EU Antitrust Regulators Extend Deadline for Amazon's $1.4 Billion iRobot Acquisition Approval to February 14

Amid concerns of reduced competition and reinforcing Amazon's dominance, regulators ponder over approval of the Roomba maker's purchase; deal faces opposition from US Democrats and human rights groups citing antitrust and privacy issues.

• The European Union antitrust regulators have extended the deadline for Amazon’s proposed $1.4 billion purchase of iRobot to February 14. Initially, the decision was to be made by December 13.
• iRobot, the maker of Roomba, held the largest global market share in the robotic vacuum cleaner segment, as of 2020.
• Regulators fear the acquisition will further cement Amazon’s position in the online marketplace and could lead to reduced competition in the robot vacuum market.
• US Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren, and about two dozen human rights groups have written to the Federal Trade Commission, arguing the deal is anticompetitive and entails privacy concerns due to the consumer data that Roomba collects. They have asked for the deal to be blocked.
• Amid regulatory delays and increased debt, Amazon has lowered its bid by about 15% to around $1.42 billion. The company states they are working with regulators and has no plans to use iRobot’s technology in its factories.

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