ISTANBUL 

China is reviewing the sale of Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Manus to US technology company Meta over potential violations of technology export control laws, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.

Chinese officials from the Commerce Ministry are conducting the review to determine whether the transaction requires an export license, the report said, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Meta announced last week that it had acquired Manus, continuing its large-scale investments in AI.

Founded in China before relocating to Singapore, Manus unveiled its first general AI agent capable of performing complex tasks, including data analysis, coding and market research early 2025.

According to the report, officials are examining whether the relocation of Manus’ staff and technology to Singapore, as well as the subsequent sale to Meta, required an export license under Chinese law.

The review remains at an early stage and may not lead to a formal investigation, the report said.

However, the requirement for an export license could provide Beijing with “an avenue to influence the transaction, including trying to force the parties to abandon the deal in an extreme case,” it added.

Eight months after its establishment, Manus reported average annual revenue of more than $100 million, with a revenue run rate exceeding $125 million.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the acquisition, that Meta was finalizing the deal at a valuation of more than $2 billion.