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Tencent Seeks Top Stake in Manus as Meta Deal Unwinds

1 reports · First detected 2026-08-14 · Last active 2026-08-14

Manus, a Chinese-founded AI startup now based in Singapore, develops general-purpose agents that can carry out multistep tasks with limited human input. Meta Platforms agreed in December 2025 to acquire the company for about $2 billion, a deal that would have transferred a strategically important AI business to a U.S. technology group. China’s Office of the Working Mechanism for Security Review of Foreign Investment barred the acquisition in April 2026, citing concerns over core AI technology and requiring the transaction to be unwound.

Tencent Holdings is in talks to buy a stake in Manus from Meta and become the startup’s largest shareholder, the Financial Times reported on July 10, citing two people familiar with the matter. Former investors including Tencent, ZhenFund and Sequoia China are discussing fresh funding at the same $2 billion valuation used in Meta’s acquisition. Meta has begun separating the companies’ operations and halted data sharing, while the proposed ownership percentages and final transaction terms have yet to be agreed.

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1 original reports
TECHNEWS.TW 2026-08-14
傳騰訊將自 Meta 手中收購 Manus 股權，成最大股東

The Backstory

The history behind this event
Tencent in Talks to Become AI Startup Manus’ Largest Shareholder2026-07-10 · 2 reports · similarity 0.91

AI agent startup Manus previously attracted a proposed $2 billion acquisition by social media giant Meta because of its key technology, underscoring artificial intelligence’s strategic value amid geopolitical tensions. Beijing authorities subsequently blocked the deal, derailing the landmark acquisition and putting the startup’s ownership and future operations under intense scrutiny from the technology and financial sectors.

According to the latest reports in July 2026, Chinese technology giant Tencent is in talks to acquire the largest stake in Manus for $2 billion, which would make it the startup’s biggest shareholder. After the transaction, Manus would continue to operate independently in Singapore and plans to list in Hong Kong in the future. The move would expand Tencent’s AI footprint and give the startup a new path forward after the regulatory turmoil.

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