Meta’s biggest AI acquisition is getting reversed. The original Chinese investors behind Manus, the AI agent startup that took the tech world by storm, are in talks to repurchase the company from Meta Platforms at the same $2 billion price tag Meta paid just six months ago.
Manus’s revenue has reportedly quadrupled since the acquisition, reaching somewhere between $400 million and $500 million. So the original backers are essentially getting a company worth considerably more than $2 billion for the price of the original deal.
Beijing pulls the plug
Chinese authorities mandated the unwinding of the Manus deal in June 2026, citing national security concerns related to AI technology exports. Meta began operational separation around June 13, ceasing data sharing with Manus.
The original investors lining up for the buyback include HSG, ZhenFund, and Tencent, all early backers of Manus before Meta came knocking in late December 2025. To finance the deal, the investor group is exploring a potential $1 billion raise.
