Editing IRobot (section)

=== Attempted acquisition by Amazon (2022–2024) ===
On August 5, 2022, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] announced its intent to acquire iRobot in a deal worth US$1.7{{nbsp}}billion. The deal was subject to federal approval from the U.S. [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and other regulatory agencies.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Hiawatha |last2=Gardizy |first2=Anissa |date=August 5, 2022 |title=iRobot Roombas its way into Amazon's arms |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/05/business/amazon-acquire-irobot-17-billion-deal-local-robotics-firm-faces-challenges/}}</ref> In September 2022, the FTC requested more data from both companies, amid concerns about Amazon's market power and the privacy implications of it gaining information about consumer floorplans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=FTC reviewing Amazon's $1.7 billion deal to buy iRobot |url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-federal-trade-commission-65d4e0de892f0e1b2f8ee20b6f45832e |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> 

In June 2023, the UK's [[Competition and Markets Authority]] cleared the acquisition, saying it wouldn't lead to competition concerns in the country. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathews |first=Eva |date=2023-06-16 |title=UK clears Amazon's $1.7 billion deal for Roomba-maker iRobot |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/uk-regulator-clears-amazons-planned-purchase-irobot-2023-06-16/ |access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref> The [[European Commission]] launched a formal investigation into the proposed purchase in July 2023, citing that it would "allow Amazon to restrict competition in the market for robot vacuum cleaners ('RVCs') and to strengthen its position as online marketplace provider."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=2023-07-06 |title=Amazon's iRobot Roomba acquisition under formal EU investigation |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/6/23628636/eu-regulators-amazon-irobot-roomba-acquisition-investigation |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2023, Amazon reduced the offer price to $1.42{{nbsp}}billion after iRobot raised $200{{nbsp}}million in new debt to fund its daily operations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Soni |first=Aditya |date=25 July 2023 |title=Amazon lowers iRobot deal price by 15% after Roomba maker incurs fresh debt |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-amends-irobot-deal-lower-offer-price-by-15-2023-07-25/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> 

In January 2024, Amazon and iRobot announced they would end their plans to merge in the face of opposition from [[European Union|EU]] and [[United States antitrust law|U.S.]] [[Competition law|antitrust]] regulators.<ref name="amazon-terminate" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-irobot-abandon-merger-face-eu-opposition-2024-01-29/|title=Amazon, Roomba-parent iRobot abandon $1.4 billion merger deal|website=Reuters|date=January 29, 2024|author=David Shepardson|access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>  This resulted in Amazon paying iRobot a $94{{nbsp}}million [[reverse breakup fee]], iRobot laying off 31{{nbsp}}percent of its employees, and CEO Colin Angle departing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-eu-amazon-irobot-vacuum-cleaner_n_65b7adc8e4b0d407294fdf2c |title=Amazon Calls Off Bid To Buy Robot Vacuum Cleaner IRobot Amid Scrutiny In The US And Europe |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Gary Cohen was appointed as the company’s new chief executive in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiawatha |first=Bray |first4=7:55 p m Share on Facebook Share on TwitterView |title=IRobot names new CEO, claims progress on restructuring - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/07/business/irobot-new-ceo-restructuring/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>