Agile Robots, a Munich-based robotics startup that develops industrial software and hardware, is in early talks to raise about US$800 million from backers including SoftBank Group Corp., according to a report.

SoftBank is discussing an investment of more than US$300 million, the potential round would deepen an existing relationship.

Agile Robots raised US$130 million in a 2020 series C led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and the startup said at the time that it was valued at more than US$1 billion. Hillhouse Group and HSG (formerly Sequoia China) also joined that round.

Agile Robots said its systems had reached series production and wider use across medical, industrial, agricultural, and service applications.

The company also said it had more than 20,000 robotic solutions installed worldwide, especially in automotive and consumer electronics.

A new SoftBank-backed deal would also expand SoftBank’s robotics efforts, which include SoftBank Robotics‘ enterprise automation business and Vision Fund 2’s earlier investment in Agile Robots.

Any large non-European Union investment in a German robotics company could also be reviewed under Germany’s foreign-investment rules.

Whether a filing is required depends on the size of the stake and the company’s activities. Thresholds can be 25% in general cases and lower in sensitive sectors, according to Germany’s economy ministry and A&O Shearman.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

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