By June, Meta had completed an operational split from Manus and suspended data sharing, according to CNBC.donews+2

Tencent Steps In

Reuters reported in July that Tencent was in talks to lead a consortium of original Manus investors to buy back the company from Meta for no less than $2 billion. Ifeng, citing Nikkei Asia, reported that the deal values appear favorable for the buyers: Manus's annualized recurring revenue has grown to between $400 million and $500 million, up from $100 million at the time of Meta's acquisition, though that growth was partly driven by access to Meta's advertising infrastructure.reuters+1

What Comes Next

Following the ownership change, Tencent is expected to hold a minority — though largest — stake as an outside shareholder, with ZhenFund and other prior investors filling out the cap table. Manus said it will continue serving its global user base, though some accounts may be affected during the transition. Tencent had not responded to requests for comment as of Thursday.tech.ifeng+1