Tencent in talks to become AI startup Manus' largest shareholder, sources say


A logo of Tencent at an exhibition center during organized media tour in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

SINGAPORE, July ⁠9 (Reuters) - Chinese gaming and internet ‌company Tencent is in talks to become Manus' largest shareholder as investors seek alternatives ​after Beijing ordered Meta ⁠to unwind ⁠its $2 billion acquisition of the AI startup, ⁠two ‌people with knowledge of the matter said on ⁠Friday.

The Financial Times first reported Tencent's ​talks ‌earlier in the day.

Tencent, together ⁠with Manus' ​original investors, including ZhenFund and HSG, are planning to buy the ⁠company back from Meta ​for no less than $2 billion, said one of the sources and a ⁠third person briefed on the matter.

Tencent, Manus, Meta and the two investment firms did not immediately ​respond to Reuters requests ⁠for comment.

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin ​and Kane Wu in ‌Singapore and Preetika Parashuraman ​in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Muralikumar Anantharaman)

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