The $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) merger fell through because US and EU officials were worried the vacuum cleaner manufacturer would gain an unfair advantage over its competitors. Still, UK officials accepted the bid.
First disclosed in August 2022, the $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) deal had previously received approval from UK regulators.
However, if the transaction went through, the European Commission voiced concerns in November that the online retailer may give iRobot’s products preferential treatment on its website—ahead of other vacuum businesses.
Amazon announced on Monday that the agreement had broken down because it was unable to come to an agreement with EU representatives during negotiations.
US officials have also been keeping a close eye on the transaction. After the announcement on Monday, a source told the Reuters news agency that the Federal Trade Commission was “poised” to reject the agreement.
David Zapolsky, senior vice president of Amazon, stated: “We’re disappointed that Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot was unable to go through.
“We’re believers in the future of consumer robotics in the home and have always been fans of iRobot’s products.”
He continued: “This outcome will deny consumers faster innovation and more competitive prices, which we’re confident would have made their lives easier and more enjoyable.”
